A South Ayrshire befriending charity is set to mark a significant milestone with help from UKSE after receiving a second round of funding to support its youth-led work.

Bfriend, previously known as the South Ayrshire Befriending Service, has been awarded £2,500 from our Community Grant fund to help grow its BeYou committee, a group of young people who have taken part in the charity’s services and now use their experiences to help shape its future.

BeYou was set up in 2022 and offers former service users the chance to help lead the direction of Bfriend’s work, with the committee meeting throughout the year to support the charity’s efforts in planning events and peer support, while also feeding into larger decisions about how the charity is run.

This year, as Bfriend celebrates its 30th birthday, the group will play a key role in planning and delivering events to mark the anniversary. Our funding will also support group outings, informal peer mentoring, and regular committee sessions.

Lorna Mitchell, project coordinator at Bfriend, said: “BeYou gives young people who’ve been part of Bfriend the chance to shape what comes next for themselves and for others. They know what works, what matters, and where we can do more. This funding from UKSE means we can keep that going and put our young people at the heart of our 30th anniversary celebrations. It’s more than just helping us pay for snacks or trips: it’s about giving them space to lead, plan, organise and influence, and provide invaluable experience. We’re a small team of only four full-time staff, so having the support of UKSE for a second year makes a huge difference.”

As part of the anniversary year, the BeYou group will also support Bfriend’s wider programme of events, including a wellbeing session, a community litter pick, a climbing trip and a Christmas panto outing.

Scott Webb, regional manager at UKSE, said: “Bfriend has been doing brilliant work for three decades now, and it’s great to see young people who’ve been part of the service stepping up to help shape its future. This funding is about supporting that next step, and giving them the tools, the confidence and the encouragement to lead. We had no hesitation in agreeing to provide Bfriend with this second round of funding this year, and we look forward to seeing everything they do in their anniversary year.”