Befriending service

Two ladies sit outside at a cafe enjoying a cup of tea

Our befriending service provides support to help students who might otherwise feel lonely. Volunteer befrienders visit people near their homes to go for a walk, a bike ride, a coffee, do some shopping or just have a chat.

Befrienders are carefully matched to those with similar interests, offering support and friendship. 

How does befriending help?

  • It encourages communication, helping students to improve their social skills and feel more self-confident
  • It motivates students to get more exercise by getting out in the fresh air to explore their communities
  • It helps our students to feel less lonely, they make friends and have someone trusted to talk to

The service is available to anyone who attends Share. Activities are chosen by students and meetings are typically once a week for one to two hours.

All volunteers are DBS and reference checked.

It’s great, a really good thing that she’s doing for me. She has a nice personality, I can talk to her, she’s friendly and listens to what you have to say.
Angela, student

Logo for Befriending Networks

Share is a member of Befriending Networks, a charity providing support, training and guidance to hundreds of befriending projects across the UK. Befriending Networks envisages a society that values befriending, recognises its importance, and provides befriending support to everyone who needs it.

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Be a befriender

Interested in volunteering as a befriender? You could help provide support and friendship to our students.
Find out more >
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Core daily sessions at Share

Our courses help our students look after their health and happiness, live more independently, and learn employability skills.
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