Befriending & Mentoring
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Home Befriending Service
Our Home Befriending service connects stroke survivors with trained befrienders who have also experienced stroke.
It’s peer support in action, sharing understanding, reducing isolation and rebuilding confidence, one conversation at a time. Where aphasia isn’t a barrier as our befrienders are trained in communication techniques.
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Telephone Befriending Service
Our Telephone Befriending service connects stroke survivors and those with aphasia and long-term health conditions with supportive trained volunteers for regular, friendly phone calls.
It’s a lifeline of connection, helping to reduce isolation and bring a little light into everyday life
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Hospital Befriending Service
Our Hospital Befriending service offers one-to-one support to stroke survivors during their stay, provided by trained Stroke Survivor Befrienders.
It’s a comforting presence at a challenging time, helping people feel supported and less alone on their recovery journey.
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Stroke Mentoring Service
ReConnect’s Stroke Mentoring Service pairs individuals returning home from hospital with expert-by-experience volunteers who have also had a stroke.
This one-to-one support helps guide the transition with empathy, practical advice and encouragement, turning lived experience into hope for the road ahead.
What is Befriending or Mentoring?
We offer friendly one-to-one visits and phone chats from trained volunteer befrienders and mentors across Gloucestershire and online.
Our volunteers understand the challenges of living with a long-term health condition or recovering from a stroke. They provide company, encouragement, and support by sharing their own experiences.
All volunteers are trained in communication so aphasia is not a problem.
Home Befriending - for stroke survivors only, with visits at home for conversation and companionship.
Telephone Befriending - for stroke survivors and people with long-term health conditions, offering regular supportive phone calls.
Mentoring - for stroke survivors after NHS/community clinical support has ended, helping to build confidence and a positive outlook on life after stroke.
Support can take place at home, in cafés, in care homes or at a Reconnect Group.
Our volunteers often tell us they gain as much as they give, finding real purpose and connection through helping others.
If you or someone you know would benefit from a friendly, understanding presence, we’d love to hear from you. If you’d like to volunteer as a befriender or mentor, find out more HERE.
What Happens After Befriending?
We believe that the best long-term support can be found within your community and people are encouraged to attend our local peer support groups.
Our groups are a great place to share experiences, offer ideas, support each other, and rebuild confidence. We’re always keen to help people start and run their own groups, so if there isn’t one in your local area we’ll be happy to look at getting one set up. Find out more about our groups here.