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26
Aug
Knaresborough’s Craft & Social reflects on 20 years of working with SEND adults
It’s 11am on a Tuesday, and Craft & Social’s art class is thriving; one group is making a paper mâché octopus as part of an ongoing project, and another is creating leaf prints.
There’s a messy, joyful atmosphere, with plenty of smiles and light-hearted banter flying about the classroom – and according to managing director David Hill, it perfectly encapsulates what his company strives to deliver.
He said:
It’s fantastic to see everyone enjoying themselves by getting creative and socialising with each another.
That’s what we’re about, providing the resources and the environment that allows the people we work with to have fun and develop new skills along the way.
Located on Hilton Lane, Craft & Social is a North Yorkshire Council approved provider of day services and community support for adults with special education needs and disabilities (SEND).
Last month marked an important milestone for the organisation; 20 years in operation, offering activities, enrichment sessions and group trips to SEND adults across North Yorkshire.
A 'bizarre' beginning
It was something of an inauspicious start to Craft & Social; a joiner by trade, David was sent to a job at a group home that looked after adults with learning difficulties.
During his time working at the home, he met several of the residents, who took an interest in what he was doing, and were keen to get involved and help out.
From that experience, David and Gareth McKenzie, Craft & Social’s other managing director set up a small joinery workshop on Westmoreland Street in Harrogate, running workshops for SEND adults.
After 10 years, they decided they wanted to expand their services, and set up The Gift People, Craft & Social’s former name. It now employs seven full-time members of staff, assisted by five volunteers.
Joking that his unconventional entry into the industry was ‘bizarre’, David explained:
It certainly wasn’t a job that I’d imagined doing – I was a joiner by trade. It was a learning curve, but it was really rewarding, and I absolutely love it. Luckily it worked out, and we’ve never looked back.
The first day we opened was quite scary – Gareth and I just looked at each other and said ‘I hope this works’. It was a big risk, but we’d built up a good reputation and rapport with the council.
Some of the adults that use Craft & Social's services
'It’s not just about building skills for employability'
The majority of the adults that attend Craft & Social are able to do so through North Yorkshire Council’s direct payments, which is a personal budget given to those who are eligible, to pay for social care and support.
There is a broad range of additional needs and disabilities amongst the students, from those who can be more independent, to others who require much more support.
This sliding scale is something that David feels is important when understanding the Craft & Social’s services – a sole focus on employable skills is not always suitable for every student, and he believes fulfilling the social side of life is fundamental to overall wellbeing.
It’s not just about building skills for employability – there is definitely a place for that, but for some, it’s not realistic that they will have a job. That’s why we put a huge emphasis on socialising and getting out into the community.
A lot of our students live with elderly parents, who need respite - plus many of our students want to make friends outside their family. So we can help by giving parents some time back, and letting students to mingle with each other and form friendships.
Alongside their regular art and music sessions, Craft & Social also organise days out, walking groups, jobs volunteering in the community and even international trips.
One of the trips that is still talked about fondly by the team is the trip to the London Paralympic Games in 2012. David said:
People were viewing disabilities in a positive way and celebrating the athletes for their achievements. There were many disabled people in attendance too, and it was a privilege to be part of it - the atmosphere was amazing.
'I want people to know we exist and can offer support'
As an accredited private company, David acknowledges they’ve not faced the same issues with unfunded, overstretched services as public organisations.
However, they’re not immune to the consequences of the current SEND crisis in schools – which the Stray Ferret has previously reported on – as some students who join Craft & Social as adults have endured years of struggle to get support and aid.
David said:
Some people are almost unknown in the system and have never had any support. That was the case for one young lady, but she’s flourishing now, and she’s just about to move into her own flat.
Our students can stay with us indefinitely – it used to only be time-based, but there was nowhere for them to move onto. That need is always going to be there, especially as people get older, they’ll rely on that support even more.
We have one chap that I’ve worked with for five days a week, for 30 years. He was 17 when I first met him – I’ve spent more time with him than I have with my wife!
One of Craft & Social's walking groups
Over the past two decades, David has noticed a shift in society’s treatment of individuals with special educational needs and disabilities, a positive trend which he hopes will continue.
Alongside other local services, such as Horticap and Henshaws, both of whom he praises, he hopes that Craft & Social can help further break down any stigma and provide support to enrich the lives of the adults and families they work with.
He added:
Our students seem to break down those barriers themselves, when they’re out in the community. We’re lucky really, to do what we do.
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