Michael is a South London artist. One of his support workers is also interested in art and worked with him to create and experiment with different media. She’s retiring soon and wanted to connect Michael with someone who shares his passion.
The Furzedown Project is a vibrant hub, run largely by people giving their time to each other to improve their local community and help people be better connected. They offer groups based on shared interests or wellbeing, along with day trips.
They said that they always need cakes and refreshments for people who come to their groups, would appreciate people joining in and spreading the word about events like their Spring Fayre and film showings. They talked about some of their members, specifically a local artist interested in sharing time with someone locally. Michael and his team have completed the paperwork to join the project and have signed up for a number of groups. Michael doesn’t use a lot of words but was more than able to communicate his excitement at the idea of his art work being shown more widely.
So reflecting on what Michael and his team have learned together that might be relevant to support staff everywhere. Perhaps, if he could, Michael might say that:
Getting the help I need to create art to put up on my own wall at home is good support. Helping me to use my interest in art to connect and contribute to my local community is ambitious support.
A key part of MacIntyre’s Everyone Everywhere initiative is spotting things that are happening locally, often things that you find when you walk around a neighbourhood or spend time intentionally (that word again) looking. Both Michael and the Furzedown are doing great things but neither had heard of the other. By making a connection a small splash was created that is starting to generate ripples. Ripples with the potential to make a huge difference for everyone involved and the wider community.
