A hope and a dream of Bek’s, from a long time ago, was to sky dive. Last year it became a reality with the help of Beth, a Circle of Support friend.
“I was petrified at first but it was amazing! Beth and I plan to do it again, every two years.”
A Circle of Support can provide support for parents who have done the “looking out for” their loved one alone. When parents are no longer able to fill these roles, there will be people who will safeguard, retain knowledge of the person, their history, ambitions and lifestyle choices.
Megan, her mum, her Circle facilitator and Circle friends attended a workshop about valued roles. Here they are writing down the roles Megan has already and how they can support her to build on those roles.
Read another example of future planning with a Circle of Support
A teenager spending school holidays with friends, outdoors and on bikes, experiencing freedom and risk taking.
Circle of Support facilitators ask what do you like to do, and who in your circle likes doing that too. They think about where and when those things typically happen. These are natural, unpaid friendships, happening in natural places, at natural times.
“On houseboat holidays we had bonfires at night with music playing and Heather and I would be up belly dancing. Heather helped me to be free and in the moment.”
Heather’s Circle friend Katrina had the privilege of delivering Heather’s eulogy at her funeral. She shared how they first met 25 years earlier when Katrina was a support worker, and that it was once she stepped away from that role that they could truly be friends, freely given.
Watch this 4 minute video about the importance of freely given relationships and how a Circle of Support can strengthen those relationships. https://youtu.be/-aQRY1c4Xos
