Community Living Project (CLP) received funding in 2006 to establish Circles of Support after identifying that many people with disability were isolated from social support networks, with no one to “look out” for them.
Circles of Support intentionally invites people to come together and support a person with disability to make decisions about their lives and protect their interests into the future. People in the circle might be friends of family, friends of the individual, people who support the person, or outsiders who have been identified as interested in being involved in the person’s life.
The initial JFM funding for the Circles of Support enabled Community Living Project to facilitate the creation of long-term individual Circles of Support for many people with disability living across the Adelaide metropolitan area. Each Circle of Support is made up of people in freely given relationships, including family members and friends, who come together regularly with the person at the centre of the Circle to help articulate and safeguard their vision for a good life.
Circles of Support was independently evaluated in 2006 and 2009. Key outcomes included:
One example is Jocelyne’s Circle of Support which includes a family member, members of the Church that Jocelyne attends, and previous workers who wanted to remain freely involved in Jocelyne’s life after their paid role ended. The Circle supports Jocelyne to be active in her local community, with her own home, meaningful work, and a busy social life. This has required Circle friends to speak up when things haven’t always gone to plan, and when Jocelyne has had periods of ill health, to ensure that her voice and personal vision always remain central in the decisions which shape her life.
It has also included exciting opportunities for Circle friends to accompany Jocelyne in pursuing the things she loves to do, such as music, festivals and art, and also to travel with Jocelyne on holidays interstate and overseas. Circle friends review their individual roles as members of the Circle, and take on personal responsibility for supporting Jocelyne to maintain one key aspect of her vision.
“For the last 15 years, the Circle has assisted Jocelyne to work towards her vision for an active life in her local community, living in her own home, having meaningful work, and a busy social life with an engaged group of friends.”
Jayne Barrett, Manager – Circles Initiative at Community Living Project Inc
