This projects aims to provide a volunteer befriender for vulnerable children. They may have suffered a bereavement, be on children protection plans, be socially excluded, have disabilities, learning difficulties or behavioural problems, or have family members who have disabilities, learning difficulties or behavioural problems.

Volunteers act as an “adopted” older brother or sister to the child, visiting the child about once a week. Big sibs often take their little sib out to the local playground, go bike riding, to the cinema, do arts and crafts, cooking, or even just watch TV with them. About once or twice a term group activities are arranged as well, such as our termly children’s’ parties, zoo trips, pantomime trips etc. Only activities approved by the parent/guardian/ carer are undertaken.

Reliability is crucial as children and parents get very upset if they are let down.

The family will either live within biking distance of central Cambridge (4 miles from the Market Square), or be willing travel into Cambridge to meet the volunteer. Occassionally we accept families further out, so if you are happy to get the bus to visit your sib let us know (we will reimburse bus fares). Little Siblings are aged between 5 and 11 years of age.

Volunteers are required to complete a 2 hour Child Protection training session, provided by SCA, within their first term of volunteering.