Level 2 BCPP Project - Making A Change (MAC)
Bringing 10 young people together, with their parents, for an interactive project with their Pharmacist proved an excellent way to tackle many of the issues facing young people with autism. Young people with Autism and other disabilities are often isolated and lonely and many have had very difficult experiences in school and in their local communities with bullying and rejection being very common experiences.
“Making a Change” (MAC) works with young people on the autistic spectrum, their siblings, carers and family unit. They organise physical and educational programmes, provide advice, guidance and practical support to help these individuals develop their skills, communication and social interaction.
For their BCPP project they partnered with Gemma McCartan from McCartan's Pharmacy in Newry. They held 20 sessions – 10 sessions led by the Pharmacist and 10 co-facilitated with the Pharmacist and an outside partner. They decided to have one core group to allow for time for group members to get to know each other. The formation of trust between the Pharmacist, the participants and the other partners was key to delivering on some of the more sensitive topics of the programme.
Workshops areas covered throughout the project included personal care and hygiene, changing body and sex, healthy eating and cooking, the need for exercise and its benefits, money and budgeting and First Aid.
Cara McShane, Project Co-ordinator said, "Our Pharmacist has been fantastic and was very much central to the project. We had a great working relationship and the young people have accepted and responded to her. The most positive aspects of the project were the relationships that were formed between the young people, the pharmacist, the volunteers and the other partners. The whole programme was so much fun and there was lots of laughter. Feedback from the young people and their parents has been very positive and they loved coming to take part in the programme."