Greatfield Friends and Families

Greatfield Friends and Families is a project that St Stephen’s Neighbourhood Centre (“the Charity”) has now facilitated for 7 years.  The aim of the project is to help adults with learning disabilities and their families, who live within the surrounding areas of the Greatfield Estate within East Hull, to be part of the local community and to enable them to organise new activities for themselves.

The group (adults with learning disabilities, families and carers) is supported by a part-time participation worker, they meet regularly to discuss, plan and organise a programme of outings and activities and to support members to take part in local community activities.

Our project is greatly needed as it contributes to the development of social inclusion for our group and it provides them with the opportunity to get together, make new friends, and give each other the support they need, plus being able to share relevant information and experiences.

This project allows our group to move away from a segregated ‘behind closed doors’ social community social services approach to being sited within the community with access to a local community centre and a participation worker who actively encourages them to become involved in local social activities and outings such as day trips to Bridlington, Scarborough and York Christmas market, to attending pantomime on ice at Hull Ice Rink, and holding an annual garden party for members and friends. Some of the group’s members together with our participation worker are regularly invited to attend and contribute to discussions with local community social services on matters which may affect their well-being.

Our project tackles neglected causes and helps the most vulnerable and disadvantaged within the local community not to feel isolated.  Many people perceive a stigma attached to the group’s well-being.

• The results of our work are sometimes not immediately obvious to members of the community or to the public at large.  However we continue to strive to achieve our aims which are:
• To promote social awareness of people with learning disabilities and their integration into activities within the local community
• To initiate active communiction with community care services that will enable the group to feel confident about contacting them regarding their future health and social care needs.
• To  expand our project and programme of activities to include a younger adult age group starting at 25 years onwards.

If you are a Carer or are cared for and would like to be part of our group, please contact Sally Bond on 01482 781223 or email her on This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it