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ELFT Befriending Service

ELFT Befriending Service

Reducing loneliness and social isolation for service users and carers across east London, Luton, and Bedfordshire.

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What our befriending service does

Our mission is to reduce loneliness and social isolation for service users and carers across our communities.

Our befrienders offer a friendly check-in once a week. They provide conversation, encouragement and a sense of connection for anyone who may be feeling alone.

We understand that staying socially connected can be difficult. We also help by signposting people to local activities, community groups and social opportunities. This supports you to build confidence and take steps towards meaningful social contact.

All members of our team have lived experience of mental health challenges. They are trained to support others with compassion and understanding.

We are not a clinical, counselling or crisis service. 
If you are feeling unsafe, distressed, or worried about your mental health, call 111, then select option 2 (mental health support). 

We offer each service user a weekly one-hour phone call for a 6-month period.

We support all ELFT boroughs across East London, Luton, and Bedfordshire. 

Calls can be arranged any day of the week, between 9am and 9pm.

You will speak with the same befriender each week. This helps to build trust, familiarity and a comfortable rapport.

All conversations are confidential. Many people describe it as “like having a coffee with a friend.”

We have befrienders who speak a wide range of languages, including:

  • Bengali (Dhaka and Sylheti)

  • Gujarati

  • Urdu

  • Hindi

  • Punjabi

  • Somali

  • Spanish

  • French

  • Italian

  • Portuguese

  • Turkish

  • Polish

  • Japanese

  • Swahili

  • Kikuyu

  • Konkani

  • Yoruba

This helps us offer support that feels familiar, comfortable and culturally sensitive.

To be referred for weekly calls, speak to your ELFT clinical team or your GP. They can make a referral on your behalf.

If you are an ELFT staff member looking to make a referral, visit our staff referral page.

If you are an ELFT service user or carer, you can apply to join us as a befriender.

Download the role specification to find out what the role involves. Then complete the application form and send it to us by email at elft.befriendingservice@nhs.net

We recruit befrienders once or twice a year. You are welcome to send us your completed application at any time. We will hold it until the next recruitment round and contact you then.

Contact us

You can get in touch with the befriending service by email at elft.befriendingservice@nhs.net.