February 2010
Who
are the Maldon Pioneers?
The ‘Pioneers’ are people with a mild to moderate learning disability
who are either living at home with parents or independently in their own accommodation.
We offer our members a
varied program of all year round social activities. These include:-
Our 'Thursday Group' which is a weekly daytime activity session.
Usually 3 evening outing such as bowing, pub meal, disco, shows etc.
An important part of the service we provide is providing transport by minibus or car in order to get Pioneers to the event. We have a dedicated team of caring volunteer helpers, drivers who give up valuable time to come out with us on the outings and events.
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Why are they called
‘Pioneers’?
When the name was first used it was to signify that they were
doing activities that were new to them - in fact, pioneering into new territory.
The name is as applicable today as it was in the 1980’s.
How do people join
the Pioneers?
Most have come through the Social Services. A typical Pioneer
is someone who has gone through a special school or perhaps a special needs
group in a comprehensive school and who, on leaving full-time education, finds
that he/she is unable to get a normal job and finds making friends and having
a social life difficult. Some have lived with an elderly parent who has died,
leaving them alone at an age when it is difficult to adapt to a major change
in life.
What is the Maldon
Pioneers Association?
The Association was formed in the early days to assist the
Social Services and the Education Departments by raising money and accepting
grants to fund the activities which the professionals ran with the help of
volunteers. The provision of a mini-bus and other transport has always been
a major cost for the association. The Social Services stopped supporting the
Pioneers’ activities by withdrawing staff in 1993, and stopping a substantial
annual grant two years later. The activities at the Friary, the local Adult
Education College, which had been on two days each week over longer terms
than at present, have been reduced .
Because of the reduction of support from the statutory agencies the Association
committee has had to take over all the organisation of the social activities
and, for many years, find all the voluntary helpers to run them.
What do the Pioneers
do?
Many activities have been used over the years, but the aim
is to enable the Pioneers to gain social skills – by participating in
‘normal’ situations where they can learn skills through being with
their friends and in coping with new and sometimes bewildering experiences.
Throughout the year they go on outings to places of interest, to the cinema,
to a pub, to play bowls, to local shows, etc. The Association runs a weekly
social/education group during college terms.
In May there is a one week holiday at an Holiday Camp and during the college’s
summer vacation seven weekly outings are arranged at a time when most other
activities have closed down.
The Pioneers do not normally have a segregated meeting place or fixed base,
but use community facilities at times when other members of the public are
using them.
How many Pioneers are
there?
We have about 45 Pioneers who participate in the activities.
Outings are usually attended by 20-30 Pioneers and 26 Pioneers are going on
the annual holiday in July 2009. On some outings we have to hire an additional
mini-bus to cater for the numbers.
How are the Pioneers’
Activities funded?
Our policy is that on all activities the Pioneers pay for their
own entrance fees and refreshments and in addition make a contribution towards
the cost of transport. Each year the Association raises about £1500
through fund raising and receives about £1600 in donations from local
charities and individuals. No money has been received from statutory sources
during the past several years.
What are the long-term
benefits to the individual Pioneer?
The Pioneers find a peer group where they can make friends
who accept them as equals and where we have seen difficult behaviour modified
by acceptance and group pressure. Well over half the Pioneers live independently
of a main carer and our activities provide a basis for a social life. Many
meet up outside the organised activities and are able to arrange to meet locally
at each other’s homes or in local pubs. From personal experience I know
that my own 38 year old son has a much fuller life because of the Maldon Pioneers.
Do the parents of the
Pioneers benefit?
Where a Pioneer is living at home the regular outings provide
a welcome break for some parents. The week’s holiday has enabled about
7 parents to go way by themselves. For one Pioneer it was the only time that
he would go away from home without his parents. Another parent said that they
were at their wits’ end what to do with their daughter before she started
with the Pioneers, but that now life at home is much easier
Registered Charity No. 295993
CHAIRMAN
Mr. Stanley Dean,
2, Burrswood Place,
Heybridge Basin,
Maldon, Essex,
CM9 4UQ.
a 01621 856661
SECRETARY
Mrs. Dorothy Dean,
2, Burrswood Place,
Heybridge Basin,
Maldon, Essex,
CM9 4UQ.
a 01621 856661
TREASURER
TBC
EVENTS
ORGANISER
Tony Morrell
75 Heywood Way
Heybridge,
Maldon,
Essex
CM9 4BH
a 01621 854803
If you
would like to write anything
to be included on this
Maldon Pioneers Page
please email it to me
ASAP for att: Tony Morrell to
hope4all@live.co.uk
Pioneer's
Nov 2009 - NEWS LETTER
Maldon
Pioneers Association
‘Sweat Shirts’ & ‘Tee-Shirts’
These are now available in a wide range of colours at the following prices:
| Standard round-necked tee-shirt | £4.75 |
| Ladies' shaped polo-shirts | £7.50 |
| Standard polo-shirts | £7.50 |
| Standard sweatshirts (round neck) | £9.35 |
| Ladies' shaped tee-shirts | £4.75 |
If you
are interested,
please ask Dot for an order form.
01621856661