Welcome Bay’s Danny Prior has been a Big Buddy for almost four years to Little Buddy Roman Healey.

Their first introduction was difficult; Roman was 7 at the time and he was very shy.

When he was asked if he would like Prior to be his Big Buddy, he said, “no”.

It takes time to build up trust and confidence and now, nearly four years later, the two are very close and Roman looks forward to catching up with Prior.

But what is Big Buddy?

Big Buddy is a charity that matches boys aged 7-17 without consistent male presence in their lives, with good guys from the community.

Prior volunteered to become a Big Buddy after losing his father to cancer at an early age.

“I went to boarding school and there were no real role models. That was my main motivator,” he said.

Roman’s mother, Sarsha Healey, signed him up to the programme after finding success with her older son.

They had recently moved to Tauranga and Sarsha had split from Roman’s father. “We knew no one here,” she said.

She wanted to find a male role model for her son who could physically be there, as her father had passed, and Roman’s father had moved overseas.

She went to his father and asked if he would be comfortable with the idea before applying to the programme.

The Big Buddy programme is about helping boys to build confidence and experience opportunities they might not have otherwise.

“We’ve been to speedway; we go to the beach and take the dogs. Last time I had him we went rock climbing,” said Prior.

Roman and Prior often go kayaking, play cards and other sports.

Roman said he wants to go go-karting next.

Prior has two grandkids aged 11 and nine who get along well with Roman.

Roman’s mum said Prior “is the best big buddy you could ever wish for”.

“My son’s super fit and full of energy and life, and it’s hard to match, but Dan [Prior] does it.

“He’s just so consistent. He and my boy have such a special relationship. He’s like a fit AF grandad.”

She said Roman always comes home saying he has had such a great time with Prior.

She said his consistency with showing up for Roman sends the message “You matter”.

“I don’t think there are any bad buddies, but I think ours is the best.

“Most single mums think they could do everything, but there’s certain things that we can’t do.

“I think I’m the bees knees, but there are some things that I noticed just in the way that men think and their perspectives, and so it does make a difference.”

When big buddies sign up, they have to commit to a year with their little buddy but Prior said he believes it is a lifelong commitment and will be there for as long as Roman wants him.

“I’ll always be there for him whenever he needs me.”