Friendships and meeting people

payc

Hi, I am a mentor to a wonderful 19 year old young man who has cerbral palsy. He has some mobility issues but can walk. He is intelligent, has a great sense of humour and is great company. He went through main stream school albeit with help. He is doing very well indeed but the main sticking point is that he has very few friends of his own age. He lives in Kent. We have not yet discovered any real way of improving this situation for him. Any ideas? 

topshoes

Hi @payc A warm welcome ,  if you got a library hub close, you could ask them if any thing is going on any groups you could go to 

payc

Thank you very much topshoes. We have tried this route, but no luck, unfortunately.

topshoes

i see what i can come up with @payc how about facebook  .

topshoes

just seeing what i can find for him 

payc

I’m a bit worried about going publicly on Facebook. Thanks again 

topshoes

your more then welcome 

Richard_Scope

Hi @payc

Great to meet you!

Have you heard of Outsiders?  

http://www.outsiders.org.uk/outsidersclub/ 

I heard some very positive things about the peer support that people have been able to get from attending their events etc 

Best Wishes

payc

Thank you very much for this. We will try it.

Richard_Scope

Keep in touch. If my suggestion doesn't work out we can explore other solutions.

payc

Thank you so much. There must be loads of young people in this position.

Richard_Scope

There are too many! That's why we're here.

payc

You are you are doing a great job. Well done

martins

Hi has anyone tried the Outsiders? My daughter has the same problem 

Richard_Scope

Hi @martins

Good to meet you! I haven't tried Outsiders myself but I have heard lots of positive things. What are your daughter's interests?

martins

Hi thank you for replying.
She loves music football (especially Man Utd) loves going to the gym and is very bubbly. She has a great personality. She doesn't let her disability hold her back.
She can walked with a rooster but uses a wheelchair for long journeys 

Richard_Scope

Hi @martins

I would talk to her about Outsiders or ask her to join this community.

martins

Ok I will do thank you 

Irvine98

Hi I also struggle with socialising I am 20 years old girl and have spastic diaplegia cp I used to play wheelchair basketball  but since no longer attending my local club it been a struggle I would love to get to know more people x 

payc

I wonder if it would be possible to set up regional meeting groups, just for friendship and chats? I think that would be hugely beneficial to many even if it started very small. 

Richard_Scope

Hi @Irvine98

It's good to meet you! What sort of club or environment would you suit you? Sorry to read about the wheelchair basketball club. I used to play for my home city. @payc the logistics of that would need serious thought. It's a very interesting idea though

Irvine98

Hi Richard_scope thanks for the response I'm not really sure i played wheelchair basketball for ten years I love that environment I also used to attend an art class that closed in 2013 

Is there a Facebook group or page where I can connect with people of my age or possibly an app or pen pal service. 

Richard_Scope

Our friends at CP Teens and CP Sport might be a good place to start. There is also Phab I attended Phab for many years and thoroughly enjoyed it. There are lots of Facebook groups as well. Of course, we are here in the community! I'm always around for a chat

Irvine98

Thank you for your reply and information I appreciate it I will look into them
Would you be able to give me a few names of the Facebook groups

I joined the scope
community because I heard it has a great for support and the community to be in so thank you for providing that to be true.

Richard_Scope

Hi @Irvine98

If you search Cerebral Palsy on Facebook it should bring up all the groups that there are.