Need help now?
If someone is in immediate danger or you cannot keep yourself or someone else safe, call 999 or go to A&E. In England, call NHS 111 and select the mental health option for urgent mental health help. Samaritans offers free listening support, day or night, on 116 123.
Let’s Just Talk OK is a booked befriending service, not a crisis service. Do not wait for an appointment if you need urgent help. Our Need help now? page explains other routes to support.
Is there a helpline I can call just to talk?
Yes. The NHS lists free listening and befriending options. If something is troubling you, you can call Samaritans free on 116 123, day or night. For people aged 55 and over, Age UK’s Silver Line Helpline offers free conversation and support on 0800 4 70 80 90, 24 hours a day.
Let’s Just Talk OK offers a different option: a paid, one-to-one phone conversation booked in advance with a befriender you choose. A call costs £30 for 30 minutes or £45 for 60 minutes. Our service is for adults aged 18 and over in the UK.
When you simply want someone to talk to
You do not need a carefully prepared reason to book a conversation. Perhaps you have spent the day on your own and would like to hear another person’s voice. Perhaps there is something you want to say without bringing it into your next family catch-up. Or perhaps you would enjoy talking about a film, your weekend or an interest that matters to you.
A befriending call gives you an agreed time to talk with someone outside your everyday circle. You choose what to share. The conversation can be light, thoughtful or a mixture of both; it does not need to become a discussion about everything that is happening in your life.
You feel lonely or isolated
If your day has had little conversation, you may want a straightforward chat. Living alone, working from home or having friends far away can leave gaps in the week. A booked call is one possible point of contact alongside friends, family, local groups and free services. It does not replace those relationships or guarantee that loneliness will go away.
You want someone to listen
You might know what you want to say but prefer to say it to someone who is not involved. There is room to talk through an ordinary day or explain what has been on your mind. You can tell your befriender that you mainly want to be heard, rather than turn the call into a search for answers.
You need to vent
Sometimes you want to put a frustrating experience into words. You can talk about what happened and what you would like someone to understand. The conversation still needs to be respectful. A befriender cannot act as a counsellor, resolve a dispute or give professional advice, but a call can provide time for you to speak.
You just fancy a chat
There does not have to be a problem. You might want to share a funny moment, talk about a hobby or enjoy a conversation about something other than work. You do not have to describe yourself as lonely to use the service.
What happens when you book?
- Choose your call length. Pick 30 minutes for £30 or 60 minutes for £45.
- Choose your befriender and an available time. Befrienders are shown by first name. Please book at least 24 hours ahead.
- Enter your details and pay. Use the telephone number you want us to call, complete the booking and check your confirmation email.
- Answer your phone at the booked time. Your befriender rings you from our office number. You do not need to start a video meeting or install an app.
All calls are by telephone. You can use a mobile or landline, and there is no camera to set up. Read how telephone befriending works for the booking steps, notes and practical details.
30 or 60 minutes: what suits you?
| Call length | Price | Choosing your time |
|---|---|---|
| 30 minutes | £30 | A shorter appointment if you prefer to start with half an hour. |
| 60 minutes | £45 | More time for a longer conversation at your own pace. |
Both options are one-to-one phone calls. You can choose the length that fits your budget and the time you want to set aside. A longer booking does not promise a different emotional outcome. Available appointments are shown in the booking form.
Choose a befriender and book a call
You do not need a perfect opening line
“I wasn’t sure what to talk about, but I fancied a chat” is enough to begin. You could start with how your morning went, something you watched or a topic you have been meaning to share. There is no need to write a speech or organise your thoughts into a story.
If you would find it useful, jot down one or two things before the call. Choose somewhere you can speak comfortably, check your phone has charge and keep it nearby. You can say if you would prefer a slower pace, change the subject or leave something for another time. You decide how much you share.
What befriending can and cannot offer
This is time for an ordinary conversation with a befriender. It is not therapy, counselling, medical advice, emergency care or crisis support. We do not diagnose conditions, provide treatment or promise a change in how you will feel after a call.
If you need help with your health or are struggling to cope, a healthcare professional or an appropriate support service may be the right next step. The NHS guide to loneliness explains options, including when to seek medical help. You do not need to buy a call to use the free services listed above.
Calls, privacy and written notes
Calls are not recorded. Befrienders may keep written notes for future reference and safeguarding in the befriender notes section of our system. Those notes are for befriender access. A call is therefore not the same as an anonymous conversation with no record of your booking.
Confidentiality has limits where safeguarding or legal obligations apply. Please read the customer terms and conditions before booking, including the cancellation conditions. Our frequently asked questions cover other practical questions.
Find the kind of conversation you are looking for
These pages explain the same phone-based service from different starting points:
- Speak to someone online: arrange your call online, then speak by phone.
- Listening service by phone: learn about setting aside time to be heard.
- Vent to someone on the phone: read about a conversation when you want to get something off your chest.
- Paying for a befriending call: understand what a paid appointment offers.
- Befriending for older people: explore booked calls and free alternatives.
- Telephone befriending across the UK: find out how calls work wherever you live.
If you are arranging a call for a parent or another adult, make sure they know about the call and want to take part. Give the number they will answer. Read our guide to booking calls for a parent for the arrangements, prices and privacy limits. You can also explore our existing guide to support ideas for adults living alone.
Make time for a conversation
If a booked befriending call sounds right for you, choose your befriender, call length and an available appointment. You can read How It Works, look through the FAQ or return to the Let’s Just Talk OK homepage first.
Free-service details checked on 1 November 2026 against NHS urgent-help guidance, Samaritans and The Silver Line.
