Aims and Objectives:

The main aim of this project is to get service users more involved in leisure activities outside the working environment. This is done using volunteers from the community, thus creating friendship with their peers in the community, which aids integration.

Objectives:

• Services users will develop new friendships with people from the community who are not family members or employees of the service.

• Service users will be empowered to access increased individualised leisure activities outside the centre hours.

• Volunteers will develop an understanding of intellectual disability and all that can be achieved with the correct supports.

• The community will become aware of the Leisure Buddies project and its aims,

• Service users will develop skills as a result of their participation in Leisure Buddies.

• The impact on quality of life of all involved in Leisure Buddies will be evaluated

• That the findings of the evaluation will be disseminated to other similar organisations so they may see the results of the project.

• Also a key part of the evaluation is to also examine the effectiveness of the project in meeting the aims of the EDS programme and the contribution, which they make to the attainment of the EDS policy objectives. These objectives are as follows:

• Development of improved services for disabled persons through promoting the development of collaborative approaches and innovative linkages between existing infrastructure and new needs; improving co ordination between disability organisations; and enhancing existing structures and developing operational capacity.

• Address deficiencies and overlaps in existing services and promote new ways of delivering services or fresh’ approaches to supporting disabled people.

• Focus on transferability, which clearly shows a potential for using the project learning as a model of good practise for other organisations.

• Emphasis on developing the project so as it would lead to empowerment and independence for disabled people. Eliminating barriers and increasing access to information, social and cultural activities for those with a disability.

• Promotion of increased mainstreaming of and cohesion of services currently being provided through specific targeted initiatives.