Learning Disabilities Befriending Project

Outcome

65 children and young people with learning disabilities will have friendships with each other and volunteers that they see regularly and trust. They will have done a wide range of activities of their choice that were fun and also developed their confidence, self-esteem and social skills.

Results

Member quotes:
"I made new friends"
"I love champions I look forward to it! Everyone is lovely and helpful. "
"Lots of new friends "
"I feel good"
"Doing new stuff makes me more confident."
"It makes me feel part of something. "
" I am able to speak to my friends easier"

Carer quotes:
“Harry loves the group and has so much fun. Without these little groups our kids wouldn’t have the chance to meet and make friends in similar situation and experience these activities thank you to all of you for making this happen”.
“She doesn't tend to like doing things. Once she's in the house that's normally it but since starting this group Ocean really likes going out.”
"He is more confident about tackling new activiities."
"Definitely helped his confidence doing drama as he’s quite shy"
"My son loves the group and has grown in confidence "
"She loves attending the group and telling family and friends what activities she has been doing."
"He seems more outgoing."
"Our impression is that he feels more confident now that he can meet with friends and mentors who are ready and able to listen to him and his views."

Volunteers commented:
"One of the members who used to be incredibly quiet and participate occasionally will now happily chat to me and interact with a smile on his face. "
"B seemed very introverted when I first joined, but she's since become extremely chatty about her personal life."
"People are speaking to each other and having fun!"

Case study

Milo is 10 years old and lives in a local town with his family, Milo is autistic. He has quickly become a very popular member of our group with his thoughtful input and sense of humour. Milo and his mum explained the difference made:

“I am Milo and I am ten. I have been at interest link since October 2023 I have loved it, interest link is a wonderful group and has lovely kids and helpers who make it amazing. It gives me a lot of opportunities to help me improve my social and art skills. I love this group and the people in it and it has had a positive impact on me because I don’t feel like I am being judged or like I have a deadline to do things by. I have loved doing all the things that we do at interest Link and I hope that I will continue to love going for the rest of the time I am there.”

Milo’s mum Leanne told us…
“Milo has been going to Interest Link for 5 months now and the positive impact already on his confidence is amazing. Milo has struggled with navigating social situations and confidence in himself and his abilities. Milo has joined mainstream groups and activities in the past but felt that he never truly fitted in and lost interest quickly because of this. Milo loves the group, has made positive connections and has achieved so much since starting. As an example, Milo felt that he was not good at arts and crafts and would often come home from school upset as felt he was no good and failing at these activities. Since joining the group, Milo skips out at the end of an evening desperate to show off what he has made and is proud to share his achievements! The support and approaches available to him in the group enable him to try things and test his abilities in a relaxed and non pressured way and he succeeds. He has been able to transfer this to the school setting and manage the things he finds difficult in a more positive way. As a parent it is fantastic to watch how Milo instantly felt at ease, connected and has a strong sense of belonging within the group, something that he has not always found in other environments. Milo is excited to be part of Interest Link and I am excited to keep watching his confidence and connections grow!”

Outcome

80 carers of children and young people with learning disabilities (75% of the total 105 carers) will have had more opportunities to see friends, spend time with spouses and other children or do activities because of our project

Results

In our 2023 annual survey, 83% of carers surveyed said the project had given them more of a life outside caring.

Quotes:
"It gives us time to catch up with our other children."
"It is the only opportunity to see friends "
"It has extended our child's social life and ours."
"It gives myself and my wife some evening free time to catch up with our daughters"
"Time can be spent chilling, shopping, visiting friends/relatives etc which can be tricky otherwise.”
"The boys always come back happy after an Interest Links evening and I appreciate the time off."
“They have met new friends/people and they come home chatting, laughing and smiling. I can go out with friends or I can go shopping and have some me time”.

Case study

K is 17, and a member of the Champions Children's Group. He joined the Group in March 2023 with his best friend. They were both very shy and mostly just spoke to each other for the first couple of sessions, although the peer mentors tried hard to engage them. His friend didn’t stay in the Group, but K carried on and started to come out of his shell once he didn’t rely on his friend being there. The difference was quite astonishing.

K enjoys games of table football, board games and sitting round enjoying refreshments with the rest of the Group. He loves conversations with Group members and now has the confidence to shout across the table to make himself heard and to start conversations. The young male peer mentors who started volunteering in the Group last September have made the biggest difference to K’s confidence. They always make sure to find out how he is and what he’s been doing since the last Group session and K enjoys the attention and is clearly very comfortable in these situations. K already knew some of the other service users, some since primary school, and gets on well with them. He is now more confident speaking to female peer mentors too and this is a big development in his social skills. He doesn’t want to be brought into or collected from the Group Venue now, but asks to be dropped off in the car park and makes his own way in. After the session K leaves with the peer mentors and meets his dad in the car park. K said “I going to Interest Link, meeting everyone and doing the activities.”

