LG2

	Nadine Jay - Regional Coordinator   Tel: 07980 841759 Fax: 0870 137 6585   Email: nadine.jay@circlesnetwork.org.uk
	Caroline Garner - Facilitator Tel: 07762 618882 Email: caroline.garner@circlesnetwork.org.uk

LG2 is a group that was created through our CREDO east project. We wanted to focus a small part of our work on encouraging the inclusion of disabled young people within their own peer group. For all of the young people who we supported, there was a common experience of a severe lack of friendship and isolation – due mainly to being separated through their educational experiences. With nearly all of the young people we knew, a dream of theirs was to have more friends of their own who accepted them for who they are.

We knew that young people of varying abilities did not ordinarily come together to ‘hang out’, and to share time, space and activity. We wanted to bring together young people to promote friendship, peer support and ultimately inclusion.

We facilitate regular gatherings where both disabled and non disabled young people come together to develop and build on their relationships. Activities include bowling, ice-skating, art workshops, wall climbing, sporting activities and massage therapies. Through our current work, we have seen ‘sparks of friendship’ happen in a relatively short period of time. Non-disabled students have also undertaken a training programme to become mentors and advocates for their disabled friends and assist them to make decisions and choices and to express preferences in a variety of situations, including their Connexions interviews. All have expressed a desire to do this for a second year.

Commitment from young individuals to this work has been fantastic, we have consistently had good attendance at our social events and planning meetings, and disabled young people have had regular opportunities to experience inclusion and all young people have continued to develop their relationships.

Young people feed back regularly that they are having fun, and are regularly  given the opportunity to express their wishes and shape the direction of the project. They have been totally involved in the planning of events, and are encouraged to express their likes/dislikes and opinions. The activities have been centred around the young people and not the adults. What has become obvious over the course of the project is that it is the ordinary things they want to share together, not unrealistic things- bowling is a firm favourite!

One of the young people involved in LG2 started a Circle of Support late in 2006, and although it was a great group, it was lacking in other young people. One of the facilitators decided to approach C, who has been in LG2 from the beginning and has a particularly good relationship with A. C agreed to come to a Circle meeting and was initially quiet and did not know what to expect. Nevertheless he has continued to come along and show commitment and as the weeks go by he gains in confidence and will share opinions. At the last meeting he volunteered to go on a boys only shopping trip with A to help him buy some new clothes. This is a truly fantastic progression, and is exactly what we hoped would come from LG2 when it began.

The Baker Tilly company in Peterborough are generously funding the activities for LG2 during 2008. Many thanks!

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Last modified: May 28, 2008