---
title: "Contract for a Befriending Network"
ocid: "ocds-h6vhtk-0781fc"
canonical_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/?ocid=ocds-h6vhtk-0781fc"
markdown_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-h6vhtk-0781fc.md"
json_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-h6vhtk-0781fc.json"
source: "Find A Tender Service"
current_stage: "Tender"
buyer: "Hartlepool Borough Council"
published: "2026-10-06"
---

# Contract for a Befriending Network

Buyer: Hartlepool Borough Council  
Current stage: Tender  
OCID: ocds-h6vhtk-0781fc

[View canonical contract page](https://d3tenders.com/contract/?ocid=ocds-h6vhtk-0781fc)  
[Download OCDS JSON](https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-h6vhtk-0781fc.json)

## Summary

Hartlepool Borough Council is seeking a provider to develop a befriending network in Hartlepool. The service will match people with volunteer befrienders for a defined period, aiming to build confidence and resilience, reduce social isolation and increase social contact. The council previously commissioned a network for older people and now intends to extend the service to socially excluded people aged 18 and over, as well as older people. This is a health and social care service.

The council invited offers through an open competition. The tender deadline was 5 November 2026 at 14:00 UK time. The contract is due to run from 1 January 2027 to 31 December 2029, with provision for renewal up to 31 December 2030, subject to satisfactory performance and funding. The stated gross contract value is £21,000. The procurement is a single lot, and the award is based entirely on quality.

The opportunity suits providers able to design and deliver a befriending network, recruit or work with volunteer befrienders, and match them with people experiencing social exclusion or isolation. Delivery needs to support both working-age adults and older people, with a time-limited service focused on confidence, resilience and social connection. The council identifies the opportunity as suitable for small and medium-sized businesses and voluntary, community and social enterprises. Providers with relevant community-service experience and the capacity to coordinate volunteers and support relationships would be well placed to respond.

## Notice

Hartlepool Borough Council has previously commissioned a Befriending Network aimed at reducing social isolation of older people within Hartlepool. Following a service review, we are looking to expand this offer to socially excluded working aged people aged 18 + as well as older people. We would like the successful Provider to develop a Befriending Network that will work with people for a specified amount of time to increase confidence and resilience, reduce social isolation and increase social contact by matching people with volunteer Befrienders.

### Lot Information

Lot 1

Renewal: Dependant upon satisfactory performance and funding availability.

## Key Details

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Publication source | Find A Tender Service |
| Latest notice | https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/094414-2026 |
| Notice type | UK4 - Tender Notice |
| Procurement type | Standard |
| Procurement category | Services |
| Procurement method | Open |
| Procurement method details | Below threshold - open competition |
| Tender suitability | SME, VCSE |
| Awardee scale | Not specified |
| All stages | Tender |

## Dates

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Publication date | 6 Oct 2026 |
| Submission deadline | 5 Nov 2026 |
| Future notice date | Not specified |
| Award date | Not specified |
| Contract period | 1 Jan 2027 - 31 Dec 2029 |
| Recurrence | Not specified |

## Values

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Tender value | £21,000 |
| Lots value | £21,000 |
| Awards value | Not specified |
| Contracts value | Not specified |

## Status

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Tender status | Active |
| Lots status | Active |
| Awards status | Not specified |
| Contracts status | Not specified |

## Buyer

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Main buyer | Hartlepool Borough Council |
| Locality | HARTLEPOOL |
| Postcode area | Cleveland |
| Postcode | TS24 8AY |
| Country | England |
| ITL 1 | TLC North East (England) |
| ITL 2 | TLC3 Tees Valley |
| ITL 3 | TLC31 Hartlepool and Stockton-on-Tees |
| Local authority | Hartlepool |
| Electoral ward | Victoria |
| Westminster constituency | Hartlepool |
| Delivery location | TLC11 Hartlepool and Stockton-on-Tees |

## CPV Codes

### Divisions

- 85 - Health and social work services

### Codes

- 85000000 - Health and social work services

## Release History

- 6 Oct 2026 at 16:11 - Tender - UK4 - Tender Notice - https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/094414-2026

## Documents

- https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/094414-2026
  6th October 2026 - Tender notice on Find a Tender

## Notice URLs

- https://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/2023/54/contents
- https://www.open-uk.org/

## Provenance

This Markdown file is an alternate public rendering of the D3 Tenders contract record. The canonical page is https://d3tenders.com/contract/?ocid=ocds-h6vhtk-0781fc. The underlying structured data is available as OCDS JSON at https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-h6vhtk-0781fc.json.