Befriending Week (1-7 November) is an annual campaign that celebrates the power of befriending services in building social connection in reducing loneliness.
During Befriending Week, communities across the UK and beyond gather online and in person to raise awareness about befriending, celebrate the contributions of befriending volunteers and the staff who support them, and advocate for befriending to local and national decision-makers.
Our Befriending Service matches volunteers with isolated or housebound community members. They engage in weekly telephone calls or in-person visits in the community or at their home, sparking meaningful friendships across generations of our London Irish community.
“We have a great laugh, Oscar is a great conversationalist. I love that we can talk about anything and everything, and that he always makes me laugh. On my birthday, we had a party and a cake to celebrate, which was a very special memory for me.” – Marion (client)
“I became a befriender because I wanted to do something positive in my local community and feel a bit more connected to my home in Ireland. This seemed like a perfect opportunity, and I have learned so much from it.
Een a small of quality time can strengthen your personal relationship – just an hour out of my week has helped build such a good friendship between Marion and I. It’s definitely something I’m more mindful of in other areas of my life now.” – Oscar (volunteer)
“We get on so well, she’s great. We’ve a lot in common, we were brought up in similar ways and there’s always something to talk about. The hour just goes so fast!” – Teresa (client)
“I wanted to do the befriending to give something back to the Irish Community in London, it was also a period in my life in which I had the time and was looking for a meaningful way to contribute. I’ve loved getting to know Teresa, particularly discovering her love of reality TV – especially Love Island!
“Through befriending I’ve learned the importance of connecting with others and how we can learn from their life experiences.” – Ann (volunteer)
If you or someone you know could benefit from our befriending service, please contact our team by emailing [email protected].
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