This is a new project working with parents with learning difficulties and disabilities.

The Families In Action team are:

• Martin Corey
• Emma Brown and
• Jane Sanderson

The team work with parents with learning difficulties and disabilities and their families as a unit.

They can offer advice and support in dealing with; housing; money matters; friendship; parenting; leisure activities and many other issues.

To join the project fill in the Families In Action (FIA) Referral Form and return it to the People In Action office. You can download a form from the Downloads page.

‘Let’s Join In’ puts on educational activities during the school holidays for young people (14-25 yrs old) who need one to one support and have high support needs.

The themes for the project are all based around a variety social and leisure activities in and around the city of Leeds.

If you would like to get involved or want to find out more contact Gillian Streak on 0113 247 0411

The team is made up of 3 Connexions Personal Advisers

• Chani Batebajwe
• Emma Greensmith
• Sarah Carter

They work with young people (14 –25yrs) with learning difficulties and disabilities. This is done on a one to one basis; providing advocacy, holistic support on personal issues and signposting them to activities and organisations based on their needs.

The young people also have a chance to take part in person-centred planning with the help of the Personal Advisers.

The 11 Clubs, located citywide, provide members and volunteers with social and leisure activities mainly in the evenings.

Each club has an exciting range of activities!

Staff work hard in the clubs to provide a range of activities.

The following are just a few examples: -

Venture Gateway at St Mary’s – continues to work with people with profound learning disabilities.

One striking feature of the activities they have put on during the year is the use of themes which allow members to dress up or experience other ways of living, such as Irish, Chinese and James Bond nights.

Gascoigne Middleton Club – produced a range of activities including weekends away, discos, music games and cooking lessons.

Crossgates/ Seacroft Gateway – continued to open all year round and we are particularly grateful to Mary Booths for her organisation and committed input.

Pudsey Gateway – continues to excel in sports and won a number of medals at the disabled Olympics and still attracts a large number of members.

Guiseley Gateway – have worked with the Management Committee and supported them in reviewing and putting together new procedures and a Constitution (rules).

The Gardening group works with a small group at the Horsforth Adult Training Centre. Richard Oliver leads the group in planting flowers and growing their own Organic vegetables. The members learn essential gardening skills, whilst building up their confidence.

Guiseley Group – David Foster

The group resumed to work with members to improve their social skills.The class has grown this year to 6 people.

Members have worked throughout the year to improve their travel skills and their ability to join in Community life.

August bank holiday 2006

This was the 39th Leeds Carnival.It is the oldest in the country – one year older than the Notting Hill Carnival. It is run by unpaid members of the local community.
People In Action supported 17 people from the Inclusion Project, HFT and VINE to take part in Carnival celebrations.
We were part of a larger City of Leeds troupe. As usual, there were huge crowds at Potternewton Park and all along the parade route. One light shower did not dampen spirits.

Already people are looking forward to 2007 when the Carnival will mark the ending of the British trans-Atlantic slave trade 200 years ago.

This is a new project started at the end of 2005.

It currently employs over 5 Support Workers to work with a people with high support needs on a 2 to 1 or individual basis. The Support Workers enable members to become involved in their local community.

This is a new area of work for People In Action and is funded by the Joint Commissioning Service, Leeds City Council.

If you know of someone who needs personal support please contact David Foster

The groups are made up of 3 members in Woodhouse and 7 in Bramley.

They meet with People In Action volunteers and organise a range of activities throughout local and city centre venues.

Woodhouse Group - Awtar Sagoo

Bramley Group – Awtar Sagoo

The group has a membership of over 50 and is made up of a diverse group of men and women.

Outside funding for the project has run out during the year, but People In Action has supported the project to carry on.

Due to lack of funding the group only meet once a month.

The activities are decided on by a Steering Group, which has 5 members. The groups enjoy activities such as bowling, going to the West Yorkshire Playhouse, eating out and attending the ‘Beautiful Octopus’ events.

They meet once a month on Thursday evenings in the city centre.

The aim of the project is to involve carers of people with learning disabilities, at present mainly from South Asian communities, and help develop their skills through training and empower them to become an inclusive group.

The group has been taking part in activities, such as swimming, health and fitness events (left, Umeed at a Yorkshire Food Event) and attending training courses, for example a ‘Training for Trainers’ course.

A new group has also been set up, which is specially aimed at male carers from the South Asian communities.

The team is made up of 3 Connexions Personal Advisers:

• Chani Batebajwe
• Emma Greensmith
• Sarah Carter

They work with young people (14 –25yrs) with learning difficulties and disabilities. This is done on a one to one basis; providing advocacy, holistic support on personal issues and signposting them to activities and organisations based on their needs.

The young people also have a chance to take part in person-centred planning with the help of the Personal Advisers.