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
St Joseph's Hospice
St Joseph’s Hospice is an independent charity providing specialist, compassionate end-of-life care to around 150 adults each year across Merseyside and parts of West Lancashire. It supports people with complex, incurable conditions to live their final days with dignity, comfort and as much quality of life as possible
Helping Hands Community Trust Family Outreach
Helping Hands support the development of an early intervention programme for children, young people and families across Oadby & Wigston, Leicester and the wider Leicestershire area.
Derbyshire Children's Seaside Holiday Home
Derbyshire Children's Holiday Centre offers free seaside holidays in Skegness for children in Derbyshire who are experiencing poverty, trauma, or difficult circumstances. For more than 135 years, we have provided safe and enjoyable experiences that foster confidence, friendships, and hope giving children a chance to escape their daily pressures and create lasting memories.
