We’re seeking Volunteers for Freedom2Choose Activity Programme.
Volunteers required to provide one-to-one support to young people with additional needs to participate fully in our Freedom2Choose Activity Programme every Saturday from 1.30 pm - 4.30 pm.
The annual Freedom2Choose Christmas shopping trip took place on Saturday 30 November with a visit to Abbey Centre, Belfast from 10.30 am.
Young people got everything on their shopping list and finished with a tasty lunch.
Day 2 of Autonomie Summer Activity Week 2019 took place on Tuesday 6 August, with a host of fun, practical learning activities. Find out more.
On Saturday 19 January Freedom2Choose programme young people all ‘Made our Mark’ on canvas; the name for this art work was voted on by the young people who named it - ‘Hands Together’ which is now proudly displayed at Lilac House!
Are you an Amazon shopper? Did you know that when you shop using AmazonSmile, a percentage of everything you spend online - will be donated to us without costing you a penny? Find out how you can support us today.
We raised a total of £2332.83 as part of Team Autonomie’s Belfast City Marathon Fundraising efforts which is just amazing!
Massive thank you to everyone that donated and thank you to the fantastic Relay Team Nicole Hammond, Hannah Glasgow, Peter Quinn, Stephen Cockcroft and Emma Cockcroft for their hard work and dedication.
Big shout out to all Team Marathon Young People and the Relay Team cheer squad who supported the team at the event!
Due to reasons beyond our control, we regret we have to cancel Family Voice Hub’s Yoga and Mindfulness event on Thursday 21st of October 2021.
We apologise for any disappointment caused.
We understand how important it is for our parent carers to access opportunities to support their wellbeing and are delighted to announce that due to popular demand Family Voice Hub is hosting a 6-week programme starting Thursday 11th of November 2021 at 7.30pm and facilitated by Orla.
For further details please contact Sharon Quinn our Family Voice Hub Co-Ordinator by email at sharon.autonomie@gmail.com
On Sunday 3 October the Autonomie relay team tied their laces to take on the 39th Deep RiverRock Belfast City Marathon Relay Team challenge for Autonomie.
Thanking the relay team on their achievements on Sunday Lynne Morrison said: “Heartfelt thanks to Nicole, Hannah, Peter, Stephen and Emma for pounding the Belfast streets and fundraising for Autonomie.
Ms Morrison added: “I am so proud of the team today, the running team, the marathon team including all the young people who helped make this happen, volunteers and staff, families and all those who supported the team’s fantastic challenge and fundraising efforts.
“I’m so proud of each and every one of them, thank you”.
We are delighted to announce we are shortlisted in Best ‘Not for Profit’ Sector Project of the Year category in Belfast Telegraph IT Awards.
Lynne Morrison, Chief Officer Autonomie said:
“I’m extremely proud of our wonderful team and seamless transition to digital services delivery in response to the Covid-19 pandemic.
“Ensuring our vulnerable disabled Young People with allied additional needs and families raising a child or young person with additional needs could access and continue to access vital practical and emotional support digitally at a time of immense challenge and uncertainty was so important.
“This announcement is a welcome boost to the team, young people and all of the Autonomie community, and we are look forward to the awards gala event next month”.
View Belfast Telegraph IT Awards shortlist here:
Sharon and Family Voice Hub team are delighted to celebrate Parents Weeks and the important role our parents/carers play in our Young Peoples lives.
This week sea are offering Autonomie Very Important Parents access to lots of complimentary social and self-care events to give you (parent carers) a much needed boost as the days get shorter.
Join in and meet other parents and enjoy some you time!
Tuesday 19th Oct at 10am -Tea-Tastic Tuesday virtual Coffee Morning courtesy of Zoom
If you or someone you know is raising a child or young person with physical disabilities and allied additional needs, this weekly coffee morning is a great way to ease the realities of caring for a child/young adult with additional needs.
A great way to meet and chat with like-minded parents, share tips and enjoy some light-hearted chat over a cuppa.
To find out more and to join in, please email Sharon Quinn at sharon.autonomie@gmail.com
Thursday 21st Oct at 7:30pm – Yoga and Mindfulness courtesy of Zoom
Autonomie Very Important Parents raising a child or young person with additional needs you deserve a treat, so join in for some serious self-care and social time.
This Mindfulness session will be made up of a 40-minute Yoga Session emphasising on the benefits of yoga postures, breath work and relaxation techniques, followed by a 20 minute Mindfulness Session.
It can be easy to rush through life without stopping to notice much and the past few i 18 months have been difficult for carers.
Mindfulness helps you pay more attention to the present moment, to your own thoughts and feelings, and to the world around you.
