Raymond Brennan, Learning and development facilitator, ENABLE Scotland
I have had the privilege of working with people with learning disabilities for the past 28 years, starting off my career as a nurse, then working within the social work department and moving into the third sector where I have been working for the past 15 years. The most challenging aspect of my career and which continues to be the biggest challenge is how we help people to develop friendships.
The main focus of my research project is to explore the option of ‘Circles of Friends’ which is a formal way to help bring other people into the life of someone who is at risk of being alienated or segregated from main stream life.. The ‘Circles, approach looks at the natural resources that surround us in everyday situations ’other people’, and believes that this are key factor in how we develop and grow.
As we learn about friendships at a young age, I plan to explore the awareness of this option in the mainstream school setting across Scotland and link this to children’s outcomes (SHANIRRI). I want to learn if this is an option parents have heard or used and what difference it made or whether this would be an approach they and their children would consider supporting their schooling experience.
My hope is to raise the awareness of the ‘Circles of friends’ approach and to provide some stories of individuals how have used this approach in there school years and beyond.
E-mail: raymond.brennan@enable.org.uk