Yes, free befriending services are available. If the term is new to you, start with what befriending means. Some arrange regular conversations with a volunteer; others offer a telephone line you can call when you want to talk. Local schemes may offer visits or activities. The right starting point depends on your age, location, access needs and the sort of contact you would welcome.
A paid call is another option, not a requirement for being heard. This guide explains some free routes first, then the practical differences to consider before paying for a booked conversation.
Free routes to explore
A regular telephone friend through Age UK
Age UK’s Telephone Friendship Service matches people over 60 with a volunteer for a scheduled weekly call. Its sign-up page sets out the requirements, including having a landline or mobile, being able to hear and be understood by phone, and being available at a regular weekly time.
The service is free. Its current application information includes a waiting period after referral. Check the provider’s page for the latest position; a waiting time can change, and submitting a referral does not mean calls will begin immediately. If you are unsure whether it suits you or a relative, use the contact options on that page.
The Silver Line: a free call for people aged 55 and over
Age UK’s Silver Line Helpline offers free conversation and support for people aged 55 and over, 24 hours a day, every day of the year. Call 0800 4 70 80 90.
This is different from arranging a regular telephone friend. It may suit someone who wants to pick up the phone for a conversation rather than wait for a weekly appointment. Read the provider’s explanation of the service so you know what to expect.
Local and specialist befriending schemes
The Befriending Networks directory lists organisations offering different forms of contact, including telephone, in-person and online befriending. Some serve a particular area or community. It is a useful place to look, but each provider sets its own eligibility and arrangements.
Contact a suitable organisation directly to ask whether its service is free, whether it is taking referrals, and how contact begins. Do not assume every listing has places available, serves your postcode or provides the same kind of support. Befriending Networks explains that it does not guarantee the accuracy of directory listings or the services listed.
Compare the arrangement, not just the price
“Free” and “paid” describe the cost, but they do not tell you enough about the experience. A regular volunteer conversation, a helpline and a commercial appointment can all involve talking by phone while working quite differently.
- Timing: Is it a weekly arrangement, a line you ring yourself, or a slot you choose from a calendar?
- Continuity: Will you usually speak with the same person, and what happens when that person is unavailable?
- Getting started: Do you apply, need a referral, join a waiting list or book an available appointment?
- Format: Is the contact by phone, in person, in a group or in writing?
- Purpose: Is it social conversation, information, emotional support, professional treatment or something else?
Our guides to choosing a listening service, phone or face-to-face contact and what befriending research can tell us may help you compare. Ask these questions whichever option you consider. A paid service is not automatically a better fit, and a free service is not automatically available immediately. Equally, there is no reason to dismiss a free option that provides the kind of contact you want.
What our paid calls cost and include
Let’s Just Talk OK offers booked telephone conversations for adults aged 18 and over. A 30-minute call costs £30; a 60-minute call costs £45. You choose a Community Befriender by first name and select an available time. The befriender rings the number supplied for the conversation from the office number.
The payment is for time set aside for that conversation. Calls are phone only. You can read the service information and limits before deciding, or find out about a call from anywhere in the UK.
We are a commercial service, not a charity or a volunteer matching scheme. We do not claim another organisation’s training, accreditation, volunteer checks or matching process. Nor does paying for a call guarantee a change in how you feel.
When a paid, booked conversation may fit
A paid appointment may be worth considering if you want to choose an available time and befriender, understand the scope of the call and are comfortable with the cost. You might have a particular subject in mind, or simply want time for an ordinary conversation.
Before booking, decide what you are hoping to arrange. “I would like someone to chat with on Thursday” is a different request from “I need help with my medication” or “I need somebody to check that my parent is safe.” A social phone call does not provide medical advice, personal care or welfare monitoring. Compare befriending and companionship care if practical support is what you need.
If a free service meets your needs, there is no need to pay instead. If the cost of a booked call would put pressure on essentials, explore the free routes above first. You do not need to purchase a conversation to justify wanting company.
Questions before paying
Check the length, total price and cancellation arrangements before entering payment details. Ask how to contact the service if a call does not happen or the arrangement is not right for you. Read the privacy and confidentiality information, including any limits, rather than assuming every service handles calls in the same way.
At Let’s Just Talk OK, cancellation or rescheduling requires at least 24 hours’ notice through the admin email. Review the current customer terms before booking. Availability is shown in the booking calendar; it should not be treated as an emergency route.
If hearing, speech, language or another access need affects telephone conversation, check suitability first. A website booking form does not mean that the conversation itself can happen by text or video.
If you are looking for a parent
Include your parent in the choice. They may prefer a regular volunteer friend, a local activity or a call they book themselves. Explain the arrangement and price clearly and make sure they want the conversation before booking or referring them.
A family member may pay for a call with the parent’s agreement. Our guide to calls for older people explains the practical arrangements. Paying does not turn the conversation into a report for the family. If you need a care service, practical help or a safety-check arrangement, look specifically for that support rather than assuming a befriending call includes it.
Someone to talk to when things feel urgent
Our booked calls are not counselling, therapy, treatment or crisis support. Read about befriending and counselling if you are unsure of the difference. If someone is in immediate danger, 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 and night on 116 123. For further information, see our urgent-help page and the NHS guidance on urgent mental health help.
Choosing your next step
Begin with the contact you want, check eligibility and availability, and compare the practical details. You can ask questions before committing. A useful choice is one you understand and can afford, with clear limits on what it provides.
If you would like to read more about our option, see our private befriending service by phone.
Provider information checked 2 November 2026. Sources: Age UK’s Telephone Friendship Service and Silver Line, Befriending Networks’ directory, NHS urgent mental health guidance, and Samaritans. Eligibility and availability can change; check the linked provider pages.
