Medway Voluntary Action (MVA)

Medway Voluntary Action (MVA) are working in partnership with Carers FIRST (CF), wHoo Cares, Swale CVS other local voluntary & community sector (VCS) and statutory organisations to deliver and co-ordinate befriending support in Medway and Swale.

Befriending can be defined as: an emotional, supportive, mutual relationship in which companionship is provided on a regular basis by a volunteer. Befriending can take place face to face, over the phone or in a group setting.

Befriending is not: the carrying out of any personal care, housework, or other domestic tasks. Neither is it the provision of social care, health support or any caring responsibilities.


The core elements are:

1. A befriending Contact point to support referral and evaluation processing (Covering the whole of Medway)
2. Telephone Befriending (Covering the whole of Medway)
3. 121 Befriending Support (Covering the whole of Medway)
4. Group Befriending


The key criteria for being eligible for befriending support is that the person being referred is living in isolated circumstances or has little social contact. Other eligibility criteria applies to specific befriending support provided by MVA and its partners, these are:

o For individuals aged 18 years and over
o Priority given to those with a long term illness or who are Disabled
o Targeted at those with limited/ no family or friends who visit them and/or who spend long periods of time alone.
o Each referral will be considered on an individual basis and those not appropriate will be signposted to VCS & Wellbeing Navigators
o Not suitable for complex cases e.g. Advanced Dementia, Complex Mental Health needs
o Aim is to be a short term intervention that is person centred so no defined time limit set however the ultimate aim is to discharge individual from services once connected within community.

All referrals for befriending support will be reviewed by MVA, who will arrange or signpost to appropriate befriending support. If it is not possible or suitable to arrange befriending support to an individual, MVA will contact the person who made the referral to explain any decisions made and suggest alternative solutions where possible.

Should you require further information or help completing the referral or wish to discuss a case before referring please contact our Befriending Programme Officer on 01634 564939 or email at befriending@mva.org.uk.

We welcome any comments, observations or suggestions; please email these to the email above.