Befriending
Who is befriending for?
Anyone affected by epilepsy who is over the age of 18 and lives in the UK can access the befriending service if they are feeling lonely, isolated or just need someone to talk to.
This includes people living with epilepsy themselves or their close family members.
If you want to find out more to check befriending is the right service for you, please read through our additional information.
How befriending can help
Our friendly volunteers will call you for a regular chat online or by phone, offering a listening ear and conversation.
We’ll try and match you with a volunteer with similar interests, so you have something in common.
“It made me feel like I wasn’t alone and has given me confidence within myself.”
You’ll have the opportunity to
- Have a chat about what’s going on in your life
- Build a connection with someone around shared interests
- Gain confidence and self worth
- Build new social connections in your community
How does it work?
Register your interest and one of the befriending team will get in touch to find out a bit more about you and what you want to get out of the service.
If we think you will benefit from the service we’ll ask a few more questions about your hobbies and interests.
We’ll do our best to match you with someone with similar interests, this isn’t always possible but I’m sure you will still find things to talk about!
When you are matched you’ll get a weekly call at the same time and day each week from your volunteer befriender. The calls typically last half an hour and you can chat about anything you like.
Your volunteer befriender will try and gently encourage you to make more connections, in your community or online, so that after 3 months when your befriending calls end you have other support networks to rely on.
You won’t get to meet your befriender in person, but you’ll still get a lot from having a friendly voice at the end of the phone or screen here’s what Kayleigh who recently completed the service had to say to anyone thinking of using the service…
“I would tell them to do it. I had my doubts at first, but I am so thankful I went through with it.
Having someone to talk to that could help me understand what was going on with my condition and the feelings I was having because of it was great for my mental health.”
Got a question about befriending?
If you’re not sure if this service is for you and want a bit more information please do get in touch.
You can email us at befriending@epilepsy.org.uk or call us on 0113 831 5678.
Epilepsy stories
Know someone who would benefit from the service?
We accept referrals from family members, community workers and GPs.
If you have checked our referral criteria and spoken to them about the befriending service to gain their consent, please register their interest providing their contact details.
We’ll get in touch and do the rest.
Would you like to help others by becoming a befriending volunteer?
If you are a good listener, able to show empathy and understanding as well as able to spot the positive things in life – you’d be perfect for this role