The Social Agency is a group in North Staffordshire for people with higher functioning autistic spectrum conditions (including Asperger’s Syndrome) and/or mild learning disabilities.
We usually meet once every two weeks on a Monday afternoon from our base in Stoke-on-Trent, although this sometimes varies if we are involved in special projects.
The purpose of The Social Agency is to help people gain confidence, encourage them to come “out of their shells”, and to help them make new friends. It also gives people a chance to talk about any issues or problems they are experiencing in their lives.
The way we do this is by using different kinds of activity that include games, discussions, drama, and other arts-based processes. Refreshments are always available!
In addition to our regular meetings, we will also offer people the opportunity to take part in more intensive arts projects which take place occasionally throughout the year. The next of these is in January 2019 when we will be working on creating a giant lantern installation called The Hours of Darkness which will be presented as part of Light Night Stoke-on-Trent.
The groups are free to attend but you will need to be able to make your own way there and back.
The Social Agency is run by a company called Rideout, a Stoke-on-Trent based arts organisation with many years of using the arts to help people. The project was originally funded in 2016 by the People’s Health Trust and the Awards for All programme of the Big Lottery Fund.
The Social Agency is governed by a steering group made up of members of each of the four groups. This steering group meets approximately once every six weeks to review our activities, monitor participants’ views, and make decisions about the best way to help people in future work.
If you would like to attend a group, and want more information about our venue, please contact Saul Hewish by phone on 01782 325555 or email here
