Katie Fraser's Take a Buddy

There's an old saying: 'A problem shared is a problem halved.' This is the guiding principle of the Take a Buddy Support network. These days so many of us live in fragmented communities. We don't necessarily know our nearest neighbours. We don't all go to church. Village post offices and pubs are being shut down. Local children are sent to a variety of schools and we shop in giant, impersonal supermarkets instead of the local corner shop. Often our families live far away. The sense of community and of a shared support network is being lost.

However, it still exists at Take a Break magazine. Katie Fraser's Take a Buddy is an evergrowing support network of Take a Break readers who would like to use their shared experience and wisdom to help others.

If you would like to become part of Take a Buddy, please email Katie on tab.katie@bauer.co.uk.

You might like to take a look at our online support groups on Facebook. Click here to be directed to a central group, Take a Buddy Support. From here, you can follow links to a variety of different support or special interest groups, whether you are looking for advice, information or just friendship. Please click here for chums4everyone. 

We also have Take a Buddy groups, where people can meet up in person, up and running or in the process of being set up in many areas of the country.

Each group has its own local co-ordinator, so contact that person directly, either by e-mail or by telephone, for further information on when and where they'll be meeting.

To volunteer to become a co-ordinator yourself, e-mail tab.katie@bauer.co.uk or write to me at the usual Take a Break address.