Services
Below you’ll find a short overview and explanation of each of the services that Befriended offers for our clients across Mid-Sussex.
Compassionate Conversations
Befriended Bereavement Support– Our new bereavement course rebranded by our CEO as Compassionate Conversations. The course is 3 weeks long and welcoming to people of all faiths or none. This is a safe, friendly space you can open up and chat about your loss without judgement or worry. If you or someone you know would benefit from attending please do let them know or contact us for more details.
Face to Face Befriending
This is where Befriended began in 2017, with a group of incredible volunteers who gave up an hour each week to visit an elderly, lonely person and spend time with them chatting and getting to know them. Some of our volunteers take their Befriendee out to the local garden centre or just to the park. We are keen to match our Befriendees with Befrienders who have similar interests or hobbies so that they have something in common and something to talk about right from the get-go.
Befriended Balance
Befriended Balance is on almost every week. The classes are suitable for everyone of any ability so if you want to come and enjoy some exercise with friendly people pop along on Wednesday afternoons at 2 o’clock. We look forward to seeing you.
Please use the link below to register for Befriended Balance
Befriended Community Choir
Befriended Community Choir is on weekly in term time although please check our events page before you come down just incase.
Our favourite time of the week, this choir is such a joyful event, it doesn’t matter if you can hold a tune, this is an inclusive choir suitable for anyone including those suffering with dementia. Come along and have a wonderful morning with us.
Befriended Bus Trips
This year we have launched Befriended Bus Trips. The purpose of these trips is to provide an occasion to really look forward to. We aim to make it as inclusive as possible by providing transportation, normally a picnic and even subsidised tickets.
Click here to see our events calendar.
Compassion Cafe
The Compassion cafe is a safe place to chat about grief, loss, and share stories about your loved ones. We meet on the first Thursday of every month but please check our events calendar before you come down. Bring your own lunch and we can eat together.
12-2pm St Andrews Church, Cants Lane, Burgess Hill
Afternoon Tea Party
The first Sunday of every month, we host an afternoon tea at Gateway Baptist Church, Burgess Hill. This is all homemade by a team of volunteers, including scones, clotted cream, sandwiches and more. The highlight is a different entertainment slot, which can be musical, a quiz or an inspirational speaker and so much more. This is a free event although donations are gratefully received.
Acts of Kindness
Our project, Befriended Blankets, is in response to the large number of clients who have expressed their fear to us of heating their homes in this cost-of-living crisis. We gave away hundreds of blankets this Winter! See more about this on our front page.
Our fabulous blankets are super soft, very warm, and luxurious as well as being huge! Every blanket is embroidered… with love from Befriended, to remind our clients we are there for them in spirit if not in person. They really are the perfect blanket to snuggle up with on a cold winter’s day.
Chaplaincy
We are all emotional, physical, psychological, and spiritual beings. Often later in life especially when we spend a lot of time on our own we think more about our spiritual beings. Access to church can often be difficult so Befriended offers a chaplaincy service that brings ‘church’ to you. This can range from a simple communion, prayers, a service, or a bible study. Contact Gail@befriended.org for more information. We are available to come to any care homes in Mid Sussex.
Befriended Buddies
At the other end of the generations, in 2020, children and young people were thrown into a world of home-schooling and being kept away from their friends. We created a resource to encourage children and young people to engage with the older generations by writing letters, sending pictures or just telling them what they’d been getting up to. We would love to continue sending letters and pictures to our clients as this always puts a smile on their faces, feel free to download the pack below and get your kids involved!
Signposting
Sometimes Befriended isn’t the right place for some people and we are unable to support or cater to the needs of an individual. Or if someone’s needs change over time, rather than just stopping providing a service to them or not taking them on as a client, we are working with other organisations and partners that may support them better. In these cases, we would love to signpost individuals or their families to another organisation that may be more beneficial to them.
