Linking people with learning
disabilities and volunteers for
activities both enjoy
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Linking people with learning disabilities and volunteers for activities both enjoy |
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Company Ltd by Guarantee, No. SC297772
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Young People's Service Download Infosheet or Feasibility Study Interest Link's existing Adult 1:1 service has been very successful at linking service users and volunteers aged 25 and over. However, below this age, and particularly under 20, it is usually not appropriate for young volunteers to take sole responsibility for an unsupervised 1:1 link in the community. We have also found that young people are generally keener to do group activities. To address this, in July 2008 we are launching a new service for young people aged 16-25 who are in transition from childrens additional needs services to adult learning disability services. The new service will use a model developed by the Fairway Project in Ayrshire: groups of 3 service users and 3 young volunteer mentors, all aged 16-25 and supervised by an Interest Link staff member, will meet up once a fortnight, probably on a weekday evening. They will usually meet for general social activities, but will also regularly have workshop discussions in which the volunteer mentors will act as role models for the service users, discussing their experiences of life as they become adults, the skills they have needed to develop and the choices they have made. The aim, as in the Adult Service, is to improve the confidence, self esteem and life skills of service users and reduce their social isolation. It also hopes to broaden their horizons and look at the choices open to them as they move into adulthood. Plans for the Young People's Service Service users: To date, 50 young people with learning disabilities have told us they would like to use the service, but we think there are up to 100 people in the Borders who would be eligible. The majority of the service users are either at, or have just left, school or Borders College. Number and location of groups: ¨ We plan to operate 1 group in each of our four branch areas (Berwickshire, Central Borders, Roxburgh and Tweeddale) in 2008-09 and increase this to two groups in each from 2009-10 onwards. ¨ We would hope to base groups as near as possible to where group members live so that they can do local activities and hopefully build up longterm local relationships. ¨ We hope to start groups in mid September of each year and run them till at least June in the following year. ¨ Young people could choose to stay in the groups for a second year.
Volunteers: We are also looking for volunteers: Being a volunteer mentor will be a responsible and substantial role but it should also be enjoyable and contribute to the personal development of volunteers. It will take place in a staff-supervised environment and Interest Link will provide the necessary training and police checks. We also think it will be valuable in contributing towards: ¨ School or College Citizenship requirements ¨ Awards such as Duke of Edinburgh, Youth Achievement and Millennium Volunteers ¨ Work experience and CV building We will look for a minimum commitment of 1 academic year, but the groups will be flexible and make allowance for exams and other commitments As with service users, volunteers will be able to stay on for further years if they wish, but there will be no expectation of this. All volunteer travel and activity expenses will be paid, and volunteers will be fully insured. Further information: If you would like to use the service or volunteer please contact your local Branch Co-ordinator (see below).
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