This service supports people who are socially isolated due to severe and enduring mental health problems. It aims to help people to form sustainable links with the community through 1:1 support and encouragement.

It provides a service that is tailored to individual needs through goal setting with each person at the beginning of the befriending. It assists people to access services, explore community facilities and build links to decrease isolation. Though the therapeutic relationship that service-user builds with their befriender it aims to increase individual’s confidence and self-esteem.

The Community Links Befriending Service has four paid workers and a bank of volunteers who receive in-depth training and on-going supervision. For more information about becoming a befriender, visit the volunteering section.

Generally the befriending session will last for two hours and be on a weekly basis, although this can be flexible to meet individual need.

This service is available to people who live in the Portsmouth area, are aged 16-65 and who have enduring mental distress. Referrals can come from a variety of sources such as Community Mental Health Teams, Ward Staff, Support Time and Recovery Workers and Occupational Therapists. People must be part of the Care Programme Approach (except in exceptional circumstances e.g. being on a waiting list for a care co-ordinator) and be linked in with a member of a Community Mental Health Team.

Download a Referral Form for this service,
or contact us directly.

Can't download the form? You need Adobe Acrobat Reader.