Photo of a befriender and refugee friend visiting the beach together
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Date(s)

weekly on Sunday, Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday and Saturday, starting from Tuesday, April 28, 2026 - 12:00am, forever
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Availability Details

Once matched, befrienders commit to meeting their friend on a weekly basis for at least three months, but many matches go on to form lasting friendships.

Venue Address

Tyneside
United Kingdom

Areas covered
Gateshead Wide
Key words
ESOL (English for Speakers of Other Languages)
Ethnically Marginalised Communities
Refugees / Asylum Seekers
Policies in place

DBS check required

No
Support and Training

Expenses Reimbursed

No
Other information

Age restrictions apply

Yes

Details

Applicants must be aged 18+

HostNation believes every refugee deserves a friend. We connect those offering friendship with those needing it.

Befriending is a chance to reach out as willing volunteers to give marginalised refugees and asylum seekers a more positive experience of our cities and towns and everything they have to offer. It is a chance for refugees to practise their English with a native (or at least fluent) English speaker, to learn more about British culture and traditions and to participate in English life.

A good way to look at it is to see your befriendee as your city or town's "guest" and you as their local "host". Even people who have been in the UK a decade or more have experienced very little of what Britain has to offer.

If you are interested please complete our online application process https://www.hostnation.org.uk/befriend

Skills needed

We are looking for open-minded, welcoming individuals with a desire to promote social inclusion. Experience supporting vulnerable people or refugees is a bonus, but is not mandatory. The most important thing is a friendly character and enthusiasm to share the city and region with a new friend.

Benefits for the Volunteer

As a befriender, you have the opportunity to make a new friend and broaden your own perspective. The role also provides experience of working with people seeking sanctuary.

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Register your interest
Your details will be passed onto the organisation offering this volunteer opportunity so that they can contact you directly with more information. Anonymised information will be kept for monitoring purposes.