EVERYBODY needs a friend!
Best Buddies Northern Ireland is a national non-profit section of our Organisation, holding the license for this area as part of the global movement.
Once on our project, we pair people with a learning difficulties to peer mentors in order to form fully integrated communities.
Our best buddy volunteers have regular contact and outings with their buddy as well as taking part in wider group based activities.
Founded in 1989 by Anthony Kennedy Shriver, the son of the founder of Special Olympics, Best Buddies has become a vibrant, international movement involving 700,000 participants and 1500 chapters in 54 countries globally – including Northern Ireland!
People with learning disabilities, Autism and mental health issues do not often get the same social and leisure opportunities and activities that those without take for granted, and as such, may have fewer friends.
Additionally their social networks can be quite small, generally consisting of family members. As a result, many have not built up friendships in their own local communities, and can become isolated and lonely.
Best Buddies aims to change this by enabling people to spend time with people they wouldn’t normally meet, developing and maintaining friendships. The ultimate goal is to support them to play an active role in their own communities.
CAN secured vital funding from The National Lottery Community Fund to provide friendship opportunities throughout the Causeway Coast and Mid and East Antrim.
Since 2019, we have been developing friendship opportunities for dozens of individuals in a wide area of Northern Ireland
Would you like to give the gift of friendship to someone?
Codie
Project Manager
The Best Buddies project aims to build one-to-one friendships between people with and without learning disabilities, while improving social interactions, self confidence, self esteem and at the same time reduce the feeling of loneliness and isolation.
As Best Buddies Manager, I actively work at organising activities which benefit those taking part in the project in a range of ways. The long-term aim of such planned activities is that I will be able to partner up each member with a buddy, helping them to create long-term bonds and friendships to break down barriers within society.
