Buddies for All is dedicated to reducing loneliness and social isolation among disabled adults by connecting them with compassionate Buddies. Our mission is to enhance the physical, mental, and emotional well-being of disabled people through meaningful support and community engagement.
We offer a range of services designed to foster connection and inclusion:
- Buddying Programme: One-to-one peer support, available via telephone, online, and face-to-face interactions.
- Social Connection Events: Disability-friendly events to help build friendships and community ties.
- Mentoring and Coaching: Personal development and confidence-building support.
- Training and Consultancy: Helping organisations improve inclusion and disability awareness.
How it works:
- Request a Buddy for yourself or refer someone you know.
- Become a Buddy and make a positive impact in someone’s life.
- Join our community to access support, connection, and activities.
Availability: In-person support is currently available across London only, with plans to expand. Telephone and online support are available more widely.
Cost: This is a paid service. Please contact us for details about fees and payment options.
Who can use this service? Disabled adults seeking connection, support, and access to community activities. Carers, family members, and professionals can also refer someone to our Buddying Programme.
Get involved: You can support us by becoming a Buddy, partnering with us, or donating to help us reach more people.
Buddies for All does not provide services such as care assistance, including support with personal care like toileting at
home or in the community, nor does it offer a home visiting service, except for picking up and dropping off with prior
written agreement. The organisation is not a personal assistant service and does not assist with personal care or household tasks. Additionally, Buddies for All does not offer personal escort services, such as driving clients to medical appointments or activities unrelated to social or leisure pursuits. It is not a support worker service meaning buddies do not assist clients in voluntary or paid work, nor do they offer guidance on NHS prescriptions. The organisation also does not provide advocacy support, such as sending emails or written correspondence on behalf of clients, nor is it a dating service. Importantly, Buddies for All does not support illegal activities, including the use of recreational drugs to manage conditions.
The service is strictly focused on social and leisure activities, and it does not assist with hospital appointments or non-leisure
activities.
As a Community Interest Company, we have limited centralised funding and therefore need to charge some clients for our services. All profits that we generate are used to provide free support to clients who are unable to pay for our services.
Buddying programme fees
We have a limited number of free Buddies to support clients who are:
In receipt of means-tested benefits (e.g. Universal Credit)
Living in a low income household*
Experiencing significant financial hardship (e.g. out of work, full-time carer)
Unable to claim disability-related benefits
Please contact us if you are unsure whether you qualify for our free services on info@buddiesforall.org.uk.
*£19,500 or less per year
Clients can use their disability benefits to pay for services (which are discounted). These include:
Personal Independence Payments
Disability Living Allowance
Personal Health Budget
Direct Payments from their Local Authority
One hour of in-person Buddying when paid for with a disability benefit costs £25 per hour.
30 minutes of telephone or 45 minutes of video call Buddying when paid for with a disability benefit costs £20 per session.
Clients who have a low-income but do not qualify for our free services or do not receive disability benefits can receive a discount on our standard fees.
One hour of in-person Buddying with a low income discount is £30 per hour.
30 minutes of telephone or 45 minutes of video call Buddying with a low income discount is £22 per session.
Our standard fee for in-person Buddying is £35 per hour. Our standard fee for virtual Buddying is £26 per session. 30 minutes for telephone or 45 minutes for video calls.
At Buddies for All, we aim to keep our services as accessible and affordable as possible. We offer a range of flexible payment options to suit different circumstances:
Pay What You Can – We encourage all clients to contribute what they can to help sustain our service and support others in need. Every contribution makes a difference.
Pay It Forward – Through our "Pay It Forward" model, generous donors can gift sessions to clients who may not otherwise afford support. This allows more people to benefit from our Buddying service.
Free Support (Up to 8 Weeks) – Clients receiving means-tested benefits can access up to 8 weeks of free Buddying support. After this period, ongoing support must be funded through one of our payment options, including "Pay What You Can" or by making a minimum donation of £6 per session to help cover our running costs.
We are committed to ensuring no one is left without support. If you have any questions about payment options, please get in touch