- Description
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We offer the chance for young adults to meet with friends outside of the school/college environment and help develop the social skills that can build confidence and self-esteem.
Our focus is on small friendship groups (typically 2 to 4 young people) who will always be supported by a member(s) of staff. This group size allows for a better quality of friendship to develop. Typically, our support shifts last between 2 and 4 hours depending on availability and budgets.
We are not a day centre. We offer a flexible and individualised program to meet the needs of each person we support.
We work from Monday to Sunday. Our support time usually ranges usually from 10am to 10pm but this can be longer depending on certain activities. We always work with what you want to/can do.
Some service users access our support multiple times a week at various times, and some access the service once a week at a set time. We are incredibly flexible but urge consistency to allow the bonds of friendship sufficient time to grow.
- Telephone
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07796 678939
- 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 2 units in the Victoria Shopping Centre split into a kitchen/main lounge area and a games room.
We regularly use the kitchen for cooking and have a TV with games consoles and streaming services to watch films and TV.
Our games room has a pool/snooker table, dart board, basketball hoop and arts and craft area. Clients can choose to spend their support time entirely in the centre or drop in after being out in the community.
In addition to everyday support, we hold regular activities (e.g. film nights) and fundraising events to bring together friendship groups.
We also open our centre to other services, building strong links in our community and offering help wherever we can. Our venue also has a central office that staff work from and are able to meet new referrals, social workers etc.
- Date and time
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Monday to Sunday (varied times)
- Cost description
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Hourly staffing rate for over 18's Direct Payment: £16.85
Hourly staffing rate for over 18's self-funding: £8.00
This covers staffing costs only. Expenses for food, transport and activities are an additional cost charged separately. Staffing costs for self-funding and Direct Payment (DP) clients will be invoiced each month.
(A Direct Payment (DP) is funding from your local authority, to help you pay for the cost of the services you want to access. The DP Rate changes yearly.)
- Referral notes
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Anyone can make a referral; social services, schools/colleges or self referrals.
Please complete our online referral form: Friends and Places Together Referral Form (office.com)
Alternatively, please visit https://friendsandplacestogether.org.uk/contact-us/ to download a Word version of the form and email it to us.
- Age range
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Age 18 plus
- Supporting people with;
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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 also welcome.
*Friends and Places Together cannot administer personal care or medication**
