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Photo caption: Peter & Jackie, members of Stars in the Sky, at a group meeting in September
The additional funding will give hundreds of people with learning disabilities in the area the opportunity to build friendships and relationships through the agency which was launched by Hft in September 2007.
Stars in the Sky Yorkshire is the first agency of its kind outside London which aims to extend social networks and support people with learning disabilities to widen their circle of friends and develop and sustain relationshipsthrough involvement in an assortment of social events and one to one meetings
People with learning disabilities can join the agency and build friendships through a variety of events such as theatre trips, themed party nights, cinema visits and discos.Members are also given support to develop relationships and are able to build confidence and self esteem whilst feeling less isolated and gaining a greater sense of control over their lives.
Hft is absolutely thrilled to have been awarded this grant by the Big Lottery Fund”, said Karen England,Development Manager for Stars in the Sky Yorkshire. “The money will enable us to extend the range of social activities and support for friendships so that more people with learning disabilities in West Yorkshire have the chance to meet more people, make new friends, enjoy new social experiences and possibly develop closer relationships.
“We hope to be able to help 200 people over the next two years to have much fuller and happier lives and feel less isolated especially in the evenings and at weekends. We run small-scale activities for people to come along and meet new people and try their hand at different things. If they then want to see each other again either in a group or as a couple we support them with this. This funding will let us organise more activities and help more people.”
Vanessa White, Big Lottery Fund Head of Region for Yorkshire and The Humber,said: “We are proud to be supporting this unique project, which will give hundreds of people with learning disabilities the opportunity to meet new people and build friendships and relationships – something that, without the support of this initiative, they may not get the chance to do.”
