Page 56 - MDS final deliverable

5. TAILORED ACTIVITIES TO ACCELERATE SOCIAL ENGAGEMENT
Various online and offline activities to accommodate participants’ differing interests and capability levels
THE SOLUTION
MDS can offer a whole host of different activities that participants can pick and choose based on their differing interests and individual capability levels. Some of these activities are already offered by MDS for NDIS funded participants – there is an opportunity to expand this to non-NDIS funded participants by charging a fee for service. MDS can also leverage social media – activities can be recorded onto and shared via social media, which will increase brand awareness of MDS and help continue the socialising past opening hours.
Example activities include:
• Sporting groups, hobby groups, speed dating
• Parents social group: To bring like-minded families together to share experiences (morning tea, coffee, etc.)
• Participants social group: Bring like-minded participants together to create a safe and comfortable environment to share, socialise and make friends
• Peer mentor or ‘buddy’ program, where younger or newer participants get paired up with older or more experienced participants who have similar disabilities
Resources required: 1x activity coordinator, fee-for-service business model | Existing resources: Existing MDS social programs
A variety of social groups Create brand awareness and activities
WHY IT WILL WORK
Build relationships
Develop social skills
Gain confidence
Support each other
• There is a desire for the participants to ‘break out’ of their comfort zone or isolation and be more confident and socialise. Most participants may have faced isolation their whole lives and therefore are keen to have more face time with people, coffee outings and social gatherings. Overall, there is a desire to ”break out from their shell”.
• Participants are generally keen to reciprocate the support they have received from MDS by helping others who share in their experiences.
• MDS has an opportunity to showcase case studies and stories online to increase brand awareness.