You must be:

• 18 years old or over

• Willing and able to give informed consent to this referral and to engage with befriending activity

• Be experiencing loneliness, social isolation, low mood, anxiety or depression and could benefit from face-to-face social interaction with a volunteer befriender in the community.

• Live in Bradford District (Bradford, Craven, Airedale and Wharfedale)

• Be struggling with mental heath and have mobility problems, preventing them from going out

Referrals for Community Companions must not:

• Lack mental capacity to consent to this referral

• Pose a risk to others, including staff and volunteers

• Have drug or alcohol abuse problems, or unsafe living environment

We currently offer befriending support in English, Punjabi and Urdu. Other languages may be available, please contact us before you submit your referral application. 

[email protected]

You can refer yourself or someone else as long as you have their consent. To make a referral please complete the online referral form. If you are struggling to complete the form please contact us for support with your referral on:

[email protected]

Or call us on: 

01274 730815

After completing your referral form we’ll match you with a befriending volunteer based on your preferences. Your befriender will meet you for one hour every week for three months. They will help build your confidence and gradually encourage you to access to local community groups, activities and services that help with your mental health and wellbeing. 

If you have applied for home visits, one of the team will be in touch to organise a home visit so we can complete a risk assessment for safety of you and your volunteer.

After this, we will match you with a volunteer based around your hobbies and interests. Support will be for three months at your home.