LEAP has become the only charity in the UK to be awarded Quality in Befriending Excellence for the fifth time

The latest award means the South Lanarkshire charity has held the Excellence award since 2013, and it has no intention of ever losing it given it denotes just how good a service the charity provides.

The award process looks at all aspects of providing a befriending service and involves assessors from Befriending Networks talking to members of staff, clients and befrienders to measure just how well the service is being delivered.

Susan Hunter, CEO of Befriending Networks said: “Of all the active Quality in Befriending award holders in the UK and Ireland, LEAP is one of a small, elite group of long-running organisations who have reached their fifth cycle.

“The Quality in Befriending Award is a robust process where we review 83 areas of policy and practice within the befriending service.  Achieving the Award for a fifth time is truly a recognition of LEAP’s hard work and commitment to providing a quality service for older people in Lanarkshire.

"Excellence indicates a befriending service where leadership is committed to continuous improvement, staff are reflective, and where the befriending service is of the highest quality standard for volunteer befrienders and service users.”

Georgie Madden, LEAP’s Business Development Manager, said: “LEAP is delighted to have been awarded Quality in Befriending Excellence again.

“The process is very rigorous and involves staff, clients and volunteers being independently interviewed, so to achieve it for the fifth time is testament to everyone’s efforts and dedication to providing a quality service.

“We think it has been a worthwhile learning experience over the years, which has encouraged positive changes that will make LEAP confident it is delivering best practice.

“We are very proud to be the only charity in the UK for older people to have been given the award for the fifth time and we are especially grateful to our team of volunteers who continue to deliver such a quality service.”

To find out more about LEAP’s befriending service, as well as all of its other services, visit www.leap-project.co.uk or call 0141 641 5169.