The Buddy Scheme is designed to provide a service to
children and young people with a wide range of complex additional
needs and to support them in accessing social and leisure
activities in the community, for example youth clubs,
shopping trips and after school clubs.
Buddies are young people who have been recruited from local
schools and colleges. They have usually worked as a
volunteer at specialist play schemes during the summer
holidays. They may go on to help on organised trips or activities
during subsequent school holidays. They might also volunteer
at after school clubs. Once they have built up a relationship with
the children we can then link them to a child who has met the
criteria for a buddy.
Prior to being linked with a young person buddies are trained in
child protection, safe care, and positive play.
A Criminal Records Bureau (CRB) check and references are
obtained and staff observe potential buddies at play schemes and
trips.
Buddies are paid a gratuity of £5.50 per hour to cover time and
expenses. You can buddy for up to 234 hours a year.
How do I become a buddy?
You must start off by volunteering. This will probably be during
the playschemes that are run during the summer holidays by the Day
Care Coordinators. You will then continue to volunteer for other
activities that the team run during the school holidays or at after
school and youth clubs. You can contact the volunteer
coordinators on the number below to find out more.
Can my son or daughter have a buddy?
This service requires an assessment via a Common Assessment
Framework (CAF), a statement of educational needs, or a health or
social care assessment. This assessment is sent to the Team Manager
for consideration.
To find out more about volunteering and the buddy scheme contact
the Volunteer Co-ordinators, Jan Carver or Julie Parsons,
on 01934 632 538.
For a full list of local out-of-school clubs search our
online
Family Information Service
Online Directory or fill in our online childcare request
form on the right of this page.
Alternatively, you can contact the
Family Information Service.
