A group in Ballybeen is providing opportunities to adults with learning difficulties to live more independent lives.
Four G Ltd, which is run by Jonathan Walker out of the Ballyoran Community Centre, is currently providing independence opportunities to four adults with learning disabilities in the Dundonald/East Belfast area and is hoping to expand its service in the near future.
Jonathan, who used to work at Tor Bank Special School for 14 years, says that he has taken a career break in order to start Four G Ltd, believing that more could be done to support adults with additional needs once they have left school.
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Speaking to Belfast Live, Jonathan said that the work he is doing is about empowering the adults he works with to be more independent through a variety of different activities such as cooking lessons, exercise and swimming, shopping and even volunteering at a local food bank.
He said: "Four G Ltd is a venture that I have set up in the Dundonald/ East Belfast area that provides independence opportunities for adults with learning disabilities and to become more socially active.
"At the moment I am working with four adult males, although this is not specific and I am hoping to further expand the business in the near future.
"The programme for the week sees us doing a number of different activities where the guys are able to go out and about as a group and have a bit of fun while doing things that will boost their independence.
"On Mondays we usually go swimming followed by a walk in a park around East Belfast, as we focus on exercise and healthy living. Tuesdays will see us go out shopping and plan ahead for the cooking class that we hold on a Wednesday and a number of the guys volunteer at a local food bank in the morning.
"On Friday's we tend to mix things up and do something special, with last Friday being our pamper day where we went out and got our hair cut before going to Sam's Grill to play a bit of pool and even enjoy a pint.
"It is all about encouraging them to do things that they would not normally do on their own so that their confidence is able to grow. A number of the guys using the service may never have gone outside of their house without a family member, but by coming here to Four G, they are able to do that while making friends and learning new skills."
Jonathan said that he is hoping to get more people involved in his service in the coming months and that he plans to introduce new staff that would allow him to cater for women.
He said: "This is still a relatively new venture for me but so far we are already seeing a lot of success.
"I am hoping that in the coming months we will be able to get even more people involved in Four G Ltd."
If you would like more information about Four G Ltd, please visit its Facebook Page.
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