I have been and Older Friend for the Friendship Project for about 20 months now. I have been matched with an 11 year old boy called R during that time. Before becoming an Older Friend I was the area coordinator for Rugby and then a Group Supporter and so have been involved with the project for 5 years. I was also an Older Friend over 25 years ago when I was 19 to help me get experience to go to University to study to become a Social worker.
When R and I met at the matching meeting he was very chatty which his mum thought was a good sign he liked me and we made plans of things he had wanted to do but hadn’t had an opportunity to, so we started with a trip to Kaspas and then a trip to Jump In the session after. We then built up a list of things he wanted to try and foods he wanted to try. R loves food, especially chicken and likes spicy food so food usually is part of each session. We have done some activities as one offs or seasonal activities like, visiting Warwick Castle for Halloween, Warwick Castle Christmas light trail, Walking with Alpacas and Tropical Birdland. Other activities are regulars like our monthly swimming sessions, trips to Pepes and other restaurants, trips to the Cinema and Trips to the Quiet sessions at The Wave. We have also teamed up with another friendship to do fun activities like bowling and the Escape Rooms at Houdinis in Coventry. We had fun in the Escape Rooms but got locked in both times and there has been talk about going back to do them again now we know how some parts work. Teaming up with another friendship has add an extra dimension to our friendship and means we can take the other young person out when their Older Friend went on an extended holiday. This help the boys build another friendship and get to know another adult and have a friend in another school
R likes to do fun activities with me and whilst is interested in some places like museums and the National Space Centre when I mention then he says he doesn’t want to go and so I have realised they might be a bit like school but we will wait and see. The Dungeons at Warwick castle were a definite hit and I would recommend walking Alpacas with the Alpaca Pals as long as you don’t mind getting a bit muddy.
We have also done cooking and baking activities at my house and are looking forward to the Summer so we can go Strawberry and Raspberry picking again and baking with yummy fresh berries.
R has grown in confidence since we have started being friends and he is happy to tell me activities he doesn’t want to do and I like it when he comes up with suggestion of things he wants to do or films he wants to watch. R now has some new friends who live nearby so he can go to the park and go to their houses and its nice to see him getting out there with his friends and having fun. R is from a family with 4 other siblings and they all have a health issues and/or additional need so the family is very busy and activities and meals out for a family of 7 can be very costly. R is well supported emotionally my his parents and he loves his family very much especially his younger siblings. My friendship with R enables him to get out in the community more, try new opportunities and experiences and have fun. He enjoys it and so do I.
I get a lot out of seeing R happy, laughing, trying new things and when he achieves something new. When we went walking with Alpacas he was so proud that the Alpaca called Orlando liked him and walked well for him. You could see him the photos he head was always next to R and far away from me. All through the walk he kept talking with him and saying “alright mate.”
Last year we did a short walk at Draycote Water after school and R would like to be able to build up to walking all the way around it so in the Spring we will start doing some shorter canal walks to build up to the 5 miles to walk around Draycote.
