3rd November 2011

DORCHESTER: Empowerment fayre success

By Anita Harries

DotComUnity held an “All Inclusive Empowerment Fayre” at the Corn Exchange in Dorchester, bringing a whole host of organisations under one roof to showcase all that is available out there for people of all ages with learning or physical disabilities.

DotComUnity is a not-for-profit social enterprise providing a one stop resource for finding out about community services, care information, and social interactivity for adults and children with a learning or physical disability within their local community.

And there were certainly plenty of organisations on hand with a wealth of help and advice covering every aspect of life.

Diverse Abilities Plus is an independent organisation that works with families to help meet the needs of local people of all ages with physical and learning disabilities, ensuring that

those who use their services receive a lifetime of opportunities and support.

Several other organisations come under their umbrella, some of whom were present at the fayre. Coping with Chaos gives the whole family the chance to have fun together. They support families with disabled children by offering play opportunity sessions every weekday of the school holidays, to which siblings are welcome to attend.

They run a youth club for disabled young people between the ages of 13 - 19, supported by their non-disabled peers, both paid staff and volunteers.

They also run a parent befriending network to support parents and carers of disabled children, and provide information, signposting, and monthly coffee mornings and drop ins.

Disbility Wessex offers assistance with disability benefits, not just for those with disabilities, but those with chronic and acute health conditions, families and carers, and parents of disabled children.

Many organisations have so much to offer, as was demonstrated by the countless stands at the Fayre.

Smart Living provide a range of products designed to give people the freedom to live the life they want as independently as possible - at home or when out and about.

Others included Care-ability, Scope Response, All Inclusive Disability Consultants, the Care Division, Dimensions, and Stepping Stones.

Stepping Stones is for people of 16 or over who live in Dorset (not Poole or Bournemouth) who have a disability or mental health condition. They help them access work preparation courses, work based projects, vocational training, voluntary work, and part time paid employment.

There were also representatives on hand from the Jubilee Sailing Trust, the Friendship Club, Refresh Respite Holidays, Dorset County Council Vocational Services, Cowden Care Farm, the South West Dorset Talking Newspapers for the Blind, and the Wallisdown Day Service.

The Wallisdown Kitchen Project came along with some wonderful refreshments, including rolls, beef pasties, sausage rolls and donuts.

For those looking for a workshop to take part in, 15 Days in Clay offered an insight into their projects (for more information about upcoming workshops visit www.15daysinclay.co.uk) whilst Doodle Art had everyone making witches hats.

Curious Arts run excellent drama workshops for both adults and children with learning disabilities, helping increase confidence and motivation, creating a great deal of fun, and putting on some marvellous shows.

More information on all of the above organisations can be found by visiting www.dotcommunity.co.uk

PICTURE 1: Members of the Wallisdown Day Service - Sue, Chev and Duncan

PICTURE 2: Janna Edwards with some of the amazing clocks created by participants in 15 Days of Clay