Equal Futures, fresh off a successful rebrand and a refocusing on their original mission statement of creating circles of support, secured funding to run circle of support workshops around Scotland. These workshops help people with a learning disability and/or autism, their families, and health and social care professionals to understand the individual and communal benefits of circles of support, and gives them a guide map on the process of developing them.
Their Edinburgh workshop was held at Mobility Operations and was joined by a mix of professional social care staff, people supported, and parents and carers.
Equal Futures have designed these workshops to encourage people to build self sustaining circles of support without the professional expertise and support of Equal Futures to ensure as many people can benefit as possible. These DIY workshops cover what a circle of support is, the benefits of developing a circle, and provide resources on how to build your own circle of support.
Feedback from their Edinburgh workshop includes:
I have learnt so much about circles of support and how they can provide the support vital to people living an equal life. It has been really powerful to hear the stories of parent carers and the challenges they face and the concerns they have for the future of their loved ones when they pass away.
Really good information that shows how valuable circles can be to a person with a learning disability.
Professional and inspirational.
As well as their Edinburgh workshop, Equal Futures also recently ran a virtual workshop in Perth, aimed at people who found travelling to and attending an in-person day difficult. They have events coming up in Inverclyde and Perth & Kinross coming up soon.
To register your interest in these events or find out more about how Equal Futures can support you email [email protected].