Raising money for Ruils’ Volunteer Befriending service connecting disabled people, people with mental health conditions and people who are lonely and isolated, with their community. Operating in Richmond, the project aims to improve clients’ physical health, mental health and overall wellbeing.

Ruils’ Volunteer Befriending Service matches trained volunteers with clients based on shared interests and backgrounds, encouraging a friendship to grow over time. We are currently delivering befriending to 57 clients but our capacity is limited by our funding. We have more than 20 people waiting for support who we are unable to reach because we don’t have the funding to recruit, vet, train and match any further Befrienders. This means that it takes 4-6 months to deliver befriending sessions following a request from a new client in need of support. It costs £216.98 to provide a new client with Befriending.

One of our clients said: “I suffer from Agoraphobia, and because of this illness, I can be very isolated and lonely. Ruils' befriending service has allowed me to flourish in ways that I wouldn't have if I hadn't met my befriender. She has shown compassion and a deep desire to help me overcome my challenges. We have been to beautiful places in nature, and I have grown in confidence, leaving the house. Befriending is not just a companion; it has helped me with my future.”

Please help us provide this life changing opportunity to more people in need. Thank you.