Sometimes you would like someone to listen without turning the conversation into a list of things you ought to do. Let’s Just Talk OK offers a listening service by phone for adults aged 18 and over: booked time for a friendly conversation with a Community Befriender you choose.
You can talk about an ordinary day, share something that has been on your mind, or simply enjoy a chat. Calls cost £30 for 30 minutes or £45 for 60 minutes. You book online, and your befriender rings you from our office number at the arranged time.
If you are exploring the different ways to arrange a conversation, our Someone to Talk to page brings the options together.
What our listening service offers
A call is time set aside for your conversation. Your befriender listens and responds as another person, rather than assessing you, diagnosing a problem or deciding what you should do next. You do not have to bring a specific difficulty or make the conversation serious.
Perhaps the people you normally speak to are busy. Perhaps you would like to talk with someone who is not involved in your work or family life. You may want an ordinary conversation after a quiet day at home, or a chance to say something without asking a friend to take sides.
You can say at the beginning, “I’d like you to listen today rather than offer suggestions.” You can also ask for a lighter chat. There is no required topic, and no expectation that you will leave with a decision or a solution.
Listening without trying to fix things
Being listened to can mean having room to finish a thought, change your mind or explain what you mean. Your befriender may ask a question to understand you, respond to what you have said or share in an everyday conversation. Listening does not require you to speak continuously for the whole appointment.
If you want to let off steam with someone on the phone, you can make that clear. If you would rather talk about a film, a hobby, a place you have visited or something amusing that happened, that is welcome too.
You do not need to make your story tidy before the call. You might begin with the part that is easiest to say, or with “I don’t quite know where to start.” A short pause is fine. You choose how much detail to share and which subjects to leave out.
What a booked call is not
Our service is friendly conversation, not therapy, counselling, coaching, medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. Befrienders do not provide clinical assessments or a treatment plan. Booking a call is not a substitute for getting professional help when that is what you need.
The service is not an emergency line, an instant web chat or continuous support between appointments. Available times are shown in the booking calendar. Please do not rely on a booking being available immediately.
We make no promise about how you will feel during or after a call. The service you pay for is the booked conversation itself. If you need urgent or specialist support, please use the urgent-help page to find an appropriate route.
Choose your befriender and call length
You choose your Community Befriender when you book. Look at the people and appointment times currently available rather than assuming the service will match you with someone automatically.
- 30 minutes for £30: half an hour set aside for your conversation.
- 60 minutes for £45: a longer appointment if you would like more time.
Both are phone calls. There is no video option to choose and no camera to prepare. The two prices reflect the length of the booking, rather than different levels of advice or professional support.
You can check the available options on the booking page. Before paying, make sure you have selected the person, length, date and time you intend.
How the phone call works
- Choose your call length, befriender and an available time online.
- Enter your details, including the phone number you want us to call.
- Pay by card through Stripe and look for the booking confirmation email.
- Be ready for your befriender to ring from our office number at the booked time.
Keep your confirmation email so you can refer to the appointment details. Changes and cancellations are handled through the customer panel and are subject to the 24-hour notice terms. You can read the complete booking outline on How It Works.
A little preparation, if you want it
Find somewhere you can hear comfortably and speak without unwanted interruptions. Check that your phone has enough charge and that the number on your booking is correct. If other people are nearby, consider what you are comfortable saying where they might hear it.
You can jot down a topic or two, but there is no homework. You could start by saying what kind of conversation you would like: “Just a chat,” “I’d like to talk about my week,” or “I need to say this out loud to someone who isn’t involved.”
Our articles on talking with a neutral listener and being heard without judgement explore related questions. Reading them is optional; you do not need to prepare before booking.
Privacy, recordings and written notes
Calls are not recorded. Booking information is still needed to arrange and administer your call, and befrienders may make written notes. A call without an audio recording is not the same as a service that keeps no information.
Confidentiality has limits, including legal requirements and concerns about harm. Please read the customer terms rather than assuming absolute secrecy. You can choose not to share details you do not want to discuss, including identifying information about other people.
The FAQ covers common questions about calls, age requirements and booking. If you are looking specifically for how an online booking becomes a telephone conversation, see Speak to Someone Online.
Book time for a conversation
If a friendly phone conversation is what you are looking for, choose a befriender and an available time. Our listening service is for adults aged 18 and over, at £30 for 30 minutes or £45 for 60 minutes.
If you need urgent help, do not wait for a booked call. Visit Need help now? for the appropriate support options.
