FRIENDS FOR LEISURE 

We would like to provide a weekly drama group for local children and young people with disabilities to help improve their confidence, mental wellbeing, skills and independence – while having fun!

Grant to Friends for Leisure

Towards youth group sessions for disabled children and young people.

The funding will be used to support disabled young people to develop new skills. This project aims to provide these young people with the skills and knowledge required to prepare them for their ....more

The funding will be used to support disabled young people to develop new skills. This project aims to provide these young people with the skills and knowledge required to prepare them for their transition journey into adulthood.

We wish to reduce loneliness for local disabled children and young people by providing regular social opportunities for them to meet new friends and have fun at youth groups every fortnight.

FFL post-covid recovery family support

Unrestricted core funding for small charities

The charity aims to promote and develop mainstream leisure and friendship opportunities for children and young people aged 5-21 with physical sensory and learning disabilities. Funding for the group ....more

The charity aims to promote and develop mainstream leisure and friendship opportunities for children and young people aged 5-21 with physical sensory and learning disabilities. Funding for the group will go towards a Volunteer Coordinator to build on their existing volunteering programme which matches disabled children/young people with a young volunteer for friendship and independence across Cheshire East.

Core Funding

The funding will be used to deliver support sessions and social activities for families with children who are disabled where participants will be provided with the opportunity to get together with ....more

The funding will be used to deliver support sessions and social activities for families with children who are disabled where participants will be provided with the opportunity to get together with those in similar situations.

Friends for Leisure is a registered charity providing fun and friendship to disadvantaged local children and young people with disabilities across Cheshire East. The project will deliver a number of ....more

Friends for Leisure is a registered charity providing fun and friendship to disadvantaged local children and young people with disabilities across Cheshire East. The project will deliver a number of face-to-face activity sessions to disabled children and young people as part of their overall summer holiday activity programme. A grant would pay for all costs associated with delivering 3 sessions in more rural parts of Cheshire East, including sessional staff costs, activities, travel, and venue costs. The most significant difference the project will make is to increase social interaction and reduce the loneliness that children and young people with disabilities (and their parents/carers/siblings) have experienced during lockdowns, particularly those living in more rural areas. These sessions will help slowly reintroduce local disabled children back into the community and help them develop, or regain, important social and emotional skills as well as increase confidence and enjoy improved overall well-being.  

Friends for Leisure are a registered charity providing fun and friendship to reduce the negative impacts of social isolation on children and young people with disabilities across Cheshire East. ....more

Friends for Leisure are a registered charity providing fun and friendship to reduce the negative impacts of social isolation on children and young people with disabilities across Cheshire East. Because of COVID-19 they ceased all face-to-face activities, youth groups and volunteering buddy meet-ups moved provision online and 'at a distance' through the post in order to maintain as much 'normality' as possible for vulnerable children. Grant funding from Cheshire Community Foundation will help staff salaries so that FFL can continue to support disabled children and parents/carers/siblings. The most significant difference of this work will be to minimise the negative impacts on disabled children of enforced isolation - a vulnerable group who already struggle with loneliness - and make sure they have the support they need during this difficult time.

We aim to provide a drama group in Macclesfield to help disabled children feel less isolated, improve their wellbeing and make friends.

COVID19 - This project will deliver a virtual buddy scheme for 30 disabled children and young people from Cheshire who are isolated due to Covid-19. This will result in a reduction in isolation.

"The fund aims to:1) To reduce closures of essential charities that provide essential services to vulnerable groups during the COVID-19 crisis by ensuring they have the financial resources to ....more

"The fund aims to:1) To reduce closures of essential charities that provide essential services to vulnerable groups during the COVID-19 crisis by ensuring they have the financial resources to operate, thereby reducing the burden on public services.2) To ensure essential services are provided to vulnerable people, both in the short and long term through increased community support through the work of charitable organisations."

NET, Comic Relief and Children in Need will use this funding to provide: increased support to vulnerable people and hidden groups, thus reducing the burden on public services; reach local grassroots ....more

NET, Comic Relief and Children in Need will use this funding to provide: increased support to vulnerable people and hidden groups, thus reducing the burden on public services; reach local grassroots and small organisations who can provide an on-the-ground community response to the crisis; and, support local charitable organisations to mobilise volunteers to enable better targeted support in communities through empowered local groups.

We are Friends for Leisure, a registered charity providing fun and friendship to reduce the negative impacts of social isolation on children and young people with disabilities across Cheshire East. ....more

We are Friends for Leisure, a registered charity providing fun and friendship to reduce the negative impacts of social isolation on children and young people with disabilities across Cheshire East. Because of COVID-19 we have had to cease all face-to-face activities, youth groups and volunteering buddy meet-ups; however, we have now moved provision online and 'at a distance' through the post in order to maintain as much 'normality' as we can for our vulnerable children. Grant funding from Cheshire Community Foundation will help fund our project worker salaries in the Congleton and Macclesfield areas so they can continue to support disabled children and parents/carers/siblings as well as provide a laptop for remote working and the resources required to send out activity packs to all our registered families. The most significant difference of this work is that we will minimise the negative impacts on disabled children of enforced isolation - a vulnerable group who already struggle with loneliness - and make sure they have the support they need during this difficult time.

Friends for Leisure is a registered charity providing fun and friendship to disadvantaged local children and young people with disabilities across Cheshire East. We are applying for funding for our ....more

Friends for Leisure is a registered charity providing fun and friendship to disadvantaged local children and young people with disabilities across Cheshire East. We are applying for funding for our Family Support work in Crewe so we can help more parents/carers feel more confident to access social and leisure opportunities in the community for their disabled children so they can then all feel less isolated, thereby improving their overall wellbeing. A grant would pay for some of our Project Worker’s salary, as well as venue hire for the youth groups she delivers and associated administration costs. The most significant difference the project will make is to reduce the loneliness and social isolation that children and young people with disabilities experience much more compared to those without disabilities. By doing this, we can then help the whole family enjoy improved mental health, increased confidence and raised aspirations.

