Befriending Week
1 – 7 November
Befriending Week is the national campaign celebrating and raising awareness of befriending and the positive impact it has on individuals and communities.
During the week, we invite those in the befriending sector to reflect on their achievements over the previous year, thank volunteers and staff, celebrate their service users, and share their message with stakeholders, government and the public.
Our Befriending Week theme for 2026 is Supporting each other through meaningful connections.

Befriending Week is also an opportunity to look into the future by raising awareness of how befriending helps to tackle isolation and create community connections, in-person and at a distance.
Befriending Week was established in 2012 by Befriending Networks, working in collaboration with our membership and strategic partners.
Get involved in Befriending Week!
There are many ways to get involved with Befriending Week. Each year, we release a host of resources for you to use with your volunteers, service users and community. We also facilitate events to help you plan your contribution to the campaign and throughout the week itself, including our Annual Conference.
We encourage you to get involved on social media using #BefriendingWeek and #WythnosCyfeillio.
Befriending Networks is a small charity but our impact is big: our network reaches 22,000 volunteers and their matches across the UK every year. Donate today to support our work.
Befriending Week News
Take part in Befriending Week 2026
Befriending Week is the annual celebration of the incredible impact of befriending and the people that make it happen. This… Read more
Thank you for an incredible Befriending Week 2025!
Befriending Week has come to a close for 2025 and we want to thank every single person who took part…. Read more
“I get as much out of our friendship as Kevin does.” / The Befriending Scheme
Listen The Befriending Scheme provides friendship and learning opportunities for vulnerable people over 16 years old across Suffolk, including those… Read moreBefriending Week Partners
Interested in being a strategic supporter, a corporate partner, or providing media coverage to Befriending Week? Download the Communications Toolkit or get in touch.

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