We’re delighted to be part of an exciting project with a very important charity who are doing amazing things for their members. Hoping all of the OMBLES will take part today for the chance to win prizes and potentially be part of a film which is being launched in the run-up to Sunday the 23rd May 2021 to coincide with their 36 hour crowdfunding campaign! (More info on this at the bottom of the page) We may even be able to get a local billboard to feature the winning idea too!!
One Minute Brief of the Day:
Create posters to #CelebrateDifference with @Friendship_MCR and help empower people to feel comfortable in themselves & build life-changing friendships.
Please tweet your entries to @OneMinuteBriefs @Friendship_MCR with the hashtag #CelebratingDifference and & link to friendshipcircle.org.uk
We’d also like to see powerful messages using our campaign idea…
‘I am _____’
For example, I am independent. I am talented. I am someone’s friend. I am ME. #IamMe
TONE OF VOICE:
Everything we do has an uplifting feel to it. People with disabilities are not to be pitied, they are viewed in a positive light and there is a feel-good factor to everything we do.
Prizes:
Winning Idea will receive a £200 cash prize
Runner-Up will receive a £100 cash prize
OUR MISSION:
The Friendship Circle enriches the lives of children and adults with disabilities in our community through a range of fully integrated social and recreational programmes. These experiences are essential building blocks for each individual to gain skills, confidence and lead a more fulfilling lifestyle.
Together with our vast network of volunteers we encourage a culture of understanding and acceptance, helping to transform the landscape of attitudes of towards people with disabilities.
CELEBRATING DIFFERENCE:
‘We offer something totally unique to the community that is not provided for by other existing charities.’
It is widely recognised that people with disabilities struggle socially and have difficulty forging lasting relationships. Loneliness and isolation is rife and the long term consequences can be devastating.
13 years ago The Friendship Circle was established to bridge a major gap in the social, emotional and cultural provision for people with special needs.
130 adults, children and their families are supported by The Friendship Circle. Vulnerable people with physical and learning disabilities, Down syndrome and Autism, as well as many others on the fringes of society who receive very little support elsewhere.
‘At The Friendship Circle we celebrate difference and empower people to be comfortable in their own skin.’
WHAT THE CHARITY DOES:
7 Vibrant Programmes a week Jam packed with colour, excitement and opportunity, designed to build skills and provide stimulation. These include; dance, singing, art, music, health & wellbeing, discussion groups, fitness and baking. Activities such as wall climbing, Krav Mega or modelling in our annual fashion show builds confidence and encourages members to go beyond their comfort zone.
100 Volunteers and 50 One-to-one Buddies Enabling us to create a warm and loving community within a community. Volunteers enrich lives by befriending members and helping them integrate into mainstream society. Our inspirational volunteers are experiencing first -hand the diversity of people with disabilities and including them in their lives.
An Inclusive Community People with disabilities have as much to offer as everyone else and we provide them with the opportunity to ‘give back’. Our Volunteering Programme is breaking down barriers, whether delivering parcels for the homeless, visiting the elderly or litter picking with interfaith groups.
Changing Perceptions The Friendship Circle are about putting people with disabilities firmly on the map. We believe that communities are stronger when everyone has the opportunity to be heard on issues that are important to them, which is why we launched our Equal Voices Forum.
Challenging Stereotypes Our Education Programme in Schools teaches children about the beauty of being different and encourages them to think about issues people with disabilities are faced with – building a more inclusive community for the future.
STAYING CONNECTED In March 2020 we launched our STAY CONNECTED campaign and did everything we could to adapt to this new reality. Moving our physical connection to a virtual one, we made sure each and every member had their individual needs met.
5,000 Zoom sign-ins. Daily zoom classes, parties and get-togethers have given structure and stimulation to never ending days.
2,000 Pick-me-up packs lifting spirits and providing endless activities have been delivered.
10,000 Phone Buddy calls, video chats and socially distant walks by over 80 committed volunteers giving emotional and practical support.
90% felt The Friendship Circle helped reduce their anxiety.
80% said The Friendship Circle reduced feelings of loneliness.
90% rated the activity packs as ‘VERY GOOD or EXCELLENT’
92% said they felt supported by their phone buddy during COVID.
CASE STUDIES:
Hannah’s Story
Because of The Friendship Circle I have gained so much confidence in myself and I have overcome a lot of obstacles. I’ve come out bigger and stronger and I don’t let people intimidate or bully me anymore, just because of how I look.
Growing up I had very low self-esteem. I was scared of people judging me because I was different. I struggled to make friends and I was often bullied.
When I was 18 I joined The Friendship Circle and my life completely changed - for the better; I made loads of friends and it has made a massive difference to my life.
At the Friendship Circle no one is judged because of their disability, everyone is equal. The Friendship Circle has helped me grow as a person. It has given me the ability to go out and do normal, everyday things, without worrying what other people think of me.
The Friendship Circle is a safe place where me and my friends can be comfortable in our own skin and celebrate who we are.
Without it I wouldn’t be who I am today.
‘The Friendship Circle gets the message across that just because we have special needs, it doesn’t mean we can’t do things that normal people do. It just may take us a little longer.’
Michael & Alayne’s Story
‘Friendship. It’s not a game they play, it’s in their DNA. Friendship - it’s what The Friendship Circle do.’
Hannah is our first child, and when she was born we became familiar with another world that existed in parallel to much of what went on around us. For us, stepping up to our responsibilities took on a different meaning, which meant finding a new type of courage for the lifelong challenges ahead.
There were a number of occasions when people sympathetically said to us, “I’m so sorry,” when telling them about Hannah. Yes - life can catch you unawares. We know that life doesn’t follow a straightforward path and sometimes, not always for the best. But there’s no reason to be sorry.
In those early years, all parents need as much support around them as they can get. And as our children grow, develop, mature and look to find their own path in life, they look for meaning in their lives. They look for friendship.
The Friendship Circle is all about happiness, joy, truth, honesty, love and compassion. They teach us about human dignity, a zest to take enjoyment from whatever life has to offer, an honesty that is pure. The Friendship Circle tell it like it is and the ripple effect of their incredible work helps to make the world a better place
There are so many lessons that Hannah has taught us, there are so many lessons that the members of the FC teach us all such as patience, tolerance, respect and understanding, lessons that mean much more than we realise.
https://www.friendshipcircle.org.uk/
What next?
On Sunday 23rd May 2021, The Friendship Circle will be running a 36 hour fundraising campaign to raise much needed funds to ensure the charity can continue to offer adults and children with physical and learning disabilities the support, friendship and inclusion they deserve through the provision of fully integrated recreational and social opportunities.
CROWDFUNDING:
We are running a Crowdfunding campaign (a bit like Sir Captain Tom did for the NHS), but with a difference!
In our campaign all donations are MATCHED, and it's timed for only 36 HOURS, from 9.00am Sunday 23rd May to 9.00pm Monday 24th May.
MATCHING:
A matched Crowdfunding campaign has proven to bring in 30-40% more donors than a non-matched campaign. A donor giving £5/£50/£500, will be doubled by our matchers to £50/£500/£5,000. This incentivises the donor to give.
36 HOURS:
By running the campaign over a short period of time, it adds to the urgency as the campaign gathers momentum.
TEAMS:
The Crowdfunding campaign is made up of 100+ different team leaders, each reaching out to their own contacts asking for donations.
Each team is urged to reach their personal goal, which then all count towards one main goal.
CREATIVE:
The content that OMB are creating will be sent out to the 100+ teams who then send it out to all their contacts via their social media networks. This way we get to reach 1,000s of potential donors and maximise funds.