One to One Support

Our 1:1 Support offers children and teenagers aged 5-19 with additional needs and disabilities the chance to participate in their favourite leisure activity with the help of a trained, caring volunteer.

We currently support children living or attending school in the Wokingham and Reading Boroughs.

We do not require children to have any formal diagnosis to receive our service, if they need a bit of extra support, we can help!

What Do We Offer?

We offer a child with additional needs 1:1 volunteer ‘buddy’ who can support them at a mainstream weekday activity once a week.

Your family will be supported by a member of our team who will get to know your child and match them up with a volunteer based on their needs, personality, and other factors. Volunteers will meet the parent and child at the activity and cannot provide transport.

Please note we cannot support at activities which are set up specifically for additional needs or holiday clubs. Activities must be mainstream activities during the week i.e. Monday – Friday.

Learn more about how a Me2 Club volunteer can benefit your child on our FAQ.

Who Can We Support?

Our 1:1 support is available to any child aged 5-19 who lives or attends school in the Reading or Wokingham boroughs, whatever their needs may be.

We have supported children with a range of additional needs such as

Autism
ADHD
Anxiety
Challenging behaviour
Down’s Syndrome
Global Development Delay
Learning difficulties
Speech & Language issues
And more

We can support at any mainstream weekly activity that starts after 4pm, such as swimming, Scouts/Guides, sports clubs, and more. We are unable to provide volunteers for holiday clubs, weekend activities, or SEND activities.

You will need to already have an activity booked for your child before completing a registration form, we do not provide our own activities.

The Matching Process

Child Registration

Complete our registration form once you have chosen an activity

Waiting List

Your child will join the waiting list for a volunteer. Waiting list times are around 12-16 weeks

Home Visit

A member of staff will meet you and your child to get to know them better, either at home or a public place

Matched With Volunteer

Our team will send you the profile of a suitable volunteer

Volunteer Home Visit

The volunteer will meet with your family along with a staff member to get to know your child better

Attend Activity Together

The volunteer will meet your child at their chosen activity each week to provide support

Benefits of 1:1 Support

Having a volunteer means your child can have dedicated support that the activity staff may not be able to provide otherwise, while feeling independent from their parents/carers.

The same volunteer will meet with your child each week, helping them build the confidence to get involved, learn life skills, and feel included in mainstream activities.

Read what our families, activity providers, and volunteers have to say about Me2 Club’s impact:

"Thank you so much for helping me and boosting my confidence in swimming whilst having fun doing lessons."

I would like to say a huge thank you to Me2 Club for helping M and encouraging him to build up his confidence and trying new activities. Without a volunteer's help this wouldn't have been possible.”

"Me2 Club is a very good voluntary organization that helps children with additional needs join our swim school lessons. With the help and dedication of each volunteer the children learn to swim and enjoy the lessons. Without Me2 Club this would not happen."

"I’ve seen G become more confident and talkative with the other Scouts! She also gets more involved in the activities than before and she isn’t afraid of pairing up with the other kids."

"M finding R has been like M finding a supportive big brother. They both have quiet and caring nature's, and R encourages M’s confidence out of hiding. For the first time M is comfortable to be himself with someone outside of family, someone who understands him and is happy just to sit with him in the moment when things get too tough for him"