Themes
- Supporting young people 13-25 years of age who have a learning disability on a relational and person-centred basis
- Changing lives and prospects by providing young people with a group of volunteer befrienders of different ages, facilitated by a paid mentor
The Need
InterAct’s research within local special schools indicates that many of those who leave school do not find all the support they need within their existing home or social situations. For many such young people virtually all their non-domestic support and relational involvement is tied up in a school they have probably attended for ten years or more. At 16 years or at 18 years they are required to leave all that behind. Young people in this age group with a learning disability face huge obstacles and personal challenges. These include issues around employment, independent or supported living, domestic tensions, social exclusion, poverty and disadvantage, personal relationships, health and personal care needs and crucially, their own confidence and self-esteem.
Project Aims
The project helps to address these needs by providing each young person with a ‘circle of support’, which is facilitated by a paid mentor. The ‘circles’ include peer volunteers of the same age group as the young people receiving support. Many of these volunteers are school sixth formers – who themselves gain enormously from the experience. There are also adult volunteers who provide an important extra dimension of resource and experience. The individual ‘circles’ of support accompany the young person on their journey and support them through the difficult transition period. This in turn enables them to deal much more effectively with their particular challenges and to access the opportunities they can be offered for personal and life development. Young people and volunteers participate in a variety of activities which may include (for example) going bowling, shopping, to the cinema and doing water sports. Social, travel, money and interpersonal skills are all enhanced from everyday activities normally denied them. Circle volunteers play a crucial role in assisting personal choice, dignity and quality of life for these special young people. Their self-worth and self-confidence increases, and they develop a greater knowledge and awareness of their own rights and citizenship.
A key aspect of this project is that it works with the young person on a person-centred and individually tailored basis, and then works within and through the circle to enable them to realise their ambitions and to be included in society in a way that most people take for granted. Volunteers help the young people at the centre of their circle to know that they matter and that there are people out there for them. Leaving school is frightening for most people, and more so for young people with a learning disability. Circles of support makes all the difference; not just for the young person, but for the volunteers too – in terms of personal development, team-working skills and experience in the social sector.
For further information contact:
Rex Lee,
Programme Manager
InterAct
Moulsham Mill
Parkway
Chelmsford
CM2 7PX
Tel: 01245 608211
Email: rex.lee@interact.org.uk
