A supportive, practical guide to friendships that feel safe, respectful, and right for you
Friendships can be really important — but they can also feel confusing, tiring, or stressful at times. A Young Person’s Guide to Friendships is a gentle, easy-to-understand resource designed to help young people navigate friendships in a way that feels comfortable and authentic.
This guide reassures young people that there is no single “right” way to have friends. What matters most is feeling safe, respected, and accepted for who you are.
What This Guide Covers
This resource explores friendships in a clear, supportive, and realistic way, including:
What friendship means
Explains that friendships look different for everyone, and that having one trusted friend can be just as valuable as having a group. Quality matters more than quantity.
Making friends
Offers simple, pressure-free ways to build friendships through shared interests, familiar spaces, and taking small steps at your own pace.
Starting and continuing conversations
Provides practical tips to make talking feel less awkward, including conversation starters, knowing when to pause, and understanding that silence is okay.
Personal space and boundaries
Explains boundaries in a clear, respectful way, including personal space, consent, and recognising when someone feels uncomfortable — and how to communicate your own boundaries too.
Handling rejection and disappointment
Supports young people to understand that rejection happens sometimes and is not a reflection of their worth. Offers strategies for coping with big feelings when things don’t go as hoped.
Dealing with tricky situations
Covers what to do if friendships feel confusing, unfair, or upsetting — including teasing, misunderstandings, pressure from others, and knowing when to ask for help.
Being a good friend
Explores what healthy friendships need, such as kindness, listening, honesty, taking turns, and saying sorry when needed.
Friendships your way
Ends with a reassuring message that you don’t need to change who you are to have friends — being yourself is enough.
Who This Guide Is For
This guide is helpful for:
Teenagers and older children
Autistic and neurodivergent young people
Young people who find social situations confusing or tiring
Families and schools supporting social understanding in a positive way