Befriended was set up in 2017 with the mission of ending loneliness and isolation among older people living in Mid Sussex.

The charity also offers bereavement support to people of all ages through its Compassionate Conversations course, Grief Cafes and Company lunch club.

Befriended offers a range of services to older people living in the Mid Sussex area. This includes the towns of Haywards Heath and Burgess Hill, along with the surrounding villages such as Lindfield, Hassocks, Hurstpierpoint and Cuckfield.

Befriended has only one full-time member of staff and one part-time administrator, who are helped by an amazing team of volunteers. Our volunteers gave over 18,000 hours of their time in 2024. For more information on volunteering, click here.

What did Befriended do in 2024?

  • Hosted over 1750 older people for afternoon tea
  • Held over 45 exercise classes
  • Supported over 100 people through bereavement courses
  • Over 2000 people enjoy singing through our Community Choirs
  • Held over 60 chaplaincy services for over 1000 people in care homes
  • Took over 500 older people on theatre trips and outings
  • Launched a new bereavement cafe
  • Had over 80 people to our Befriended Christmas Lunch
  • Hosted 60 people at our Community Christmas lunch on Christmas Day
  • Our newsletter reached 1000s of people through doctors’ surgeries, hospitals, churches and individuals
  • We supported many carers and people living with dementia through our activities
  • Launched a new community Choir in Hurstpierpoint
  • Launched a new afternoon tea party in Hurstpierpoint in partnership with Holy Trinity Church
  • Launched a new bereavement course – Compassionate Conversations
  • Won a place on the two year Incubator programme with Cinnamon network for Compassionate Conversations

In 2023, our CEO and Founder Gail Millar was one of only 500 people in the UK to be presented with a Coronation Champion Award to recognise her contribution to the community.