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interview

A creative event at Jigsaw: people with learning disabilities and volunteers can form genuine friendships here through social opportunities
from churches and other organisations There is no prohibition on people members are living on their own and
and at activities, but are put off by having becoming genuine friends: “It’s not like a going home to empty flats.”
to use public transport. service where you don’t give out your Jigsaw runs weekly activities where
Fears of knife crime and other dangers mobile number. The idea is that people people can see friends and take part in
are made worse by witnessing frightening will keep in touch after the group and social activities. It is making it possible for
behaviour on buses, and seeing that bus maybe even see each other.” people to have a real life, says Tilly:
drivers working alone can seem unwilling or Tilly is well aware of the element of risk “Jigsaw has enabled people to have a bit
unable to curb antisocial behaviour. but says “we are small enough to manage of a life outside the worry of not feeling
The group has discussed what makes it”. All volunteers are vetted, have disclosure you can afford the heating or whatever.”
them feel safer. One is keeping your phone and barring checks and cannot do anything The charity has received significant
in a different pocket or bag from your unsupervised until Jigsaw knows them well. lottery funding for development over the
money. Then, even if you do get mugged, As Tilly recognises, this is a bit radical: “In next four years. Tilly’s reaction is: “Phew!
you will still be able to call someone. The most services, you would never let people You can just focus on getting the job done,
important thing, says Tilly, is that it makes come to your house or go to their house. you know, enabling people to have a life.”
people feel safe enough to go out. You would never do anything on your own A four-year award gives Tilly a short break
with them. This just ‘others’ them. It makes from a “great frustration” – forever chasing
Social life, real life people think they are space aliens.” funding. A problem is that short-term
More recently, she has set up a charity Jigsaw prepares volunteers, telling them funding is being used to address long-term
called Jigsaw, which offers outings and that if they give their phone numbers out, problems. “But short-term interventions
other activities, for people with learning they may become “flavour of the month” don’t work,” she says. “People need
disabilities in Sandwell. Its members and get a lot of calls at first, and many are ongoing support and commitment.”
like the strapline: “For friends, fun and fine about that. Tilly adds: “A lot of Tilly, too, has shown long-term
going places.” commitment. She says she would never
It began when some Building Bridges have guessed as a young teacher that she
members were arranging a coach trip to would still be working with many of the
Seán Kelly/www.seankellyphotos.com; self-build model: Rob Annable
see the Winter Lights in Blackpool. Tilly same people more than 30 years later. She
found herself assisting them on an almost has reinvented and developed her work to
voluntary basis. “I said to myself, ‘This continue working with people who have
should be an organisation’.” known and trusted her for decades.
She has organised a regular walking She reflects: “Non-disabled people
group since the 1980s and also arranges a often move, don’t they? They move areas.
regular curry club with visits to balti houses. A lot of their lives are very transient.
All Jigsaw activities involve volunteers. Whereas disabled people stay around the
The only paid staff are the office workers, same area. And I have stayed around too.”
Tilly and her colleague Jayne Richards. ● ●Building Bridges: www.building-bridges-
Volunteers are seen not as helpers but as training.org
equals or friends. In the walking group, ● ●Jigsaw: www.jigsawevents.org
volunteers might help someone lace their
boots or assist them on uneven ground if Seán Kelly was chief executive of the Elfrida
they are a bit wobbly but are otherwise Walter Segal’s self-build model was adopted at Society from 2001 to 2012 and is now a writer
“extra people to chat”. Tilly’s first charity, Options for Life and photographer

www.cl-initiatives.co.uk Community Living Vol 33 No 3 | Spring 2020 21