Music Matters

Living a healthy lifestyle is an integral part of quality of life. Life skills such as healthy eating, exercise, and personal hygiene, can make the individual feel better, look better and enhance long-term health and quality of life.

Personal Hygiene is the first step in taking care of yourself, and personal appearance can often help boost confidence in social situations. In fact, looking and smelling good will help nurture a sense of personal pride, 

Daily habits such as showering, brushing teeth, using deodorant and perfume/aftershave, getting dressed and combing hair, may seem simple, but can significantly improve personal hygiene and confidence.

It’s easy to forget. But keeping up with one’s personal hygiene helps build self-confidence and self-reliability. It also makes people more approachable and essential to making new friends and gaining new opportunities.

Sexuality is a normal part of life. We’re all human, and experience feelings and desires that drive us toward sexual activity.

However, with sexual activity comes responsibility. The responsibility to treat others with respect and the responsibility to understand and practice sexual health.

Adults with disabilities, just like anyone else, can have rewarding sexual relationships. But in order to do so, they may need some additional support and information.

• Help to understand and believe that anyone can have a fulfilling sex life
• Appreciate that a disability can at times hinder sexual activity, especially if it is physical
• Discuss with the individual about what is appropriate, and what isn’t when it comes to sexual activity from a social and legal perspective
• Education on the potential implications of sexual activity, such as pregnancy, Sexually Transmitted Diseases (STDs), consent and emotional trauma.
• To signpost any information and advice that may be needed.

Relationships come in all shapes and forms - from friends, family, support workers, carers, and intimate partners – the skills required to develop meaningful relationships are diverse and challenging.

But without developing the skills to nurture and sustain these relationships, life can be lonely. So, taking the time to invest in the life skills required to build meaningful relationships is a worthwhile pursuit.

LIFE SKILLS will offer the opportunity to discuss issues around relationships, feelings and emotions, the responsibilities in relationships and friendships, and boundaries.

Relationships all begin with social interactions. The first impression we make can often be a lasting one, and it’s a sad reality that many people, whether we like it or not, have pre-formed biases towards many minority groups in society

Longer-term, education is key to changing attitudes.

However, to effectively engage in social interactions with confidence, there are some basic skills that can help in this development of social interactions.

• Support in understanding the concept of personal space and what’s acceptable, or not acceptable in a social situation.
• To practice common courtesy such as opening the door for someone else, giving up your seat on the bus, or waiting in line in queues behind others.

Learning the skills associated with effective communication can be a lifetime journey for any adult Concepts of communication can be anything from understanding the power of showing interest in others and asking questions, or actively listening to what someone has to say. It can also be about acknowledging what someone else says or responding to a question.

LIFE SKILLS support the individual in learning the skills associated with effective communication.

Making friends and developing friendships is important, but in order to do so, we may need to acquire the core values of being a friend.

The skill of making friends comes down to respecting others feelings, finding common interests and maintaining contact when they are not around. 

Communication skill development and behavioural support are offered to help each individual form important relationships with friends, family, and other people. 

individuals will have the opportunity to make new friends in the sessions as well as at our organised activities and social events.

LIFE SKILLS will help to encourage and support the individual on a journey of personal development and growth.

Healthy living is the starting point for the fun things that can come from day-to-day life. Because in the end that’s what we are all striving for; a happy and fulfilling lifestyle.

When we are healthy, it enables us to make the most of other activities such as shopping, household chores and community hobbies.

It is useful to be aware of our lifestyles, and how we could enhance our lives by making choices by talking to others.

LIFE SKILLS will support individuals in making positive informed choices in their lives, to support the individual to take more responsibility in staying healthy, taking up new hobbies, getting involved in the community, building relationships, and starting to work, either paid or voluntary or attend college placements – all these things contribute to a meaningful lifestyle for any adult.

In our group sessions, developing LIFE SKILLS isn’t just about a more independent lifestyle. It’s also about having more fun and enjoying the day-to-day social opportunities that come along.

LIFE SKILLS offers support and discussion around how to maintain a healthy diet and the benefits of healthy eating.

From a physical perspective, eating healthy foods creates more energy, helps maintain a healthy weight and prevents the increased risk of illness or disease later in life.

Exercising daily can start with something as simple as a walk to the shops, or a few arm raises.  We can discuss appropriate exercises for each individual’s ability, taking little steps in working towards a healthier lifestyle. These small steps can boost energy levels and over time will improve body image, strength, and wellbeing.

Shopping is a great way to interact in the community, improve communication and social skills, as well as learn important life skills such as money handling.

And supporting the individual in growing their independence and self-confidence.

In group sessions we will have a discussion around shopping and how the group members can incorporate shopping in their allocated support time.

Activities such as washing, ironing, cleaning, or gardening may be the type of life skills the individual can start to build around their home and environment.

Much like all the other skills mentioned, the real benefit they will get from working on these skills is the confidence that they can learn new things. This confidence will be invaluable when they seek to approach other areas of development.

Group members will have an opportunity in how they can incorporate household activities into their everyday lives and be supported to do this with their family members, carers, support worker or keyworker.

Sport can be a great way to develop friends, communication skills and stay fit and healthy. Hobbies are a huge part of a fulfilled lifestyle and something any adult should partake in. We will talk about different hobbies, sports and interest groups that are out there, and give the individual the opportunity to think about what they are passionate about and encourage them to do more of it and how to gain access appropriate any hobbies or interests.

LIFE SKILLS Offer discussion around what type of hobbies the individual enjoys doing. Have they considered playing sport?

Many of us like to spend time in our local communities. Whether we’re shopping, playing sport, or just going for a walk, participating in the community shapes the way we live our life.

The more someone interacts and engages with the local community in ways, this can help develop skills and confidence, like taking the plunge and striking up a conversation with someone, or doing something you wouldn’t usually do, the easier it becomes.

Using public transport is a great opportunity to interact with people and boost someone’s skill set and confidence. Some may feel nervous or feel uncomfortable initially but talking about how we feel regarding using public transport can be helpful and enabling the individual in building confidence and self-esteem around this issue.  Group members will have an opportunity to practice using public transport on trips out into the community on group outings with staff members and can also be incorporated in their support sessions.

LIFE SKILLS will offer the opportunity for group members to practice these skills.

With increased independence comes a greater need for awareness. 

Life Skills will offer individuals a better understanding of these situations, and how to keep ourselves safe whilst out in the community.  The goal is to help individuals to reach a competency level at which they can interact in everyday situations more independently.  In our group sessions, there will be discussions around road safety and group members will be able to put this into practice when accessing the community with support or independently.

Routines can be comforting for some of us, but they’re also important to learn to navigate daily life in our society. Day centres, grocery stores, public transport– all have routines and specific hours of operation. In order to increase confidence and become more independent, we must learn to operate within these parameters, which is why telling the time is such an important life skill.

The more you understand how to count money and understand the value of money, the more independent you can be. Not only will we need these skills to purchase items that we need and want, but we also have to be careful that people aren’t taking advantage of us, for example: by giving us back less change than we are owed during a transaction, also lending money to people, and understanding if this is appropriate and safe.

LIFE SKILLS will offer the chance for individuals to talk about money, learn the value of money and keep ourselves safe with regards to our finances.