The ELFT Telephone Befriending Service arranges phone calls between Service Users and Befrienders at a regular timeslot each week to combat feelings of isolation and loneliness. 

Each Service User receives a one hour call per week at a pre agreed time for a 3 or 6 month period. These calls can be set up between 9am to 9pm Monday to Sunday. Service Users will speak with the same Befriender each week, so they can build trust and rapport. We cover all of ELFT boroughs and are completely staffed by fellow Service Users, as lived experience produces the most understanding Befrienders. 

All our Befrienders are trained by us and we perform a DBS check to ensure Service Users are always safe. Anything discussed during the calls is dealt with in the strictest confidence, unless there was a danger of harm to the Service User or somebody around them. 

Please be aware that we are not a clinical, counselling or crisis service. We only accept referrals from ELFT clinical teams to ensure that Service Users have an adequate support structure and a responsible Clinician overseeing their care.

While a Service User cannot self-refer, their Clinician can facilitate a referral on their behalf.