Just out? New to the area, maybe even the country? Simply want to meet some new faces?
Gay Helpline, Lesbian Line and GLYNI all offer a befriending service to anyone, particularly those who have no other gay or lesbian contacts because of social isolation or because they are not "out". It is a chance to meet with two of our volunteers, either at our offices, or at a social venue nearby. The object of a befriending is to allow you to discuss your feelings and explore your options in a comfortable, supportive and friendly environment.
This might lead on to perhaps perticipating in one of our organisations if you desire, or if nothing else, you will have met a few friendly faces, and had the opportunity to talk with some people who won't judge you for who you are.
If you think you would be interested in arranging a befriending, simply contact us through one of the three websites in the menu at the top, and talk with one of our volunteers. They will be happy to provide you with more information and to talk to you about what to do from here.
What is a typical befriending?
A typical befriending consists of a few steps. Generally, you contact us to start the process! From there we will arrange with you a time and place of your choosing, somewhere you will feel comfortable, perhaps a local tea or coffee shop, so that you can meet our volunteers in a neutral and stress-free environment, where you won't feel trapped or hassled.
You can spend some time talking with our volunteers, who can answer any questions you have about ourselves, or organisation, the services we provide, and also about yourself! If you feel comfortable, you can tell us a bit about what you do, and why you contacted us.
Hopefully by the end of the process, if nothing else, you will have made a few new friends like yourself, and hey, we even pay for the coffee ;)
