Befriend Inc

It is the last few days that our annual survey is open!

Here’s a little peek at what people in our community have been sharing this year:
💛 “I am more confident in being myself and going at my own pace”
💛 “I have developed a network of supportive friends”
💛 “I feel more connected and less alone, like I have a place where I genuinely belong”
💛 “Meeting with my Befriend group has changed my outlook on life and gives me so much positive energy”

It’s anonymous, takes just 3 to 5 minutes, and every single response genuinely shapes what Befriend becomes. Your experience truly matters to us. Link in bio, or grab a paper version at your local group. And if you’d like a hand filling it in, just reach out. We are always happy to do it together.

Last night, we were announced as the winner of the Inclusive Volunteering Award at the 2026 WA Volunteer of the Year Awards!! 🎊

This award celebrates volunteering programs that create inclusive cultures of participation, recognising that the "gift of giving" can look different for people from all walks of life, backgrounds, abilities and life circumstances.

Over the last few years, we've been working alongside our community to build flexible, meaningful pathways for contribution. Rather than defining what volunteering "should" look like, we help people discover what they care about, what their unique gifts are, and how they want to share them. For us, it's simply about doing something meaningful that connects.

💛 For some, this means becoming a Befriend Host, bringing people together around shared interests and helping others feel a sense of belonging along the way.

💛 Others discover something about themselves through Befriend and go on to explore volunteering with other organisations and we love seeing this ripple effect of community spirit grow.

💛 Some dream up their own ideas, gatherings and projects, with Befriend as a supportive companion.

💛 Others contribute through street BBQs, one-off events, fundraising, or local clean-ups.

💛 And for some, contribution simply looks like brightening someone's day or helping another person feel seen, which matters deeply too.

This award truly belongs to everyone involved: the community members who courageously explored new ways of contributing; the partners who have generously supported us; and our staff team, who continue creating thoughtful, engaging and safe ways for people to explore what matters to them.

Here's to the year ahead! May more people discover something they care deeply about, and find beautifully-you ways of sharing it. And if you need a hand figuring out what that might look like, we would love to walk alongside you. 💛🌱

Thank you to Volunteering WA for this special celebration of community spirit!

Volunteering is one of the best places to make a lasting friendship! Here’s some helpful tips:

- Start with what you’re both doing - easy, no pressure
- Use small talk as a treasure hunt for things in common
- Be the one to take it further, a coffee, another event, a text!
- Give it time, good friendships don’t rush :)

Showing up is already the hard part; the rest follows.

Read the full blog on our website, link in bio.