The idea
Based at the new Empathy Inclusion Hub in Craven Arms, the Include Me project will extend the warm arms of friendship and support, cultivated through our work over 15 years with the neurodiverse, to any ! member of the community who experience isolation. Age, location, culture, health, life change and feeling different or out of step with our peers or simply life’s journey can make anyone feel isolated at any time and why the Include Me project sessions are open to all and supported by our Empower, Enable and Community Champions teams
The community have told us they would like drop-in sessions at school times, lunch clubs and coffee drop-ins for those who cannot travel or are working from home, to share their skills across the generations, to come together and simply enjoy the company of others with community evenings. To support Include Me is to include, support and hear their voices and ensure Fun, Friendship, Support and Inclusion is available to all.
What we'll deliver
- Daily drop ins around school drop off and pick up times
- Day time drop ins / come for coffee events
- Weekly Lunch Club
- Weekly Skills share sessions
- Weekly youth cafe and specific youth sessions
- Evening social sessions - book club, bake club, board games nights etc
- A member of the Empower or Enable team at every session
- A volunteer community champion at every session
Why it's a great idea
A happier community leads to a healthier community both physically and mentally. The benefits of inclusion are as well documented, as the negative effects of loneliness and isolation; increased activity and socialisation lead to a healthier population, particularly relevant for a vulnerable rural community such as South Shropshire where service is harder to reach. Bringing people together, not only, builds stronger but more resilient, tolerant and understanding communities; more able to work together and support each other in times of need, and better places to live and work for all. This is a new project for Empathy but not new work, we have seen first-hand the devastating effects of isolation on the young Neurodiverse and the resulting loneliness, but we have also seen the impact of bringing people together, of empowering communities to support each other. We believe that true inclusion and acceptance are the keys to a happier, healthier, more resilient and successful society.
Steps to get it done
- Volunteers recruited
- Additional Volunteers and staff
- Market the activities
- Deliver the activities
