This Befriending Week (1st – 7th November), we’re celebrating something simple yet profoundly powerful: connection. At Bright Futures UK, our Befriending Programmes exist to ensure that no young person facing serious physical or mental health challenges feels isolated or forgotten.
For many of the young people we support, education has been disrupted by illness or long-term conditions. Being out of school doesn’t just mean missed lessons; it often means missed friendships, fewer chances to socialise, and a loss of confidence in navigating the world beyond recovery. That’s where befriending steps in.
Research increasingly recognises that social connectedness isn’t just a nice-to-have; it’s vital for wellbeing and recovery. A study published in ScienceDirect describes this as “the power of connection”, a key self-care strategy that supports both physical and mental health. Our programmes are built on that very principle: that meaningful human connection can help young people heal, grow, and thrive.
🌟 Personalised Befriending: One-to-One Connection
Our Personalised Befriending programme pairs young people with a dedicated volunteer who shares their interests and passions. Through weekly online sessions, they chat, laugh, and create together, whether that’s building LEGO masterpieces, sketching new artwork, writing music, or playing games.
Each session is relaxed, supportive, and completely youth-centred. It’s a safe space where young people can rebuild confidence, rediscover joy, and reconnect socially while doing something they love.
We recently heard from one of our former participants who shared how transformative their befriending experience had been. They told us it “greatly improved [their] confidence and recovery” and they’re now continuing their education through travel, learning new languages, and exploring different cultures. Stories like this remind us why befriending truly matters.
🎨 Group Befriending: Connection in Community
This year, we’re thrilled to expand our offer with Group Befriending Sessions! These bring together small groups of young people who share similar experiences to socialise, take part in creative activities, and build lasting friendships.
The sessions are youth-led and informal, designed to empower participants to shape the space as their own. It’s all about creating community, boosting confidence, and supporting one another, while having fun along the way.
Our first session? A “Paint and Snack” afternoon, an easy-going, creative way to connect, chat, and express ourselves through art (and maybe a few biscuits!).
💬 Why Befriending Matters
Isolation can be one of the hardest parts of managing long-term illness or disrupted education. But through befriending, young people rediscover the power of being seen, heard, and valued. Whether it’s through a one-to-one chat or a shared creative project, each connection helps build confidence, resilience, and hope for the future.
At Bright Futures, we believe every young person deserves the chance to reconnect not just with their education, but with their peers, passions, and potential.
🌈 Join Us in Celebrating Befriending Week
As we celebrate Befriending Week 2025, we’re so proud of the volunteers, young people, and supporters who make our programmes possible. Together, you remind us that connection is more than conversation, it’s a lifeline.
