Making your Circle work for you! 12 th May 2015

Making your Circle work for you! Empowering us as disabled people to manage our budgets and run our companies effectively We use Circles of Support in the home, community and in schools to help young people and adults to progress to fuller and more inclusive lives. A Circle of Support is a very simple idea but one that has far reaching impact and benefits for everyone involved.

Making your Circle work for you! A Circle catalyses creativity, energy and commitment to help the focus person dream, dare and do, to overcome constraints and lead a rich and inclusive life. We believe Circles of Support are the most important tools we use to provide self-sustaining support, emotional and practical support, problem solving and companionship

Points to Consider When building a Circle of Support, the most important thing is trust. Although a Circle of Support is not a formal “team,” it works like a team. Build a network of support that reflects their varied interests and activities.

Understanding the Concept

A little Theory The Circle of Intimacy is made up of those who we share great intimacy, our secrets, and heartfelt emotions. These are people or perhaps animals or objects that are so dear to us that their absence would impact us greatly. The Circle of Friendship is made up of those people who are friends or relatives who we call upon to go out to dinner, see a movie, but are not those who we consider our most dear friends or those we must see regularly.

A little Theory The Circle of Participation is the groups or organisations to which we belong, it is where we participate and interact with people. The Circle of Exchange is made up of people who are paid to be in our lives.

Principles underpinning circles of support? Purpose: Circles are drawn together by a common purpose and by motivations that are unique to each individual involved. People: People come to the circle to help build the life of the person and the strength of the community around them. Vision: Circles create a shared vision of the future based on what’s learned about what is important to the person and who the person is. They find ways to move toward this vision.

Principles underpinning circles of support? Capacity: Circles speak the language of capacity. They seek out their own capacities, the person’s strengths and gifts, and the resources of the community and find ways to appreciate, value and use these gifts to the full.

Principles underpinning circles of support? Inclusion: Circles call to the values that lie deepest in our hearts and ask us to have the courage to express them. The circle is a space of respect and honesty. We keep working to earn the trust that enables this. Circles are a practical inclusion tool that expands the capacity of society to welcome and support all its members.

Principles underpinning circles of support? Listening: Everyone in the circle must have time to think, time to speak. The circle practices listening mindfully and with respect to create a soothing space where diverse opinions and knowledge can be shared. Thinking: Circles create a thinking environment to think together about possibilities.

Principles underpinning circles of support? Learning: The circle has a radical openness to learning; a preparedness to change anything and everything based on what is discovered during their interaction with the person. Power: The circle is founded with the aim of establishing ‘power with’ rather than ‘power over’. An understanding of power and a sharing of roles and responsibilities helps us generate ‘power to’ and ‘power within’, both in the circle and in the person at it’s focus.

Principles underpinning circles of support? Action: The work of the circle leads to actions. Circle members honour the commitments they make to the person and each other during their time in the circle.

Look to people in your community. Travel to meetings, it is much more convenient if Circle members are loosely based in the same locality. You are more likely to increase your participation in the community if you make contacts within the community. Circle members are likely to be more helpful if they have knowledge and understanding of local issues and opportunities.

Useful Skills Accounting/payroll Human Resources Governance/people who have previously sat on Boards Facilitator Life coach

Compatibility Make sure that you get along with the people you identify as Circle members. You need to be able to discuss your life goals with this person, as well as how you run your service so choose someone you like and who you see yourself building a relationship of trust with. A mixture of personalities (and experience) can be a good thing - but remember balance is key.

Do you need to make changes? Is your circle of support meeting your current support requirements? If not what changes do you need to make? How will these changes assist you to achieve your goals?