These sessions will be delivered in an atmosphere of relaxed learning.
Yoga/Mindefulness teacher Orla McKeagney is a psychotherapist and a young people's counsellor.
With over 24 years of yoga experience, Orla currently teaches yoga classes in Namaste Yoga Centre in Belfast.
To find out more and to secure your place, please email Sharon Quinn, Family Voice Hub Co-Ordinator at sharon.autonomie@gmail.com
Saturday 23rd Oct at 12 noon – ‘Saturday Saunter’.
With this beautiful Autumnal weather, who needs an excuse for a walk!
Join Family Voice Hub’s Sharon Saturday 23rd Oct at 12 noon for the hub’s Saturday Saunter walking club.
The perfect opportunity for a stroll (or power walk) around Lisburn City when our Very Important Young People are at Lisburn Bowl aiming for a Strike.
Autonomie Very Important Parents what are you waiting for, grab your gutties and go.
A great way for a bit of exercise and a catch up.
To find out more and to register your interest please email Sharon at Sharon.autonomie@gmail.com
Drop-In Service
The hub helps parents raising a child with additional needs a listening ear and access to the right information and especially during this period of challenge for families.
To find out more and to register your interest please email Sharon at Sharon.autonomie@gmail.com
This service is confidential and offers practical and emotional support to help you and your family thrive.
It’s Parenting Week and an opportunity to acknowledge and thank parent carers who do such a fantastic job supporting their children and young people with complex additional needs.
Lynne Morrison, Chief Officer Autonomie said:
“We fully understand that parenting over the past 18 months has been hugely challenging for parent carers.
“Heartfelt thank you for all you have done and continue to do as a parent carer to protect, carer and empower your child or young person.”
Another fun-packed week at SAIL Lisburn this week with young people welcoming a special visitor.
Ann from Tesco Lisburn store joined SAIL programme young people on Tuesday 12th of October delivering a wonderful food hamper courtesy of the store.
Filled with all the ingredients to make young people’s favourite dish Chicken Supreme.
SAIL Youth Development Officer, Nicole Hammond explains more:
“Young people demonstrated how well they have came along with their independent living skills. On Tuesday this week, young people had a special visitor called Ann from the Lisburn Tesco store. Tesco kindly donated the ingredients to cook up a delicious Chicken Supreme dish. A popular meal among the group.
“While the young people got prepared to cook by taking it in turn to wash their hands, they got into groups and worked well together - with staff only guiding some of the young people throughout the cooking.”
Thanking Ann and Tesco, Lynne Morrison, Chief Officer Autonomie said: “It was absolutely fantastic to receive the hamper from Tesco.
“The continued success of the SAIL programme is due to many community partners that engage and support the pilot project, supporters like Tesco.
“I would like to thank Ann and the team for their fantastic support”.
“Weekends are so much fun at Freedom2Choose.”
That’s what the young people that take part in Freedom2Choose programme have to say and with lots of exciting group-based activities coming up this season, there is something for everyone!
From Spooktacular Halloween-themed arts and crafts and sensory clay making to bowling at Lisburn Bowl, Christmas activities and even a festive Family Day for everyone to join in the fun.
Spaces available and suitable for young people aged 16-30 years old with additional needs.
To register your interest or to find out more about Freedom2Choose, please email autonomieorg@gmail.com
Alternatively, call us on 02895918051
Delivered as part of Autonomie’s 3-year pilot project SAIL, Freedom2Choose offers 16-30 year olds with additional needs access to fun and engaging social and recreation activities on Saturdays and right now sessions are back to being delivered face to face which offers many benefits for vulnerable young people.
On Saturday 9 October 2021, Freedom2Choose Young People got a chance to take part in a group-based Autumn inspired arts & crafts session with Tessie.
As part of this session young people created an autumn bowl using tissue paper which they bled the previous week.
Young People then got a chance to cook up a storm with a cookery activity with Bethany after a well deserved snack and natural peer-interaction with one another.
During cookery with Bethany young people made their very own Spooktacular Candy Apples.
A great session and fun was had by all involved.
On Saturday 25th of September 2021 Group A Freedom2Choose Young People enjoyed a creative arts and crafts activity with facilitator Tessie.
Tessie explains more:
“We started the session with the usual check in. Everyone was really looking forward to arts and crafts.
“The first activity was making a door hanging owl. We used various materials and a glue gun to create an owl sitting on an autumnal branch. A lovely autumn activity.
“The second activity was bleeding tissue paper that will dry and we will use in a later session to make an autumn bowl.
“We had a snack inbetween the 2 activities and some more group discussion, everyone was looking forward to their weekend plans.”
