Befriending Lewis was launched by Volunteering Hebrides, part of the Third Sector Hebrides group in November 2015.   Third Sector Hebrides is an independent organisation which exists to support the vision of fairer, more prosperous, better educated and healthier communities in the Western Isles. Our purpose is to provide services to people, organisations, social enterprises and communities in order that they may develop and flourish.

The Befriending Service has been brought to life by a passionate team of staff and volunteers with a very real heart for encouraging and helping the people in our community.   The service delivers a strengths based, all-encompassing Befriending Service, which by it’s very nature is led by the needs of the Befriendees and their input is crucial in shaping the service they receive – and the service going forward.

A wealth of work goes on behind the scenes to ensure that the service is able to offer full support to it’s participants.  We received the WAVE (Western Isles Award for Volunteering Excellence)  from the Volunteer Centre Western Isles in recognition of our commitment to volunteering, and the robust systems and policies we put in place to actively support and encourage both volunteer Befrienders and Befriendees and their families and carers.

The results of befriending can be very significant. Befriending often provides people with a new direction in life, opens up a range of activities and leads to increased self-esteem and self- confidence.

Pictured right are the Befriending Lewis staff team receiving the WAVE award.