Motto Unlocking Potential Founder Carl Poll Area served United Kingdom | Founded 1990 Focus Vulnerable adults | |
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Location KeyRing National Office, 27 Corsham Street, London, N1 6DR, UK | ||
KeyRing (also known as KeyRing Living Support Networks) is a charity based in The United Kingdom. Their main focus is to support vulnerable adults to live independently. This is done by assisting their integration into a community as well as teaching them skills (i.e. financing, being healthy, staying safe, etc.) that promote self-support. KeyRing is now supporting over 870 people in 100 Networks across the UK.
Contents
History
Carl Poll was the founder and Chief Executive of KeyRing Living Support Networks.
Carl's experiences led him to meet many people with learning difficulties who wanted their own place to live - with support when they wanted it and not when they didn't.
Carl set up his first KeyRing Network in Wandsworth, London in 1990. In 1996 KeyRing became a registered Charity and Company Ltd by Guarantee. KeyRing grew rapidly and now has Networks all over Britain covering 40 separate authorities throughout England and Wales.
KeyRing's initial focus was on adults with Learning Disabilities, since 2006, membership has been gradually extended to other client groups.
Structure
A KeyRing Living Support Network typically consists of nine service users known as Members and one Community Living Volunteer.
Through the supportive housing system Members live in their own home and receive assistance from the Community Living Volunteer and other Members.
KeyRing volunteers assist Members for up to 12 hours a week; "the support varies: it can mean helping Members with letters and bills or meeting them for tea... They encourage Members to help each other and involve themselves in the community, and enable quick access to specialist help."(Harris, Carol)
Achievements
KeyRing has won awards for their involvement in projects for vulnerable adults across England. These projects are intended to benefit KeyRing Members and their local communities as well as spreading awareness of the organisation and demonstrating that vulnerable adults are capable of living with a degree of independence.
These projects include:
Awareness Training for Prison Officers and Staff
KeyRing together with the Skillnet Group were commissioned by the Valuing People Support Team; part of the Department of Health’s Care Service Improvement Partnership, to jointly develop and deliver a training package for Prison Officers and staff in Young Offenders Institutions to raise awareness of the needs and issues of prisoners with Learning Disabilities.
In Control
KeyRing was involved in ‘In Control’ pilots in Oldham. As a result of the pilot, KeyRing opened 13 new Networks in Oldham. KeyRing developed a Personal Budget contract in collaboration with Oldham MBC supporting the Members' understanding of the process.
Investors in People
KeyRing achieved the Award of Investors in People in 2008. In 2011 KeyRing was given the IiP Silver Award.
Investors in Diversity
KeyRing achieved the Investors in Diversity Award in January 2010.