Ward Buddies
We believe no child should feel abandoned, and no parent should have to choose between caring for their child in the hospital and caring for their family at home. Our vision is to build a sustainable model of emotional bedside care that can be shared with hospitals nationwide, and even around the world
Project Overview
Founder Jamie McDonald spent much of his childhood in hospital, experiencing first-hand the loneliness, fear, and isolation that many children face on the ward. Determined to change this, Jamie went on to achieve world-record fundraising challenges including running across the USA and won the Pride of Britain Fundraiser of the Year in 2019. He founded Ward Buddies so no child has to face hospital alone.
Why We Need Your Help
Ward Buddies volunteers provide vital support to babies, children, and families but to maximise their impact, we need a structured training programme. With your support, we can ensure every volunteer delivers safe, consistent, and compassionate care.
The Project
We are developing a clinically informed, three-module training programme covering Patient Communication, Safeguarding, and Volunteer Wellbeing. Once created, this programme can be used indefinitely to train all future volunteers creating a lasting impact for children and families when they need it most.
Check out the live projects we're supporting
WN7 Outreach
WN7 Outreach CIC is a not-for-profit organization dedicated to providing alternative education, health and wellbeing support, and community-focused activities for people of all ages in the local area.
Running the London Marathon for Gympanzees
Gympanzees will be the UK's first fully accessible exercise, play, and social centre for disabled and neurodivergent children and young people. This new facility will open in late 2026. Open 364 days a year, 7 days a week this centre will provide endless opportunities for play, exercise and connection, and each year it will support 200,000 children and young people, as well as their families
R!SE Up
RISE with’ is our community led scheme, which harnesses the support of local organisations to provide life-changing experiences for young people. Coaching provides the foundation of our work, but we want to go further, raising aspirations for our young people. We believe the way to do this is by exposing them to new experiences, which have the potential to be life changing. Whether it’s drumming, boxing, parkour or cooking, these opportunities give young people access to new possibilities, life skills and passions.
