Everyone needs other people, but not everyone has someone. To befriend simply means to ‘be friendly’ to someone.
Do you feel lonely and isolated? You’re not the only person who feels that way. Befriending helps people to build reliable, social relationships that help reduce feelings of loneliness and isolation.
If you’re feeling lonely, don’t be afraid to reach out. We can help you connect with a supportive person who wants to listen and talk.
“The chances are we’ve all been affected by Loneliness, either directly or through someone close to us. We can all do more to try and make a difference and make our country a less lonely place.”
—Minister for Loneliness, Baroness Diana Barran
Richmond AID is offering telephone befriending to people in the Richmond borough who need a friendly listening ear
Our experienced coordinator Jamie will match you with a trusted volunteer befriender.
What to do:
- Contact us on 020 8831 6070 or email [email protected] and say you want to know more about befriending
- Tell the advisor your name and phone number, and Jamie will call you back
- Jamie will speak to you and match you to a befriender
- Jamie will organise a date and time for you to have a first conversation with your matched befriender. Usually conversations happen once a week for around 30 minutes.
- We remain in contact with you and the befriender to make sure everything is going well, and any questions are answered.