”The Friendship Project has been proven to be an invaluable resource for some of our most vulnerable children. We have found the process overwhelmingly supportive for these young people as it provides them with an older trusted friend that they can talk to and feel safe with outside of their home. Our children have had a range of experiences from a simple walk around the block to going out on a trip further afield – experiences they have thoroughly enjoyed and have shared with their friends and teachers in school.  We have worked with the Friendship Project for a number of years as we value the opportunities it provides for our children. They are quick to communicate and meet with children and parents to begin to find a match as soon as possible – this process is very thorough to ensure the right older friend is chosen for a particular child.”

 

;;As Head of Year 7 and then Director of Safeguarding, I have worked with the Friendship Project for the last 5 years. They have supported some of our most vulnerable students in a way that has been vital to their progress and development that would have been unable to complete ourselves. From the start of the process, the referral, I have always found the process easy and well managed. Communication form the Friendship staff has been professional, warm and welcoming. The students that have used this service have always talked very highly of their older friend and have wanted to share their experiences with us in school, this is occasionally the only time that these students have had something to share with their peers and staff in school. I personally recommend the Friendship Project whenever I can and would be looking at becoming an older friend when I have the time.”