• buddy(su) is a peer-to-peer student support scheme co-ordinated by uea(su) that brings students together and helps students make the most of their time at UEA
• buddy(su) matches current UEA students with first year or foundation year students according to their needs, circumstances and interests - such as area of study and hobbies. A buddy(su) volunteer (known as a buddy) will meet up with their matched buddies, share insights and learnings from their own UEA student experience, find academic and social opportunities of interest and be a friendly face through their first year at UEA
• Trained by uea(su) and its partners, buddy(su) volunteers will share lots of valuable tips and useful information about UEA and the fine city of Norwich; bring a friendly, knowledgeable and supportive face for any new UEA student
• buddy(su) volunteers have already gone through the transition of a new start: getting used to the campus; negotiating the different types of study; and have tackled the experiences and challenges of the first semester, making them an invaluable source of knowledge and support as a new student’s ‘go to person’

Buddy(su) is completely free to access for students! UEA kindly fund the SU to deliver the project, with student volunteers generously giving up their time to support new students based upon their own university experiences and interests.

This is a positive thing! The best way to show the success of your involvement with buddy(su) is for you to feel happy, confident, safe and settled into life at UEA – to the point where you feel independent and that you’ve found your communities. If this is the case however, please just make sure to let your buddy volunteer know to say thank you and so that they can then support another student in your place!

For more information how to become a buddy(su) volunteer, visit our ‘Be a Buddy’ page.

buddy(su) volunteers receive a wide range of training to both effectively support students that they are matched with and to support their own personal development. This training includes but is not limited to:

• How to support students
• Communication guidance
• Safeguarding training and reporting incidents / disclosures
• Welfare signposting
• Inclusion awareness

• Having a positive impact upon the lives and student experiences for other students during their time at UEA
• Meeting new people
• Trying new experiences
• Developing and expanding your personal and professional skills, including areas such as communication, problem solving, time-management, active listening, using initiative, confidence and many more!
• Developing valuable volunteering experience (including the above skills) that will benefit your future employability beyond university
• Undertaking a volunteer role that is flexible around your needs, availability and studies
• Undertaking value-adding training courses throughout the academic year

• You are given appropriate training, support and flexibility to undertake the role effectively
• Wholesome and value-adding experiences for both you and those that you support
• All your personal data being stored and protected in accordance with GDPR requirements / our privacy policy
• Dedicated staff support and being given the opportunity to provide feedback based upon on your experience so that we can continuously improve the volunteer experience
• If you have any questions about volunteering with buddy(su), please email us on buddy.su@uea.ac.uk or come in to see us in person at the SU Office upstairs in Union House!

We don’t expect you to:

• Undertake a counselling role or solve your buddy’s problems, instead to signpost to the buddy(su) team or appropriate support services at UEA as required
• Give your buddy money, pick them up from the airport or to proofread academic work – it is incredibly important that you stick to the scope of your volunteer role and that you set clear boundaries, contacting the SU team if any contact oversteps these or begins to make you feel uncomfortable
• Prioritise your buddy over your studies, interests, commitments and own student experience. Your buddy should understand that you are also a student and that you are volunteering your time to support them