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Click Connecting people and sparking friendships

Organisation

Click is an online community providing activities for adults with learning disabilities and autistic adults. Our mission is to connect and support people. We use group video chat to deliver activities which help reduce isolation, spark friendships and encourage new skills.

Watch the short film introducing Click

What is the innovation

As far as we are aware, we are the only full virtual coproduced service offering a programme of 25 different activities each week. Our service focuses on high quality sessions and building support outside of our sessions too. We are under the umbrella of Windward Day Services which provides in person support via 4 Day Opportunities in the south west to around 180 people. This means that we hold all of the policies and procedures that would be expected from a day opportunities service and fall under the support of a business that has 20 years of experience supporting adults with a learning disability.

What is the problem this innovation solves?

Isolation, loneliness and wellbeing. We know that people who are autistic or have a learning disability have less opportunities for social interaction and can feel isolated. By using online platforms, Click removes the barriers which someone may face when trying to access these types of activities within the community including lack of funding, support or transport. We give people a voice, connection and a place where they will be welcomed, celebrated and supported through the highs and lows of life!

Solution

Creating a reliable programme of activities that provides connection and enhances skills. We have a structured timetable of stimulating and meaningful interactive sessions including exercise, art, music, quizzes and Makaton. Our service is proud to be coproduced with our community members and providing the opportunity for each member to be seen heard and celebrated for who they are and we embrace what they contribute to our programme.

Evidence base

Creating a reliable programme of activities that provides connection and enhances skills. We have a structured timetable of stimulating and meaningful interactive sessions including exercise, art, music, quizzes and Makaton. Our service is proud to be coproduced with our community members and providing the opportunity for each member to be seen heard and celebrated for who they are and we embrace what they contribute to our programme.

Expected impact

We believe the impact of people knowing about a service like Click could be significant for those who are isolated or in need of meaningful activity adding into their weekly schedules with the cost to benefit ratio being very good. We are a part of people’s circles of care so are in a position to be able to check in with them regularly and flag up any issues or concerns as they arise. Our sessions have seen an improvement on people’s communication, IT and social skills as well as their self-esteem and confidence.

We have also employed two members of the community with lived experience who are now also paid staff members and help to run and create Click sessions. We would like to expand this into future opportunities for people to have the opportunity of paid work through an organisation like ours.

Stage/spread

We have most of our members joining from Dorset and Hampshire but also have reached people from Birmingham, Brighton, Newcastle and even the Isle of Skye! The biggest scope for us is that Click can be accessed from anywhere as it is a virtual offer and is easily scalable to meet demand of participants should there be a need to do so. We would always operate a maximum capacity in each group depending on the activity to ensure that they remain person centred and interactive. With the use of breakout rooms and more skilled staff members, we would be able to accommodate more numbers within a session.

What would councils/health organisations/local areas need to do or have in place to enable it to develop?

Willingness to endorse Click despite it not being a local offer, but to be seen as local to anyone in any location as it is virtual. There needs to be a change within councils to look outside of their area for virtual services to enable more virtual services to develop so people can have a choice of services and activities they would like to attend.

What would kill it?

Doing the opposite of the above answer to question 8! We recognise the need for someone to have access to the internet and a device to ensure they can join Click sessions and so this is something we would be willing to help with if we could partner up with another organisation.

Where to get more information