Our Current Award Holders

Developed by Befriending Networks in consultation with member organisations and experts in the field of befriending, the award launched in 2010 and was revised and updated in 2021. There are more than 50 organisations currently holding a Quality in Befriending Award in the UK and Ireland!

Interested in applying?

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Being quality assured means that our service is fully aligned with Quality in Befriending guidelines and allows us to provide a best practice service to our clients and volunteers. It has also been hugely beneficial for funding opportunities. The Quality Award demonstrates that we are robust, effective, and aligned with a best-practice delivery framework.
– London Irish Centre

It’s always useful to review your service, update and tighten processes where needed, and have the benefit of expertise and advice from a different perspective. As a bonus, it’s great to be able to use the Quality Award logo, which is a quick and straight-forward way to demonstrate you meet a required level of practice.
– Integr8 Befriending Service

Explore the Quality Award Holders Directory

Aberlour – Scotland’s Children’s Charity

Our purposeAberlour Children’s Charity helps disadvantaged children and families in Scotland have a brighter future.Our VisionNot all children are born with an equal chance. We will work together to beat…

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Age UK (national)

The Age UK Telephone Friendship service matches older isolated people to volunteers with mutual interests for a weekly 30 minute call, to help combat loneliness and social isolation.

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Age UK Merton

Age UK Merton Befriending Service has been supporting the older people of Merton for many years and is the first Age UK in the country to be awarded the Quality…

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ALONE

ALONE’s Support & Befriending service provides companionship and practical support to older people who would like extra social contact. Trained and Garda-vetted volunteers provide weekly visits or telephone calls which…

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Befriend a Child

At Befriend a Child we support children and young people growing up in difficult life circumstances across Aberdeen and Aberdeenshire to achieve their full potential and develop into confident and…

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Befrienders Highland

We are a small voluntary organisation working to improve the lives of people who are lonely and isolated and have experience of mental ill health and dementia. We work across…

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Befriending Caithness

Befriending Caithness supports older adults in Caithness and North Sutherland to stay connected, active, and thriving. Our trained volunteers offer weekly home visits, friendly conversation, and companionship. They can also…

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Blind Veterans UK

We are here to support anyone who has served in the Armed Forces, or who has done National Service, and who is now living with significant sight loss. We help…

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CACE

CACE has been running for over 35 years, providing Cumbernauld, Kilsyth, The Northern Corridor and the surrounding villages with much needed support for the elderly and isolated. We run a…

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Changes East Lothian

Befriending East Lothian – Well Connected

Our Befriending service Well Connected helps individuals who may be struggling with low social contact, loneliness, isolation and low mental health. Volunteering as a Befriender means you can support someone…

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Dumfries & Galloway Befriending Project

Dumfries & Galloway Befriending Project recruits, trains and supports adult volunteers to befriend young people (aged 8 – 18 years) on a one-to-one basis. Our service supports young people who…

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Fairway Fife

Fairway Fife is a Peer Mentoring Charity involving people with learning disabilities from 16 years of age. Our aim is to encourage and support access to social and leisure facilities…

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Home Link Family Support

Volunteer to support families with pre-school children, at home, and provide practical and emotional support, we actively encourage family learning, so all children in their early years have the best…

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Inverclyde Community Development Trust

Supportive Communities Refugee Befriending

The ‘Supportive Communities’ project, is funded through HSCP Inverclyde, exists to help refugees settle in Inverclyde with the support of community volunteers. Our trained volunteers offer one -to-one befriending and…

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Kent Coast Volunteering

Good Neighbours Service

We offer a befriending service to lonely and isolated older people, some of whom have no family, friends and spend every day housebound. Our volunteers are invaluable in helping to…

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Kincardine & Deeside Befriending

Kincardine & Deeside Befriending brings people together by recruiting, training, and supporting amazing volunteer befrienders who brighten the lives of older adults (55+) living independently. Through meaningful companionship and regular…

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Le Cheile Mentoring

Le Cheile Mentoring is a national, volunteer mentoring and family support service in Ireland, which works with young people and their families, where the young person is involved in or…

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LEAP Project

LEAP works in a number of communities within South Lanarkshire providing free befriending, handyperson and dementia services, friendship groups and activities and classes, to people aged 50 and over who…

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Linking Lives Eastbourne

Linking Lives Eastbourne sparks friendship and connection within the local community. We are a befriending scheme with the aim of reducing loneliness and improving health and wellbeing for people over…

