All for one, events for all
A group of dedicated volunteers, all of whom have various
disabilities, meet at Cardiff People First’s offices on a regular
basis to organise and run events that they hope won’t just benefit
them but other people with disabilities all across the area.
One of CPF’s participants, Simon, recently helped organise an
evening at the Moon club in Cardiff. He persuaded local band Oh
Peas! to play a gig after getting to know them through the Gig
Buddies scheme which pairs adults with a learning disability with
volunteers with interests.
Speaking about what he gets from attending CPF meetings, he
says: ‘What it’s about is showing people what we can do and showing
other people with disabilities like ourselves that you can go out,
and you can be safe and have a good time.
People need to understand that having a good life is about more
than what you do in the daytime – a good life is 24/7, there’s no
reason for people with disabilities not to go out in the evening
and be safe at events.’
And aside from exercising the organisational skills necessary to
put on an event, this has allowed Simon to explore his love of
music and DJ at the night as well.
Another participant, Anthony, has severe mobility issues and
uses a wheelchair ‘I feel this gets us out rather than being buried
indoors. It’s so easy to just sit in your house and not want to go
anywhere or meet anyone. Being able to socialise and make new
friends is something everybody needs.
Putting on these events gets us out, and every one of us is
learning new things from everybody at our meetings, and we’re
always advocating for better services for disabled people.’
For other participants, it can be about something as simple, but
also important, as keeping themselves occupied. One says, ‘When I’m
at home in my flat, all I’m doing is watching tv and I get bored so
quickly, and when I’m bored I self-harm.’
The group’s commitment to each other is plain to see as well –
they learn from each other. As Tom, another participant, explains
that he’s going to have to take some time away to have stents
inserted to help his heart, what could be a serious discussion
about his health turns into a teachable moment as others in the
group ask him to explain what stents are (and also get him to show
off about his white belt in Kung Fu).
This is ultimately what brings people back to the group, week
after week. ‘You meet new people; you learn from them and they
learn from you’ says Anthony. ‘I was asked to do a voiceover for a
video called “Changing places” about the Wales Millennium Centre
and being asked to do that was something I never expected, someone
saying I’d be good at speaking. It feels like people really
appreciate my input.’
Zarah, a Project Officer at CPF says ‘it all merges
eventually into what the organisation’s about – getting the public
to notice them as people first, as opposed to someone with a
disability.’ If they get to have a good time while that happens,
well, that’s just a bonus.