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Good practice in befriending services for people with learning difficulties
- Author:
- HESLOP Pauline
- Journal article citation:
- British Journal of Learning Disabilities, 33(1), March 2005, pp.27-33.
- Publisher:
- Wiley
Despite the growing trend for the development of befriending services, there is a paucity of research about the views of people involved with these services and the effectiveness of service provision. This article describes some of the views and experiences of paid workers, volunteer befrienders, service users (befriendees) and family carers involved with seven befriending services for children and/or adults with learning difficulties in England. Although each of the befriending services shared the broad purpose of increasing the friendship circles of the befriendees, their aims and the ways in which they worked, differed considerably. The focus of the article is on some of the key issues that the befriending services faced, factors that were found to contribute to good practice within befriending services and recommendations for good practice.
Creating circles of friends: a peer suport and inclusion workbook
- Authors:
- NEWTON Colin, WILSON Derek
- Publisher:
- Inclusive Solutions UK
- Publication year:
- 2003
- Pagination:
- 96p.
- Place of publication:
- Nottingham
The book is for anyone interested in building friendships and relationships around those vulnerable or challenging through reason of disability or emotional need. Building respectful teams of support around an individual, tapping into that child’s peer group is an extremely powerful way of promoting change and insights for all involved. The book describes both the values and the practical application of this approach to human change.
The importance and availability of peer support for people with learning difficulties accessing direct payments
- Author:
- JOSEPH ROWNTREE FOUNDATION
- Publisher:
- Joseph Rowntree Foundation
- Publication year:
- 2004
- Pagination:
- 4p.
- Place of publication:
- York
New regulations which came into force in 2003 in England (and similar measures in Wales in 2004) mean that local authorities do not just have the power to offer direct payments; they now have a duty to offer them to eligible people. In theory, this should mean far higher numbers of people receiving direct payments, including people with learning difficulties. But key to take-up of direct payments is the availability of effective support to access and manage them. There are very few independent direct payments support schemes run by and for people with learning difficulties. Most independent direct payments support is provided by existing disabled people's organisations or direct payments schemes set up for the purpose. There are some very good examples but most independent direct payments support schemes have limited or no involvement by people with learning difficulties. There are different views and expectations about what 'independent' support means. The quality of support is crucial, not just its independence from statutory services. Assumptions about consent and ability to manage direct payments can block people with learning difficulties from accessing support and these can be held equally by independent support schemes as by statutory services. Sometimes an individual with appropriate attitudes, information and experience, whether based in independent support agencies or within social services, can have more effect in enabling people with learning difficulties to access direct payments than an independent contract that is given to those with little knowledge or experience about including people with learning difficulties. Local issues and assumptions around funding, tendering and contracts have a big influence on whether people with learning difficulties are included in support schemes and whether contracts are given to groups of people with learning difficulties.
Our life, our say: a good practice guide to young disabled people's peer mentoring/support
- Author:
- BETHELL Julie
- Publisher:
- Pavilion
- Publication year:
- 2003
- Pagination:
- 96p.
- Place of publication:
- Brighton
This report is a good-practice guide based on an evaluation of an action research project that was designed to support young disabled people making the transition towards adulthood and inclusive living. It draws on the experience of the Young Disabled People's Peer Mentoring Project based within Greater Manchester Coalition of Disabled People (GMCDP). The guide is based on the views and experiences of young disabled people, their friends, families, and the professionals, organisations and services who support them in making the transition to adulthood. The guide aims to: give advice to young disabled people and others on how to start their own project; highlight the benefits of self-organisation for youth groups; look at the kind of values and practical resources necessary to make sure the groups succeed ; help support workers and organisations let go of control and involve young disabled people at every level of organisations; and show workers and organisations how to facilitate young disabled people's self-directed groups. With a range of practical suggestions and tips, the guide also highlights: the barriers that young disabled people face; what should be done to address those barriers; the right approach to setting up similar projects; who needs to be involved in making a project genuinely inclusive; and the practical aspects of setting up a project - transport, venue, administration, and accessibility of information.