East Region

Nadine Jay - Regional Coordinator   Tel: 07980 841759 Fax: 0870 137 6585   Email: nadine.jay@circlesnetwork.org.uk

Our work in the Eastern region has really grown over the past 2 years. All of our work has developed through our CREDO projects. In 2000 the National Lottery Charities Board (now known as the Big Lottery) funded Circles Network to run 2 CREDO projects, 1in Northern Ireland and 1 across England. In 2002 we then received 3 years further funding to concentrate this work in the East of England, the project was renamed ‘CREDO east’.

The CREDO projects focused on person centred support for disabled teenagers who are labelled as having ‘profound and complex impairments’. Our work mainly consisted of creating circles of support around young people and their families and assisting them to think creatively about post school life and their futures. Our passion was in supporting this group of young people as they are some of the most hidden, marginalised and discriminated people of society. Our funding for CREDO east ceased in November 2006 but all of our other projects have been based on this work.

Experience showed that one of the most challenging aspects of trying to create more ordinary lives was the lack of ordinary contact that young people had with their non disabled peers. This lead us to concentrate on facilitating the bringing together of disabled and non disabled young people with the ultimate aim of creating long lasting friendships.

Projects

LG2 - a friendship group encouraging the inclusion of disabled young people within their own peer group.

Peterborough Person Centred Planning Project - support disabled young people with person centred planning and developing circles of support across the city.

Suffolk Person Centred Planning - creating person centred plans for school leavers and adults in Suffolk and providing facilitator training and support.

Peer Mentorship Project, Ely - This project was developed following the success of the Peer Mentorship Project in Peterborough

Previous Projects

** If you would like to help us continue the vital work of these projects, please visit: Support our Work **

Saturday Circles - supporting 14 disabled and non disabled young people to meet fortnightly at a resource centre in Ely, developing friendships and working together to compile their own person centred plans.

Peer Mentorship Project, Peterborough - providing opportunities in curriculum time for disabled and non-disabled young people to be together, taking part in activities, and for each student to build their own person centred portfolio.

Stories of Success

Lewis

Lewis attends Phoenix school in Peterborough. He is 18 years old. Lewis has been supported to set up a Circle of support. The members of his circle are all volunteers made up of family, non-disabled friends and workers from school that know him well.
The group meet regularly, usually at the pub! Lewis loves this time, he feels really included but is most happy because everyone is there for him. The group are helping to put together a picture of who Lewis is and look at ideas for his future. We call this a person centred plan. Lewis leaves school in 2008. The group want to help Lewis to find opportunities to enable him to have a fulfilling, meaningful and happy life where he is fully included in his community.

Events

Click here to read details of our celebration event in Peterborough in July 2007

Click here to read details of our Inclusive gathering in Suffolk in October 2006

Products

DVD - 'Creating the Possible' highlights the importance that circles of support and planning in a person centred way can have on the lives of young disabled people.

VHS Video - 'Hello You' celebrates the difference and the gifts that each young person possesses.

Send mail to: information@circlesnetwork.org.uk with questions or comments about this web site.
Copyright © 2008 Circles Network
Last modified: May 28, 2008