• Swindon & Wiltshire Social
• Wednesday June 3 2026

PR firm partners with Best Mates to help reach more people

A Swindon-based public relations agency is lending its expertise to help a local peer-support organisation reach more people in need of a helping hand.

Scott Media has announced a 12-month partnership with Best Mates, a charity dedicated to offering guidance and support to individuals navigating difficult times.

Over the coming year, the PR agency will provide pro bono communications support aimed at highlighting the vital services Best Mates offers to the community.

Each year, Scott Media chooses a local charity or community project to support entirely on a pro bono basis. The agency specifically targets causes that have a strong local impact within the community, giving access to PR support that can often be difficult to justify within a charity budget.

Best Mates, founded by local community leaders Jeff Tucker and Carl McCulloch, provides support to adults navigating life’s challenges, helping them access the right services when they need them most.

Built on the power of shared experience, it carefully links up individuals with a dedicated ‘Mate’ who has successfully overcome similar personal hurdles, ensuring tailored guidance and empathy in whatever way is needed. The organisation also runs highly successful weekly Walk & Talk Wednesday groups, providing an open, accessible environment for collective mutual support.

Lauren Roberts, media consultant at Scott Media, said: “When I heard the story behind Best Mates, I immediately found myself relating to it. There have been times in my own life when having someone to talk to, who had genuinely been through something similar, would have been incredibly helpful.

“That’s what makes Best Mates so powerful. The support comes from people who understand because they’ve faced their own challenges too. What Jeff and Carl have built is something really special. Our role is simply to help more people hear about it because if someone doesn’t know support is available, they may never reach out for it.”

In the two-and-a-half years since it was founded, Best Mates has achieved remarkable success. Named as Charity of the Year at the South West Business Awards, the organisation has successfully supported more than 280 people across the region.
Jeff said he was delighted to have been chosen by Scott Media as its pro bono PR partner for the next year.

He said: “As a growing charity, support like this is invaluable. It will help us raise awareness of the work we do, reach more people who may be struggling, and ensure more people know that support is available.

We are incredibly grateful to Fiona, Lauren and the team for believing in our mission and joining us on our journey.”

To find out more about Best Mates, visit https://bestmates.org/