Training
Our online training is designed to support your befriending project to thrive, reach its goals and provide quality befriending support to individuals and communities. Find out more about what we have to offer and browse our upcoming virtual training sessions below. Dates are added throughout the year so please check back or subscribe to our newsletter to be kept up to date.
Greatly appreciate the time and effort that must have gone into developing this training. Engaging, encouraging and very informative. I learnt a lot.
The facilitator was really friendly and welcoming and was obviously very knowledgeable about the work we were completing.
Thank you so much for the information and for being so proactive with the strategies for the online sessions. It’s honestly so nice to work with a deaf-aware organisation, it makes us feel really valued as members.

Vital Skills for Staff
Vital Skills for Staff consists of seven modules, developed by Befriending Networks to provide comprehensive training for new coordinators or managers, or as a refresher for existing members of a befriending team. All seven modules contain content applicable to both distance and face-to-face befriending projects.
- Train the Trainer
- Recruiting Volunteers
- Supporting and Supervising Your Team
- Boundaries
- Risk Management
- Matching and Endings
- Managing Waiting Lists and Organisational Capacity

Topical Training
Our Topical Training is designed to support staff in their role. These short introductory-level courses cover a range of common themes and topics that support continued professional development and the operations of your befriending project. Our Topical Training catalogue includes:
- Monitoring, Evaluating and Reporting Impact
- Policies and Procedures for Befrienders
- Introduction to Safeguarding
- Supporting Mental Wellbeing
- Volunteer Retention

Good Practice Training
Each Good Practice Training topic helps strengthen the befriending project operations. Training is delivered through interactive online workshops and discussions, with follow-up access to relevant Good Practice resources, including some exclusive to attendees. We currently offer three courses:
- Bereavement in Befriending – This train-the-trainer style session will equip you with knowledge and practical skills for supporting others through bereavement, and provide you with a training toolkit and support to deliver your own bereavement training internally.
- Dementia and Befriending – Develop your knowledge, practical skills and information to provide supportive and appropriate dementia befriending. This course provides you with a training toolkit and support to deliver your own dementia training internally.
- Management and Leadership in Befriending Projects – Supports professional development for anyone already established in their role who aims to build confidence or gain responsibilities. Course runs bespoke to participants’ requests and is complemented by independent completion of core management and leadership theory through e-learning.
Independent e-learning
We currently have four e-learning courses available. There are two e-learning courses for volunteers and two for staff currently available. Access our e-learning page to find out more.
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Monitoring, Evaluating and Reporting Impact
Thursday, 29 January 2026
10:00 – 13:00 (GMT)Â Join this course to learn more about evidencing the impact of your befriending project to demonstrate your work to stakeholders…
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Good Practice: Dementia and Befriending
Monday, 16 February 2026
10:00 – 13:30 (GMT)Great session and really appreciate that we were offered a free follow-up session – great to get a few weeks…
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Vital Skills: Train the Trainer
Tuesday, 17 February 2026Develop your knowledge, skills and confidence for designing, delivering and evaluating the training you provide.
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Policies and Procedures for Befrienders
Wednesday, 18 February 2026
13:15 – 15:00 (GMT)By attending Policies and Procedures for Befrienders, participants will discuss good practice for communicating your infrastructure with befrienders and motivating…
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Introduction to Safeguarding
Tuesday, 3 March 2026
13:00 – 14:30 (GMT)Introducing for safeguarding provides participants with a chance for peer discussion, and access to the delegate pack of resources, policies…
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Vital Skills: Managing Waiting Lists and Organisational Capacity
Tuesday, 10 March 2026
09:30 – 13:30 (GMT)Is a waiting list system good for your project? Do you have the capacity to manage it? Join this session…
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Volunteer Retention
Thursday, 12 March 2026
11:00 – 13:00 (GMT)Join this session to learn and discuss the seven key principles of retention.
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Vital Skills: Matching and Endings
Wednesday, 8 April 2026
09:30 – 14:00 (GMT)This course reviews matching techniques, match aims and outcomes, and reviews endings of a match.
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Vital Skills: Risk Management
Monday, 20 April 2026
10:00 – 12:30 (GMT)Examine the purpose, structure and best approach of a risk management policy and procedure, protecting stakeholders and the reputation of…
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Management and Leadership in Befriending Projects
Thursday, 23 April 2026
10:00 – 12:00 (GMT)This course is tailored for staff involved in befriending projects, offering practical support and skill development for ongoing professional growth….
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Supporting and Supervising Your Team
Wednesday, 17 June 2026
13:00 – 15:30 (GMT)Builds your knowledge and confidence to effectively support volunteers, staff, and service users, while strengthening your organisation’s practice.
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Would you prefer in-person training delivered at your organisation? Contact our team to discuss your options.