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London Irish Centre

The London Irish Centre has served the Irish community in London since it was first established in 1955. Our Befriending Service offers a blended approach of contact. People are matched…

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Omega, Ending Isolation/Ending Loneliness

Chatterbox, Letterbox

By supporting lonely and socially isolated people within our society, we at Omega aim to help our clients build resilience and extend their independence through befriending, information sharing, self-help, and…

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Seascape Reconnect with Hope

We assist people to build positive connections in their community and combat social isolation and loneliness, facilitating group befriending sessions within local communities across South Ayrshire as well as offering…

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Sky

Time to Care
Private

Sky Befriending is part of Sky’s Time to Care programme, designed to reduce loneliness by providing friendly, weekly conversations for older or isolated individuals. The service offers a one‑to‑one telephone…

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South Derbyshire CVS

SDCVS Connect Befriending Service

SDCVS Connect Befriending Service is a free service to deliver a vital lifeline to South Derbyshire residents who are 18 years + and feeling lonely or isolated for whatever reason. …

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Space @ The Broomhouse Hub

Space for Youth Befriending

Space for Youth Befriending provides children and young people aged 5 – 16 years who are affected by parental drugs and/or alcohol use living citywide in Edinburgh with a volunteer…

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The Welcoming Association

The Welcoming supports New Scots (refugees, asylum seekers and migrants) in Edinburgh by providing a range of services, including: English language classes, employability support, home energy advice, a community fridge,…

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Time to Talk Befriending

We are an excellence-accredited charity providing befriending for older people in Brighton, Hove, Worthing and Adur in Sussex. Our vision and mission is to create a connected and compassionate community…

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Together Co

Together Co Befriending

Together Co Befriending provides supportive and reliable friendships to individuals experiencing loneliness and social isolation. Our volunteer befrienders connect with people through in-person meetings, phone calls, or group activities. This…

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Voluntary Action Shetland – Shetland Befriending Scheme

Shetland Befriending Scheme offers befriending on a 1:1 basis to children from aged 7 years, young people and adults aged 16+ years who need support to engage in the community…

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Volunteer Centre Greenwich

Supported Volunteering Project and Emotional and Well Being Project

The Emotional Support and Wellbeing Project provides support to the residents of Greenwich who are lonely or isolated. It has been a lifeline to many residents and continues to be…

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Volunteer Glasgow

Young Person’s Befriending Service

YPBS provides a high quality service to young people aged 8-18 who are coping with difficult circumstances in their lives. Whether this is because of unusual pressures in the family,…

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West Norfolk Befriending

West Norfolk Befriending works to decrease social isolation among older people aged 65+ in West Norfolk. Many have become isolated due to a change in physical health or through their…

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Wimbledon Guild

Befriending Service for Adults in Merton

Befriending was one of the first services Wimbledon Guild offered when we began over 100 years ago and is still one of our most popular ways people can get support. We hear…

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Womankind, Bristol Women’s Therapy Centre

Womankind Befriending Services

Womankind provides 3 befriending services. 1. Womankind befriending service for women affected by sexual violence – The purpose of project is to provide isolated women who have experienced rape and…

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Our Current Award Holders

Interested in applying?

Explore the Quality Award Holders Directory

Aberlour – Scotland’s Children’s Charity

Age UK (national)

Age UK Merton

ALONE

Befriend a Child

Befrienders Highland

Befriending Caithness

Blind Veterans UK

CACE

Changes East Lothian

Befriending East Lothian – Well Connected

Dumfries & Galloway Befriending Project

Fairway Fife

Home Link Family Support

Inverclyde Community Development Trust

Supportive Communities Refugee Befriending

Kent Coast Volunteering

Good Neighbours Service

Kincardine & Deeside Befriending

Le Cheile Mentoring

LEAP Project

Linking Lives Eastbourne

London Irish Centre

Omega, Ending Isolation/Ending Loneliness

Chatterbox, Letterbox

Seascape Reconnect with Hope

Sky

Time to Care

Private

South Derbyshire CVS

SDCVS Connect Befriending Service

Space @ The Broomhouse Hub

Space for Youth Befriending

The Welcoming Association

Time to Talk Befriending

Together Co

Together Co Befriending

Voluntary Action Shetland – Shetland Befriending Scheme

Volunteer Centre Greenwich

Supported Volunteering Project and Emotional and Well Being Project

Volunteer Glasgow

Young Person’s Befriending Service

West Norfolk Befriending

Wimbledon Guild

Befriending Service for Adults in Merton

Womankind, Bristol Women’s Therapy Centre

Womankind Befriending Services

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