Bespoke services… what’s it all about?

9th December 2025

You need to develop volunteer or staff training, and you don’t have the capacity or know how to build it from scratch – what do you do?

Ideally, you contact Befriending Networks and book a meeting with me, Victoria, and tell me all about it so we can explore possibilities together.

At Befriending Networks, we offer two key services to both members and non-members. First, our guest speaker service, where a member of our team can attend your event and speak on a topic tailored to your needs. Second, our bespoke training design service, where you can commission us to create high-quality, personalised training content for your project.

As 2025 draws to a close, I find myself reflecting on the creative opportunities these services have presented, not just in building training but in collaborating and co-designing alongside charities and community projects across the sector.

How it starts

Every bespoke project begins with a free initial discovery meeting to explore the client’s needs, goals, and the context surrounding their service. After nearly eight years at Befriending Networks, I’ve had well over 100 of these conversations with project staff. In our service evaluations, 100% of attendees have said these meetings are beneficial.

Many people work in isolation within their organisations, and simply having someone to talk ideas through with can be a relief. It’s equally valuable for me; when certain themes emerge repeatedly, we know where training, events, or new resources may be needed to best support our network.

“Victoria was incredibly helpful and clear with the type of training that could be provided. She was flexible to our requirements and worked with us to identify the most suitable training.”

For our bespoke or guest speaker services, our approach is the same:

“Communication was great. Victoria responded to any queries in a timely way. The follow-up information was provided promptly. Victoria made the session engaging and enjoyable.”

During the initial discovery meeting, we start by creating space for an open, honest conversation where their goals, challenges, and expectations can be fully understood. By actively listening, asking thoughtful questions, and reflecting on what I’ve heard, I make sure they feel genuinely heard and valued. This provides the foundation needed to design training or resources that are tailored to their needs and grounded in the reality of their stakeholders’ circumstances and experiences.

Co-designing materials tailored to your needs

Collaboration and co-design are central to our approach. When clients help shape ideas, test concepts, and refine materials, the results are far more relevant and effective. Co-created training becomes a shared achievement, building stronger engagement, better outcomes, and long-term trust.

Members of Befriending Networks receive a 25% discount on our bespoke services, with bespoke packages starting at £550. Guest speaker bookings are available from £100. Both our members and non-members use these services regularly, which creates an opportunity to reach a wider audience while strengthening our connection and understanding of our existing network.

Any bespoke design produced for a client is fully theirs to own. We integrate their fonts, colours, logos, policies, and stakeholder examples to ensure their identity is reflected throughout. Designing well-crafted, context-appropriate materials takes time and care, but this attention to detail is why 100% of our clients state that they would recommend our services.

Previous commissions

We’ve been trusted by national organisations to create high-quality, branded learning resources that truly work for their teams.

Training materials

Examples of bespoke training materials for The Reading Agency and Age UK

For The Reading Agency, we were commissioned to produce a suite of fully branded training videos designed for maximum flexibility and accessibility. Built in PowerPoint, the content could be read or read aloud with our addition of narration. This was to ensure it was accessible to everyone, no matter their reading level, and could be inclusive for those with visual impairments. The result was a polished set of training materials that blended seamlessly with existing resources and could be shared widely across their network.

For Age UK National, we were commissioned to develop a comprehensive series of e-learning modules to strengthen befriending services across the UK. These courses—created for both staff and volunteer befrienders—were designed to integrate directly into Age UK’s learning platform, making them accessible to local sites nationwide and supporting consistent team development.

Both organisations provided their brand kits, enabling us to design content that felt like a natural extension of their internal materials. Our work delivered high-quality, accessible learning experiences that were on-brand and ready to create impact across large national networks.

“Victoria was an excellent presenter. All participants enjoyed the session and left with ideas. The session was very informative and interesting.”

Guest speaker and bespoke training sessions

Victoria delivering training for U3A Cupar & District

Whether we’re delivering a guest speaker session or building bespoke training for others to facilitate, we always prioritise engagement. Activities, discussions, and collaborative problem-solving are essential parts of the learning experience.

In September, as a guest speaker for U3A Cupar & District, I brought bells to their event and ran a quiz on loneliness and social isolation before exploring community-based solutions to build meaningful connections. In October, while delivering bespoke training to mentors at Relationship Circle, I asked teams to map out a pathway for handling difficult conversations before presenting our shared recommended approach.

These sessions offer invaluable insights into the lived realities of volunteers and staff. Their stories, challenges, and achievements help Befriending Networks refine materials and ensure our guidance remains grounded and practical.

Training materials designed for SANE Australia

Designing and delivering training always comes with its challenges, but the process is deeply rewarding. In 2023, for example, we were commissioned by SANE Australia to design and deliver volunteer training. Creating illustrations and content for their brand was great fun, but for me to deliver from Scotland meant facilitating virtual classes at 4am. It was worth every early start. Each session highlighted the universal nature of loneliness and social isolation. A great reminder of how connected our work is across borders.

Whether the challenge is time zones, travel, or logistics, the opportunity to work closely with organisations, sometimes for a day, sometimes for weeks, is always rewarding. Every project reinforces that there is no single way to support a community, and befriending can come in many forms. Each organisation brings something unique, and the positive impact of their work is inspiring. These experiences continually deepen our understanding of the sector and strengthen the support we provide.

We already have a bespoke contract secured with HANDS for 2026, and I look forward to travelling and facilitating in Twickenham in February, supporting their volunteer development. It will hopefully be the first of many design and delivery opportunities in the new year.

Start your bespoke journey

If your organisation has ideas to explore or training needs to discuss, we’re always happy to meet and explore how we can support you. Book your free discovery call or find out more on our Bespoke & Guest Speaker page.

Wondering what topics we can cover for bespoke training and materials? Explore training topics and content from our previous commissions on our Bespoke Topics page.