What we are about
FriendBee is a SEND Befriending Service 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 Borough of Richmond upon Thames or Royal Borough of Kingston upon Thames.
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.
For more detailed information about our service and available positions, click the links below.
"We have two sons with very different needs who have been perfectly matched with their Befrienders. They have both gained in confidence and look forward to the next outing, which they have discussed or researched and planned. Every effort is made to ensure that my sons enjoy and achieve the best from their activity."
Angela S. FriendBee Parent
“This service has helped my son to feel supported in joining in his climbing class, to feel accepted by other people outside the family, to feel more confident being out and about, to branch out and visit new places, try new walks.”
Kingston FamilyFriendBee is a RUILS Service
Ruils is a local charity based in Teddington, that supports children and adults with disabilities and the elderly to live independently, be part of their community and to live life to the full. We provide information, advice, befriending and activities to our clients and their families. To visit the main Ruils website, click here.
