What is a friend?

 “What is a friend? I will tell you…it is someone with whom you dare to be yourself.” Frank Crane

A friend is when you have a bond or connection with one or more people. Friends do not have to be the same sex as you, or even the same gender. We all make friends in life in different ways. A friend is someone who you can choose to be in your life.

We often have people who come and go and some who remain a constant part of our lives.

It is really important to know that some people find it hard to make friends and different stages of life can heavily influence the type of friendships that we have. Even when you have friends it is normal to feel lonely at times.

What makes a good friend?

• Someone who you can trust
• Someone who you can talk too when you need/want too
• Someone who you do not have to see all of the time but are there for you when you do want/need to
• Someone who listens and supports you
• Someone who is honest with you

Ways to make friends?

There are many ways that you can make friends, especially if you are feeling isolated. Ways we would suggest making friends include:

• Join groups
• Volunteering
• Through work
• College/education or training courses
• Try new hobbies

Take a look at this guide, which we found really informative and helpful.

You’ll find lots of useful links on the website – take a look and see if there is anything that interests you. Take that first step to make new connections which can lead to great friends.

“There is nothing better than a friend, unless it is a friend with chocolate”. Linda Grayson