FriendBee SEND Befriending

Click here to check out our FriendBee website!

FriendBee is a SEND Befriending Service delivered by Ruils that matches young people with a paid Befriender to help them access social and leisure activities. We currently support young people up to the age of 25 that have a Special Education Need or Disability (SEND) that impacts their social life, who also live in the London Boroughs of Richmond or Kingston.

Our Befrienders are recruited, trained, vetted and employed by Ruils to make finding the right support easier for families. Our service is designed to make long-term and sustainable matches between families and Befrienders. While we help coordinate matches and manage the employment of Befrienders, parents work directly with Befrienders to establish a schedule for sessions.

We require that our Befrienders:

• Are over 18 years old
• Live, work or study in Richmond or Kingston Boroughs
• Have experience working with children/ young people
• Have the right to work in the UK
• Commit to at least 1 year

The hourly rate for Befrienders is £11.95 per hour (the London Living Wage) and this cost is covered by the family.

This service has website where registered families and Ruils Befrienders can connect. To learn more about how it works and register for the service visit www.friendbee.co.uk.

Service Coordinator

Rachelle Taylor

rachelletaylor@ruils.co.uk

075 0802 2431

To read about other children's services at Ruils, visit our pages on Family Matters (for family support), SEND Advice and Bright Futures (SEND Transitions).

Work with us!

If you are looking to become a Befriender, please visit https://www.friendbee.co.uk/befriender-landing/

This service is funded by The National Lottery Community Fund.