In community

Friends

Advocates and 

Christian Partners

Christian fellowship, social inclusion, advocacy, opportunities for people with additional needs, their families and communities within the Forest of Dean and beyond.

What's Happening

Shalom Groups

Meeting Together

We Get-Together to connect in person, building relationships and exploring the the Christian Faith in a safe and accessible environment.  We value everyones thoughts and contributions. Everyone is welcome.

Meeting Online

The Covid 19 pandemic is well and truly in the past, thankfully. However, we learned some great lessons and picked up the skills that enable us to meet online and gather in fellowship without having to manage the logistics of meeting in person. 

 

Meeting Together

We have developed bespoke sessions for people whose additional needs are compounded by having no, or limited speech capability during which we spend time helping them to communicate and share their potential. We should all be heard.

Meeting Online

The Covid 19 pandemic is well and truly in the past, thankfully. However, we learned some great lessons and picked up the skills that enable us to meet online and gather in fellowship without having to manage the logistics of meeting in person. 

 

Call to Action

Young lady drumming as part of a communal music session. Great fun.
Join us in shedding light through our creative group activities.
Showing words from the Lord's prayer showing an understanding of their power and meaning.
Why not come and join to share a little love, help create special moments in a caring community.
Young lady drumming as part of a communal music session. Great fun.
Join us in shedding light thrhrough our creative group activities.
Showing words from the Lord's prayer showing an understanding of their power and meaning.
Why not come and join to share a little love, help create special moments in a caring community.

Projects & Programmes

Learn more here about 

Giving Voice 

How we have developed bespoke sessions for people whose additional needs are compounded by having no, or limited speech capability. 

You can click here to learn a lot more about our giving voice programme.

Learn more here about  our

Digital Inclusion Programme

that helps those who struggle with the digital agenda, the pace at which it changes and the demands it makes. Ongoing programmes with other organisations such as the Camphill Village Trust create content and deliver coaching sessions helping  those with additional needs to safely benefit through online facilities.

Learn more here about  our

Voice for All Project

This is a new initiative that will amplify stories and insights from individuals with additional needs, promoting understanding and inclusion.

Call to Action

We have many kind friends and supporters, but there is always more need
You may be able to increase the value of your donation through Giftaid

Our Values

Our brave new digital world can be daunting. We use our love of learning and ideas, helping it to be a better experience for those with additional needs. It’s not great if you get the feeling that the rest of the world is moving on and you’re still stuck with no one to help.  

Our Values – INCLUSIVITY

Our Values – ENABLEMENT

We all have our limitations, but with help and guidance not only can we live with them, we can learn to thrive. Through initiatives like our ‘Strong Minds’ programme we introduce practices that grow life skills enabling us all to be healthier in mind, body and spirit overcoming obstacles that hold us back from realising potential.

Our Values – EMPOWERMENT

It’s easy, based on common myth and perceptions, for  self belief and confidence to be eroded, particularly where someone has differing needs and characteristics. Our approach is to actively challenge the  paradigms that often feed a self limiting mindset.

Our Values – SELF ADVOCACY

Self-advocacy for individuals with additional needs and learning disabilities is key to empowering them to take control of their lives and actively participate in decisions that affect them. We  encourage involvement in community activities and decision-making processes fostering a sense of independence and belonging. Moreover, raising public awareness.

It takes time to build trust and for people to feel safe and wanted, particularly if they are from a group that is often marginalised. We take as much time and put in as much effort as we have to in making sure that people feel they are truly a part of our fellowship.

 Our Values – INTEGRATION

And here are two ladies playing the keyboard together as part of the joyous ensemble.

Our Partners

We are grateful for the generosity of these organisations, the funding and other support that they provide. Some of our content uses, by kind permission, the Open Dyslexic typeface.