Two charities with one of the largest teams of befriending volunteers in the UK have joined forces to celebrate National Befriending Week.
Together Co and Time to Talk Befriending have more than 600 volunteers combined and run befriending services in Brighton & Hove.
They will bring volunteers together for an afternoon tea at Brighton Palace Pier’s Palm Court during Befriending Week, which runs from November 1-7, to say a huge thank you for the time they give to both organisations.
The event on the afternoon of November 7 will be a time for people to make new connections and to listen to each other’s experiences of befriending.
Bella Sankey, leader of Brighton and Hove City Council, and Jackie O’Quinn, the Mayor of Brighton & Hove, will also be there to meet and chat to the volunteers.
Over the past 11 years National Befriending Week has celebrated the amazing work of the sector and raised the profile of befriending across the UK.
This year the theme is Befriending is Support, highlighting the important role of befriending staff and volunteers. Without them, support for people experiencing loneliness and social isolation would not be possible.
Emily Kenward is the founder and CEO of Time to Talk Befriending, and vice chair of Befriending Networks which runs National Befriending Week. She said: “Collectively, our befrienders make a significant difference in overcoming loneliness.
“We are delighted to be joining Together Co at Brighton Palace Pier to celebrate the time our volunteers give to our community and the work our organisations do across the city.”
April Baker, Together Co CEO, added: “It is so important to us to recognise the value, time and support that our volunteers bring to both organisations.
“We simply wouldn’t be able to reach the communities we do and provide support to hundreds of people across Brighton & Hove without them.
“To have amassed more than 600 volunteers between us is incredible and we are so proud to have them representing both charities. It is only right we recognise that and say thank you.”
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