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
Fulham Memories
Fulham Memories is a welcoming weekly programme for people aged 65 and over, designed to reduce social isolation while improving both physical and mental wellbeing.
Circus without limits
Helping to bring the joy of live performance to disabled, neurodivergent and disadvantaged children and their families.
Clear Mind Derby
Clear Mind Derby provides practical and emotional support to vulnerable adults across Derby. Established in 2023, it focuses on helping people before problems escalate by tackling loneliness, social isolation, poor mental health and unsafe living conditions.
