COMMUNITY INCLUSION & LISTENING AND SPEAKING

DAY 1 – Kilkenny & Dublin FRIENDSHIP FORUM TEA / COFFEE BREAK WHO IS THIS PERSON? MEETING SOMEONE FOR THE FIRST TIME RESPONSIBILITIES AROUND DEVELOPING FRIENDSHIPS QUESTIONS FOR TEAM LEADERS QUESTIONS FOR TEAM PARTNERS BARRIES TO COMMUNITY INCLUSION

If you met me for the first time, would I be your FRIEND? Do you know me?

Meeting someone for the first time What kind of things would you talk about? What do you look for in a friend?

RESPONSIBILITY WHEN MAKING A NEW FRIEND

MY RESPONSIBILITY HOW OFTEN PROMISES LONG TERM GOALS MAKING THE EFFORT COMMUNICATING MY FUTURE PLANS

FRIENDS / FAMILY ACQUAINTANCES PROFESSIONALS

YOU IDENTIFIED THESE ELEMENTS TO MAKE A COMMUNITY People BelongingGroups Common InterestsInteracting Culture Education Religion Community Centre Spirit Acceptance Social & Recreational Amenities Public Transport Equality Work Local Heroes Opportunities Clubs Supports Associations Professional Businesses Volunteering Relationships Participation People BelongingGroups Common InterestsInteracting Culture Education Religion Community Centre Spirit Acceptance Social & Recreational Amenities Public Transport Equality Work Local Heroes Opportunities Clubs Supports Associations Professional Businesses Volunteering Relationships Participation

2 Separate Groups TEAM LEADERS TEAM PARTNERS

Team Leaders felt Hard to make new friends….. Bad experiences from past ….. Skills needed might not be there…. Fear around rejection…. Might need support from team partner…. Other life experiences have had an impact on confidence to form new relationships… Don’t want to put anyone under pressure… Enjoyed the Friendship Day…. Found parts of the friendship day sad, emotional and hard…. Great to be asked about my life…. Most Team Leaders would LIKE TO MAKE NEW FRIENDS. Feelings of happiness, delight and gladness if a current friend would visit, phone call and/or gift exchange.

Team Partners felt Good to see what experiences of friendships is / was.….. Skills needed might not be there…. Sad to see lack of reciprocal friendships…. Team leader may need support around relationships/friendships…. Different views around what friendship is… Found parts of the friendship day sad, emotional and hard…. Hard for some team leaders to name a friend and not a staff member or family member… Forward meeting with team leader (in some circumstances) could have worked better than doing activity for first time in the group due to change of information / mind…. Noted that almost all team leaders would LIKE TO MAKE NEW FRIENDS and would be HAPPY, DELIGHTED AND FEEL GOOD if current friendships involved a visit, a phone call and/or gift.

FEEDBACK FROM TEAM PARTNERS & TEAM LEADERS TEAM PARTNERS & TEAM LEADERS both felt there would be: CHALLENGES BARRIERS SUPPORT COMMUNICATION around forming new friendships/relationships..

THANK YOU and SEE YOU IN 2 WEEKS!