Bromley Peer Support Befriending provides a one-to-one service for people whose mental health makes accessing their local communities difficult.

Bromley Peer Support Befriending provides a one-to-one service for people whose mental health makes accessing their local communities difficult.

There are many reasons why someone might struggle to get out and about, a volunteer befriender can offer to accompany and support them in doing so.

A befriender may:

• Accompany someone to access a group or any activity held in a public place.
  
• Provide non-judgmental space for someone to talk.
  
• Support them to explore social opportunities locally.
  
• Befriending is not an offer of a permanent friendship but is a limited commitment which focuses on helping the person who is befriended regain a feeling of self-worth and take part in social activities.
  
• Befriending is built on developing a trusting and caring relationship with someone who may be isolated or lacking in confidence as a result of a mental health problem.
  
• All volunteer befrienders have personal experience of mental distress and receive training and ongoing support as part of their role.
  

Who can use this service

Anyone living, working or who is registered with a GP in the Borough of Bromley.