Buddy Programme - Omagh Youth Centre

Omagh Youth Centre operates a Buddy programme on Wednesdays from 7.30pm-8.45pm for high functioning ASD young people in Year 8+.

The programme facilitates ASD young people attending a mainstream Youth Centre with the support of trained Buddies and the cycle of the programme is shaped as follows.

The programme recruits new Buddies from local schools in September every year, as each June we lose Buddies as they get older and gain part time jobs, higher demands from school/exams etc.

In October, the newly recruited Buddies go through about 10-12 weeks of training; they complete an OCN in Disability Awareness, leadership training and autism awareness. They then transition into the Buddy programme (which is running alongside the training with already trained Buddies from the previous year) to support the ASD members.

In terms of support for ASD members (high functioning), the Buddies engage with them; encouraging them to take part in activities, having conversations with them, talking about their interests and ultimately helping give them more confidence within themselves to participate in the weekly activities.

We have a set programme of activities which the ASD members and Buddies develop each term for example Bingo, quiz, Buddies Got Talent etc and these activities are coupled with “stations” i.e. places in the Centre where they can go to if they don’t want to do the activity for that night; art station, sports in hall, board games etc.

To participate, young people simply need a parent/guardian to complete a Registration form