A “Buddy Up” befriending project established at Warrington Youth Club in 2011, has gone from strength to strength complimented by a very successful Film Night project run by two young members.
Both Zak Cameron and Kyle Webster, both aged 15, bring their own unique style, passion and above everything fantastic sense of compassion, empathy and humour
in running the Buddy Up Film Nights.
Originally starting in 2013, they not only support children and young people with disabilities but also ensure that the project supports families, encouraging parents, carers and siblings of disabled young people, also to attend.
The Film Nights, currently run from Penketh High School, started to flourish in 2014 thanks largely to the efforts of Zak and more recently Kyle, who will now be working in partnership with warrington-worldwide providing regular film reviews.
The Buddy Up Family Film Nights are held twice a month, and provide a simply wonderful family experience, allowing children and young people with disabilities along with their families to enjoy a film in a calm, and relaxed environment. Both Zak and Kyle further compliment the nights by hosting, comparing and also running regular quizzes, with prizes donated by both the Village Hotel Warrington and the Odeon Westbrook.
Through the support of a national charity by the name of Into Film, the “Buddy Up “ Family Film Nights have further grown and developed and during 2016 both Zak and Kyle and the project itself, were recognised at both a national and regional level, receiving accolades to include the “Into Film Club of the Year 2016” for the over 13 years category, together with recognition at the O2 Think Big Awards. The boys also picked up further awards at the recent Key 103 Time To Shine Awards, being recognised as the “Young Community Heroes of the Year”.
At Warrington Youth Club, the ethos is ‘Inspiring Young People to Achieve’. Established in 1952, it is the largest voluntary sector Youth Club in Warrington, providing services that meet the needs of a wide range of groups, helping and empowering young people to make positive changes for themselves and their communities.
They offer high quality personal and social development opportunities to children and young people from across Warrington aged 7 to 19, and up to 25 for young people who have a disability. Throughout their programmes, they embed the values of learning, choice, participation, diversity and community into everything they do in order to give the young people they support the confidence and skills to reach their full potential.
Through the support of a volunteer “Buddy” every young person, referred to the project is supported on a one to one basis, within a social setting, allowing them to develop skills in the areas of improved social skills, friendship groups, enhanced self-esteem and also the opportunity to develop a level of independence within their peer groups.
For further information on Buddy Up or the Family Film Nights, please contact [email protected]
