We’re celebrating the achievements and contributions of people with learning disabilities all this week, as part of Learning Disability Week.
19-year-old Becca Davies has recently started volunteering at Dartmouth Caring’s parent and baby group, something made possible with the support of Devon County Council’s Reaching for Independence service.
Although Becca has only been volunteering for the past two months, her help has made it possible for the group to become weekly rather than fortnightly – benefitting parents and babies in the local community.
Reaching for Independence has a team of Community Enablers helping to support people aged 17 and over to develop life skills and promote their independence.
Sharon Simmons is the Community Enabler supporting Becca. She said: “We talked about what kind of things Becca wanted to achieve, and she decided she wanted to do her travel training. As the weeks went by there weren’t any groups that Becca wanted to join, so I took her to Dartmouth Caring and they suggested she might want to do a bit of volunteering.
“We progressed with the travel training and I gradually stepped back as Becca was able to go on her own on the bus all the way there. We did a story map so she knew where to get off and where she had to cross. Step-by-step it built up her confidence and eventually she was able to do it on her own. It’s great to see how she’s come on. The world’s her oyster. She can put her mind to anything now.”
The travel training through Reaching for Independence has enabled Becca to enjoy short journeys with Sharon and it has culminated with her being able to travel independently to her voluntary role with Dartmouth Caring.
Becca said: “It’s really good. Sharon does lovely things with me and I really enjoy it. I got the Stagecoach app thanks to Sharon and that’s how I use the bus.
“I feel really excited (about volunteering) because it’s really what I wanted to do. Basically we set up the toys and sometimes I bring water to the parents and I help as well. It makes me really happy.”
Becca is now part of a team of around 100 volunteers at Dartmouth Caring, working alongside mostly part-time staff.
April Faulkner, Community and Volunteer Engagement Manager at Dartmouth Caring, said: “I chatted with Sharon to find out Becca’s interests and when she was explaining to me how sociable and outgoing and helpful she likes to be, I really felt we could benefit from having Becca on our volunteer team. We were thrilled when Becca was keen to join us.
“It’s been wonderful to see Becca’s confidence grow. Her reliability and commitment to helping has meant we can go weekly with our group. It’s been really valuable to have her support. Her sunny disposition and social skills really lend themselves well to this group where people are coming along and looking to connect with other parents and have a good chat with a friendly team.
“I would hope for Becca that we can help develop her role and give her more responsibilities as time goes on, when it’s right for her, and even look at other volunteering roles within our charity as well. We’re always looking for more people to join us and feel very strongly that it brings as much benefit to the individual volunteering as it does to those they’re helping.”
Becca’s mum Jane was recommended to contact Reaching for Independence by another parent who had successfully used the service. The scheme supports people to achieve the goals that are most important to them and lead a fulfilling life. Those who are eligible need to have had social care needs identified by an assessment, or have eligible social care needs following initial contact.
Jane said: “Now she’s a young adult we wanted her to find out how much she can do on her own and find that independence. The only way she’s going to find out what she wants to do in the future is by trying lots of different things. Becca had never gone on a bus on her own before, she hadn’t done any volunteering, other than through school which they’d set up and accompanied her.
“You have so many conflicting things you’re trying to achieve for a young person with special needs, so for someone independent to come and take one of those things from beginning to end and achieve something, that’s wonderful. Gold dust!
“The volunteering has really helped because that gives her opportunities at the end of the day and that will open doors for her. It’s great seeing her do these things on her own.
“I think she was probably ready and I didn’t realise. The fact she has come on so well is down to her and with help from Reaching for Independence it’s made all the difference. I’m very proud.”
Councillor Richard Keeling, Devon County Council Cabinet Member for Adults Services, said:
“Our Reaching for Independence team is helping people gain important life skills that are often taken for granted by many of us, but it can open up so many opportunities for our service users. The fact that Becca’s help has made it possible for Dartmouth Caring’s parent and baby group to become a weekly event speaks volumes about the difference people can make in their community. Well done to Becca and to everyone involved in making it possible for her to take up her volunteering role.”
Becca’s advice is for anyone who’s eligible for support from Reaching for Independence to be open to giving it a go. She said: “Try it because it’s really great to get started.”
To find out more visit the Reaching for Independence webpages. For information about Learning Disability Week go to
https://www.mencap.org.uk/learningdisabilityweek