Over the last few months, Ecas has organised a range of outings for our befriending matches, funded by our friends at Aegon UK.
From a barge to the Botanics, the Fringe to the Filmhouse, with some tasty food along the way…..
Our special trips for individual befriending pairs were also a great success.
These outings offer an opportunity for matches to get out, do something out of the ordinary and meet some new faces, leaving all the logistics to Ecas.
Here are a few highlights from our group outings, plus a very special dinner for two…
Re-Union Canal
In August 2025, we organised a group outing for befriending matches. We started at Loudons in Fountainbridge, enjoying a delicious gourmet lunch. One or two may even have (over) indulged on their sweet treats!
Making our way down to the nearby canal, volunteers and staff from Re-Union Canal welcomed us on to the Lochrin Belle – an adapted narrowboat – and we enjoyed a 2-hour cruise, west along the waterways and back again. Even a bit of rain didn’t dampen our spirits.
“I thought it was very well planned and very considerate about our needs. The activity was a great idea because we were doing something without having to physically exert ourselves.
“For those of us with social issues, it still felt comfortable having you two [Sam and Rosa] there, and it was ok if you didn’t feel like talking and was ok it you did, so it was good for physical and mental disabilities [i.e. neurodivergence].” JC
“Amazing. I saw my befriendee unwind” MK
The Royal Botanic Gardens
In October 2025, we were very pleased to welcome some befriending matches on an autumnal outing to the Royal Botanic Garden in Edinburgh, on what was a beautiful sunny Sunday!
With the help of additional funding from Aegon, we are able to organise transport door-to-door for four befriending matches, as well as a lovely afternoon tea style buffet lunch at the Terrace Café in the gardens.
We were then treated to a lovely guided tour of part of the gardens.
It was wonderful to learn some botanical bit and bobs, as well as some history of the gardens from knowledgeable volunteers.
“ I had a really nice day and the weather made it event better.” CM
Individual outings
As group outings aren’t necessarily everyone’s cup of tea, we wanted to make sure the offer to do something special was extended to all befriending matches.
In August, we organised for one match to attend a performance from the Ladyboys of Bangkok at Festival Square as part of the Edinburgh Fringe. It was the third time they had attended together!
In September, to commemorate and celebrate the ending of their time together in a befriending match, we supported a match to go to the restaurant Six By Nico for an experimental 10-course ‘Space’ themed meal!
They had a fantastic time and the experience looked and tasted ‘out of this world!’
“It was amazing!” HM
“It was fun and really nice; there was floating food! My befriendee really enjoyed it too.” TM
In November, we were also able to organise one match going to the Filmhouse to see ‘I Swear’…
Thank you to our brilliant Befrienders and Befriendees for coming along on our trips over the last few months.
Thank you to the wonderful folk at all the places we visited for making us feel welcome.
A HUGE thank you to Aegon for making these trips possible.
