Befriending in Barnet
Services from Wellbeing Partners
The following organisation is part of the integrated Wellbeing Sevice in Barnet and offers a befriending service.
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Barnet Friends
What is it?
Barnet Friends is a telephone befriending service for adults from 18 to 55 who may be experiencing isolation or loneliness.
How can it help me?
Vetted volunteer befrienders are matched to an individual to provide companionship and emotional support and give information on a range of activities and services that can help to increase confidence and sociability including reducing isolation; access to the local community; using public transport; increasing hobbies and interests and accessing other means of support
How do I access it?
Barnet Friends is legible for those:
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Who are aged 18-55 and live, work or study in Barnet
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Need some form of emotional support, or simply want someone to talk to
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Who are experiencing loneliness and want to reduce social isolation
The service can support those with or without a diagnosed mental health condition.
Contact details: 020 8016 0016 | Befriending@cbplus.org.uk | www.cbplus.org.uk
Download Referral Form Download Referral Criteria Guidelines Download Public Information
Case study
Mary* has been matched with her befriender since November. Despite her referral form indicating she had 'very mild' mental health symptoms, it was clear that she was severely depressed in the early conversations between her and the befriender.
She would never leave her home, often spoke about the trauma she had experienced between her and family, could not keep to any appointments and was often without heating or electricity as she could not afford to pay it. She also complained she had no food in her fridge and could not afford to eat.
Our befriender provided her with information where she could apply for various cost of living grants, information on local food banks she could access, and how to receive food vouchers. After some persuasion she accepted referrals to Boost and Citizens Advice Bureau to help her apply for grants; whom have made contact with her.
Despite being resistant to accepting a Social Worker and any mental health support, she did accept a counselling referral through her GP which we arranged on her behalf. We were also able to secure a crisis loan and a Waitrose Food voucher through Boost.
Client Testimonial
'Barnet Friends has been an integral service to me over the last eight months. I have struggled with loneliness and social anxiety me entire life, and find it hard to make friends, or even talk to people my own age. Barnet Friends provide me with a space to talk about whatever I want on a weekly basis'
Wider befriending services available in Barnet
The following organisations offer a great range of wellbeing services in Barnet and although not directly commissioned through the wellbeing service they offer really valuable and speacilsed support.
The Befriending Service
What is it?
The Befriending Service is for Barnet residents, aged 55 and over, lonely and isolated due to frailty or physical disability. Age UK Barnet carefully matches vetted volunteers with Barnet residents. Relationships normally involve regular home visits for a chat and a laugh.
How can it help me?
They carefully match vetted volunteers with Barnet residents. Relationships normally involve regular home visits for a chat and a laugh. Some matches may also involve outings to shops or parks, help with paperwork, and modern technology. The befriending service has adapted to the Covid crisis. It has established an additional Telephone Pal service whereby most volunteer/client interaction is via telephone or online. There is more emphasis on enabling people to find information and safe social outlets.
How do I access it?
If you or someone you know is interested in the Befriending Service, please email or call on 020 8432 1416. You will be sent an information pack and a referral form
Contact details: 020 8432 1416| info@ageukbarnet.org.uk | www.ageukbarnet.org.uk
More Befriending Services and in Barnet
There are a number of Befriending services in Barnet specialising in different age groups, needs and health conditions of residents. Both Barnet Friends and the Age UK Befriending service will guide clients to a more suitable service if appropriate, but referrals can also be made directly with these services.
Age UK have an up-to-date breakdown of most of these services on their Befriending page