Imagine sitting around the kitchen table encircled by a group of friends who are listening to your dreams and easing your concerns, while sharing food, wine or even a cup of tea.

This is now a reality with the formation of circles of support developed through the “Belonging Initiative” established by Parent and Family Resource Centre, in partnership with Standards Plus, Parent to Parent, and Family Action Support Team.

The aim of a Circle of Support is to gather a group of friends around a person with a disability to help him or her think about their life and pursue a great future. To shift a person towards a life enriched by genuine lasting friendship and to help identify hopes and dreams.

“The circle of friends is a reciprocal relationship as everyone taking part must choose to be there,” said co-ordinator Ainslie Gee. “No one is paid, people are there because they want to be.”

A circle celebrates the person’s achievements and stands with them through hardships. The circle if required could help with establishing employment, budgets, second signatory to bank accounts, holiday planning, coordinating home maintenance, making appointments and overseeing health issues. The circle is there to walk with the focus person through their life and hence it the focus person that sets the agenda, and the purpose for the circle.

Circles also offer great support to parents who are often the sole guardians of their child’s welfare. As time passes parents may find it difficult to maintain this role and quite naturally the child will desire an increasing degree of independence as he or she grows older. A circle of support will help both parents and children to develop long term relationships that walk the path with them supporting them and their decisions so they are not alone.

When contacted, Ainslie will sit down with the interested participants to discuss the motivation behind forming their particular circle – establishing the purpose and becoming very clear about this is vital, from here working out who the right people are becomes clearer.

“It’s all about relationship building,” said Ainslie. “We need to be discussing what kind of skills and personality traits are needed to help the circle align with its purpose. If there are gaps over time we need to find the people with the skills to fill them,” she said.

For further information on the “Belonging Initiative” and in particular circles of support, contact
Ainslie Gee at Parent and Family Resource Centre

Phone 09 636-0351 Email Ainslie Gee Ainslie@parentandfamily.org.nz