Meet the team behind KEEN Buddies

Lucy Didcock, Project Leader

As project leader of the KEEN Buddies team, I have overseen an exciting new movement for inclusion in Oxfordshire. The role has given me the opportunity to make a difference to my local community, develop my communication and leadership skills and better understand the workings of a charity.

My two-key roles within the committee:

1) Team lead involves heading weekly and monthly meetings, coordinating team goals, liaising regularly with the outreach and staff team, and coordinating team attendance at training sessions.

2) Participant outreach involves generating emails to councils, community services, GP surgeries, schools, Facebook groups and charities. I then respond to any replies or enquiries. The overall aim is to increase participant sign-ups by informing organisations of the scheme.

What we’ve been up to:

To begin with the outreach team targeted central Oxford services and Universities in October. We then moved onto community outreach in November and December, targeting specific towns such as Bicester, Abingdon, Witney, and Didcot.

In the New Year we will be continuing to promote the scheme, increase our reach and attain further sign ups. It is so important to generate as many buddy pairings as possible to reduce social isolation among young disabled people in Oxfordshire. Eventually we aim to go national!

As the social model of disability states - people are disabled by barriers and attitudes in society, not only by their impairment. Therefore, these attitudes need altering and barriers lifted, to ensure genuine inclusion of all. KEEN Buddies Oxford is just the start!

Why I love being a part of the committee:

1) There has been high quality support and supervision from Katie

2) The role suits my interests and has helped to develop my skill base

3) The events team run regular socials e.g., a Quiz and Just Dance Zoom, which has been great to get involved in and have a laugh!

4) It is lovely to be surrounded by likeminded people, working towards a shared goal!

Access to wider volunteering activities

KEEN Oxford, in partnership with Yellow Submarine and Oxford Mencap, wrapped, packed, and hit the roads of Oxfordshire to deliver presents to 250 members this Christmas. I was part of the team that packaged and wrapped the gifts.

It was lovely to put a smile on the members faces this Christmas especially during a time of adversity.