The Buddy Scheme is a social endeavour designed to create connections, a sense of community, and provide informal support. Sign up by Friday 1 May!
What is the Buddy Scheme?
The Buddy Scheme is open to everyone in Professional Services at UCL to connect with colleagues working across the university, no matter how long they’ve been here. It is a social endeavour designed to create connections and a sense of community, where staff across departments can support each other by sharing experiences, offering advice, listening to new ideas and working through problems. It is organised by a group of Professional Services staff volunteers who previously took part in the Buddy Scheme.
When does the Buddy Scheme take place?
The scheme runs from mid-June to December every academic year. Registration for the 2026 Buddy Scheme is open from Monday 23 March - Friday 1 May.
Once matched up, Buddies meet as and when possible. It is expected that Buddies will meet approximately once per month, or six times, during that time, and the meetings can either be face-to-face or online. Timings and format are agreed upon between individuals.
The Buddy Scheme Organising team will check in mid-way through the scheme. At the end of the programme, there will be a wrap-up session and Buddies will be able to give feedback on how things have gone for the buddy pair.
Please inform your Line Manager when you opt in to this scheme so that you can have the time to interact effectively with your Buddy at UCL.
To sign up for the scheme, please fill in the registration form.
You can also join our Information Session on Teams on Monday 13 April, 11:00 - 12:00 to learn more.
What have past participants said about the Buddy Scheme?
Here’s a selection of feedback from past participants:
’It was great to meet someone new, learn some more about other roles and to get an understanding of what working in a different department/faculty might be like.’
’I appreciated the flexibility of the scheme, which allowed us to discuss a wide range of topics, at times that suited both me and my buddy.’
’What I particularly valued about the UCL Buddy Scheme was the sense of connection it fostered: having a named point of contact, and the informal support which provided practical guidance as well as reassurance. The scheme encouraged open communication, knowledge-sharing, and a supportive culture, which helped me feel more confident and integrated within the wider UCL community.’
How are Buddies matched?
Pairs are matched based on various factors, including role, interests, location, and availability to create supportive relationships. The Organising team will do their best to pair you up with a colleague with relevant skills and experiences to meet your preference, but this will depend on the pool of applicants and is not guaranteed.
Get in touch
You can email the Buddy Scheme Organising team directly. One of the team will reply as soon as possible, but please remember that they are volunteers so there may be a delay in their response.
You can also find out more during the on Monday 13 April, 11:00 - 12:00.
Click here to sign up to the Professional Services Staff Buddy Scheme.
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