Bristol 2023 - Creating Unique Opportunities

Aim

Removing Barriers to immerse & enable the disadvantaged to be part of innovative, meaningful & purposeful projects and empowering others

2023 marks the start of an exciting year for Empowering Futures 

Our journey has been a long one with many obstacles and barriers. We've overcome everything we have faced and can look forward to a brighter  future with a clear pathway set out. 

 We want to include more people from more minority groups and people who are marginalised. Our ethos has always been to address gaps in mainstream provision and this continues the aim. To do this we need more hands on board. Our volunteers need help and advice to thrive and continue their integral part in empowering others.

Our project is delivered from a small holding where activity is encouraged and for wheelchair users, access to the site has been enabled by a mud control pathway. This year we want to increase our activity in nature because of the huge benefits of being with others, exercise, feeling happier are all key factors to our well being.

Learning new skills prepares children and adults with life skills as well as forming new directions for employment related learning and training. Many people start at a low level and have to learn basic skills before they can progress and our projects give people the access and opportunities.

We want and need to include;

Gardening class for families with a British Sign Language Interpreter included

Saturday morning gardening classes for children and adults with a hearing impairment. A session where they are able to communicate and be communicated with. We haven't found another group in existence in Bristol. 

Activities for people with Alzheimers

We have met people who are frightened and scared of their everyday life and surroundings because they have this health condition. It makes life hard for them and their families so we'd like to include some respite for the carers whilst providing activities for the person with the illness. Some fun, friendly times at this very difficult time in their life.

A sensory Area created by people with disabilities to enhance biodiversity and individual health and well being 

We've started to take the first steps to creating a sensory garden and have recorded the steps and investment from participants in a book about to be printed. The book recognises the skills and talents present among disabled people and seeks to raise awareness to the general public in a positive way which has in turn boosted the biodiversity in the area. We need to plant more and want to include more people with disadvantages to be in narture.

Forestry School for children with a British Sign Language Interpreter included

Forestry School is proven to nurture amazing results with all children. For children with disabilities, it has an even greater impact. We haven't found any Forestry Schools with a BSL interpreter and would like to launch this new exciting project.

Forestry School for children with additional needs

Children with additional needs can often require one to one support whilst participating in Forestry School. This comes at a huge cost, normally 3 times the rate paid by others. This causes an automatic exclusion for some children and their families due to the cost. Our Forestry School will provide 1-1 support at the same cost so children are not excluded.

To enable this to happen we need to be able to employ 2 part time workers with experience who can share their knowledge with our volunteers to build a stronger team. 

This project successfully funded on 1st May 2023