Circles of Support is a fantastic programme which links young people aged 14 - 18 with moderate disabilities and special needs with peer and some older volunteers. Over the course of the year each young person will receive up to 250 hours of volunteer support to access activities and opportunities that others may take for granted and to develop connections and friendships in their local community.

We know that young people with disabilities suffer from hugely disproportionate levels of exclusion and discrimination.  More than 1 in 4 say they have no friends at all. For the remaining 3 in 4 “friendship” is often a function of a service they receive and falls away when that service is threatened or removed. Only 10% will find any paid work at all – and very often it will be extremely low paid and part-time. They have greater health and mental health problems and lack the support and friendship that makes all the difference to our everyday lives in almost all aspects.

Young people with disabilities want to do all the things that other young people of their age do and have opportunities to grow in their independence like other teenagers – but things like a shopping trip, a visit to the cinema or simply 'hanging out' are impossible without a social network. ReachOut Plus wants to make a significant contribution to tackling and changing those realities through our Circles of Support programme.

This relatively new project started in September 2010 and is initially working with 25 young people across Hertfordshire. The aim is to then launch another such project in 2012. Each young person will be supported to build their own "Circle of Support" from volunteers recruited by ReachOut Plus. Each Circle is typically 4-6 volunteers, with more than half being peer volunteers from the same communities – including from local schools and colleges.

ReachOut Plus employs a Co-ordinator whose job is to support our volunteers to support the young person at the centre of the circle. The Circle meets every six weeks or so with the Co-ordinator to identify things the young person with disabilities wants to do or to achieve and the volunteers then give their time, experience and skills to help them achieve that. Volunteers are expected to give at least four hours per month to help their friend to have a much fuller and enjoyable life – and to gain confidence and self esteem through the experience.

Volnteers also gain an enormous amount in terms of their own personal development, experience of team-work and appreciating and meeting the needs of others. The experience can be a helpful addition on a CV and volunteering hours could be accreditted as part of a Duke of Edinburgh or vinspired award.

If you would like to be a Circle's Volunteer or help in fundraising for this project please get in touch with our Project Co-ordinator.

 

Tel: 0845 216 0084

E-mail: circles@reachoutplus.org

 

If you know someone aged between 14 - 18 living in Hertfordshire who could benefit from this programme we would be delighted to hear from you. We especially want to form partnerships with special schools and other related organisations.