Help Us Preserve Hands-On Services for Children and Adults with Complex Needs

Imagine this:

A child goes to school in a taxi.

The taxi brings them home.

The door closes.

The End.

That’s what life looked like for many children with complex disabilities in 1994. No clubs. No holiday provision. No after-school support. No respite. No community.

A group of parents in North West Glasgow decided that “The End” was not good enough.

Buddies Clubs and Services was born. Over 30 Years of Hands-On Support

Buddies began in October 1994 as a small Sunday afternoon play club, started by parents of children with complex disabilities, including autism. It began with a £500 grant.

Today, it has grown into a vital service supporting children, young adults and their families — but we are now fighting for survival.

We are not an online forum.

We are not a talking group.

We are not virtual support sessions.

We provide real, hands-on, face-to-face services.

That means:

1:1 and sometimes 2:1 staffing for children and young adults with complex needs

Holiday clubs

After-school provision (the first and only of its kind when we started)

Family support for parents, siblings and extended family

Real respite for parents

And just as importantly — respite for children

This work demands passionate, highly trained, dedicated staff. And we have them. They are the heart of Buddies.

The Only Service Left

In 1994, there were 24 holiday clubs across Strathclyde for children with complex disabilities.

Today?

We are now the only Glasgow service providing personalised, hands-on support at this level for families with complex needs.

Our waiting list is over 100 families — and growing daily.

Parents consistently tell us the same thing:

“What would make our lives better? Hands-on services and real support.”

That is exactly what Buddies provides.

The Funding Crisis

Despite proven impact and growing demand, funding has become increasingly difficult.

Over the years, reductions in core local authority funding have left a projected shortfall of £240,000. Last year alone we faced a £117,000 deficit, which used up much of our reserves.

Without urgent support, our main services are in a very vulnerable position.

If Buddies closes, there is nowhere else for these families to go.

Why Your Support Matters

When you support Buddies, you are:

Keeping vital hands-on services alive

Supporting children and adults with autism and complex disabilities

Giving exhausted parents meaningful respite

Giving young people friendship, confidence and joy

Protecting over 30 years of community impact

This is about dignity.

This is about inclusion.

This is about helping our communities thrive.

We have fought for these families since 1994. We have grown from £500 to over a million-pound turnover organisation because the need has never gone away.

But now we need your help.

Please donate whatever you can.

Share our campaign.

Help us maintain and sustain Buddies Clubs and Services.

Let’s make sure nobody's story ends with a closed door.