North Somerset People First

Who we are

About Us

We are a voluntary sector self-advocacy charity, working for and led by the voices of people with a learning disability, autistic spectrum disorder (ASD), and/or associated conditions in North Somerset.

Mission Statement

"North Somerset People First promotes and encourages people with a learning disability to speak up for themselves, empowering them to be in control of their own lives, now and in the future".

Who We Are

North Somerset People First was set up in 1991 by a small group of people; their aim was to improve the lives of people with a learning disability by introducing self-advocacy. We have now grown and developed over many years and we became a Charitable Incorporated Organisation (CIO) in April 2015.

As a small local charity, we rely on the support of our committed team of staff and volunteers to develop, deliver and maintain our services. As a team, we have a shared passion to provide opportunities which empower people with a learning disability, ASD and/or associated conditions to have their voices heard and be in control of their own lives. 

Our 'person centred' ethos is embedded in everything we do and how we work with each other as a team.

Where are we

The Campus in Worle, Weston-super-Mare, a vibrant community hub is the base for our charity.Our services are delivered at The Campus and many other community centres and social venues around North Somerset, in order to reach as many people with learning disabilities and associated conditions as possible in the area.

Statistics

We have a staff team of 16, and we currently have 9 active volunteers. In the last 12 months 146 people have actively engaged in one or more of our services. 

What We Do

Our self-advocacy services support individuals from the age of 16 to speak up for themselves and to be more confident and aware of their rights. We encourage people to contribute to, and participate in, decisions that affect their lives and the community they live in.

How Do We Do This?

• Facilitate Speaking Up Groups, which enable people to have their voices heard.
• Carry out consultations by talking to people about the variety of services they may use and receive, local issues and law and policy.
• Person centred planning and advocacy.
• Facilitate friendship groups and social activities
• Provide employment, work experience and volunteering opportunities.
• Provide a range of accessible training programmes for people with a learning disability.
• Offer a range of services and training programmes for outside agencies.

Other services we deliver

• A Better Life: A mental health and emotional well-being service which delivers a range of psycho-educational courses, person centred planning and advocacy and peer support groups. We also support people to access fitness activities as part of this service.

• Moving On With My Life: This service supports people to plan and prepare for independent or supported living. It is delivered in both group sessions and on a 1-1 basis.