Personalised Support

IBK services are developed on the premise that we are all experts in our own lives and that any support we need works best when it is tailored to our individual needs and personality. All our personalised support services have been developed as the result of requests from disabled people and their families. Over the years we have developed personalised support for education, leisure and employment. We are always open to exploring the possibility of new developments. Please speak with us about your ideas!

Befriending

Befriending is a service IBK offers in Sheffield. The service is commissioned by Sheffield City Council and open to young people up to the age of 18 for a set period of time. Social workers will make the decision to provide befriending support in consultation with the young person and their family. Typically, a befriender might work with a young person for around two to seven hours a week. Support is usually offered over a period of around 6-12 months.

A befriender is a bit like a Personal Assistant. He or she is somebody who works with a young person to help achieve a specific outcome: for example, making friends outside school. A befriender might introduce the young person to new activities, hobbies and people – always at the young person’s own pace and in collaboration with existing support (such as family, teachers, social services or another agency).

IBK finds and matches befrienders who have similar interests and hobbies as the young person looking for support. The befriender will often act as a role model and a buddy.

​For more information about Befriending in Sheffield or about becoming a Befriender, please get in touch.

Feedback

“Being a PA/Befriender is the most rewarding and interesting job I’ve ever done. All of the families and young people I work with are so lovely and provide a great opportunity to learn new skills and develop.”

Giving Feedback

If you would like to give us feedback, we would love to hear from you. We want to give you the best support we can. So please do let us know what works well, and what we could change to make things better. To do this, please get in touch.

 

Two men looking at a computer

Education

IBK has worked in conjunction with young people, families & Sheffield City Council for more than 5 years to offer bespoke education programmes for children and young people who struggle with formal education, be it mainstream or special. We work with a child/young person and their family to find ways to re-build trust and to help make learning relevant and attractive again. We are not a registered education provider, but work with young people who are disenchanted with the education system to help them gain confidence in themselves and their ability to learn. Through this relational approach, we have helped children and young people re-engage with formal education; gain qualifications (we are an accredited centre with National Open College Network); do work experience; set up micro enterprises; & find new interests and passions. We currently offer personalised support to young people as they transition from one education setting to another or for home to school/college/university.

​For more information about our education programmes please get in touch.

Feedback

“Thanks to you, you’ve been so good and supportive over the years. We all have a future now and we are very grateful to you all, you truly are ‘the good guys'”.

 

“Thank you, I am so grateful, there are no words…”

“IBK has been the crucial stepping stone to getting my education where it needed to be. Everything is so flexible and relaxed; I don’t feel any of the pressures I struggled with due to my health in mainstream education. My tutor has been really flexible with timings, frequency and pace of sessions. This has allowed me to excel, and the staff and tutors are incredibly patient, friendly and understanding.

My confidence has come on hugely since working with IBK. My anxiety around one-to-one contact, meeting new people and general educational studies has greatly decreased. I’ve achieved everything we set out to accomplish and more; from qualifications and modules to starting my own businesses and living independently.

IBK has changed my future by giving me the confidence and space to grow as a person. It has opened up countless opportunities for me career-wise with the support of my tutors and put me in the best position possible to live my life fully. I wouldn’t be where I am today without the help of IBK.”

For more about Emily and her work, please see: Sheffield Fine Art Photographer | Emily Burkett Photography

Giving Feedback

If you would like to give us feedback, we would love to hear from you. We want to give you the best support we can. So please do let us know what works well, and what we could change to make things better. To do this, please get in touch.

Policies

Please click on the links below to look at policies relevant to the support we offer.

Accessible Information Statement Jan 22

Complaints & Compliments Policy

Data protection updated Jan 22

For information on the full range of our policies, please get in touch.

IBK is a recognised provider with Sheffield City Council

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