Our charity was founded by Mike Niles, in 2017.
Mike experienced loneliness first-hand while working down in London so became a befriender himself to make connections. Seeing how extensive the issue of loneliness and isolation was in the older populations, he decided to do something about it.
Based in a makeshift office in his parents garage in Doncaster, the objective was simple: to reduce the isolation experienced by older neighbours in the town by bringing people together. After a lot of deliberation about a name for the charity, it was named, simply: b:friend.
Since then the charity has grown to cover the whole of South Yorkshire and parts of Derbyshire with plans to expand even further. Over 800 older neighbours engage with the b:friend project each week and this number is set to rise.
We offer face to face meetings where our wonderful volunteers are paired with an older neighbour who may benefit from a little more company. It may be that they don’t get out as much as they used to due to health, mobility, bereavement, loss of confidence. It could be that they still get out but don’t get opportunities for meaningful connection and conversation.
At b:friend we understand the importance of connecting with our community and our peers so along with the 1:1 befriending we offer, we also deliver weekly Social Clubs aimed at those older in age but younger at heart. Each club activity is different… and they’re certainly not boring. From shaking-up Bond-style mocktails, performing street-dance routines, exploring fascinating cultures, designing tattoos, chocolate tasting sessions and jiving to Bollywood-inspired music… members are exploring new horizons and getting out of their comfort zone each week.
