West Berkshire Mencap - Friendship Skills
Last updated: 25/08/2022
A weekly group that meet with their peer group and friends that is set up to equip people with a learning disability with social and life skills promoting social inclusion, equality and understanding between those with a learning disability and the public. Our aim is to make learning fun.
By delivering of a range of purpose built training and awareness programmes supported by highly trained staff and guest speakers' expert in their field, our aim is that people with learning disabilities are supported to become as independent as possible, connect with their local communities and develop a social network.
Working on a variety of subjects including:
- Developing and building friendships
- Safety in the community and safe havens
- Healthy eating & life style
- Working with strangers
- First Aid for beginners
- Developing Money Skills
- Developing Self Esteem
- Wellbeing & Personal Care
- Planning and organising community activities
- Literacy skills and development
- Role play, communication skills & stranger awareness
- Fun with computers
- Relationships
- Drama/Role Play
Who to contact
- Contact Name
- Cathy Black
- Telephone
- 01635 778120
-
friendship@wbmencap.org
- Website
- Mencap
Where to go
- Name
- Slater Centre
- Address
-
Unit E,
Hambridge Road Industrial Estate
Newbury
- Postcode
- RG14 5SS
- Notes
Please feel free to contact West Berkshire Mencap directly to discuss any issues or concerns you might have regarding accessibility.
Time / Date Details
- When is it on
- each Wednesday
- Time of day
- Afternoon
- Session Information
-
12pm to 3pm
Runs throughout the year
Other Details
Availability
- Age Ranges
-
18-25
26-49
50+ - Referral required
- No
- Referral Details
Absences are charged for, everybody is allowed to book four weeks holiday over the year.
Funding can be through Adult Social Care, Personal Budgets or self-funded.
- Other notes
Eligibility depends on the individuals ability and desire to attend and take part in the service, able to show ability to learn and develop skills to partake in the group. Friendship offers a free taster session to potential new members.
Inclusion Information
Dietary Needs
- Has Provision
- Yes
Local Offer
- Description
Friendship Skills - delivers a development programme making a positive difference to the lives of people in a fun, inclusive enviornment by delivering a range of purpose built training and awareness programmes developed to help people become more independent, and to stay safe in the community.
Working on a variety of subjects including:
- Developing and Building Friendships
- Safety in the Community and Safe Havens
- Healthy Eating and Lifestyle
- Working with Strangers
- First-aid for Beginners
- Money Skills
- Self Esteem
- Wellbeing and Personal Care
- Relationships
- Drama / Role Play
Alongside the Friendship Group, staff will organise social nights out (Places4U) and also support people to make plans to meet their friends at the weekend (Buddies4U).
- Contact Name
- Cathy Black
- Contact Telephone
- 01635 778120
- Contact Email
- cathy.black@wbmencap.org
- SEN Provision Type
- Medical, Specific Literacy Difficulties, Speech & Language Difficulties, Behavioural, Emotional & Social Difficulties, Autistic Spectrum Disorder, Physical Disability, Hearing Impairment, Moderate Learning Difficulties, Visual Impairment
- Local Offer Age Bands
- 19 plus
- Needs Level
- Medium
- Low
General Provider
Please feel free to contact us directly to discuss any issues or concerns you might have regarding accessibility
Eligibility depends on the individuals ability and desire to attend and take part in the service, able to show ability to learn and develop skills to partake in the group. Friendship offers a free taster session to potential members.
•Self-referral •Care manager referral •Application form on request Funding needs to be in place before placement can start and all paperwork completed, with Care Plans and information, shared with placement.
Applications and enquiries are acknowledged as soon as they are received. Individuals will be invited at their convenience to visit Friendship Skills and see if they would like a free taster session (if appropriate and organised this can be at the same time).
£19.50 per session. Absences are charged for, everybody is allowed to book four weeks holiday over the year
Friendship Skills is registered through Link Up (part of West Berkshire Mencap) with Wokingham and West Berkshire's 'Support with Confidence' Scheme
The service conducts an annual customer satisfaction survey which provides an opportunity to provide feedback and comments on the service. However, we are keen to ensure that any issues are addressed by ourselves at the earliest opportunity and complaints and compliments should be addressed in the first instance to the manager of the service verbally or by phone / email as follows: Name Telephone Email Should the complaint relate to the manager of the service (or dissatisfaction with the way an existing complaint has been handled) then complaints should be addressed to the Acting CEO as follows: Tony Ferguson / Jane Hall - 01635 41464 - tony.ferguson@wbmencap.org / jane.hall@wbmencap.org - West Berkshire Mencap The Mencap Centre Enborne Gate Enborne Road Newbury Berkshire RG14 6AT
Individual risk assessments are completed for everybody who attends the service, all activities are risk assess and all staff are fully trained in a variety of subjects on a regular basis. Health and Safety Awareness, Fire Awareness, Safe Guarding, Medication / Personal Care, Epilepsy, PRICE, First Aid, Equality and Diversity, Managing Challenging Behaviour. West Berkshire Mencap complies with all Health and Safety requirements and all associated legislation. Friendship Skills fully supports best practice and provides annual training refreshers to staff instead of the three yearly recommendation for training.
West Berkshire Council do not promote or endorse any of the services listed in this Directory. For more information on this please read our disclaimer.