Thoughts and feelings - and independence

(The following represents Nigel Fenner's personal views, rather than those of Hertfordshire PASS.)

Hertfordshire PASS, the charity I manage, has the following aim: 'a user-driven charity using employment to enable disabled people to live independently'. Since I started with PASS the focus has been on creating the context within which user-driven work might flourish, particularly through WorkABILITY, which was established from scratch using Big Lottery funding, at the end of 2006. My role as Manager, in 'creating the context', is described in our current WorkABILITY leaflet as "creating a safe, supportive, yet challenging setting for disabled young people to:

• Identify their aspirations and dreams for the future – in relation to work and employment,
• Explore, share and learn from their own, and others experiences,
• Shape the purpose and agenda of meetings, events, projects and PASS itself,
• Understand the wider context in which PASS is operating, to appreciate the constraints and opportunities available,
• Monitor the work of PASS, its staff and other resources to ensure PASS’s aim is being met,
• Work or volunteer for PASS, and
• Take up positions of leadership and authority in leading PASS forward."

Whilst we have attended to all of these, the two areas requiring most attention have been the focus on experiences, and shaping the purpose of meetings, events etc. I think we're very good at doing this, but we need to get better at it.

I had a hunch the other day that it might be something to do with 'thoughts and feelings'. In my experience our 3 apprentices ( - all disabled young people employed to drive WorkABILITY) are able to share relevant experiences but not so good at reflecting on these in terms of what they 'think or feel' about them. Maybe it's a bit simplistic but if you can't 'think and feel' for yourself, it's probably because of the dependency you have on others ( - such as parents) to do this for you, particularly so for disabled young people.

So over the next few months I'm going to focus on 'thoughts and feelings' in our apprentices and the disabled young people they work with, to see whether it develops not just greater independence, but PASS's ability to be user-driven.