The Manifesto for Health Creation calls for a renewed focus on prevention, early intervention, and cross-sectoral collaboration to create health and relieve pressure on acute services.
As CEO of Befriending Networks, the national network supporting organisations to deliver quality befriending services that promote wellbeing and meaningful connection, I was privileged to attend both the VHS manifesto launch and the VHS annual conference, ‘Collaborating for Change,’ in recent weeks. Both events offered an opportunity to reflect on the essential role of befriending in communities across Scotland. More importantly, they inspired a moment of hopeful wonder about the unlocked potential of befriending.
What could a well-resourced, securely funded, and highly valued befriending sector contribute to health creation and the reduction of health inequalities?
There is much that befriending can offer to the health of our nation.
Befriending is a relationship supported by an organisation to enable meaningful connections. Its diversity is evident: meaningful connections can form between people with shared or different life experiences, and support is available for all ages and stages of life. The befriending match has planned social interactions, whether one-to-one or in small groups, by phone or in person, they are designed to achieve positive outcomes and prevent negative ones for individuals and communities. Nurturing, enriching, and trusting, these befriending relationships foster wellbeing, strengthen communities, and build self-esteem and confidence. They create hope.
Social isolation and chronic loneliness are known to be detrimental to health. Volunteering as a befriender or receiving a befriending visit or call exemplifies prevention and early intervention. Befriending creates social connections.
However, our recent member insight report tells a story of a befriending sector under strain. Internal membership data analysis reveals that organisations are having to end or pause their services due to financial constraints and uncertainty. Alongside this, members have directly reported that the need for befriending is greater and often more complex, suitable volunteers are harder to find, and staff are working at (and sometimes beyond) capacity.
- 72% of Befriending Networks members reported increased demand for befriending services.
- 42% have larger waiting lists than they did last year.
- 61% reported increased operational costs in the past year.
- Only 55% of organisations felt confident in their ability to address the challenges ahead.
A fairer, more equal society stands to benefit greatly from the work of befriending organisations. In the words of our members, the need for a renewed focus on prevention and early intervention is urgent:
“Funders want ‘new’ and ‘innovative’ and befriending, realistically, isn’t new or innovative. What works, works. We don’t want to change what we’re doing because we know it works.”
Members also recognise that pressure in all parts of the system can create unintended consequences for befriending organisations, and would welcome cross-sectoral collaboration:
“We have started to receive an increase of inappropriate referrals due to a reduction, or lack, of volunteers in other services.”
I began this blog with a question of wonder. I’m going to close it with the three wishes of one of our members.
It is these wishes that, if fulfilled, could transform the lives of people in Scotland in need of social connection and a compassionate approach to health creation.
“I wish for…
- a steady stream of loyal volunteers.
- long-term and secure funding to be able to plan, grow, invest and ensure no one is turned away because of lack of resources.
- reduced social isolation and loneliness where befriending becomes the norm and is widely recognised and supported as a vital service in building stronger, connected communities.”
Find out more about Befriending Networks here.
Befriending Week, 1-7 November, is the national campaign celebrating and raising awareness of befriending and the positive impact it has on individuals and communities. Our Befriending Week theme for 2025 is Collaboration and Partnership.
Susan Hunter is the CEO of Befriending Networks.
