Become a Buddy

Volunteer enquiries are now closed for this role but if you’d like to discuss other opportunities with us, please fill in our general enquiry form.
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Our peer-support Buddy Service links people to Buddies who have similar, lived experience of lymphoma.  For more information about the Buddy Service please read our Terms of Service. 

What's involved?

We are looking for specific experiences only - please see more information under 'Is this role right for me?'

• Deliver short-term, one-to-one peer support by phone or email to an individual.
• Use your own experiences of lymphoma to empathise with and support individuals who are in similar situations to your own.
• Volunteer within the expectations of being a Buddy - see more information about what we expect of our Buddies here. 

Is this role right for me?

We’re looking for specific experiences of lymphoma only.

We already have a number of Buddies offering a broad range of experiences, so we’ve identified some areas where we're looking for particular experiences. Please read the list below to see if your experience is matched to one of these areas. If it is not listed, we kindly ask that you do not apply at this time.

We are looking for individuals who have, or have had:

• a low-grade lymphoma and not had any treatment (on active monitoring or ‘watch and wait’);
• chronic lymphocytic leukaemia (CLL) or small lymphocytic lymphoma (SLL); 
• marginal zone lymphoma (MALT, splenic or nodal);
• Waldenström’s macroglobulinaemia (WM);
• a cutaneous (skin) lymphoma including Mycosis Fungoides;
• Mantle cell lymphoma;
• any type of T-cell lymphoma;
• Hodgkin lymphoma and have had a stem cell transplant;
• nodular lymphocyte predominant Hodgkin lymphoma (NLPHL); 
• central nervous system (CNS) lymphoma (including lymphoma in the brain, spinal cord or the eye);
• rarer types of high-grade non-Hodgkin lymphoma, such as double-hit, triple hit, grey zone, or others;
• partial remission following treatment (for any type of lymphoma);
• a change in their treatment plan part-way through their treatment (due to incomplete or partial response, for any type of lymphoma);
• a diagnosis of lymphoma during pregnancy; or
• transformation of their lymphoma.

We are also looking for individuals:

• between 18 and 30 years of age, willing to talk about lifestyle issues such as fertility, managing or returning to higher education or work;
• who are partners, carers, relatives or friends of someone with a lymphoma diagnosis;  
• who have had antibody therapies/targeted treatment (obinutuzumab, ibrutinib, Idelalisb, nivolumab or brentuximab);
• who have had an allogeneic (donor) stem cell transplant; and
• who have had CAR-T cell therapy.

To be eligible for this role

• A personal experience of lymphoma is required. 
• You will have come to terms with your own diagnosis, or that of the person close to you, and be able to comfortably share your experience and emotions around this to support others sensitively.
• You, or your family member or the person you care for, will be at least 12 months on from completing treatment or starting on active monitoring.
• You will be engaging, empathetic and non-judgemental, and able to communicate well with a range of people, ages and backgrounds.
• It's a flexible role with links being made based on a suitable match of experiences, therefore there is likely to be periods with no links.  

What you'll gain from this role

• You'll make a real difference to people affected by lymphoma 
• You'll be a valued member of our volunteering community, which is at the heart of our work
• You'll develop your understanding of lymphoma and the work of a national charity
• You'll enhance your own wellbeing by giving your time to make a positive impact and connecting with others.

Applications for this role are now closed, but thank you for your interest!

Interviews will be held virtually via Teams/Zoom during August.

Training for the role will be held on Saturday 7 October.