We're still collecting donations
On the 15th August 2022 we'd raised £1,183 with 35 supporters in 56 days. But as every pound matters, we're continuing to collect donations from supporters.
+ est. £253.25
Friends Action North East is a Newcastle based registered charity that was set up in 2005 by and for adults with a learning disability.
by Lucie Henderson in Newcastle upon Tyne, Tyne and Wear, United Kingdom
On the 15th August 2022 we'd raised £1,183 with 35 supporters in 56 days. But as every pound matters, we're continuing to collect donations from supporters.
FANE works closely with people with a learning disability and autism to understand how they want to be supported with friendship and connections. We work with individuals and their supporters to identify barriers which prevent them from having ordinary social networks and explore ways to overcome them.
We know from our own beneficiaries’ and partner organisations that having friends, feeling less lonely and having ordinary connections are extremely important. Yet carers, professionals and paid staff tell us they receive little/no training, information or resources to help them tackle this area of support.
Loneliness and social isolation affect millions of people and people with learning disabilities and autism are often most at risk of suffering the effects of this, including poor physical and mental health, greater risk of abuse, and exclusion from community activities.
We have developed a model of support over the last 17 years, enabling the most socially isolated and vulnerable people to achieve goals and learn skills that build independent and sustainable friendships around their own needs. In the last 5 years FANE has supported 3577 people with a learning disability and autism; via our Friendship mentoring programme, social groups, telephone befriending and our ‘Friendkit’ and digital inclusion workshops and recruited and trained over 350 volunteers and university student placements.
There is an identified link between loneliness, social isolation and poor mental/physical health. This can display in feeling disconnected from family, friends and local communities, and withdrawing from usual activities. Our social group support model has been pivotal to safeguarding many people, their families and supporters, we are keen to pilot our programme to young people with a learning disability (LD), autism (ASD), who are experiencing mental health problems and social isolation resulting from Covid.
By supporting FANE we will be able to continue our work for another year. If we do not succeed raising funds our charity will have to close in September 2022.
This project offered rewards