The Befriend Social Network
The friendliest community in Perth!
The Befriend Social Network is a fun and welcoming space to meet new people, try new things, and sweeten your social life.
We know that putting yourself out there to meet new people isn’t easy, and it can feel a bit scary to try new things! Trust us when we say it’s a totally normal feeling, and we’ve all been there. That’s why, in 2010, we founded The Befriend Social Network. It’s a free and fun social community that’s been deliberately designed to make it a little easier to connect with like-minded people and make a few friends.
This warm community is filled with everyday people just like you and me, who host and attend different open-invite social experiences. That’s right, all groups and gatherings are hosted openly on the community calendar, and anyone can attend! There are no fees, no paperwork… Just find a group and turn up.
We estimate that around 20,000 people have connected to the network over the last decade, and the impact it’s having is beyond anything we could’ve dreamed of. You can read our community impact results just here.
All you need to do is be brave, turn up and be yourself!
How does it work?
There are no costs or sign-up fees and very little paperwork to get involved with The Befriend Social Network. In fact, it’s been deliberately designed to be easy, informal and as “not scary” as possible! Anyone is welcome to attend a community group, and anyone is welcome to host one (we can support you with this, as we know it might feel a bit scary; don’t worry!). The point is, this really is a space for the community, led by the community.
All groups are held in public spaces, like cafes and community centres, close to public transport, they’re usually free (except for the cost of the activity – for example, if you’re heading to a coffee group, you might want to buy yourself a cuppa or a treat).
All gatherings are listed on a free website called Meetup, where you can find dates, times, details and venue information, and you can reach out to the group Host for any information about their gathering.
Getting set up on Meetup
All community gatherings are listed on a website called Meetup. It’s easy to use and doesn’t cost anything, so you’ll be up and running in no time
If you’re keen to explore some groups, then it’s definitely worth setting yourself up on Meetup.com by creating a free profile and then searching for a group called “The Befriend Social Network Perth”. Here, you can browse gatherings that are coming up over the next few weeks, and if you find one you like, just click RSVP so the Host knows you’re coming! Easy peasy.
If you’re having trouble finding us on Meetup or set yourself up with your profile, then get in touch with the team, and we will put on our tech support headsets to try to help you out.
Please remember that these gatherings are initiated and run by local community members. They choose the activity, the time, the place and the frequency of their group… That’s part of the fun of hosting your own group, right! So, if you can’t find a group that takes your fancy, then maybe it’s time to try hosting your own little gathering that brings people together!
Discover Befriend events in your local area
1. Head over to www.meetup.com
2. In the top right corner of the screen, click ‘sign up’ and create a free Meetup profile
3. Once you are signed up with Meetup, search for “The Befriend Social Network Perth”
4. Click ‘Join this group’
5. Browse through the events calendar and RSVP to any that you like the sound of!
6. Turn up, be yourself and have fun!
Curious about starting your own group?
Hosting a gathering in the Befriend community is a great way to share more of what you care about with other people who care about it, too.
Whether that’s dogs, books, games, yoga, writing, chatting, playing a musical instrument, or even learning a musical instrument (The Befriend Singing Ukes are a group of ukulele players in Kwinana who meet weekly to learn how to play, sing and occasionally kazoo!)… it’s entirely up to you.
- How do you like to spend your free time?
- What activities do you love doing?
- What spaces do you love being in?
- Who would you like to meet?
These are great places to start. Sure, it takes a little (or a lot of) courage to put yourself out there and ask total strangers to join you in a shared experience… but it can also be so rewarding to see a group flourish and bond together!
Where to from here?
We love supporting everyday people to step into new roles that bring people together. It’s our bread and butter!
We’re lucky enough to have a small team of Community Builders located in different suburbs around Perth, and part of their role is to help you on your very own hosting journey. Currently, those areas are Armadale, Banksia Grove, Brabham, Caversham and surrounds, Gosnells, Joondalup to Yanchep, Karawara, and Kwinana.
So the first step is to get in touch and let us know where you’re based so we can be sure that the right person gets back to you!
Depending on your postcode, our support might look a little different.
If we have a funded Community Builder in your area, they can have an informal exploratory conversation with you over a cuppa at your favourite cafe, or online if you prefer, and share more about hosting a social group, our values as an organisation, and, importantly, explore your ideas to bring people together!
If we don’t have a local Community Builder nearby, we’ll connect you into exciting group opportunities, workshops and informal get-togethers with staff to learn more about sparking something in your neighbourhood!
And then, whenever you’re ready, you can take your first steps on your personal mission of connection. And there’s never any rush to go straight into hosting. This is your journey, unfolding at your pace (and good things can take time!). We’re just here to support you!
We asked people to tell us what they love about being a part of the Befriend community
Here’s what they said:
[Befriend] reinforces my value system about people and communities, that people from all backgrounds should live and associate in harmony and with fellowship.
I know I have things to contribute to others.
Learning new skills that have become a hobby I enjoy. Connecting with lovely people who raise my spirits.
I can feel lost some days, hard to fill in time, but look forward to my groups on Mon, Tues, Wed and Fridays.
Having moved to a new state of Australia, it has really expedited my introduction into a community… instead of searching for years to find people, it has come quite quickly.
Frequently asked questions
What is a Befriend member?
So, how do I join?
How much does a Befriend event cost?
It’s FREE! The Befriend Social Network is free to join and has no ongoing membership fees.
Whilst most groups have no cost to them, some may ask for a small contribution. For example, a Host may be hiring out a hall or room to host their craft gathering and will ask for a small donation of a few dollars to cover the cost. But generally speaking, most events are free to attend except for any food and beverages you might wish to purchase on the day!
What is a “Host”?
A Host is the name we give to the wonderful community members who initiate and host a group or gathering within The Befriend Social Network. These superstars are people just like you: mums, dads, teachers, students, artists, musicians, collectors, board game enthusiasts, nature-lovers, foodies… just everyday humans in the Perth community who want to connect with others through a shared social experience.
Who can become a Host?
Absolutely anyone over the age of 18! All you need to do is reach out to our Community Building team for an exploratory conversation so we can get you started on your Hosting journey. We have friendly Community Builders located all around Perth, and they’re there to support you in bringing your creative community idea to life! To get in touch with the team for a chat, click here!
Contact us
To connect with our Community Building team for a conversation about how you can start hosting your own social group, please email rsvp@befriend.org.au, call or text the usual numbers, or fill out the form below and we’ll be in touch!
