Local Charity Combatting Social Isolation to Close
BEfriend volunteers had been supporting lonely residents for 30 years
The organisation will continue to operate until June. Picture: BEfriend
March 24, 2026
BEfriend, the long-established befriending charity operating in Ealing and Hounslow, has announced it will close at the end of June after more than three decades supporting residents experiencing loneliness and social isolation. The trustees said the decision had been taken with “great sadness” following ongoing financial pressures that have made the charity’s future unsustainable.
In a statement, Julia Macrae, Chair of Trustees, said: “After over 30 years of operations, we have made the extremely difficult decision to close. While the work of the charity remains vital, the financial backdrop for small charities like us has become increasingly challenging, and we have not been able to secure sufficient funds to ensure a sustainable future for the organisation.”
BEfriend, founded in 1994, has provided one-to-one volunteer befriending for people who are isolated, housebound or living with disabilities, mild dementia or mental health conditions. The charity’s volunteers typically offered weekly visits lasting one to two hours, often becoming a lifeline for people who might otherwise go days or weeks without meaningful social contact.
The organisation ran two core programmes: the Befriending Project, which supported people who were isolated due to disability, age or health conditions, and the Linked Minds Project, which matched volunteers with residents experiencing isolation linked to diagnosed mental health problems. In both cases, volunteers worked closely with supervisors and clients to build trust, set goals and provide consistent companionship.
BEfriend’s model was built on the belief that “simple human connection can make a huge difference to physical and mental wellbeing.” Over the years, the charity became a key part of the local voluntary sector, working alongside GPs, social prescribers, mental health teams and community organisations to reach residents most at risk of loneliness.
The trustees said their priority over the coming months would be to support existing clients and volunteers as the service winds down. “We will be communicating with all volunteers and clients individually over the coming weeks,” Ms Macrae said. “We will also take time to celebrate all that BEfriend has accomplished. Over the last 30 years, the services we have provided have been life-changing for many, and we remain hugely proud of all that we have achieved.”
However, there was a mixed reaction from volunteers with charity who said they had no idea that closure was a possibility. One said, " It's shocking to me that the trustees would close down this 30 year old organisation without trying to rally the volunteers, the clients, the staff, the councils, or the communities it seems. They could have sought volunteers to temporarily take over, or at least tried to transfer some or all of the infrastructure to a church or community organization. There's deep social capital and important services that will just vanish, to the detriment of very vulnerable people."
Local voluntary sector organisations have expressed concern about the gap BEfriend’s closure may leave, particularly for residents who rely on regular face-to-face contact. Some partner organisations are exploring whether elements of the service can be absorbed into existing programmes, though no replacement scheme has yet been confirmed.
The closure reflects a wider trend affecting small charities across the UK, many of which have faced rising demand for services at the same time as grant funding has become more competitive and core costs have increased. Befriending services in particular have reported higher levels of need since the pandemic, with loneliness identified by health professionals as a growing public health concern.
BEfriend will continue operating until the end of June, with volunteers encouraged to maintain their regular visits during the transition period. The charity has said it will provide updates as arrangements progress.
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