YOUNG people and their families have highlighted the need for a club specially for teenagers with learning difficulties and disabilities.
They wanted a club in the borough where teenagers can meet together, have fun and develop confidence and independence.
Charity, Me2 Club, has responded by organising a new monthly club for teenagers with additional needs.
Members should be aged 13 to 19 years and live in Wokingham or Reading..
The group will be able to choose and plan activities with the help of the charity’s experienced staff.
Me2 Club is an inclusion charity for children and young people with additional needs and disabilities in the Reading and Wokingham boroughs.
With the help of buddies, it enables children to access mainstream activities.
Participation officer at Me2 Club, Ramona Bridgeman says: “Once young people with additional needs get to around 13 years old, however, there are fewer mainstream activities available for them.
“I experienced this with my own daughter – it just becomes more difficult to find suitable things to do.
“And by that age, young people want to start spending more time with other youngsters with additional needs, anyway, rather than with mainstream groups.”
Earlier this year, Me2 Club invited three teens to come into their office to talk with the team.
The teenagers told the CEO and the staff that they would like more activities for their age group.
They also said that they would be happy to plan, and fund-raise, and that they were keen to lead.
“It’s exciting because this new club will enable us to meet young people that wouldn’t have come to Me2 Club previously,” explains Ramona.
“A number of teenagers with additional needs have almost no activities to go to.
“Some of them are not in schooling either.
“We hope that this new club will make a real difference.”
The first session will take place in Woodley, when the club will meet for a takeaway, and to plan their first activity together.
Me2 Club staff, Ramona and Louise, will be supporting the group.
They will be joined by volunteers from Reading business, KPMG, based at Forbury Road.
“We really appreciate our volunteers, and we couldn’t do this without them,” Ramona says.
Possible acitivities on the wish list include a Christmas disco, a boating trip, and some conservation work.
“Whatever they choose, it will come from them.
“This is their decision, and their activity,” says Ramona.
The group’s planning meeting is at Addington School, Woodley, on Wednesday, October 19.
They will meet monthly thereafter.
To find out more about Me2 Club and the new group for teens, visit: me2club.org.uk or email: ramona@me2club.org.uk
