Community buddies

Community Buddies support children and young people with a disability, additional or special educational needs (SEN) to get out and about in the community, try new things, and take part in activities they enjoy.

A Community Buddy can be a trained volunteer or a paid member of staff from a CQC registered provider or community organisation. All Community Buddies are interviewed, checked and trained, and matched to suit your child’s individual needs.

Important information about referrals and waiting times

We want every young person to be matched with a Community Buddy who is right for them. Because of the popularity of the scheme and the time taken to find suitable matches, there is currently an average wait of 6–12 months from assessment to Buddy allocation.

We are actively recruiting and training new Community Buddies to help meet demand and reduce waiting times where possible.

Referrals are currently paused until September 2026. If you would like a young person to be considered when referrals reopen, please send an Expression of Interest to [email protected] including their name, date of birth and postcode.

Who can use a community buddy

Children and young people aged 10 to 17 who:

  • have a disability, additional or special educational needs (SEN), or
  • need support to join in community, leisure or recreation activities
  • live in the Hampshire County Council area (excluding Portsmouth, Southampton, Isle of Wight and neighbouring authorities)
  • have a digital Gateway Card+
What support can a Community Buddy offer

A Buddy can support your child to:

  • attend an activity or club of their choice
  • try new things and spend time away from home
  • build confidence and work towards agreed outcomes
  • access the community, including learning public transport or money skills
  • enjoy leisure activities with support at their pace If your child needs personal care or medication support, they’ll be matched with a CQC registered provider so this is never a barrier.
When can a Community Buddy support

In your referral, you can tell us the days and times that work best for your child, whether that’s a regular weekly club or occasional trips out. Please include both term-time and school holiday preferences, and we’ll use this information to help find the best possible match.

We’ll work with you to try to meet your preferred times, but please note that specific days or hours can’t always be guaranteed, as matching depends on Buddy availability.

Parental contributions

Community Buddy support costs:

  • £8 per hour, or £4 per hour (if eligible for concessionary rate)
  • You will also need to budget for any activity costs, food or drinks, and travel during the session.
How the process works
  • Once we receive your referral, the Community Buddy Scheme Coordinator will contact you to arrange an initial meeting and risk assessment. This helps us get to know your young person, understand their needs, and learn about what they enjoy.
  • After this, we’ll look at which Buddy is the best fit, based on your child’s interests, availability, and any specific support requirements.
  • Please note that there may be a waiting period between assessment and being matched with a Community Buddy. The average waiting time is currently 6–12 months, although this depends on the availability of suitable Buddies, location, support needs and preferred times. We are actively recruiting Community Buddies to increase capacity and reduce waiting times.
  • We will then set up an Individual Service Contract (ISC) between you, the Buddy volunteer/provider, and the Council. This sets out the agreed hours, parental contributions, and the outcomes your young person will be working towards.
  • We understand that children’s needs change, so support can be paused at any time after speaking with the Community Buddy Scheme Coordinator to make sure it remains the right support at the right time. This will follow the cancellation terms outlined in the ISC.
Useful information
  • Community Buddy Scheme hours are capped at 10 hours per child per calendar month, subject to availability (hours can’t be carried over).
  • The scheme is capped at three years, or until the young person turns 18, whichever comes first.
  • Please note: The Community Buddy Scheme is subject to funding approvals arranged annually as part of Hampshire’s Short Breaks Offer and is currently confirmed until March 2027.
Referral and further questions

Community Buddy Scheme referrals are currently paused until September 2026. To register an Expression of Interest, please email [email protected] with the young person's name, date of birth and postcode.

If you have any further questions please contact the Buddy Scheme Team:

Email: [email protected]

Volunteer to be a community buddy

We are actively recruiting volunteers to become a Community Buddy. To find out more see our volunteering opportunities or email [email protected].