Grant to Friends for Leisure to support the organisation through COVID19

Friends for Leisure core running costs

The project will recruit, train and support young volunteers so they can 'buddy' them up with registered disabled children and young people. This will enable them to continue to provide support in ....more

The project will recruit, train and support young volunteers so they can 'buddy' them up with registered disabled children and young people. This will enable them to continue to provide support in group social activities and outings, helping to reduce isolation, improve confidence and wellbeing.

This grant would contribute to our continuing volunteer programme. Open to all, volunteers (most aged 15-20) are recruited in schools and colleges across Cheshire East, as well as through social ....more

This grant would contribute to our continuing volunteer programme. Open to all, volunteers (most aged 15-20) are recruited in schools and colleges across Cheshire East, as well as through social media, CVSCE and local community/youth organisations. They will go through a rigorous recruitment process then receive an induction, including safeguarding, and given training and ongoing support. Volunteers will then choose either a group to support, or an individual disabled young person to befriend. Group activities are the most popular solution to youth loneliness – 61% said that group activities are helpful for a child or young person feeling lonely and a good way to make friends (Co-op Foundation, 2019). Therefore our activities will alleviate isolation not only for our disabled children but for our volunteers too. They can make a positive difference in their communities whilst boosting their own confidence, boosting their social circle, enhancing life skills and future employability (vInspire, 2018). Volunteers have to commit to six months volunteering. However, most stay for at least 3 years and embrace volunteering as a life-long activity! The programme equips volunteers with the skills to volunteer for life, and it demonstrates the great benefits of volunteering like friendship, fun and improved wellbeing.

Towards the running costs of its inclusive youth groups in Crewe

Established in 1995, Friends for Leisure's aims have been to establish, promote and develop friendship oppurtunities for children and young people with physical, sensory and learning disabilities ....more

Established in 1995, Friends for Leisure's aims have been to establish, promote and develop friendship oppurtunities for children and young people with physical, sensory and learning disabilities aged 5-21 within Cheshire East. Activities are done such as ten pin bowling, a Saturday club, drama club and holiday activities. The grant will contribute to the continuing volunteer programme which is open to all, they will go through a recruitment process which will teach them safeguarding, the given training and ongoing support.

The volunteering opportunity is open to all, with a three-year gap required before a former beneficiary can volunteer, to clarify boundaries. Volunteers will be recruited in schools and colleges ....more

The volunteering opportunity is open to all, with a three-year gap required before a former beneficiary can volunteer, to clarify boundaries. Volunteers will be recruited in schools and colleges across Cheshire East, through a rigorous process, starting in September. They will receive an induction, including safeguarding, and will be offered training and ongoing support. Volunteers will choose either a group to support, or an individual disabled young person to befriend. At groups, they can contribute to the planning process. Their role is to encourage the members’ full participation. With a one-to-one friendship, the volunteer and young person together decide on the activities they will join. The opportunity to develop life skills, and enhance their CVs and employability is a strong incentive to volunteer. They quickly learn that this volunteering role is fun, provides personal development and can lead to long-standing friendships. Friendships built between disabled young people and volunteers have a great impact on overcoming isolation and loneliness, giving disabled young people something to look forward to and enjoy.

Unrestricted core funding for small charities

Family Support Core Funding

We want to provide a drama group where disabled young people come together with Fallibroome students to learn how to express themselves.

Help disabled young people to meet new friends, gain confidence, develop social skills and feel included with our bowling groups.

Friends for Leisure aims to enable disabled children and young people to have access to and participate in everyday leisure activities from which they are often excluded. The project comprises the ....more

Friends for Leisure aims to enable disabled children and young people to have access to and participate in everyday leisure activities from which they are often excluded. The project comprises the recruitment, training and ongoing support of young volunteers. The Volunteer Coordinator visits schools and colleges to talk about the benefits of volunteering and to encourage students to join in this social action. The grant will be used to cover partial salary of a staff member, volunteering costs, administration and running costs

Friends for Leisure addresses the social isolation and loneliness often experienced by disabled children and young people by providing inclusive leisure activities and encouraging friendships with ....more

Friends for Leisure addresses the social isolation and loneliness often experienced by disabled children and young people by providing inclusive leisure activities and encouraging friendships with each other and the members of the team of young volunteers who support the charity’s work. The project will establish two new Congleton youth groups, one for 11 to 14 year olds, and one for 15 to 21 year olds, to bring together disabled young people with non-disabled peers to give them the opportunity to make friends, develop their social skills and self-confidence, and have fun in a safe, supportive environment. The funding will be used towards: the hire of community venues; activity costs such as materials, equipment, and hiring specialist providers; staffing; and allocated administration, overheads and management costs.

This project will fund an Activity Coordinator post, who will enable young CYP living with disabilities to engage in various social activities and excursions.

Families come too project

The organisation, supported by young volunteers, help disabled children and young people to have fun, make friends and develop self confidence through participation in everyday leisure activities.

This project will support children and young people with disabilities by providing a range of new opportunities to socialise, make friends, and get more involved in the local community.The scheme ....more

This project will support children and young people with disabilities by providing a range of new opportunities to socialise, make friends, and get more involved in the local community.The scheme aims to promote self confidence and independence to provide the young people with the skills they need to progress to adulthood.