opportunities open to them and how important it was for them to feel confident enough to take on new adventures and challenges, and that many children may not be quite so fortunate. I had worked for many years supporting people who had had difficult educational experiences or family situations, back into higher education and was keen to use my knowledge and experience in a voluntary role. A friend recommended the Friendship Project and it immediately felt like the perfect fit.
My Area Coordinator matched me with a young girl approaching her 10th birthday. H and I hit it off immediately – our love of sport and particularly Liverpool FC was a very good start. H has a great sense of humour and although of course initially reserved and nervous, she was open to both the friendship and trying new things. It was quickly apparent that she loved food, so I knew every trip needed to include a visit to a café or a picnic in the park. We started our outings tentatively with walks with my dog, kicking a ball in the park, trips to the cinema, Warwick castle, Ryton Pools, Jump In and Gaydon Motor Museum to name a few. As the friendship developed, I started to challenge H a little more to help build her confidence, interacting with other people and developing new interests and skills.
We often go to the gym, play board games (at the board games café and at home) and regularly do a quiz – her knowledge of music and football is incredible – she beats me every time which delights her. If my husband is around he joins in the board games too and H loves the dynamic of that. I think if I asked H what her favourite activities are she would say playing tennis and going to the driving range – both have come on leaps and bounds and our best day out is a mix of those two, followed by a picnic (a picky eater when we first met, she has now developed quite a taste for sushi) and then going home with her in charge of the music in the car – neither of us have good singing voices so it’s good job no one else can hear us.
I started with the Project in 2018 so my friendship with H is now in its 7th year and I have thoroughly enjoyed watching H grow in confidence and how our relationship has flourished over the years. We have a lot of fun together and I think H feels safe, sharing some of the challenges she faces in life and talking through ideas on how to handle them. She lives with her supportive and loving Grandparents, and I too have a good relationship with them which has helped make the friendship so enjoyable.
Over the last couple of years in particular, H has built up some positive friendships at school, joined the ACF and has focussed more on her school studies. Whilst there will inevitably be many challenges ahead for her, I can see she has grown in resilience and confidence to deal with those better and I’ve thoroughly enjoyed playing a small part in that.
H turns 17 later this year and hopes to start a college course in September so our friendship will inevitably change, but I’m looking forward to seeing where life takes her.”
