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YOUTH SOCIAL GROUP

With funding from Aiming High for Disabled Children, and in partnership with Surrey County Council, halow has launched a Youth Social Group for young people aged 16-19.

The activities will be determined by the group but may involve; music, drama, creative arts, male and female sports teams, weekend break to festivals, theme parks, etc.

The music and drama groups run in Haslemere every other Wednesday and in Guildford on alternate Fridays, between 6-8pm.

There is a £2 charge for refreshements per person.

To find out more, or to get involved, please contact Jason on 077532 044761 or 01483 447960

As a racing driver, I know all about limitations, as I was forever up against my own. But that was by choice. Imagine living in a society that makes no allowances for the spectrum of individual limitations; a society that is set up to cater for the most able and most highly intellectual. In such a society we would all need a halow to help us through. In fact, our society is complex and bewildering to most of us. So those with less ability to understand how our world works really do need a bit of guidance and support to help them explore their limits. We do not know what those limits are. We are often surprised by how capable we (as mere humans) actually are. It is not for us to impose those limits. But we can and should facilitate the opportunity for young people to discover their own limits. In such a way we all grow to reach our full potential.

halow aims to nurture independence so that all our young adults get a chance to explore their limits and reach their full potential. I am delighted and honoured to have been involved in the beginnings of an idea with unlimited potential!

Good luck to halow, and all who sail in her!

Damon Hill OBE

halow is definitely ticking the right boxes! We are very pleased to announce that we have been successful in our bid for funding from Aiming High For Disabled Children Short Breaks Program.

The funding will enable halow to provide short breaks for young people aged 16-19 who have a learning disability.  We will provide this service by supporting young people to access activities and experiences on a regular basis. All activities offered would make use of universal service, which would encourage and promote inclusion and citizenship. We will utilise young volunteers, to support activities, which will encourage the development of relationships between young people with a disability and those without.

The activities will be offered at times to suit young people, this will include provision at weekends and evenings, as well as during week days.

Activities will include; accessing local sports and leisure facilities, in small groups. Development of themed groups which may include; drama and arts, a choir or singing group and possibly gardening and horticulture.  We will also arrange short trips away to festivals, theme parks etc. 

The activities and groups will be managed by a part-time co-ordinator, and will be staffed by sessional workers, young volunteers and adult supporters.

Our ethos is very much about the promotion of inclusion, citizenship and equality. We will endeavour to ensure every event, activity or trip will involve young people without a disability, as well as ensuring that groups are kept small, public transport is utilised and universal services are accessed.  We feel that this is a unique selling point for our services, we are fully committed to inclusion in it's truest sense and as the young people accessing our services have the opportunity to be supported by young volunteers this is a way to foster equality and diversity for all concerned.

The services have a dual focus; giving young people the opportunity to become a part of their local community and create new social networks, as well as ensuring that parents and carers have a break.  Providing meaningful, exciting opportunities to this group of young people would have extremely positive impacts on both theirs and their carer's lives.

We are very pleased to announce that halow has secured funding from the Learning Disability Development Fund. The money from LDDF will fund 10 young people each academic year for 12 months to be involved in our 'Building Futures' programme.

The programme will take place over four days each week. 

One day would be spent with Adult and Community Learning sampling different courses they offer, with a view to choosing a course/courses they wish to join once this programme has ended.

One day would be with EmployAbility undertaking work experience placements to help the young people make decisions about future career choices.

One day would be spent with Guildford College learning basic skills, which could include life skills, maths, English, IT and work skills.

The final day would be spent with halow and on some occasions Just Advocacy. The young people would spend time completing their Self/Supported Assessment Questionnaire securing a Personal Budget and developing a Support Plan (Initial conversations with the SDS team show that they are positively encouraging this programme)

This Support Plan would be used to inform the basis of an exit strategy from the course, allowing the young people to take control over their futures and ensure a life which more closely mirrors societal norms in terms of employment, education, leisure etc.  In essence a life not dependent on services.

This project meets strategic direction in terms of Day Service Transformation, Self Directed Support and Personalisation, but more importantly gives young people requiring support a real opportunity to take control over their lives.

This is also an opportunity to demonstrate that partners working across a variety of different disciplines and sectors can work together effectively to deliver a truly person centred support package.

Halow Personalisation Conference

The 'Personalisation' conference, aimed at Professionals from the Learning Disability Field, which takes place on Tuesday 18th November at the Mandolay Hotel in Guildford, will be officially opened by the Hon Anne Milton MP.  halow project Patron and founder member, former Formula One champion, Damon Hill OBE will also be attending and will give a short speech outlining his involvement with and support for the charity.

Halow Moves Into New Offices

From 17th November halow will be operating from their new offices and Information Hub at 11 Quarry Street, Guildford. Located in the centre of the community, the Hub will be a place where local people with learning disabilities can go to find out what's going on in the area, as well information and advice.  The Hub is in it's early stages, but we aim to have it fully up and running by the begining of 2009.