An Older Friend from Coleshill writes ...

I decided to become an Older Friend because I wanted to 'give something back' and I thought the Friendship Project sounded like a very worthwhile charity.

I was matched with a younger friend (a twelve year old called Jim, who has learning disabilities) and I have been taking him out for trips at weekends for four years now. We go swimming, to football matches, cycling, we play tennis and badminton, visit the cinema and go ice-skating - to name just a few! Some of the most enjoyable activities - for both of us - have been the more simple ones: picking blackberries, finding conkers and flying a kite. Jim is always very enthusiastic and enjoys whatever we do.

It has been so rewarding to introduce him to new sports and places and I have seen him grow in confidence over the years. I have never regretted getting involved with the charity and I hope to continue my friendship with Jim for as long as he wants! 

 

An Older Friend from Warwick writes ...

My Younger Friend has now reached 16.  He and I have been paired since he was 7 years old.  We have both enjoyed each other’s company and he has become part of my family, even my three grand daughters love him and will continue to see him.  I've already said that I will vet his girlfriends and be at his wedding. 

He wants to own a mini but I've told him that my future Zimmer frame won't fit into the boot, when he takes me to the Post Office for my pension!  

He has matured into a fine young man who is going to college in September and works part time for the things he wants.  He knows where he is heading and what he wants to achieve.  

I don't think I could be lucky enough to have another friendship that would go as well as this one.  My Younger Friend has never been any trouble to me.  He has always been polite, funny and has developed my sense of humour in being able to laugh at one's self!  

Thank you for the opportunity of meeting my Younger Friend and being able to be a part of his life.  Both of us hope that the Friendship Project will continue to help other children to grow as he has.

An Older Friend from the University  writes ...

I have now been involved with the University of Warwick branch of the Friendship Project for four years. 

During my first and second years at university, another student and myself befriended a family of four girls in Coventry, aged between 7 and 14.  During our two years with the girls, we pursued all manner of activities including swimming, cooking, going to the cinema and a trip to Cadbury's World.  We also took two of the children to an event organised by the Friendship Project at Pizza Express, where Older and Younger Friends got together to make and eat pizzas. 

For the last two years I have been a student Project leader at the University.  As a Project leader, my responsibilities have included; helping with recruitment of students at the volunteering fayres, ensuring that the necessary training sessions are provided for all of the Older Friends and then establishing and monitoring friendships.  My role as Project leader has allowed me to see a very different side to the project and I have enjoyed this equally as much as being an Older Friend. 

The new friends I have made through the project and my experiences over the four years have enhanced my university life considerably.  Being able to reflect upon my involvement in the project has just helped me to get my first teaching post and I hope that, as I enter my new career in a different part of the country, similar volunteering opportunities will be available to me.

An Older Friend from Nuneaton writes ...

As this was my first attempt as an Older Friend it was with some trepidation that I agreed to befriend not one, but two children.

Not lucky enough to be a granny, it is twenty years plus since I have had young children in my care, so I am not up to date with the latest toys and TV let alone computer games! 

My life style is very much 'countryside' oriented, so I hoped the children would like to share in this. I was lucky. Both enjoy our trips to the farm, helping to feed, water and care for the animals, watching and waiting for the first lambs to arrive (all of which are given names that I am supposed to remember!) 

To begin with, the younger child was very quiet, slightly overshadowed by the elder, who never stops chatting, but slowly he is becoming more outgoing and self assured, first with cheeky grins and now neither stop talking!  I was expecting some temper outbursts, but as yet there have been none. 

We all have a great time, occasionally having a picnic in the park or a trip to MacDonald's. I even get a kiss goodbye now, which until recently was a privilege reserved for the dogs!

A Volunteer Older Friend from Stratford writes ...

I decided to become an Older Friend after seeing an advert in the local paper.  My own son was going off to university and as I like children so much I thought it would be a great opportunity to give something back to others. 

It's really easy to put your hand in a purse and to give some money to any of the worthy causes out there but somehow I felt that now it was right to give some of my time to other people instead of just money.

I have been seeing my Young Friend for around eight months now and to see her growing in confidence is wonderful, we do a variety of activities together and keep it fun and relaxed; she is now building better relationships with her peers at school and making new friends.  It's such a pleasure to see her grow, she's a delight.

If after reading the various pages on this web site you would like to become an Older Friend click here.