PROFESSIONALS - SOCIO-ECONOMIC BENEFITS
In addition to the proven outcomes for our young adults and peer mentors, there are socio-economic advantages realised as a result of the Fairway approach.
- With improved well-being and mental health - increased confidence, self-esteem, expectation and motivation and hope for the future, young people have reduced need for services thus resulting in less strain on overburdened services
- Young people with additional support needs becoming independent adults - accessing training, education and employment opportunities allowing them to opt out of services which often further disable rather than enable them
- Peer Mentors - valuable volunteers, gaining new skills and a more positive attitude and greater understanding of people with additional support needs, breaking down the divisive walls of discrimination and fear, with the volunteer experience of the social care field often resulting in career direction
- Friendship circles - a natural mechanism of support- less time allocation needed with shared network of friends and a perfect exit strategy for service users
- Young adults will have an effective & collective lobbying voice influencing policy and local government spending priorities
- Young adults will encourage the development of social/educational systems, which focus on an equal experience of transition for disabled/disadvantaged young people, with equal opportunities in further education, social networking, employment training, relationships, jobs, lifelong learning etc.
- Young adults will eventually be experienced adults and lead on the future development of the Fairway Project and other related social innovations and enterprises
- For external organisations adopting the model - increased skills of workers, support to develop your own innovative transition service reflecting local needs & conditions, and the opportunity to translate experiences gained to other client sectors
