An example of what the project can achieve is my own experience of being an Older Friend, I decided to apply to the Friendship Project some seven years ago to work as an Older Friend with a child. This child up to now had lived the most awful life, she did not know how to eat with a knife and fork, had never had a Christmas Present from her family, and had no self esteem at all. It took a while for us to build up a trust. I was aware that I could not let her down. I taught her to paint, to cook, to express herself by writing poetry and to be aware of the beautiful things in her life. She took me to places I had forgotten, she taught me to laugh again. After two years of being in the Friendship Project she won a Shaping up Award – I was so proud of her. I continued to be her Older Friend until she was 16. She is now at College and doing well. I still see her just because I want to. 
Lynne Ballantyne (Older Friend and South Warwickshire Area Co-ordinator for the Friendship Project)
We are proud to announce that 2011 is our 25th Anniversary year and during these 25 years we have helped many disadvantaged children in Warwickshire. I know from personal experience that this project works. We always need more adult volunteers to support children in this area. Could you spare two to three hours a week to change the life of a child?
