Circle of Support/Friends

“A circle of friends is something that many of us take for granted unless we do not have one. A circle of friends provides us with a network of support of family and friends. A circle of friends is available when one needs loving advice, and to provide support when it is needed” ( Perske 1989)

• Circles are about being included
• Circles help people see that everyone has gifts
• Circles help break down barriers
• More people together have a stronger voice
• Circles help people who are excluded get the life they really want
• Circles build community
• Relationships are at the centre.

WHAT IS A CIRCLE OF SUPPORT?

A circle of support, sometimes called a circle of friends, is a group of people who meet together on a regular basis to help somebody accomplish certain personal visions or goals. The individual asks a number of people to work with him or her to overcome obstacles and to help open doors to new experiences and opportunities. The circle acts as a support around the person who for some reason or another is unable to achieve what they want out of life on their own.

The individual is in charge, deciding whom to invite to be in the circle, when and how often to meet, a facilitator is often used to help with this.
Facilitators are people who help to support the circle to meet and to keep it running. A facilitator is essential to an effective circle meeting. The facilitator agrees to conduct the meeting by beginning the activities, keeping a record of the meeting and helping people make commitments to action.

Circle members can be family, friends, neighbours, other community members and service providers, basically anybody that the focus person wants to invite. The majority of people in a circle of support are not paid to be there. Circle members should be involved because they love and/or care enough about the focus person to give their time and energy to supporting and helping the individual to overcome obstacles and increase opportunities open to them.

Circles of support are about seeing people as individuals who feel they need support in order to take more control of their own lives. Circles of support encourage natural relationships to form between individuals. Although the individual’s goals are the heart of everything the circle does all involved in the circle can benefit in various ways.