Befriending Networks

August at a glance. Book at befriending.co.uk/events. 5th, Vital Skills: Boundaries. 6th, Vital Skills: Supporting and Supervising Your Team. 13th, Networking: Befriending Week; Quality Award Info Session. 19th, Befriender Training Toolkit: How To. 21st, Management and Leadership in Befriending block starts. 26th, Volunteer Retention. 27th, Networking: Supporting Neurodiversity; Toolkit How To; Leaders Network: Leading Others.

We've got some great events and training coming up this month, including gearing up for #BefriendingWeek! Visit our website to book your space. ✨ befriending.co.uk/product-cate...

Congratulations to Shetland Befriending Scheme for achieving their reaccreditation as a Quality in Befriending Award holder! 🎉

Their assessment showed a warm, community-minded and caring organisation, which is highly valued by the community. ✨ Find out more: befriending.co.uk/shetland-bef...

Befriending Networks Annual Conference and AGM Wednesday 5 November, 10:00 - 14:45. Members free, non-members £40. Special offer: Members who book before 1 October and attend receive a £10 training discount code!

Booking is now open for our Annual Conference 2025! Members who book before Wednesday 1 October and attend will receive a special early bird training voucher as a thank you. 🐦

We've got some exciting plans in store - full details coming soon!
befriending.co.uk/conference-2...

Nicola, Colette from b:friend and Becky smiling with their flower arrangements

Nicola and Becky had a lovely day celebrating friendship with Befriending Networks members b:friend in Sheffield recently. They even got a chance to try their hand at some flower arranging, as part of a group befriending activity. #WorldFriendshipDay #InternationalDayOfFriendship #Befriending

Today is the International Day of Friendship. Befriending helps bring people together and strengthen community connections. If you'd like to access or volunteer with a service near you, check out our directory: befriending.co.uk/organisation...

Embracing Age is looking for a friendly, confident individual to provide high-level administrative support to the CEO, enabling them to focus on strategic growth, external engagement, and leading the organisation. Find out more: befriending.co.uk/job-advert-a...

It's 100 days until #BefriendingWeek - can you believe it? To get the latest updates straight into your inbox, join our Befriending Week mailing list: befriending.co.uk/befriending-...

Member job vacancy: Age UK Islington Befriending Coordinator. Part-time, London. Deadline: Friday 1 August

Age UK Islington is looking for a part-time Befriending Coordinator to help them recruit and support their befriending volunteers and support the individuals they work with. Find out more: befriending.co.uk/job-advert-b...

We're looking for 2 new trustees with skills in income generation or sector influence and advocacy. Find out more and apply at befriending.co.uk/vacancies

Are you passionate about building a more connected society, where no one feels forgotten or alone? We are recruiting two trustees with skills in income generation or sector advocacy to help us champion the vital role of befriending. Find out more: befriending.co.uk/about/work-w...

You'll get access to the Risk Management delegate pack, which includes examples of good practice, templates, legislation and resources, as well as tailored feedback on one risk policy, assessment form or procedure.

Managing risk can be an overwhelming task when working with the community, particularly vulnerable groups. Join Victoria next Tuesday (22 July) to unpack risk management and how to formulate the best methods for your project.
befriending.co.uk/product/vita...

Befriend a Child achieve reaccreditation in Excellence Award - Befriending Networks Congratulations to the team at Befriend a Child for their reaccreditation as an Excellence Award holder! Befriend a Child are an Aberdeen based organisation that supports children and young people…

Well done to the team at @befriendachild.bsky.social for their reaccreditation as an Excellence Award holder! Their Aberdeen-based project supports children and young people through 1:1 befriending matches. They have been a Quality Award holder since 2013. More: befriending.co.uk/befriend-a-c...

Congratulations to the team at London Irish Centre for achieving their Quality in Befriending Excellence Award! 🎉Their befriending service offers a combination of telephone calls and in-person community/home visits for the Irish community in London. Find out more at befriending.co.uk/london-irish...

Fantastic conference yesterday with WCVA at Gofod3! It was lovely to see Befriending Networks Members Age Connects Cardiff and the Vale, Learning Disability Wales (Gig Buddies) and the Community Care and Wellbeing Service there too!

Matt with the Age Connects Cardiff and the Vale Team

Matt with the Learning Disability Wales (Gig Buddies) Team

Cynhadledd wych ddoe gyda WCVA yn #Gofod3! Roedd’n hyfryd i weld aelodau Befriending Networks - Age Connects Cardiff and the Vale / @ldwales.bsky.social / CCAWS yno hefyd!

