COMPASSIONATE people who would like to help provide friendship and support to those who have battled with addiction are encouraged to sign up to the new Bathurst Buddies program.
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The program is a community project organised by members of the Bathurst Uniting Church, the Catholic church, Bathurst Salvation Army and Mission Australia.
It is designed to provide support to people in Bathurst with addictions, who are experiencing loneliness and marginalisation.
The program hopes to build the confidence, self-worth and self-esteem of the participants, with the outcome of increased social engagement and social contact with the community.
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Volunteers will need to first undergo training, but from there it is up to them to decide how much time they dedicate to the program.
"We are thinking of half an hour a week or maybe a fortnight," the management committee said.
"It depends on how much time the buddy has and what they see in the role as well."
The first training session for the program will be held on Thursday, March 12 at the Salvos Connect space, located at 37 Keppel Street.
The training starts at 5.30pm and will go for about three hours, providing people with the skills they need to assist someone who has experienced addition.
At a later date, volunteers will be "buddied up" with a participant.
The management committee hopes they will meet regularly in a social setting, perhaps going for a walk together or meeting for coffee.
Volunteers could also help participants with skills development.
Anyone who is interested in joining Bathurst Buddies, or would like to find out more information, is asked to get in contact with the committee.
This can be done by calling 0455 328 966, sending an email to bathurstbuddies@gmail.com or through the program's Facebook page.
While the program has the potential to build an important community support network, it is also another example of multiple agencies working together after the success of the Uniting Safe Shelter.
"We're working together, which is lovely. It just happens that the people who are involved come from the Salvos, Maree from the Catholic church, Julie from the Uniting Church, and Mission Australia," the committee said.
"We can look at it as a great partnership between the churches."
