We have several support packages we are happy to discuss bespoke provisions.
We have several support packages we are happy to discuss bespoke provisions.
Unlike traditional day service, we offer a provision that is specific to the service user. In focus with the Personalised Care Strategy, we believe service users can benefit from choosing what they would like to do. We believe everyone is different and possesses different skills, desires and aspirations.
We create Activity Schedules containing activities that service users have chosen in line with their current and future needs. These can however have some sessions that encourage group and social interaction among peers.
GFI has aspects that young people would benefit from for example
Support at educational institutions would range from couple of hours to a whole day, in activities such as note taking, lunch/break buddy (especially for freshers), help in reading and understanding set tasks in class.
When college or university semesters commence quite a few young people experience the anxiety of new environment, people and lots of things to remember like lecture halls location, names of buildings, lecturers in addition to sit and concentrate. GFI provides a buddy weeks before the semester who together build a relationship to enable navigate the first weeks.
We offer support in the workplace and can help employers understand about disabilities issues matter.
GFI has links with small businesses in the Eynsham/Witney area where we have had two of our linked service users get paid employment a couple of days a week stemming from our allotment project.
More recent, ICT businesses have had interest in disability awareness and have recruited or sought to recruit very high functioning individuals who we know have tremendous skills especially in areas like coding and programming. Creating an environment where one can have full potential normally requires an understanding and awareness in the part of the employer in areas of time-bound task management, dealing with deadlines, scheduled breaks, how to communicate – choice of words, managing routines and other factors which are important to those within the spectrum.
L.O.V.E. (Local Organic Voluntary Economies) is a land based social enterprise in Oxfordshire, which aims to empower communities to take responsibility for their own wellbeing. When the resources of local land and the skills of local people are utilised, local economies can be developed. This can be done in an ethical and sustainable way to benefit the people and the environment.
L.O.V.E. began when Raul Ospina and B’lkaar Singh (Bill) met and started volunteering to help a local landowner to grow vegetables and look after animals. They did it because it brought them joy. The landowner would share with them the fruits of their labour.
L.O.V.E. began to grow and other local landowners invited them to help on their land, and the friends invited other local people to volunteer. Soon there was more land to work on, more friends helping, and more produce to share.
The former prime minister, David Cameron, heard of L.O.V.E. and arranged a meeting between them and the Oxfordshire NHS. At the meeting it was agreed that the health of local people would benefit from L.O.V.E., and a partnership was formed.
GFI and L.O.V.E. now, GFI L.O.V.E. works to improve the health of individuals, develop their knowledge and skills, and provide employment opportunities in the local economy. It also provides social, recreational and educational opportunities for those with additional needs.
We use local land as a stage for various activities:
We currently have access to 5 sites:
At GFI we know how important it is to have a good transition. With parents and carers beginning to look for places at around age 14 and sometimes even earlier, we ensure that the information we put out is updated and relevant. Therefore, we have put together an information pack about us and the process.
We believe it’s very important that transition is smooth. We have meetings where parents and carers can find out more information and speak about our different services we offer and find the best suited one.
Young people who are on the transition program can access the Personalised Day Provision (PDP) on a day that suits them. They will be allocated staff support and be given a personalised activity schedule prepared during the transition meetings.
GFI has provided successful MH section discharges and reintegration and rehabilitation back into community, supported and independent living.
Working closely with clinical and MH professionals, we are continuing to develop an effective and resilient support approach that has the individual at the centre of their wellbeing and recovery.
We run bespoke person-centred holiday and half-term activities normally provided based on availability.