Providing one to one support to people seeking sanctuary in Bristol
We match a local volunteer with a Bristol-based person seeking asylum or refuge, who then meet weekly for a period of up to one year. We equip the volunteers with the tools and support they need in order to provide the companionship and encouragement that people need.
Befriending is listening, drinking tea, laughing, hearing difficult stories, showing compassion, exploring the city, being committed, going for a walk together, learning from another culture. It can have a profound impact on both the volunteer and the person they meet with!
Kate shows me everything I need in Bristol. She came along at the right time. I felt so lonely but now I don’t feel like that. Someone cares about me. She is like my sister and I don’t want to lose her.
Maria, Eritrea
Kevin & Yasser’s Story
Yassar came to Bristol from Syria through the UN Resettlement Programme. Kevin lives in Bristol and wanted to welcome people arriving from different countries. Befriending has helped Yasser to improve his English and confidence and has helped Kevin to learn about another culture and even get to know the city he lives in better.
Without befriend, other service providers would have nowhere to refer some of the most isolated of our clients, whose isolation and exclusion would then be more likely to become entrenched.
Elinor, Refugee Action
Volunteer
Would like to welcome an asylum seeker or refugee isolated in Bristol and have 2 hours a week spare? Find out more and sign up to make a positive difference in the lives of those new to Bristol.
Referrals
To refer someone to Befriend, please complete the online referral form. We only accept agency referrals at this time. If you are not part of an agency but would like to refer someone, please contact nic.hope@bridgesforcommunities.com
We work closely with Aid Box Connections, a 10-week programme for refugees and asylum seekers run by Aid Box Community. We also work with Borderlands 6-month mentoring programme, in order to ensure that our programmes compliment one another and provide the best services possible for the people we work with.
Befriend is supported by:
