Compass awarded £280,153 by BBC Children in Need

COMPASS Advocacy Network in Ballymoney are delighted to announce that they have been chosen to be one of the 10 projects in the UK participating in BBC Children in Need's Fun and Friendship Programme which is a £3million programme which will run over three years.

Research with young disabled people was undertaken which identified their strong desire for more opportunities to meet friends and have a good time as independently as possible. With this in mind, the Fun and Friendship Programme was established to help projects. S.INC – Social Inclusion for Sports and Leisure will create and enhance such opportunities for disabled young people between the ages of 12 and 18.

Compass plan to establish a social inclusion project for 30 young people with learning disabilities (aged 12-18) in the Causeway Area. They have appointed two Empowerment Officers, Kerry McCrellis and Andrea Morrow, who will work to enable participants have access to MAINSTREAM sports and leisure activities, allowing opportunities for fun and friendship.

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Janet Schofield, Director of Compass said: "This is a really exciting project building the confidence and self-esteem of young people with learning disabilities in our area. Rather than set up another project which would be time-limited, we wanted to create a project which would be sustainable long after the funding ends.

The S.INC project will enable participants to access a whole range of everyday social activities such as Youth Clubs, Summer Schemes, Swimming, Football, Horse Riding, Drama, Dance Classes, and other leisure activities in their local area. In addition, we will also work with the sports and leisure providers (including Community Associations) to enable them to adjust in order to meet the needs of young people"

Compass will also be developing an Information Service will be created to provide advice, guidance and signposting along with the creation of a website and interactive Directory of Leisure, Social & Recreational Facilities for young people with learning disabilities.

David Ramsden, Chief Executive of BBC Children in Need, said "We are delighted that the generosity of our donors and fundraisers has made it possible for us to fund this project which will make a real and positive difference in the lives of the young disabled people"

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For more information about the S.INC – Social Inclusion for Sports and Leisure project, contact Andrea Morrow or Kerry McCrellis at Compass Advocacy Network, 20 Seymour Street, Ballymoney on 028 2766 9030.