Befriending Week initiatives target loneliness in Aberdeen and Reading

As part of Befriending Week 2026, community initiatives in Aberdeen and Reading are working to combat loneliness and social isolation through various volunteer and support models.

In Aberdeen, the Aberdeen Befriending Network (ABN) is hosting a volunteer fair at the Aberdeen Vaccination & Wellbeing Hub on November 7, 2026. The event aims to connect residents with 16 member organisations offering diverse roles, including one-to-one befriending, wellbeing café support, and specialist administrative assistance. The ABN seeks to recruit at least 30 new volunteers during the 2026–27 period to expand its capacity to support those affected by bereavement, illness, or life transitions.

In Reading, the Community Health Champions (CHC) Menopause Café, founded by Joan St Clair, provides a dedicated space for women to find connection and support. Established to break cultural taboos and address the isolation often associated with menopause, the café offers a venue for friendship and signposting to services such as bereavement counselling.