Restore is a project of Birmingham Churches Together (of which Quakers are a member). The video below explains more about the befriending scheme they coordinate.
Restore are holding a training course to learn more about befriending and what is involved, at St Johns Church, Harborne on 13th June 2026
New volunteers would be matched to a refugee to offer welcome, support, conversational English practice and friendship. This course is necessary for all volunteer befrienders. If you’re not yet sure about befriending, please come along to find out more. There is no obligation to volunteer at the end.
We also welcome volunteers from other organisations or anyone who wants to learn more about refugee issues, even if they don’t intend to volunteer with Restore.
Contact Jasmine at Restore for more information: jasmine@restore-uk.org
What is the impact of befriending? One befriended refugee recently wrote:
“Having a befriender has been an incredibly positive experience. It’s comforting to have someone to talk to and share thoughts with, especially when feeling isolated or in need of support. I’ve enjoyed the genuine connection and the feeling of being listened to without judgement. Meeting my befriender has been a great opportunity to build trust and create meaningful conversations. If I could change anything, it would be to have more frequent meetings, as they’ve been so uplifting and valuable to me.”