Our Bakewell and District Fund joined forces with our Hall Family Fund to ensure this new group could blossom during it’s first year running.
Starlight offers a social club for young adults and adults with learning difficulties. Set up by local parents who wanted to ensure access to social connections, and fun activities in their rural area.
“Having enough money for the first year’s running costs has meant that we could grow the group at a natural pace through marketing and word of mouth. The funds allowed us to fill a gap in services for adults with learning difficulties/additional needs.” – Toni, Applicant
“This group has meant that me and my husband can have time to ourselves. This has never been possible up until now”.
“I love Starlight. I meet my friends to dance”
“R is my best friend (they met at Starlight). If I get married, I’m going to ask him to be my best man. He asked me to be his guest at his school reunion. I really enjoyed myself”.
Starlight has given young adults and adults with additional needs somewhere safe, fun and inclusive to go. It has fostered wonderful friendships meaning many of the members now have ‘friends’ they can call their own. Many of these friends now meet together outside of the club, enriching their lives and experiences – the power of these connections cannot be underestimated.
The group’s success over the year has highlighted how there was a real need for such a space. It has brought a group of volunteers together who share a passion for care and parents and families are benefitting from regular, suitable respite.
The volunteers are keen to build on the number of members and volunteers through targeted advertising and promotion, as well as looking into the possibility of transport to widen the potential catchment area – appreciating others in surrounding areas may be feeling isolated but unable to access Starlight due to distance.
“The applications aren’t complicated to complete and we like the feedback/suggestions on how to improve our bid ” – Starlight Club
