Service Terms and Conditions

  1. Visit Structure

    Client appointments can be on a one-off basis or ongoing on a daily or weekly basis as necessary.  Regular visits will be the same time with the same befriender, unless agreed otherwise.

    Befriending can also be carried out via telephone appointments if desired.

    For face to face appointments, the minimum duration is 1 hour, while the minimum duration for telephone appointments is 15 mins.

  2. Cost

    Visits are charged on an hourly basis at a rate of £25.00 per hour. After the first hour, time is charged in 15-minute increments. Unless otherwise communicated, the hourly rate will increase by 5% from 1st April each year. A standard mileage charge is also applied to facilitate each visit depending on the location of the client (typically in the region of £4.00).

    As part of an agreed trip, if the client and befriender go to a café, for example, then the client should pay for any beverage consumed by the befriender.  If the befriender ends up paying, then the amount will be included on the client invoice and reimbursed to the befriender.

  3. Mileage

    Any journey undertaken on behalf of the client or accompanying the client will be charged at the rate of £0.60 per mile.

  4. Cancellations

    If it is necessary to cancel a scheduled visit, as much notice as possible should be given, with a minimum of 24 hours. If the client is unwell then the appointment may be cancelled the same day, as early in the day as possible, by a telephone call to 01452 447024 or directly to the assigned befriender.

    If the client is not available, and prior notice has not been given to cancel the appointment, then the fee for that appointment remains payable.

    If the befriender is not available on a particular day, for whatever reason, a replacement will not be sent.

  5. Payment Terms

    Invoices will be raised at the end of each calendar month, and will detail the services used during that month.  The invoices will either be printed and sent to the client or family, or sent electronically to an agreed email address.  In certain circumstances, a variable direct debit can be set up. Invoices are due and payable by cheque or electronic bank transfer within 10 days of the date on the invoice. 

  6. Access

    If it is necessary for us to have a key to the client’s property then this will be kept safely by Gloucestershire Befriending Services until a request is made for its return to the client.

    Similarly, codes to access buildings and key safes will be stored securely, and only shared within GBS to enable the service to be provided.

  7. Safeguarding

    The welfare and happiness of our clients is our main priority. Safeguarding concerns or any other issues should be brought to the attention of the manager of GBS as soon as possible.  The incident will be respectfully considered and acted upon as appropriate.

  8. Data Usage

    Any data collected by Gloucestershire Befriending Services Ltd or its employees via a telephone call, website referral for​m, initial meeting or by any other means is held under the `legitimate interest` basis of the Data Protection Act 2018.  Your data will not be shared with any other person or organisation for marketing purposes.  Your data will be stored for a maximum of six months after termination of any contract.  You have the right to ask for a copy of the data held about you by us and/or to request its erasure. Please refer to our Privacy Policy for further information.

Website Terms and Conditions

If you continue to browse and use this website, you are agreeing to comply with and be bound by the following terms and conditions of use, which together with our privacy policy govern GBS' relationship with you in relation to this website.


If you disagree with any part of these terms and conditions, please do not use our website.

The terms ‘Gloucestershire Befriending Services Ltd’, 'GBS' or similar or ‘us’ or ‘we’ refers to the owner of the website whose company registration number is 12176897, registered in England & Wales. The term ‘you’ refers to the user or viewer of our website.

The use of this website is subject to the following terms of use:

  • The content of the pages of this website is for your general information and use only. It is subject to change without notice.

  • Neither we nor any third parties provide any warranty or guarantee as to the accuracy, timeliness, performance, completeness or suitability of the information and materials found or offered on this website for any particular purpose. You acknowledge that such information and materials may contain inaccuracies or errors and we expressly exclude liability for any such inaccuracies or errors to the fullest extent permitted by law.

  • Your use of any information or materials on this website is entirely at your own risk, for which we shall not be liable. It shall be your own responsibility to ensure that any products, services or information available through this website meet your specific requirements. The information on this website is provided free-of-charge, and you acknowledge that it would be unreasonable to hold us liable in respect of this website and the information on this website. Whilst we endeavour to ensure that the information on this website is correct, we do not warrant it's completeness or accuracy; nor do we commit to ensuring that the website remains available or that the material on this website is kept up-to-date.

  • This website contains material which is the intellectual property of Gloucestershire Befriending Services Ltd. It is owned by or licensed to us. This material includes, but is not limited to, the design, layout, look, appearance, photographs and graphics. Reproduction is prohibited.

  • You may view and print pages from the website, provided that:
    (a) you do not republish material from this website (including republication on another website), or reproduce or store material from this website in any public or private electronic retrieval system;
    (b) you must not reproduce, duplicate, copy, sell, resell, visit, or otherwise exploit our website or material on our website for a commercial purpose, without our express written consent;
    (c) you must not edit or otherwise modify any material on the website.

  • All trademarks reproduced in this website, which are not the property of, or licensed to the operator, are acknowledged on the website.

  • Unauthorised use of this website may give rise to a claim for damages and/or be a criminal offence.

  • From time to time, this website may also include links to other websites. These links are provided for your convenience to provide further information. They do not signify that we endorse the website(s). We have no responsibility for the content of the linked website(s).

  • Your use of this website and any dispute arising out of such use of the website is subject to the laws of England, Northern Ireland, Scotland and Wales.