Before choosing a befriending service, try finishing this sentence: “What I’d like on a Thursday afternoon is…” An hour chatting about the football, somebody to go out for coffee with, and a person who will check that your dad has taken his tablets are three different requests. Knowing which one you mean makes the rest of the decision much easier.
For a first comparison, look for five things in writing: what the service actually offers, who will ring, the full price, the limits of confidentiality, and where it directs people who need urgent help. If you’re new to the idea, our guide to what befriending means explains the different arrangements you may come across.
Would the conversation fit your week?
Picture the appointment in your own home. Would you like the phone to ring while you’re having your afternoon tea? Or is leaving the flat part of what you’re looking forward to? If the walk to a café matters as much as the conversation, that’s worth knowing before you book a telephone service. Our comparison of telephone and face-to-face befriending sets out the practical differences.
At Let’s Just Talk OK, calls are by telephone for adults aged 18 and over in the UK. Your chosen befriender rings the number supplied at booking from our office number. You need somewhere you can hear them and a phone you’re comfortable using. There’s no camera to switch on. If using the phone is difficult, explain the practical issue before paying and ask what the provider can offer.
Look at who will call and who gets to choose
If a provider pairs you with a volunteer, ask how the introduction happens and what happens if your interests or available times don’t match. If you choose a person yourself, check that you can also see an appointment that suits you. A name on a list doesn’t tell you whether that person can ring on the afternoon you have free.
Our booking form shows each befriender’s first name beside the call length. You can see who you can book with and then look at the calendar for that person. If it’s important to speak with the same person again, check their next available times before making plans around a regular call.
If you’re looking on behalf of a parent, show them the options and ask whether they actually want a call. A surprise ring from somebody they’ve never met can be unwelcome, however kindly meant. Agree who is calling, which number they’ll use and when to have the phone nearby. Booking for another adult also means respecting their say over what they discuss.
Can you see the price before payment?
Try a simple test. Without entering any payment details, can you say how much a single call costs and how long it lasts? Then look for the arrangements for changing an appointment. If Thursday afternoon is sometimes taken up with another commitment, the notice required to move a call may matter as much as the price.
Our booking page shows £30 for 30 minutes and £45 for 60 minutes. The longer appointment buys more time for conversation. You can check the price for the person and length you’ve picked before you pay. Read the customer terms while you’re deciding, particularly if somebody else will need to help with the booking.
If you’d prefer a free arrangement, start there. Our guide to free and paid befriending explains the questions to ask about eligibility, matching and timing. A paid appointment only makes sense if the particular arrangement works for you.
What does “confidential” mean here?
Look for an explanation you can read before sharing anything personal. Are calls recorded? Does the befriender write notes? Who can see them? In what circumstances might information have to be shared? These are separate questions. A sentence about recordings alone doesn’t answer the question about notes.
Our calls are not recorded. A befriender may write notes for future conversations or safeguarding. The confidentiality and safety page explains access and the exceptions to confidentiality, including safeguarding concerns and legal requirements. You can read it yourself or go through it with the person who will receive the call. If something remains unclear, ask about that point before telling your story.
Where do the service’s responsibilities end?
Imagine a family member asking a befriender to ring back and check why their dad sounded unwell. That request goes beyond an ordinary booked conversation. If the reason for arranging contact is that someone needs supervision, help at home or a welfare check, look for a provider that explicitly offers the help you need. You can compare befriending and companionship care when deciding which enquiries to make.
Likewise, if you want professional help to work on a mental health concern, check what kind of service you’re contacting. Our guide to befriending and counselling explains the distinction. A provider can tell you what will happen during a call. How you’ll feel afterwards is personal. For a closer look at what research can tell us, read the evidence on the benefits of befriending.
One final check before you choose
Try explaining the arrangement to somebody else in one sentence. “I’ve picked a half-hour phone call, I know who’s ringing, I’ve seen the price and I know where the terms are.” If you get stuck halfway through, that’s the question to take back to the provider. There’s no need to decide until the answer makes sense to you.
If what you’d like is an ordinary conversation at an agreed time, read about finding someone to talk to by phone.
