If you want to speak to someone online, it helps to know what happens after you book. At Let’s Just Talk OK, you choose and pay for your call on the website, then speak with your chosen Community Befriender by telephone. We offer booked phone conversations for adults aged 18 and over.
There is no video meeting to join and no webcam to switch on. The befriender rings the telephone number you provide, from our office number, at the booked time. This is a paid conversation service, not an instant web chat or a helpline.
For an overview of our calls and the options available, visit Someone to Talk to.
Book online, talk by phone
“Online” describes how you arrange the call. The conversation itself happens on the phone. You can use the website to look at the available befrienders, choose a call length and find a time in the booking calendar.
You choose who you would like to speak with. You are not assigned to an unnamed person or asked to wait in a live-chat queue. Available people and times are shown in the booking form; please check the calendar rather than assuming a call is available straight away.
A phone call may suit you if you prefer to focus on the conversation without appearing on camera. Choose somewhere you can hear comfortably and speak with as much privacy as you need. You do not need to prepare a presentation, complete a questionnaire about your feelings or have a dramatic reason for booking.
What would you like to talk about?
You might have had a long working day and want to tell someone about it. Perhaps the house is quiet, your usual friends are busy, or you would like a conversation with someone outside your everyday circle. You might simply fancy a chat about a favourite programme, a hobby, a trip or something that made you laugh.
You can also say that you would like someone to listen while you let off steam. There is no requirement to make the conversation entertaining or arrive with a clear story. “I’m not sure where to start” is a perfectly ordinary beginning.
You decide which personal details to share. There is no need to name other people, disclose private information about them or discuss a subject you would prefer to leave alone. Our listening service by phone explains more about having a conversation without expecting advice or a solution.
Two call lengths, clear prices
- 30 minutes: £30. Choose this if you would like to book half an hour.
- 60 minutes: £45. Choose this if you would like more time for the conversation.
Both options are phone calls with a Community Befriender. The difference is the amount of time you book. Neither option is a counselling session, a clinical consultation or a promise that you will feel a particular way afterwards.
Before paying, check the chosen befriender, length, date and time. A booked call is time set aside for your conversation; it does not provide continuous contact or access to someone between appointments.
How to arrange your call
- Open the booking page and choose a 30- or 60-minute call.
- Choose your befriender and an available time.
- Enter your booking details, including the phone number the befriender should call.
- Check the details and pay by card through Stripe.
- Look for your confirmation email and be ready for the phone call at your booked time.
Keep the confirmation email so you can refer back to the appointment. If you need to change or cancel it, use the customer panel and follow the 24-hour notice terms. Our How It Works page describes the booking process, and the FAQ answers common questions.
Before your first conversation
Check that your phone is charged and the number on your booking is correct. If possible, avoid a place where you will be interrupted or where other people can overhear information you want to keep private. You can have a drink nearby or jot down a topic, but neither is necessary.
If having a starting point would make the call easier, you might say, “I’d like an ordinary chat today,” or “There’s something I want to say out loud, and I’d appreciate you listening.” You do not have to tell your life story. The conversation can begin with something small.
For ideas, you can read our articles on starting a conversation and talking when things feel overwhelming. These are optional reading, not preparation you must finish before booking.
Privacy and the limits of the service
Calls are not recorded. That does not mean no information is kept: booking details are needed to arrange the service, and befrienders may make written notes. Please read the customer terms for confidentiality limits. We do not promise absolute secrecy.
Our calls are for friendly conversation. They are not therapy, counselling, medical advice, diagnosis, treatment or crisis support. A befriender does not replace a GP, therapist or specialist support service. If you need urgent help, use the urgent-help page rather than waiting for an appointment.
Choose a conversation that fits your day
If a booked phone conversation is what you are looking for, you can choose your befriender and a time. You book online; your befriender calls you by phone. The prices are £30 for 30 minutes and £45 for 60 minutes, for adults aged 18 and over.
