Top tips for volunteer training
3rd June 2025
This Volunteers’ Week, we’re unpacking the Befriender Training Toolkit and exploring how you can use the resources to build a strong befriending team.
What is the Befriender Training Toolkit?
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.
How do I access the Toolkit?
The Befriender Training Toolkit is only available to members of Befriending Networks. Not a member yet? Find out more about joining Befriending Networks.
To get started, click My Account in the top navigation bar to access your member dashboard. Scroll down to see the Befriender Training Toolkit and click Open the Toolkit.
From here, you can start exploring! Browse the available resources and identify which ones will work for you. We recommend starting with the Supportive Resources for Facilitators, where you can find our Toolkit How To Guide, an overview of the Toolkit content and lots of other resources to support your training journey.
5 things you can do with the Toolkit
The Befriender Training Toolkit is packed with resources to support your training process. Here are 5 ways to start exploring:
1. Develop your own skills with our resources for facilitators
If you need a confidence boost before you deliver your next training session, check out our Supportive Resources for Facilitators. Whether it’s brushing up on your Zoom skills or getting some top tips for writing case study scenarios, you’ll feel ready for anything.
Action: Filter the Toolkit Category to Supportive Resources for Facilitators to explore what’s available.
2. Share resources with your befrienders
Plenty of the Befriender Training Toolkit resources come in shareable formats such as podcasts, video playlists, guidebooks and infographics. No matter your volunteers’ learning styles, we’ve got you covered.
Action: Identify which links and files will be useful for your volunteer befrienders and send them out.
3. Make your training interactive
Get your team connecting and sharing ideas from the beginning with our interactive resources. Why not try our Understanding Loneliness Quiz to get your attendees chatting about their perceptions of social isolation?
Action: Download the guide to Interactive Activities for Training to learn how to make your training more dynamic.
4. Customise templates for your next training session
The Toolkit includes several templates to kickstart your training materials pack, including slideshows, handouts and activities. We’ve provided the basic structure, all you need to do is add your logo, adjust the information to suit your project and practise so you can deliver with confidence.
Action: Download a training PowerPoint template and customise it for your project.
5. Level up your training
If you want to make your training even more effective, we have a range of pathways to support you in your next steps.
Our Train the Trainer course is a multi-session programme designed to boost your skills in every area of facilitation, from preparing to facilitating to evaluating. You’ll have a chance to apply your learning in practical assignments, ask questions at drop-in sessions and access further resources in your digital delegate pack.
Need something more specific? We can also design and deliver bespoke training for your organisation – get in touch with Victoria today to learn more.
Action: Explore the Train the Trainer course and our bespoke packages.
The Befriender Training Toolkit is a great way to make sure that you’ve got all the bases covered when you’re training volunteers. If you’d like to meet the designer of the Toolkit and ask questions, book one of our free 30-minute How To sessions today.
Happy exploring!
Join Befriending Networks today to get access to the Toolkit, as well as a range of exclusive resources, events and other benefits.
About Volunteers’ Week
Volunteers’ Week is an annual UK-wide campaign to celebrate and recognise the contributions of volunteers. The campaign highlights the diversity and unity of volunteer work across the UK. Visit their website for resources, volunteers stories and ways to get involved.