Volunteering as an Activity Buddy
For Volunteers’ Week 2025, we asked some of our volunteers at Communicare, who we call our Communiteers, to share their ‘Volunteer Stories’.
Amy has helped several of our service users by being an Activity Buddy for us.
Help & support others
She says: “I joined Communicare around a year ago. I work in the mental health sector as a support worker, as well as having my own struggles with mental health in the past, which I’ve overcome.
“I wanted to use my skills from my job role and my own personal experiences to help others. My faith has also massively helped me through some tough times and I just wanted to help and support others.
Positive impact
“I’ve especially enjoyed my time as an Activity Buddy and have been really moved by the positive impact these sessions have had on the individuals I’ve helped.”
Volunteers act as a buddy to the individuals we support who are lonely and/or isolated through a mobility difficulty, learning or physical disability, mental health issues or challenging social circumstances.
Our buddies help them to access opportunities to become more physically active.
Making a new friend
One of the ladies Amy has helped is Liz, who is in her 40s. She says: “It was really helpful having Amy as my Activity Buddy. She helped me gain confidence going on the bus, as I’d not done it for a long time.
“I now feel more confident and have gone out on my own several times. It was also lovely to make a new friend!”
Being a Buddy
Our Activity Buddy hours are flexible, allowing people to help with regular activities or ‘one-off’ opportunities when available.
Volunteers can select the types of tasks that they are willing to undertake, and these could include providing transport to and from activities, including waiting for the service user while they take part or, in some circumstances, it may be appropriate to join in with the activity alongside the service user.
Feeling confident
Amy adds: “I’ve seen one lady overcome real physical hurdles from not being able to walk far to walking and getting herself to places independently.
“And another lady overcoming her anxiety from leaving the home to feeling confident walking places on her own and feeling like a new person.
“Communicare is a wonderful charity with the heart of individuals in their minds and I am really proud to be a part of it.”
How to become an Activity Buddy
We hope this story gave you an insight into what it’s like being a ‘volunteer friend’ to someone and how it can benefit both people’s lives.
If you ever have a spare hour, or so, each week, then we’d love to hear from you, as we always need more volunteer Activity Buddies and the experience may also benefit you too.
We can be flexible and work around your other commitments. Please get in touch via 023 8250 0050 or volunteer@communicareinsouthampton.org.uk.