Nice to meet you, James here… I’m an INFP-T Personality Type- have a look here if you are interested in what that means…Check out the Buddies Blueprint to understand more on the way we use matching…

I’m James, I’m one of the Buddies team, although it’s quite a small team at the mo, we like it that way – I do most of the work behind the scenes. Paperwork, doing stuff in the office but mostly coming out to work with young people and get things started in terms of figuring out what will work best for each person that works with a Buddy, or Buddies.

The team is small, and we keep it that way, growing slowly with the people we work with – ensuring we do everything we can to get it right for each person we support. We never want it to feel anything but small, as its all about  getting things right, from the start.

A little bit about me… well, before becoming a buddy, I was kind-of working as buddy, as a mental health nurse – supporting complex young people in the community. It was that experience that inspired me to start Buddies, as I saw many young people really struggle as they moved into adult services.

I met a lot of people that work in a similar area, from other nurses, managers, families, advocates, social workers, most importantly young people themselves and they all seemed to say the same thing – we are letting people down, often at the most critical moment – so that was what inspired me.

I have worked all over the place, from care homes, to secure units – working with young and old – people with anxiety, people that have all sorts of physical and mental health problems – one thing I learnt about myself, was that I treasure my experiences and the opportunity to work with a diverse group of people – valuing and caring about each person and getting to understand them.

I try to bring my own style into things, that’s being an easy-going guy, kind-hearted, with a bit of a dry and maybe annoying sense of humor at times. But I’ll do what I can to make things right for people, and guide them away from those things that are troubling them, it comes naturally, and I always feel like I’ve done something positive and worthwhile, if I can help someone out.

I’ve got my own stories and experiences as a young person which perhaps help me to relate to the challenges and stigma young people face. I love motorbikes, painting/drawing and reading, I enjoy studying things that interest me – anything creative – my older brother is a piano and guitar teacher and my younger brother is a wood and ice carver, Im the middle child :/ ( but don’t belleve what they say about us)

Im a Libra, Ive got family in Wales, so you might hear me sing every now and then, and also around Southern England – an interesting claim to fame is my connection to Old Harry Paye (AKA Henry Pay) a famous pirate of Poole (according to Grandma Pay- and she did her research) – its a bit of fun and I often wonder if its true as I live aboard a boat (ooo–arrr me hearty). Old Harrys Rocks, was his favourite hang out – google it, very cool story!

Anyway, I guess there’s more – but don’t want to bore you…. if you want to know more about my professional qualifications and experience, I’ll attach my CV here (bit boring).

If you read this far, thanks a bunch, and maybe we’ll meet and I can find something out about you – who knows.

All the best,

James Pay