July at a glance. 1st Journey Across Befriending. 8th Making the Most of Membership. 9th Networking: Group Befriending; Train the Trainer July block starts. 10th Managing Waiting Lists and Organisational capacity. 15th Introduction to Befriending Networks. 22nd Risk Management. 28th Leaders and Managers Network: Open Forum; 30th Monitoring, Evaluating and Reporting Impact. befriending.co.uk/events

Want to connect to some peer support or boost your skills? Check out our July events and training: befriending.co.uk/product-cate...

Digital Skills Masterclasses As stated in Befriending Networks Strategic Plan 2024 – 2029, one of our objectives is to develop a digitally connected network through the share of knowledg...

Thank you to everyone who joined us for our Digital Masterclasses this week! We hope you got some handy tips to use in your project. ✨ If you missed the live sessions, you can catch up - check out our playlist for tutorials on PowerPoint, Zoom, Canva and Padlet.
www.youtube.com/playlist?lis...

There's still time to book onto our Digital Skills masterclasses next week! These sessions offer an introduction to PowerPoint, Zoom, Canva and Padlet - great for beginners or those in need of a refresher. Book now at befriending.co.uk/product-cate...

Well done to Befriending Caithness for achieving their Quality Award! Befriending Caithness is a part of Caithness Voluntary Group. Their befriending service supports people over 40 who are isolated and experiencing loneliness.
Find out more at befriending.co.uk/befriending-caithness-quality

Journey Across Befriending 2025 Roadshow - Befriending Networks We are delighted to launch Journey Across Befriending – our 2025 Roadshow of in-person events.  Prior to 2020, Befriending Networks held regular in-person networking events around the UK.  Our…

Can't make it? Due to high demand, we've added an extra date to our Roadshow. You can join us online on Tuesday 1 July:
befriending.co.uk/training-eve...

See you in Tamworth. #JourneyAcrossBefriending. Book at befriending.co.uk/journey

Tomorrow we'll be meeting our network in Tamworth for the next stop on our #JourneyAcrossBefriending. ✨ This is the final in-person roadshow event of 2025 and we can't wait to get chat about all things befriending!

Journey Across Befriending: Tamworth - Befriending Networks These are not training events but an opportunity for peer learning and building connections with others in community work.

Thanks for hosting us - we can't wait to connect with our network in Tamworth!
befriending.co.uk/product/2025...

@ctcic.bsky.social supports residents across Southern Staffordshire with their mental and physical well-being as well as practical support information, advice and guidance. They offer telephone and face-to-face befriending, as well as regular 'Cuppa and a Chat' sessions.

Meet the co-host: Tamworth. Community Together CIC. Book now for Roadshow 2025. befriending.co.uk/journey

Meet the Co-host 👋
It's just a few days until we gather in Tamworth for the last in-person stop of our #JourneyAcrossBefriending Roadshow! We're delighted to introduce our fantastic co-hosts @ctcic.bsky.social.

We are now recruiting for three roles within our organisation:

➡️ Befriending Coordinator and Caseworker
➡️ Caseworker
➡️ Fieldworker

Closing date for applications: 9.00am, 30 June 2025.

goodmoves.org/organisation...

@goodmovesjobs.bsky.social

Journey Across Befriending: Tamworth - Befriending Networks These are not training events but an opportunity for peer learning and building connections with others in community work.

There's nothing quite like meeting our network in person. Join us at our last in-person #JourneyAcrossBefriending roadshow event in Tamworth next week. We can't wait!
befriending.co.uk/product/2025...

Journey Across Befriending: Tamworth
Wednesday 18 June, 12:00 - 15:00

Illustration of an older man sitting on a bench looking at a bird.

We all feel lonely at times. Sometimes it passes on its own – but sometimes it doesn’t, and it can start to have an impact on our lives.

This #LonelinessAwarenessWeek, read our Loneliness Guide that brings together information and advice for older people, their loved ones and carers: bit.ly/45euB5f

Join us in saying "We care about equality for carers"

We are proud to be acknowledged as a Carer Positive Employer and to be part of the #CarersWeek campaign. This year’s theme is Caring About Equality and we are asking everyone to join us in saying ‘we care about equality for carers’.

Find out more 👉 www.carersweek.org 

@carers-week.bsky.social‬

It's #CarersWeek! Join us and our wonderful co-hosts Kingston Carers' Network for our Online Community Lunch. Grab your favourite snack and a cuppa and celebrate the Month of Community together! ✨

Online Community Lunch and Meet Up
Wednesday 11 June, 12:30 - 13:30