Our Impact in Action

“Impact in Action” at Me2 Club highlights the real, positive changes we bring to children, families, and communities. From one-on-one support to inclusive activities, our programs empower children to build friendships, confidence, and skills. This section shares our stories, successes, and measurable outcomes that reflect our mission in action.

97%

of Parents said their child’s confidence increased

91%

of children felt their volunteer was good at supporting them

91%

of children said that going to their activity made them feel happy

3,100+

Hours of respite for families each year

Meet Charlotte & Rose

Charlotte is 11 years old and has Prader Willi Syndrome, which means that she finds it difficult to understand complex tasks at Guides. She can also find the environment overstimulating, particularly if it is too loud. She is friendly and outgoing but struggles to maintain friendships and can get quite upset if she is feeling left out. At her previous school she was on a reduced timetable, meaning that she spent a lot of time at home with her Mum, isolating her further and putting more pressure on her Mum.

Charlotte’s main goal was to be able to interact with her peers more whilst at Guides, so it was important to understand the triggers, which cause her to become overwhelmed and put reasonable adjustments in place to support her. Rose is fantastic at doing this, she was a Guide when she was younger, so she understands the structure of the group, which helps with explaining the games and activities. She has a calm, friendly and approachable demeanour which is compatible with Charlotte. They immediately formed a fantastic bond.

Having Rose at Guides with Charlotte has made a huge difference, she is now able to tell Rose if she is starting to feel overwhelmed, she can choose something from her special pink folder to help her to regulate and re- join when she is ready. Rose explains the activities in a way that she understands, which means she is able to earn badges and most importantly she has made friends, including one young person who she is especially close with.

Voices of Impact

In a survey, we asked our families what they though about Me2 Club, here’s what they said:

“When our son was first supported by a Me2 volunteer at Cubs/Scouts we found the respite of an hour or so hugely beneficial. Over the years we have met lots of other parents and become good friends with many of them. Me2 Club feels like an extended family.”

“J would not be able to attend his swimming lessons if he did not have his helper in the pool. He looks forward to swimming every Monday and is always keen to get changed ready to go after school. His swimming coach and Me2 helper understand him well and have worked so so hard with him over the last 15 months. He is showing signs of being more independent and really trying hard. J’s older brothers swim too and it’s important for us as a family that J is offered the same opportunities in life as they have.”

“It’s allowed us to have a much better relationship. Rather than dreading activities, and being on edge (which A naturally picks up on), we can be excited to find out what has happened, and be proud of what he’s achieved.”

“As a parent it has simply reassured me that there is a place for my kids where they can interact happily and not be bullied or ostracised or seen as ‘different’. It is so important – impossible to overstate the importance of this for their mental health and quality of life”

“It’s very easy to take the Me2 Club for granted. Now my daughter has accessed the Me2 for nearly 10 years it’s hard to remember life before. Going to Guides with a Me2 helper has allowed M to attend a main stream activity that if she hasn’t had the support she wouldn’t have been able to.”

“Just giving me hope they can develop a life independent of us in the future and hopefully made lifelong friends from among the other kids who participate. In that respect the Me2 Club lifts a weight of worry off my shoulders and allows me to live in hope that the kids will be able to life a connected, full life whatever they decide to do. It gives them a firm foundation within which to flourish and gain in confidence and self esteem.”

Impact in the Community Reading Pride 2024

This year, Me2 Club had the incredible opportunity to be part of the Reading Pride Festival, where we celebrated diversity and inclusion with the community. We asked visitors, “What does inclusion mean to you?” and gathered a range of inspiring responses that reflect the importance of creating spaces where everyone feels welcome and valued. Here are some of the thoughts shared by our community: