PIP - Pursuing Independent Paths

Mission

PIP's mission is to extend independence and choice to adults with learning disabilities and mental health issues. Our founding principles are to encourage and empower people with disabilities to reach their full potential. All of PIP's activities focus on promoting choice, participation and independence.

Programs

PIP offers a flexible and dynamic range of services, including accredited training and education, travel training, independent living skills, social and emotional development, employment skills and work placements, and support into mainstream education. Please see below some examples or our programs: Training and Education PIP delivers accredited educational training courses that focus on independent living skills as well as social and emotional development. Courses include literacy, numeracy, drama, arts & crafts, employment skills, nutrition and healthy eating, and personal and group relationships. One of PIP's most exciting groups is our Theatre Group, which meets weekly and works towards developing two performances in public per year. Using dramatherapy, we work with students to devise original performances based on issues central to their lives as disabled adults. Renting a public theatre for an evening, the group delivers their performance to members of the public and the PIP community. Other programs include: Individual support PIP's provides focused and intensive support for service users with high support needs on an individual basis. Using a person-centred approach, we work with service users to achieve individual goals and develop circles of support. Working with disabled adults who are isolated and access the community the least, we work with students to develop a set of short and medium achievable goals. Examples include supporting students to attend a fitness centre, go to a cafe, and airport, or a farm. This develops confidence, increases community integration, and provides families with respite. Travel Training PIP Travel Training service trains students to undertake individual journeys on public transport. The project instils service users with the necessary skills, confidence and abilities to travel independently within their community. The project delivers a structured programme catered to suit student's needs. Students are provided with intensive support, and progress from being accompanied on their journey to being shadowed by staff from a distance. Eventually the trainee progresses to undertaking the entire journey independently. Tailored package of services PIP's W9 service works with students to produce an individually tailored programme of educational groups, mainstream college classes, community activities, and work placements. Students are supported by a key worker to develop an individual timetable based on their goals. The service acts as a bridge for adults who need to develop or consolidate the necessary skills for adult life. Community Integration PIP supports service users to access community leisure, health, and social resources. We work closely with the network of support around the client. PIP supports the establishment and development of meaningful links and networks within the community. Social and recreational outings and activities As well as educational and vocational support, PIP also offer a range of social and recreational activities, including theatre and musical trips to the West End, football matches, leisure centres and nightclub events.

Current Projects on GlobalGiving

Help Learning Disabled Adults Gain Independence

Personnel Overview

Charlotte Mian - Service Co-ordinator
Charlotte has been at PIP since 2008. Now PIP's Service Coordinator, she is responsible for overseeing all aspects of PIP's operations. She has attended 3 holidays with PIP, and describes the experience as extremely rewarding, as you can see students interact with nature for the first time. Students benefit from having increased social inclusion, independence and social development.

Oliver Vincent - PIP Development Worker
Oliver has been at PIP since October 2010, and his role focuses on health and well being for disabled adults. 2011 was Oliver's first holiday with PIP. "Taking students into the countryside, in a completely new and different environment allows students to understand new responsibilities.Working on a farm enabled them to bond with animals, and the focus on exercise was clearly beneficial."

Alastair Thomas - PIP Development Worker
"I've been at PIP for over a year, and coordinate work and volunteer placements.I have never seen our students act with such maturity and take their new responsibilities so seriously.As it's the first holiday for many students, you might expect emotional and behavioural issues, but it's wonderful to see how everyone responded so positively to the new environment."

Personnel Statistics

,

Founded in 1984
Employees: 0
Volunteers: 0