The idea
I maintain the Kirklees Activities Directory. It provides details of activities in which disabled people can participate. I have phoned and visited activity providers across Kirklees. Without prompting, they have told me about challenges they face, including needing enough volunteers to keep activities going.
I am passionate about disabled people having access to activities. I have visited supported living sites and day centres, and been informed of the challenges they face as they aim to offer a range of activities to the people they serve, including lack of facilities and high costs.
Whether I am working with activity providers, supported living sites or day centres, my approach is the same – co-produce solutions. Co-production means doing with rather than doing to. Rather than imposing solutions, I will work with those who are affected by the challenges, and together as equals, we will develop the solutions.
Aims to benefit 10 organisations.
What we'll deliver
- I will visit supported living sites, day centres and schools.
- A yoga organisation has offered to deliver yoga sessions for day centre users.
- Activity providers and small groups will have more volunteers, so they may offer new things to those they serve.
- There may be a braillist working in Kirklees to transcribe material into braille.
Why it's a great idea
Supported living residents will be able to do more activities with more people. A supported living site that doesn't have a garden could be paired with a supported living site that does have a garden, so residents from both sites can do gardening together.
Offering activities will be more affordable for day centres. If they are paired together, they could go swimming together, sharing the cost of hiring the pool. Day centre users will be able to do more activities with more people. Through the networks, other issues may be addressed, including awareness of the intensive interaction language used to communicate with the non-verbal.
Blind people will be able to have important documents brailled in Kirklees, including documents for meetings.
Activity providers and small groups will be able to recruit the volunteers they need, making them and their work more sustainable, and enabling them to do more.
Steps to get it done
- Establish a network consisting of at least 2 supported living sites.
- Establish a network consisting of at least 2 day centres.
- Deliver an activity for the day centres in the network.
- Help the Kirklees Transcription Service get closer to successfully recruiting a braillist.
- Help several local activity providers and small groups publicise attractive volunteering opportunities.
