Friends, Relationships & Community

Friends

Eddie’s Befriending Scheme

Eddie’s is a Cambridgeshire charity supporting people with learning disabilities.

It used to be part of Cambridgeshire Mencap and has been offering community services for over 10 years, providing a wide range of services for children, young people and adults with learning disabilities, and their families and carers.

People aren’t matched on a first come first served bases, it very much depends on the interests, personality, location and age of volunteers and young people. Someone who is referred to us may be matched immediately, or it could take much longer to find someone suitable.  Those on the waiting list can attend Eddie’s Befriending Works group in Waterbeach, which meets monthly. This group take part in games, art activities, karaoke and more.

There is also an adult befriending scheme which currently supports adults in the Edmund Trust’s supported living accommodation.  The Edmund Trust is the sister charity to Eddie’s and provides residential care, supported living accommodation and respite and domiciliary care in the community.

Generally, volunteers will visit their befriendees twice a month for two hours at a time, although this can vary from once a week to once a month.  After applying to be a volunteer, applicants are interviewed and, once accepted onto the volunteer training scheme, they are required to complete four courses covering Volunteering; Learning Disability Awareness, Autism Awareness, and Safe Guarding.

Once matched, the befriender and befriendee can go and enjoy themselves in the community doing things that the befriendee wants to do – bowling, going to the cinema, cycling, walking,  or shopping. Alternatively befriendees may like to stay at home to enjoy artwork, or computer games.

Families can self refer, or be referred by social services or by any other professional agency.

For more information visit Eddie’s website

 

Papworth Trust

Papworth Trust is a leading disability charity that support thousands of people, their families and carers every year.

Their work includes providing a range of high quality services for disabled and disadvantaged people and campaigning for changes that disabled people want.

They can offer support with housing, work, care, day opportunities, and OWL bikes. For more information please visit their website.

The Inclusion Project: Now running in Cambridgeshire and Huntingdonshire

It offers supported activities for on a one to one basis and in small groups of young people aged 16+ with autism/learning disabilities to help them have a healthy, social and active lifestyle.  It provides transport to and from young people’s homes and is currently running in Cambridge, Huntingdon, Cambourne and St Ives.

Activities range from swimming and walking to cinema trips, independent travel skills and gym/fitness classes. It currently runs during the day, Monday to Friday but evening and weekend sessions are planned for the autumn.  Sessions can be financed privately, through PIP benefit payments or social care direct payments.

• Find out more from local manager Simon Jackson-Turner: 07526 243 571, email inclusionprojectcamcityhunts@gmail.com 
• Visit The Inclusion Project website

Relationships

Sexual health and relationships programme specifically for people living with a learning disability or difficulty from DHIVERSE

Pinpoint’s Preparing for Adulthood parent group has worked with charity DHIVERSE in Cambridge, which runs a sexual health and relationships programme specifically for people living with a learning disability or difficulty and their parents and carers.

Community

Police service PEAL (Police Enhanced Access Line)

Cambridgeshire Police have a service for people who have difficulties with communication and who may benefit from additional support when contacting the police. This service provides pre-registered citizens direct access to a highly trained police call taker if they ever need to contact Cambridgeshire Constabulary. Find out more and register