PROFESSIONALS - MODEL OVERVIEW

The Fairway Project has now been in operation in Ayrshire for six years. In that time, it has developed a positive reputation for providing an innovative and inclusive transition service for young people with additional support needs entering adult life. The Fairway Project does not replicate the work of statutory Social Work services. Rather, it compliments this work and supports young people and their families to get the most effective support and planning from, statutory services.

The purpose of creating a Fairway Champion Model of Service is to raise awareness of the Fairway approach and the availability of practical support, and to encourage and support the development of similar Fairway type projects across Scotland in order to contribute to a more:-

• Independent disabled society
• Socially inclusive society
• Socially cohesive society
• Open and tolerant society

Hansel Foundation believes that the combination of Fairway’s unique peer mentoring approach, facilitation service and friendship circles provides highly positive individual outcomes for young people and their families. The model has demonstrated that it is a highly effective transition medium for young people with additional support needs entering adult life, as it supports them to become more independent and in control of their lives. It strives to support young adults with additional support needs to utilise productively the support they receive.

The replication of this approach across Scotland, through the Fairway Champion Project will enable many more disabled and disadvantaged young people to benefit from it. We further believe that the collaboration of the Fairway Champion Project with external organisations will extend and develop the model itself.

Our objective is to change the future for young adults with additional support needs and the support they receive. We look to share this model throughout Scotland and develop a network of services, which share and develop new and imaginative ways of providing services that will productively support the people we work with and assist them in becoming the directors of their own lives.