Options for Supported Living is a local organisation that supports, empowers and enables people with disabilities to live their lives to the full.
The dedicated team support children and adults with learning disabilities, autism and acquired brain injury right across Merseyside.
This year, Options for Supported Living is one of our four National Student Survey charities and for every survey entered, we donate £1. We recently caught up with Options for Supported Living to find out how your donations are being used to contribute towards their befriending service.
Gemma and Irene
Gemma has volunteered with Options for a number of years, providing support for Irene.
She started volunteering to gain experience of working with vulnerable people and learn more about disabilities.
Before Gemma supported Irene through befriending, Irene couldn’t read or write. Gemma has supported Irene in her learning, encouraging her to open and read mail and attend an English course every week. Not only has this helped Irene learn to read and write, it has allowed her to meet new people.
Gemma has also spent time encouraging Irene to try new things so that boredom doesn’t creep in, which breaks the week up for her.
Through her work with Irene, Gemma has discovered a real enjoyment in support work, and has recently increased her hours with Irene to two days a week, which has boosted her knowledge and experience of working with vulnerable people even further.
Donate to Options for Supported Living
If you are an undergraduate in your final year and would like to donate to our four National Student Survey Charities, including Options for Supported Living, simply fill out the survey form on our webpage before entering the survey.
The four charities – which are the Liverpool Guild’s Key Charities for this year – are: Papyrus, Mencap Liverpool, Options for Supported Living, and The Whitechapel Centre.