Working at Me2 Club

Me2 Club main aims are to give young people the opportunity to experience independence by attending a weekly mainstream activity and Me2 Club Weekends Away with the support of a volunteer rather than that of a family member, thereby reducing social isolation and promoting self-confidence and robust mental health. 

Because of their additional needs children and young people are often socially isolated and unable to access opportunities available to their peers. This makes it hard for them to feel confident and independent. They are often bullied because they find it difficult to understand social skills and boundaries or how to make friends. Feelings of being excluded can lead to social isolation which may contribute to a decline in mental health. Twenty Five percent of the children Me2 Club support attend special schools or a separated resource unit and so are in particular need of our support to learn how to access and enjoy mainstream activities.

Me2 Club enables children and young people with additional needs and disabilities, aged 5-19, in the Wokingham Borough, to attend mainstream activity clubs. We do this by recruiting, training and developing volunteers to provide 1:1 (2:1 when required) support to the young people at an activity of their choice, from uniformed groups such as Cubs and Brownies, to gymnastics, youth groups or swimming. Me2 Club trained volunteers support young people by encouraging them to be independent, participating in the activities alongside them and adapting activities to ensure they can take part.

We are a small and dynamic team working with families, professionals and Activity Leaders promoting 'Inclusion for All'. 

Me2 Club has a small team of highly skilled and experienced staff who are based in an office in Woodley. The AVC role also involves working with families, volunteers and activity leaders throughout the Wokingham Borough. 

Quote from a parent after a residential Weekend Away "My son is struggling with real life and progressively withdrawing into a world that is sometimes hard for me to understand. I watched his AVC come and deliver pre-planning directly with my son and saw with the questions he asked that he was going to be okay this weekend. Whilst his anxieties were so high before heading off he really wanted to go.
When the coach arrived back and watching my son refusing to get out and was one of the last to get off, and not wanting to run home. No mask on when he looked into my eyes said what he says about Me2 Club team “They understand me and I know I can be me with them”