Leisure Buddies was established in February 2007 as part of a pilot program with St. Christopher’s Services in Longford to provide an opportunity for people with an intellectual disability to access leisure activities outside of their normal day setting.

Leisure Buddies aims to support people with disabilities to access leisure activities by enabling them to form a friendship with a peer from their local community with whom they have things in common with.

Volunteers play an important role in supporting people with disabilities to be part of their community and to access leisure activities.

The main aim of this project is to get people we work with more involved in leisure activities outside the working environment.

• Create opportunities for people with an intellectual disability to meet new people and make new friends.
• Build friendships outside services and family.
• Support people we work with to access leisure activities while integrating them more into their communities.
• Creating friendships with their peers; which aids community integration.
• people we work with will develop skills as a result of their participation in Leisure Buddies.
• Continuous evaluation of the impact of the Leisure Buddies Programme on quality of life.
• Awareness of the leisure buddies and its projects and aims.

If you are interest in giving your time to this programme please contact Anne Greene, HR Manager, (087) 3597531 or email hr@sthildas.ie