What is Friends for Leisure

Friends for Leisure (FFL) evolved after discussions between young people with disabilities, parents and carers, Cheshire County Council Social Services, South Cheshire Health Authority and Macclesfield District Council for Voluntary Service.

Established in the summer of 1995, FFL achieved limited company and independent charitable status in early 1998.

Initially focusing on the Borough of Macclesfield the charity has since expanded in two stages to its present coverage of the whole of the new unitary authority of Cheshire East.

Seen as a model of ‘good practice’, FFL has received several awards including the Queens Golden Jubilee Award for Voluntary Services.

FFL is governed by a board of trustees and run by a General Manager supported by a team of project workers and a fundraiser.

Our stated objectives are: -

1)   THE RELIEF OF STRESS AND SOCIAL EXCLUSION OF CHILDREN AND YOUNG PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES BY PROMOTING MAINSTREAM FRIENDSHIP AND LEISURE OPPORTUNITIES.

2)   TO EDUCATE THE PUBLIC BY RAISING AWARENESS ABOUT DISABILITY AND THE IMPORTANCE OF EQUALITY AND INCLUSION.

Friends for Leisure measures its performance qualitively by the use of user evaluations and quantatively by recording activities and the progress of our children, young people and volunteers