At Voyage Care, we’re always looking for new ways to encourage the people we support to live fulfilled lives, whether that’s making new friends, trying new hobbies, or stepping out of their comfort zone to build their confidence!
We caught up with Alison Murray, Service Manager at Broadview, to hear all about a fantastic initiative bringing autistic people together – The Monday Night Club! It’s a monthly social event that’s helping the people we support grow in confidence, make new friends, and have lots of fun along the way.
The Monday Night Club is a brilliant example of how small ideas can lead to big changes – one friendship at a time.
Alison Murray, Service Manager
Here’s what Alison had to say…
What is The Monday Night Club?
The Monday Night Club is a monthly social meeting for all the people we support across our services in the Southwest. We hire a local community hall and everyone comes together for a fun evening of activities, games and socialising.
Each person receives a membership card which gets stamped each time they attend. On their tenth visit, we surprise them with a little treat to celebrate!
How did the idea come about?
It all started during a conversation between myself, Team Leader, Michael Evill, and Jess Cavell, Senior Support Worker. We were discussing how great it would be to have a regular social night for the people we support – something they could look forward to and enjoy as a group. We spoke to the people we support here at Broadview, and they loved the idea. From there, we just ran with the idea and made it happen!
How has it benefitted the people we support?
It’s been really well received! The people we support love it. We’ve seen a big boost in confidence and communication. Some individuals who were once quite shy are now chatting, laughing and not shying away from getting involved.
The club has also helped people build friendships outside of their own homes, which is so important. It gives them a chance to socialise in a relaxed, safe environment and be themselves.
We couldn’t have asked for a better reaction, that’s what it’s all about!
Has the club made a positive impact?
It really has had a positive impact! With new friendships formed at the club, some people have started organising their own social meetups. These can be at their homes, or out in the community.
Our team support the people we support to arrange and attend these meetups. This is lovely to see and shows the positive impact the club has made on social interaction, confidence and building a sense of community between services.
What advice would you give to others looking to organise a similar group?
My advice is just go for it! Start by finding a suitable environment that’s easy to get to. Think about the cost, but most importantly, ask the people you support what they want. That’s how we built our club, and it’s made all the difference.
When we started organising Monday Night Club, we made sure to gather information about everyone’s needs and wishes – from the types of activities they’d enjoy, to any dietary requirements or allergies, so we could keep everyone safe.
Finding an accessible venue in a central location was key, making sure it had the right facilities – like disabled access and accessible toilets. The activities have come directly from ideas shared by the people we support, and we now run a variety of fun evenings like arts and crafts, disco nights, bingo, and keep fit. It’s important that our team are also fully on board, with enough support and transport available to help make each session happen.
We want people to know clubs like ours don’t take a huge amount of effort to set up. It’s all about a little bit of dedication and planning.
Alison Murray, Service Manager
Has the club led to any other group events?
The success of the Monday Night Club has led to our first group holiday! As the people we support have formed meaningful relationships with each other, we thought a holiday would be the perfect idea for them.
We asked everyone if they would like to go, and they couldn’t contain their excitement!
We worked closely with everyone to learn what kind of holiday they wanted. Following this, we booked a few lodges that were close together. This enabled us to support each other if needed.
We went to Hayling Island, which is a small island just off the South East coast of England, for four days. The weather was amazing and there was lots of laughter, fun and bonding. It was a real highlight for everyone, and we’ve already started planning next year’s trip!
Before we went, we asked who would be interested in going and what kinds of things they’d like to do. With so many people we support, all with different needs, it was really important to make sure we had the right accommodation – including fully accessible lodges for both staff and the people we support.
We enjoyed lots of group activities like visiting the Donkey Sanctuary, the funfair and arcades, swimming, relaxing in the hot tubs, and a classic fish and chip supper. There was also plenty of time for people to head off and do their own thing if they wanted to. The whole experience was fantastic! Friendships were made, new activities were discovered, and memories were shared. We can’t wait to do it all again next year!
What does this all mean for the people you support?
The Monday Night Club has had such a positive impact. What started as something to encourage people to get to know each other more has gone way beyond that.
We’re seeing people grow in confidence, form real friendships, and get involved in new activities. Whether it’s the Monday Night Club or going on holiday, it’s all about giving autistic people the chance to connect and thrive in their own way.
I’m just so proud of everyone involved. It’s been wonderful to see how much the people we support have enjoyed it and how far they’ve come. We can’t wait to keep building on what we’ve started!
Find specialist support near you!
At Voyage Care, we’re committed to supporting autistic people to live full and meaningful lives. The Monday Night Club is a brilliant example of how small ideas can lead to big changes.
To find out more about our specialist autism support and how we can help you, a client, or a loved one, fill out our quick form and a member of the team will get back to you.
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