The Live Life Well-Being Centre in Lisburn have recently celebrated their successful first year of operation. It was set up in 2021 to offer young people with additional needs in the Greater Lisburn area new services better suited to their needs. It was designed with the help of parents, who were able to identify the experiences, requirements and the outcomes they thought would best suit their children.
Director of Services Philip Reain-Adair has been in the learning disability sector for more than 20 years. In that time, he has worked for both the Departments of Health and Education, and been head of the sixth form department at a local special school. During the pandemic, Philip decided to go down a new path, having found throughout his career how difficult it was for school leavers and their families to receive suitable post-19 support.
“The key aspects were to deliver a five-day per week provision, a learning structure similar to the special school environment, door-to-door transport, and the recruitment of highly experienced staff. School Leavers with additional needs presently have very limited options and our aim was to provide more choice for parents to meet their son or daughter’s individual needs, within the Lisburn and Castlereagh Council area.
“This new innovative community-based day opportunities service is based around the following learning themes – education and learning, physical and mental well-being, employability skills, and social and recreational activities. Our vision is for our participants to be active and valued members of the community. They contribute to society by getting involved in a range of community-based programmes.”
Live Life has received significant support not only from the Department of Health, but also from the Greater Lisburn community. The purchase of their first minibus was funded by Dr Terry Cross from the Hinch Distillery. This has been absolutely vital in helping the young people to contribute to their local community.
“Our participants grow fruit and vegetables at our allotments. The produce is used to make food for the homeless at Belfast Welcome Centre, for Lisburn Foodbank and to sell through our Social Enterprise to local buyers. The participants volunteer at Lisburn Foodbank, St. James Community Farm and through our Litter Warriors programme collecting litter in public areas.
“Live Life means an incredible amount to the young people and their families. Our participants thrive on being provided with a structured day/week, consistent highly experienced staff and daily social interactions with peers. A number of participants have formed new friendships with their peers. They arrange to meet up and call each other in the evenings and weekends.”
Live Life celebrated its first anniversary on August 30, 2022. Representatives from the Department of Health, the Education Authority, the Northern Ireland Assembly, the local council and the business community were there to mark the occasion, as well as parents and supporters. DUP leader Sir Jeffrey Donaldson, Education Minister Michelle McIlveen and Lisburn Mayor Scott Carson were all guest speakers on the day. The aim of the event was to update those in attendance on the previous year’s progress as everyone had been there in 2021 for the launch event.
Live Life’s second year is off to a good start with a number of new participants now enrolled. The next few months will also see it expanding further, with the 2023 enrolment list already filling up.
People from all across Northern Ireland have been in touch since the launch last year asking for support and guidance on starting similar organisations in their areas. Two further disability-focused organisations in the Lisburn and Castlereagh City Council area will be launching this month as a result.
Speaking on his involvement over the past year, Philip said:
“On a daily basis I experience the impact this service is making with participants and families. It is a huge privilege to be involved in the delivery of this impact. Our services are not only improving the well-being of our participants but also the well-being of families. As we are able to provide five-day per week placements, parents are able to continue their careers and family life as it had been when their son or daughter was in full-time education.”
Further information is available on the Live Life Well-Being website: https://www.livelifewellbeingcentre.co.uk/