Friendship circle works with children and vulnerable people with a range of disability. These young people often require physical assistance with activities or seek affection from the staff and volunteers working with them.

All of Friendship Circle’s programmes are primarily run on a 1-1 or 2-1 ratio of staff to participants but with the exception of the buddy programme these activities take place within are large group format. These are therefore the guidelines for physical contact with any participant:

• No physical contact should take place if you are not in sight of another person.
• Any physical contact needs to have a purpose ie: distraction; assistance; keeping the child and or young adult safe.
• All physical contact should be something the child/young adult is comfortable with.

The buddy programme volunteers have the same guidelines and therefore need to make sure that the child’s parent or other people witness any physical contact with the child.