“My Options in Life group day is my favourite day of the week. I get to see my friends and try out new things that I never dreamed of trying before.” Lauren
Options In Life’s Recreation Programme is a social inclusion and skills development programme for isolated young adults who have a learning disability. It was the very first project that the charity established which has grown over the years to become our flagship project.
The focus of our Recreation Programme is to make friends, have fun and encourage social interaction, while pushing the boundaries by trying new and challenging activities and encouraging team work and mutual support. The programme runs 4 full days a week. The aim of the group activities is to build confidence and self-esteem, by encouraging the members to try something new and to support each other to achieve their goals. The group members constantly surprise our staff, and themselves, at what they can achieve. The programme involves the group going out for the day together with our support staff to take part in various activities which can be anything from water sports, sailing, rock climbing, archery, ten pin bowling, trampolining, survival skills to animal handling or visits to science centres, aquariums and museums.
We have four groups who each take part one day a week, on the same day of the week, throughout the year. This offers predictability for our members and opportunities to make friends and build strong relationships with the other group members, which can also continue out with Options In Life activities.
Our target support group is adults aged 18 – 30 years. This allows the group members to form friendships and bonds with people of a similar age and with similar interests.
We welcome young adults who have learning disabilities and additional support needs, keen to be active and get involved in lots of fun activities. Many members of our groups at the moment are on the autistic spectrum. Everyone in the groups has difficulty with communication, social interaction, understanding, in some way and coping with life skills in general.
We have our own minibus and the groups’ central meeting point is in Cupar, but we also pick up and drop off in Glenrothes, and at other locations on the different days. This is dependent on the needs of those attending, and therefore, if the groups change, we will consider new locations that are more suitable.
It is the responsibility of the individual (or a parent/carer) to ensure they get to the arranged meeting point safely, and that they are able to get home from the drop off point at the end of the day. Our support staff cannot take responsibility for the group members before pick-up or getting home after drop-off.
All group members (service-users, staff, volunteers) are asked to wear an Options In Life T-shirt and hoodie and carry a Options In Life backpack when out with the group. This is important for our staff to keep the group together and easily identify each other, specially in busy environments. These items are issued either before or on your first trip.
If you or someone you know would benefit from joining our Recreation Programme, or you would like more information, please CONTACT US.
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