Creating Connections Evaluating Healthwatch Greenwich Befriending Service

From June to November 2024, Healthwatch Greenwich ran a befriending pilot project. This report captures their reflections on delivering the service and an evaluation of its impact, using observations and client feedback. The service set out to address social isolation and improve clients' wellbeing by fostering meaningful connections. To capture clients' experiences of the programme, they conducted 15 interviews during their final client visits. These interviews explored reasons for joining the befriending programme, the quality of relationships created with the befriender and the impact of the programme on their overall wellbeing. 

Residents’ feedback suggests the befriending service is more than a social support initiative—it's a powerful intervention that directly addresses key health inequalities. By reducing loneliness, fostering emotional security, and encouraging positive lifestyle changes, befriending plays a role in contributing to addressing some of the structural and social barriers that contribute to poor health outcomes. 

 Chronic loneliness and social isolation are widely recognised as social determinants of health, linked to increased risks of cardiovascular disease, cognitive decline, depression, and premature mortality. The emotional support described by residents suggests that befriending acts as a protective factor against these risks by creating sustained emotional connections. For residents who lack family support or strong social networks, befriending reduces stress and anxiety that, in turn, can have long-term health consequences. 

Several residents reflected on limited access to other forms of care and support, indicating a gap where statutory services may be struggling to meet the holistic emotional and social needs of vulnerable populations. This disproportionately affects older adults, those living with disabilities, and those from economically disadvantaged backgrounds, compounding existing health inequalities. By offering personalised, relationship-based support, befriending reaches those who may face exclusion from mainstream health interventions because they are housebound or unable to engage with community spaces independently. 

Befriending promotes healthier behaviours and self-care practices. Many residents described how regular contact with their befriender inspired healthier choices. This motivational support mirrors health coaching models, which are increasingly recognised for their effectiveness in behaviour change strategies