Befriending at First Steps ED
At First Steps ED, we understand that some days are harder than others and that recovering from an eating disorder can feel overwhelming and isolating. Our Befriending Service is here to offer a safe space to offload and be heard, providing compassionate, non-judgmental support from someone who truly understands.
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.
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 Can Access Our Befriending Service?
This service is open to anyone affected by an eating disorder – whether you’re in recovery or a loved one seeking support.
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.
Important to Know
🔹 Befriending is NOT a crisis service. If you’re struggling to keep yourself safe, we will help you find the right support.
🔹 If you don’t feel up to talking, that’s okay. Just send a quick message to let your befriender know – they’ll understand.
🔹 Your conversations are confidential, but if there are serious concerns about your safety, we may need to seek additional support.
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.
