The program was introduced in 2020, pre-pandemic, and is being brought back to help those in need.

Bathurst Buddies is designed to help some people with drug and alcohol addiction to build social connection by partnering them up with volunteers and peer support workers.

Small groups will meet regularly for social contact over a coffee, walking or other activities.

BUSS is looking for volunteers to join the program, with training and support to be provided.

READ ALSO: Bathurst Uniting Support Services (BUSS) a new initiative to help the disadvantaged

Committee member Lyn Webster said it's a good time to get involved with a program like Bathurst Buddies, as a lot of people in the community are feeling isolated.

"I think we've realised with COVID that a lot of people are isolated and lonely because of that," she said.

"But also there are a lot of people in our community who are always isolated and lonely and often marginalised because of that alcohol and drug addiction or mental health issues that mean they just don't get that social contact and they don't feel part of the community in the way that perhaps other people do.

"The Bathurst Buddies is meant to provide basically social contact for those people."

People recovering from addiction are a huge focus of the program as positive social interaction can be an asset to their recovery journey.

"People with addiction, when they are trying to recover from addiction, have to basically give up their old social contacts, because those people are part of the problem," Ms Webster said.

"They often aren't able to make new contacts. The Bathurst Buddies, the idea is volunteers are matched with participants and they meet together for social contact once a week, ideally for about an hour, to do some kind of activity together."

A wide range of people can be suited to volunteering for Bathurst Buddies.

They just need to have qualities such as kindness, and to be understanding of people who have experienced hardship and disadvantage in their lives.

"We know we have lots of people who need a buddy, so we're looking for buddies. We need people who are kind, friendly and can spare a bit of time each week to do it," Ms Webster said.

The first training night for the program will be held on Tuesday, August 3 at 7pm in the Uniting Church hall. Ms Webster said people can decide after the training night if they want to be a volunteer.

To find out more about becoming a volunteer, email bathurstbuddies@gmail.com or call 0455 328 966.

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