Could you be a Borders Buddy? 

Do you have a few hours to spare to support someone to get out a bit more? Maybe you could be a volunteer Buddy for Borders Buddies. Borders Buddies is a project of Outside the Box, which after running a pilot project now has Lottery funding to work for two years in the Hawick and Tweeddale areas in the Borders. 

The project aims to support people who may have become isolated, to get out and about again and reconnect with others in their communities. Volunteer Buddies are matched to people with similar interests. Your Buddy can then chum you to do what you want to do, that could be meeting up for a chat or to paint, going out for coffee, to the shops, on an outing or for a walk. Another idea is going along to a regular group or club as some of our pairings are currently doing.  Whatever it is you and your buddy would like to do we will support you both to make it happen. 

One Buddy said: ‘It makes me feel good that just with my time I’ve made a difference in someone’s life just by being there alongside them.’ This person’s support gave confidence to a walking-stick user to get up and dance: ‘Best thing we have done so far after been wanting to go for ages and not been able to is the afternoon tea dance. I even had the confidence to have a little boogie.’ 

Read the tale of these two Buddies here: https://otbds.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/05/Borders-Buddies-Case-Study.pdf 

Outside the Box will ensure people have the necessary safeguards, including PVG for Buddies, and support with risk assessments. The project is fully funded so that reasonable expenses are covered, for example café trips, bus fares or entry fees. Buddy pairs agree when and how often they will meet; there is no minimum commitment in terms of time, you fit it around your own life and other commitments. 

Would you like to volunteer? Please get in touch with: 

For Tweeddale area: Ruth ruth.n@otbds.org or Christine christine@otbds.org  

For Hawick area: Ros ros@otbds.org or Nat nat@otbds.org 

 

Please note Borders Buddies is a project by Outside the Box. It is fully funded by the National Lottery and there is no cost for anyone looking for Buddy support. If you are looking for the Selkirk-based service, Borders Buddies, which provides paid-for personal assistance and care for people with additional support needs, please follow this link: https://bordersbuddies.co.uk/home