Friend for School
Friend for School started as a partnership between HeadStart, Merlin Entertainments and Westminster Primary Academy.
This exciting project is for young people in Years 4, 5 and 6, who are having a difficult time in school and need support in raising their aspirations. They will be matched with a trained, safe and secure adult friend with whom they can develop positive, nurturing friendship. The volunteers will support the young people from Years 4, 5 and 6, through their transition to high school and beyond (usually to the end of Year 8).
The adult Friends will be from the world of business and will be someone who can be a positive role model and help develop future aspirations. They will get together in school, in work and sometimes in the community.
Teacher
We are working with more schools across Blackpool. So, if you know of a pupil who would benefit from this project, you can give us a call. We will meet you either virtually or face-to-face for a chat.
You can help the pupil create a profile, which we will use to match with the volunteer. You can be involved in our matching process where you can help us decide which volunteer is right for the pupil.
You can be with the pupil when they meet their new Friend for the first time, we will be there as well. The volunteer will visit the pupil at school during term times. The pupil will also have the opportunity to visit the volunteer’s workplace.
Volunteers
“Talk to old people they know cool stuff. Talk to young people they know cool stuff."
If you are in the world of business and would like to be a positive role model for a young person who is struggling at school, then the Friend for School project could be for you. You could also encourage your colleagues to get involved as well.
We offer training and support for you to become a Friend for School and then you will be matched with one of our young people to have fun and develop a strong friendship.
We asked our volunteers why they wanted to join our project, here is what they said to us:
"If I have the smallest positive change impact on my young person then it has all been worthwhile."
"If we can give up a fraction of our time to make them feel like someone cares, then that could alter the way they see the world."
"I know myself that with hard work, POSITIVITY and a dash of determination, we are all capable of achieving our wildest dreams."