Get the Befriender Training Toolkit
We provide the tools – you build the befrienders!
The Befriender Training Toolkit is your one-stop shop for resources to help you train and support your befriending team.
With all key befriending topics covered in more than one format, you can pick the resource that suits your facilitating style or learners’ needs. Perfect for in-person or online training, the Toolkit has everything you need to build a strong befriending team.
Join Befriending Networks today to get access to the Toolkit, as well as a range of exclusive resources, events and other benefits.
The best thing about this toolkit is the breadth of info, but also the accessibility. For staff new in post like myself, who are expected to skill up in all areas immediately, having such a clear route in to resources is invaluable.
— Befriending Networks member
What’s in the Toolkit?
The Befriender Training Toolkit contains 47 resources to support your team. We regularly update it with new and improved resources, so make sure you keep checking back!
Click on the categories below to find out what’s included in the Toolkit.
Recently Added
How To Write Your Case Study Scenario – a guide to creating scenarios for training so your attendees can put their learning into practice.
- Training videos
- Training Podcasts
- Written activities and handouts
- Interactive activities for facilitation
- Presentation PowerPoints
- Reading materials
- Infographic Posters
- Davie Grey Part One (1min46)
- Davie Grey Part Two (2min12)
- Protecting Wellbeing and Your Resilience (12mins)
- Social Connection and Social Skills (2mins01)
- Support and Supervision (5min42)
- Understanding Loneliness (4min03)
- What is befriending (1:31)
- Looking After Your Volunteers: The Four Principles (6mins08) [for staff training only]
- What is befriending? (3min36)
- Building your befriending relationship (7min52)
- Boundaries (5min47)
- Communication Skills (10min49)
- Understanding Bereavement (2min08)
- Understanding Trauma (2min24)
- Social Skills (2min30)
- Understanding Loneliness (7min14)
- Welcome to Befriending Networks sounds (1min57)
- Development plan as a befriender
- Preparing for your support and supervision
- Davie Grey Poems and Reflective Questions
- Boundaries – What is Okay in my project?
- Reasons why befriending matches end
- How can my project support me?
- The Equality Act – Knowing Protected Characteristics
- Understanding Loneliness Quiz
- Roles and Responsibility in Befriending
- Boundaries in Befriending
- Communication in Befriending: Starting your match
- Endings in Befriending: Why do matches end?
- Trauma in Befriending: How to best support
- Top Tips on Being a Befriender
- Support and Supervision
- Confidentiality and Safeguarding
- Communication and Building Your Relationship
- Good Practice Guide: Being a Befriender
- Protect your wellbeing: Guidance for Befrienders
- Understanding the positive impact of befriending
- Understanding Loneliness
- How to write your case study scenario
- Top Tips on Volunteering
- Top Tips on Being a Befriender
- Top Tips on Staying Safe in the Winter Holidays
- Top Tips on Signposting
Need help getting started?
Join us for a free How-To Session and discover how your organisation can make the most of the Befriender Training Toolkit. The sessions last 30 minutes and are free, supportive sessions open to members and non-members.
Terms and Conditions of the Befriender Training Toolkit
The Befriender Training Toolkit is a membership exclusive. All members are automatically contacted if there are changes or additions made to the Toolkit contents. Your details will not be shared with any external organisation.
By accessing our Toolkit, you are agreeing to read through any materials before circulating or facilitating any of the Toolkit resources with befrienders. It is the responsibility of any staff member accessing the Toolkit to ensure any materials are edited or altered to be suitable for the befriending project, the specific policies and procedures of said project, and representative of the service users and circumstances that may be encountered by any befriender.
All resources within the Toolkit are designed to assist your in-house befriending training, and their individual use is not enough to qualify as competent befriending training. Good practice in befriending requires efficient and thorough training, and selecting only a couple of exercises from this befriending training toolkit will not provide you with safe and competent befrienders. Ensure to access our How To Guide to develop your knowledge and understanding as to how best utilise this resource to create a strong and confident befriending team.