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FRIENDSHIP SCHEME

The scheme is a youth club provision for young people aged 13-25 with disabilities.

Trips and activities are offered during some of the school holidays. The scheme is open to young people with any type of disability and enables parents/carers to have some regular short break hours. The scheme offers regular activities such as pool, table tennis and arts and crafts as well as an organised programme of additional activities. This scheme is part funded through the Luton VCS Breaks Consortium, with funding provided by London Luton Airport Ltd.

I started Chums friendship scheme in October 2013, which was owned by the council back then, I was referred to it by a friend. When I first went along, there were one on Mondays at Challney Girls and Fridays at Lea Manor.

On my very first night I was nervous, but really enjoyed it. As time went on youth club got better, as many more of my close friends joined and the fact that we go on lots of trips now. My favourite trip so far has been Whipsnade Zoo and Shrek the musical. Even though we have moved venues twice within the past two years, I am still pleased to be apart of chums friendship scheme, because the venue that we’re now in, which is Kids in action, in Dunstable, is amazing because you have much more space, things to play with, can have a proper disco and can generally do many more things, that you couldn’t do at the old venue.

Over the past five years, through the friendship scheme, I have learnt so much and look forward to more trips and excitement with others, because it will create many more memories, that are still yet to come and I honestly don’t know what I would do without chums.

Sarah