- Description
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The Friends and Places Together over 25s service was launched in September 2022 after identifying a significant need for friendship groups among older individuals with special educational needs.
As many had grown older and left social services, any access to support had decreased or been lost and as a result people had become isolated. Most felt they had the desire and need to make friends but couldn't find the space to do so. We launched our group to meet this need.
Our group meets once a month to do a range of activities, all decided in consultation with what our service users would like to do.
- Telephone
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07956 602570
- Email address
- Website
- Address
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Unit 13 and 14, Victoria Shopping Centre, 362 Chartwell Square, Southend-on-Sea, Essex, SS2 5SP
- Map
- Venue notes
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We have a venue located in the Victoria Shopping Centre. We have two units split into our kitchen/main lounge area and our games room. We regularly use the kitchen for cooking and have a TV with multiple games consoles and streaming services to watch films and TV. In our games room, we have a pool/snooker table, dart board, basketball hoop and arts and craft area. Our clients can choose to spend their support time entirely in the centre or drop in after being out in the community.
We also open our centre to other services to share our space, building strong links in our community and offering help wherever we can. As well as everyday support, we hold regular activities (e.g. film nights) and fundraising events to bring together friendship groups.
At our venue we also have our central office that our CEO, coordinator and admin staff work from and are able to meet new referrals, social workers etc.
- Date and time
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Once a month (varied days and times dependent on the activity planned)
- Is a referral required?
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Yes
- Referral notes
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Anyone can make a referral be that self-referral, social services or colleges.
Please click this link to fill out an online referral form: Friends and Places Together Referral Form (office.com)
Alternatively, please visit https://friendsandplacestogether.org.uk/contact-us/ to download a Word document version of the form and email the form to denise@friendsandplacestogether.org.uk
- Age range
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For those aged 25 and over
- Offering services to;
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We support anyone who struggles with social isolation and wants to make friends. We primarily support those with ASD and learning disabilities, but a diagnosis is not needed for support. Anyone who struggles with their mental health is welcome as well.
**Friends and Places Together cannot administer personal care or medication**
- Other;
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Please head to https://friendsandplacestogether.org.uk/over-25s/ to read more information about our over 25s service.
