Project Brighton: Jacqueline Sethi, discusses the Grace Eyre Friendship Group, a new initiative that helps to connect people with learning difficulties

Can you remember a time on a foreign holiday finding it hard to ask for things and even harder to understand when the answer was too fast? Did things take a little longer, like counting change, getting on the right bus, or finding your way to somewhere new?

In a world where everyone appears to be texting, calling, or busy running to their next appointment, it’s often hard to catch someone’s eye to ask for the time or directions. It’s even harder if you may have some communication difficulties. In busy, bustling, high energy Brighton, we want to make the fun everyday activities more accessible to people who may need just a little extra time to do things.

Grace Eyre Friendship Group is working to link up people with a learning disability with others with similar interests to get ‘out and about’ more. We play sports, go to the theatre, have a coffee, take a walk, or visit Brighton sewers! We have a planning meeting each month where all suggestions are put on the table.

Grace Eyre Friendship Group is working to link up people with a learning disability with others with similar interests

The group offers the chance for people to come together and plan what they would like to do with the support of a co-ordinator. It meets a need among people to explore new opportunities and do different things. It helps provide a chance to meet new people. We benefit from Albion in the Community, who work with local businesses and attractions and offer concessions to different venues. In times of extensive reductions in funding for Adult Social Care, pulling together in the community helps.

We have a full monthly calendar with two or three activities a week, usually at a low cost, and we also support people who would like to link up with a few others for those spontaneous occasions.

Our goal is to provide means for everyone to be fully included in this wonderful exciting city

We work with many other community groups, to increase awareness of what’s on, so if you have an event and would like it in the calendar, let us know. If this appeals to you, and you would like to go out more we can send you our calendar or if you support someone who might like to join us on an activity, please get in touch.

If you would like to volunteer your time, we are also keen to hear from you. Why not propose an activity at a time that suits you, or join one of our existing activities? We ask for two hours a month, and provide training, support and expenses. It’s about connecting people through shared interests. Only time, and enthusiasm is required, nothing more.

Our goal is to provide the means for everyone to access more of what’s on and be fully included in this wonderful, exciting city of ours. Come and join us!

We are happy to talk more about what we do, how it works and your ideas. You can contact us at GEFriendship@grace-eyre.org or call us on 07436 093120.