The Buddy Project has now ended as of 31st December 2020. Thank you to all the magnificent buddies that took part!

We are no longer taking applications for the Buddy Project, if you're still interested in getting involved and volunteering, please check out the Peer Support Project!

We are recruiting buddies who can volunteer a morning or afternoon a week for up to 3 months (depending on support required), working with people supporting them into social and community activities.

This is a perfect way to spend your spare time, meeting new people and empowering others through building confidence and self-esteem in turn reducing loneliness and isolation.

What you can expect as a volunteer:

Full induction and DBS after successful application
Ongoing training and personal development
Development of skills and experience
10% discount at the award winning Topaz Café
Volunteer expenses provided including travel and activity costs
Opportunity to participate in new activities

Start your Buddy journey by completing our online volunteer application form and selecting the buddy project role at our Volunteer Application Form; or for more information, telephone:

TOG Mind at 0161 330 9223
Diversity Matters North West at 0161 368 3268 Bi-lingual support available for Bangla & Urdu speakers
LEAP at 0161 214 8300

Support is available for those unable to apply online. Please also contact us if you are facing any barriers to becoming a volunteer as we may be able to support you.

The Buddy Project does accept volunteer applications from previous or current clients.

This is not the case for all volunteer oppportunities within TOG Mind so please check the position you are interested in to avoid disappointment.

Applicants will undertake a 1-1 interview with the project team lead and this will be on a 1-1 basis.

Client Information

Want to access local social and community activities but not quite sure?

Maybe you have lost confidence, have recently moved into the area, are experiencing loneliness, or have experienced recent loss of someone close?

Be part of a brand new exciting project for Tameside. The Buddy Project has been developed to support anyone with a long term condition by building their confidence to go to a community and/or social activity.

What's on offer?

A volunteer buddy, matched to you, who will meet you and accompany you to community and/or social activities so you don’t have to go it alone!
You can choose your activity/activities whether it is a walking group, dance group, film club or craft session, you and your buddy would attend together to support you through the door into a new experience.
(The project will fund the volunteer expenses but you must be able to pay for your own expenses. We can signpost you to applying for things like PIP, a CEA Card or rail card if you are eligible)
Optional Group social events for all participants and volunteers
Fully trained volunteers to support you to build your confidence.
Opportunity to participate in new activities, try something new or go back to something you haven’t tried for a while.

Start the process by contacting kellysmith [at] togmind.org (subject: Buddy%20Project%20Enquiry) .

Others way to get in touch:

TOG Mind at 0161 330 9223
Diversity Matters North West at 0161 368 3268 Bi-lingual support available for Bangla & Urdu speakers
LEAP at 0161 214 8300

Referrer Information

Do you know someone who wants to get out to a community or social activity but needs a little bit of help to take the first steps? Perhaps they have lost confidence due to a stay in hospital or loss of a loved one.

The Tameside Buddy Project has been created to support individuals with long term conditions into community and social activities. The volunteer buddies will support this or support trying something new. Working closely with the Social Prescribing team at Action Together, TOG Mind, Diversity Matters North West and Leap are providing buddies across Tameside.

The buddies are there to support in building confidence in individuals to access activities themselves. Buddies can work with clients for a morning or afternoon depending on their availability each week for up to 3 months. (This is discretional depending on individual client circumstances). The ultimate goal is promoting independence in social integration, reducing loneliness, and isolation.

We accept referrals from all agencies and self-referral. Each referral will be subject to an eligibility assessment before the participant is accepted onto the project. Alternatively, if you know someone that wants to take part in activities or social event but isn't sure what is available locally, you could refer them firstly into the social prescribing service.

Social Prescribing Services

The social prescribing service for Tameside helps people who are experiencing loneliness or isolation by linking them to support available within their local voluntary, and community sector. We work with people one to one, to help them identify their strengths and personal goals. We meet in an informal setting and use a conversational approach (informed by training in coaching, asset-based approaches and motivational interviewing) to get to know them and start them on their journey. They develop an individual wellbeing action plan and meet periodically with a social prescribing officer to help them stay on track until they are ready to take this forward themselves.

*The Buddy Project does have some exclusions, it is not personal care, attending medical appointments or befriending where paid for services already exist in these areas. The client must also be able to pay for their own activity. Participants must agree to meet a buddy and be able to leave the home independently.

It is easy to refer to social prescribing online via the Elemental website, just contact us for a login.

Email action.together [at] nhs.net (subject: Social%20Prescribing) or phone 0161 830 6833.

To find out more or to see if the project is suitable for someone you know, please contact kellysmith [at] togmind.org or ring 0161 330 9223.

Buddy & Volunteer Posters

If you're interested in having a buddy, or even becoming a buddy then you can learn more from our posters below! (Click to enlarge)

Buddy Poster | Buddy Volunteer Poster

Buddy Project Newsletter Library

If you have the required password then you can access, view and download newsletter from our Buddy Project archive at the following link:

Buddy Project Newsletter Library

Search form

The Buddy Project has now ended as of 31st December 2020. Thank you to all the magnificent buddies that took part!

We are no longer taking applications for the Buddy Project, if you're still interested in getting involved and volunteering, please check out the Peer Support Project!

What you can expect as a volunteer:

Full induction and DBS after successful application

Ongoing training and personal development

Development of skills and experience

10% discount at the award winning Topaz Café

Volunteer expenses provided including travel and activity costs

Opportunity to participate in new activities

TOG Mind at 0161 330 9223

Diversity Matters North West at 0161 368 3268 Bi-lingual support available for Bangla & Urdu speakers

LEAP at 0161 214 8300

The Buddy Project does accept volunteer applications from previous or current clients.

This is not the case for all volunteer oppportunities within TOG Mind so please check the position you are interested in to avoid disappointment.

Applicants will undertake a 1-1 interview with the project team lead and this will be on a 1-1 basis.

What's on offer?

A volunteer buddy, matched to you, who will meet you and accompany you to community and/or social activities so you don’t have to go it alone!

Optional Group social events for all participants and volunteers

Fully trained volunteers to support you to build your confidence.

Opportunity to participate in new activities, try something new or go back to something you haven’t tried for a while.

TOG Mind at 0161 330 9223

Diversity Matters North West at 0161 368 3268 Bi-lingual support available for Bangla & Urdu speakers

LEAP at 0161 214 8300

To find out more or to see if the project is suitable for someone you know, please contact kellysmith [at] togmind.org or ring 0161 330 9223.

Buddy Poster | Buddy Volunteer Poster

Buddy Project Newsletter Library

About Us

Our Services

Get Involved

Contact Us