K’s mother said: “K is on the Autistic Spectrum and has always struggled with social gatherings - even family ones. He and his friends must have tried every youth club in Peebles but gave up on them all because they were too noisy, or disorganised or boring. Eventually his friend tried Interest Link and suggested K go too. He hasn't looked back. Even though his friend gave up there was no suggestion from K that he should leave too. He enjoys every session. He loves meeting up with everyone there and always looks forward to the next meeting. It really has changed him. He's more confident and more sociable leaving the house to attend the meeting with a smile on his face and coming home still smiling. He would have very little social life without Interest Link.

I go to friends for cuppa and chat or to an exercise class. We also have a Parents' Craft and Chat Group which we really enjoy. We meet other parents, learn new crafts and have a cup of tea.”

Outcome

80 carers of children and young people with learning disabilities (75% of the total 105 carers) will have more resilient families because of our project

Results

In our 2023 annual survey, 90% of carers of children and young people surveyed said the project had helped them to sustain their role.

Quotes:
"Any respite is highly beneficial as we don't get much from elsewhere."
"Definitely has eased things"
"It’s a bit of respite"
"Knowing your young person is safe and enjoying themselves gives the family peace of mind."
" Knowing your young person is safe and having fun is a huge weight off your mind and she looks forward to the sessions so it's a win-win all round.”
“It also allows myself to have a bit of breathing space knowing that she is in a safe place and is happy to be there. This makes family life as a whole much easier and I am less stressed.”

Case study

Christopher is 19 and in the Kelso Youth Group. He is autistic, had problems with anxiety and lacked confidence and communication skills to make friends. He particularly enjoyed the recent drama project with Borders Youth Theatre.

Christopher’s mother said “Christopher has become more sociable & independent since attending, he always looks forward to every session and has much more purpose. His confidence & self esteem have also improved hugely. The improvement to Christopher’s health & wellbeing is mainly because he feels he has a place he belongs.

It gives me valuable time to myself and has eased the strain on me, knowing that Christopher has something he looks forward to doing & he doesn’t need my help to partake. Kate & her team are very welcoming & inclusive. There are no local opportunities to us, and Christopher and I would be devastated if he could not continue: it has become an extended family to him.”

Outcome

65 children and young people with learning disabilities and 80 carers of children and young people with learning disabilities (75% of the total 105 carers) will feel happier because of our project.

Results

In our 2023 annual survey:
100% of young members surveyed said they were happier because of the project.
100% of carers of children and young people surveyed had greater wellbeing

Members:
"I feel happier"
“I now have a club that isn't too loud or busy for me.”
"I love doing all the different activities and spending time away from home."
"I can get out the house and do something I love "
"I always go back home happy with what I have achieved at the group."
"It is like a family "

Family carers:
"In previous groups my child has never enjoyed going to them but with this group she is so enthusiastic about it and its great to see her enjoying something like this with new friends"
"We love hearing Brookes stories of her time at the group and she comes home happy with a sense of achievement."
“Jordan is happier so we are happier”
“We are So happy”
"You have put a smile on all our faces over the years with various acts of kindness."
“Psychologically knowing that the boys have Interest Links to enjoy is very helpful as otherwise I worry about their mental health”
“Our daughter is in a much happier place then she was before she started the group and her confidence continues to grow. This lifts the whole family.”

Case study

Haiden is a 14 year old service user who has a learning disability. He also has some difficulty with coordination and struggles with fine motor activities, such as writing or using scissors. Haiden’s parents are separated but have a good relationship. Haiden mostly lives with his mum but spends time at dad’s house too.

Haiden requires a lot of help with daily activities like getting washed and dressed and this has a huge impact on mum.

Haiden attends our fortnightly Monday night Children’s Group at Burnfoot Hub and is also part of the Hawick High School group on alternate Tuesdays. Haiden enjoys the groups and is always very smiley and excited to see the other group members. He requires help and support to complete some activities, but has a real sense of achievement afterwards which builds his self-esteem. At a recent session at the high school, we created collage pictures and Haiden proudly told me “Masterpiece!” when he held his picture up for me to photograph.

Haiden’s Mum and Dad both attend parents evenings and events that we had held over the years and love to see what Haiden has been doing at the groups. They have both said that he is really happy at Interest Link. In feedback surveys, mum has let us know that she gets a lot out of having Monday nights to herself whilst Haiden attends Children’s Group. “The staff have been great especially Val, from her communication, her bubbly personality and trust/care all plays a huge part in taking these young people forward and helping them reach their goals. The opportunities and experiences are fantastic and gives them new skills. We would all be lost without Interest link , "A happy child is a happy family". This family can't thank you enough.”