What is Befriending?
Befriending is a conversation with someone who can relate to your experiences. It’s a low-pressure service led by you, offering encouragement, guidance, and a listening ear from a trained befriender who cares.
How does Befriending work?
Our service connects you with a trained befriender who offers:
✅ Regular Check-Ins – weekly support via email or video calls (whichever works best for you).
✅ Emotional Support – someone who listens without judgment.
✅ Encouragement & Motivation – helping you set small, achievable goals and celebrate progress.
✅ Signposting to Additional Resources – guidance on further support when needed.
Befriending is a flexible and supportive space, running for six months, with the option to extend to nine months or reapply if you’d like further support.
Who is Befriending suitable for?
This service is open to anyone aged 12+ affected by an eating disorder – whether you’re in recovery or a loved one seeking support.
Having been on both sides, I know befriending is an excellent service. It helped me to get over the final hurdles of my own recovery, and now that I am a befriender myself, it has allowed me to see value in my experience of having an eating disorder and I am so glad that I have the opportunity to take something positive from it by helping others.
Befriending is fully funded and accessible to anyone affected by an eating disorder.
Befriending is delivered by email, phone or video for 6 to 9 months.
Why is Befriending Important?
💙 Recovery can feel lonely, but you don’t have to go through it alone.
💙 Befriending is about connection, understanding, and encouragement.
💙 We’re here to support you in a way that works for you.
Who are our Befrienders?
Our befrienders are caring, compassionate volunteers with a shared passion for supporting those affected by eating disorders. Many bring valuable lived experience or backgrounds in mental health, offering understanding from both personal and professional perspectives. All befrienders complete comprehensive training and receive ongoing supervision and support from the First Steps ED team.
Befriending is Not a Crisis Service
While our befriending service offers emotional support and connection, it is not a crisis service. If you’re struggling to keep yourself safe, we will help you find the right professional support.
It’s Okay to Take a Step Back
If you don’t feel up to talking, that’s okay. Just send a quick message to let your befriender know – they’ll understand and be there when you’re ready.
Your Conversations Are Confidential
All chats are private, but if there are serious concerns about your safety, we may need to seek additional support to ensure you’re safe and supported.
Important: Please note that First Steps ED services are for people with mild to moderate eating disorder and comorbid mental health issues. We do not provide a crisis or emergency service. Following support from a crisis team, we require 12 weeks from your discharge date before making a referral into our services unless a professional referral is made by Integrated Community Services (ICS). If you need help for a mental health crisis or emergency, please visit the NHS website , contact your GP or for immediate assistance call 999.
Next steps
If you’re ready to take the first step towards recovery, please submit a referral using the button below. If you have any other questions or concerns, please don’t hesitate to contact us on 0300 1021685 or info@firststepsed.co.uk.
We’re here to support you every step of the way. Referrals can either be made by yourself, by a parent/ carer, or professional support worker. After making a referral, we aim to make contact within 10 workings days.
