The Project is to provide an older friend (Mentor) to a disadvantaged child, to ensure regular contact takes place between child and older friend, to give the child access to learning opportunities, to be a positive influence/role model.

The group help to improve the quality of life of disadvantaged children and achieve this by arranging for a child to have an older friend. Hundreds of children in the Nuneaton and Bedworth area are referred to Social Services every year and need professional help.

Beneath this tip of the ice berg are many more youngsters needing help, but not so severely as to receive it. It is these children that the project seeks to help, some have mentally or physically disabled siblings who demand almost all their parents time, others are being bullied at School and have become withdrawn. Some are neglected and left to fend for themselves too much of the time, have lost a parent for whatever reason and feel the loss deeply and some of the children have no other opportunity to go out and have some fun.

In the past most of the children were referred to the project by Social Services. However during the past 12 months the project has also been involved with the C.A.F (Common Assessment Framework) system in North Warwickshire, which is soon to be extended to South Warwickshire. Because of the success of the CAF system, the need for the project is being identified at an earlier stage and more children are being referred. As a result the group needs to recruit more volunteer older friends to enable us to help more children.

The Friendship Project were awarded £2,000 from the Community Plan Fund 2008.

If you would like further information about the project please contact:

Carol Moreton
(01926) 813 300
carol.anne41@tiscali.co.uk