If you would like to see our pictures from the sponsored walk click here
More than two years on, the project has gone from strength to strength. Reporter
HUGH FORT spoke to organiser Jeanette Birt to learn more about the work of the
team.
In January 2005, Jeanette Birt decided to organise a weekly night giving people
with learning disabilities a chance to meet other people and have a night out.
The Friday Night Project was originally given six weeks to show what it could do
for people in Wokingham, Reading and Bracknell.
The pilot scheme was very successful and led to the scheme being extended.
More than two-and-a-half years later, it is still going strong. As well as the weekly
Friday night sessions at St Crispin’s Leisure Centre in London Road,
Wokingham, it now runs it own café in Bracknell and holds regular trips and
activities. Mrs Birt said: “We were originally given a six-week pilot scheme and
those six weeks are still going now.
“We started of with 25 members and now we’ve got more than 200.
“We give people with learning disabilities the chance to have a proper night out.
“When we started we found a local couple who did line dancing.
“They had a look at what they were doing and worked on a simplified version and invited people along.
“We were originally at St John’s Hall in Woodley, but as the group grew the hall simply became too small.
“We had a hunt around and found the hall at St Crispin’s.
“It’s great. It’s got a bar, which means people can have a drink and a laugh. We
want to try to make the whole night as normal as possible and give these people
a good night out.
“There’s really not much else for learning disabled people to do in the area, so we
thought we’d offer something a bit different.
“When we started we didn’t realise the impact we’d have, these sessions are a
real lifeline to people.
The group now offers its members chances to take part in a huge range of
activities. In October, 42 members are heading off to Disneyland in Florida.
Mrs Birt said “We’ve done a huge amount this year, we had a wonderful
Christmas do at the Crowne Plaza in Reading and some of our members are
going to Disneyland.
“We’ve just launched a calendar for next year.
“For the male members it’s called ‘Take This’ and for the females it’s called
‘Calendar Girls’. In February we had a barn dance, which was brilliant and we had
a great red nose day, where we raised £500.”
The group’s aim is to be self-funding, but is always looking for sponsorship.
It held its annual sponsored walk on Saturday, with members walking around
Dinton Pastures in David Street, Hurst.
Members then tucked in to Chinese food made by staff by the Easter Pearl in
Reading and fish and chips from the Blue fish, also in Reading.
The group is also working with a local artist to create a mural. The group is
hopeful it will be displayed at a local site where hundreds of people would be able
to see it.
The Friday Night Project recently won an award from Berkshire Social Enterprise
for the work in the community.
The group’s shop in Bracknell sells rolls and cakes and is designed to raise
money both for the group and to fund training for the people who use it.
The staff at the shop – Penny King, Elizabeth Smith, Maria Soukop, Julie Spinks
and Jonathon Bristow – have all passed a food hygiene training course.
The group is still looking for sponsorship and is hoping a kind-hearted benefactor
or business will come forward to help pay the £5,200 yearly rent for the hall.
Anyone wishing to volunteer for the group, make a donation or sponsor the group
can call Mrs Birt on 07817 650 682.
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