Ecas operates a befriending service for physically disabled adults who live in Edinburgh and would like some extra company. Our befriending service provides friendship and companionship for socially isolated people.
Ecas Befrienders usually visit once a week, to help brighten your day and help you get out and about, if that’s something you would like to do.
All our befrienders are volunteers and we match people based on shared interests and personalities.
We always ensure there is some common ground as a starting point, to help the friendship flourish!
Enjoy the latest on a range of trips for our befriending matches, funded by our friends at Aegon
As her inspiring story reveals, Rosa brings a wealth of experience, humanity and a wonderful perspective to her role as Befriending Assistant
Befriending with Ecas is a rewarding and valuable way to make a meaningful difference. Our volunteers often return
Sandro and Sharon have been meeting up regularly since May 2023 and are both thoroughly enjoying each other’s company!
Find out more about Volunteer Training for our Befrienders at Ecas.
Ecas is delighted to announce that two of our volunteers have won 2024 Inspiring Volunteer Awards.
Meet Paul, an Ecas Befriender, he has been a befriender with Ecas for 9 years and is still loving the experience
Our latest Befriending Story – a tale of good times, shared passions and waffles!
“In short, the experience of befriending proved to be a massively positive part of my life and hopefully that of my befriendee.”
When Jennifer Learmonth became a volunteer befriender, she wanted to work with people as an alternative to her day job in sales.
Find out more about volunteering as a befriender – contact us today
Get support – follow our process to make a referral
All Ecas Befrienders are trained in:
Ecas Befrienders don’t provide any kind of personal care. They don’t give medication.
Ecas gets to know you both, finding out about you, your interests, hobbies and so on
We introduce you to one another. You both have the chance to decide if you want to see one another
We review the arrangement regularly as we want to make sure that both of you want to continue. It’s OK for either of you to ask for a different match at any time.
Ready to find out more about volunteering as a befriender? Contact us today
Get support – follow our process to make a referral
My befriender brings the outside world in.
I met up again with my Befriender today and had an interesting and enjoyable walk in warm sunshine. I so appreciate his time and kindness. Thank you for making it all possible.
It was always a great afternoon chatting with Stuart. I find our friendship to be very rewarding. It was a pleasure to be in the company of his character and good humour. We both shared similar interests and managed to get out to watch his favourite football team play.
The last couple of years I have been feeling pretty isolated, so meeting up and spending time with a new friend has been really good.
There’s a comfort in knowing that Ecas supports both the client and the volunteer and are there when you need them, with a personal touch.
