Firefly’s commitment to inclusion.
It is our belief that our services have many benefits which are supported by growing research. Those benefits should be accessible to all and we are passionate about making that happen! We believe that everyone should be treated equally, regardless of their religion, beliefs, age, gender, race, disability or sexual orientation. We are therefore constantly striving to learn, develop, collaborate, listen and implement to make this Firefly’s way.
Our equality and diversity, Safeguarding and admission policy are all available for view. Take a look at what we have achieved so far and help us move forward in any way you wish! Thus far, collaborations with SCOPE and Dementia Awareness, have helped us to assess our site and develop our skill set. We have attended Autism awareness training this year and have absorbed what we have learnt into our delivery to make a visit to Firefly a friendly one. We complete NSPCC training to ensure its a safeguarded one. We are DBS checked and First Aid trained to make it a safe one. We are qualified in creativity to make it a really fun one !!!
A bit about the Pottery
We have three areas within our premises, this gives us some control over creating quiet zones, we do not have music playing. We have a pre-visit PDF which includes pictures and facts about our space, who we are and what we do, available on request by email. We have a ‘go to’ box is on site which includes all sorts of helpful bits, including ear defenders. We are aware that for some, a visit to our pottery will only be viable without other customers present, or that an empty pottery to walk through before a visit would be an advantage. Please talk to us, we will do what we can to enable your visit to happen, our insurance also covers us to happily come to you. The front door has a small step into Firefly that wheelchair users have had no problem with, this provides access into our front room in which we can offer our pottery wheel services only. Our studio room has a step up to it and no ramp feasibility, our bathroom is down steep stairs with banister rails to both sides, it’s not accessible for all – however we do have an arrangement with the library hub building opposite, they give us full access to their ground floor disabled bathroom. There are four on street disabled parking bays outside Firefly with drop kerb access to the path.
Who’s played with Clay!
We are happy to say that Individuals and family’s with a wide range of additional needs visit us regularly, we have had the pleasure of hosting workshops for organisations such as People Matters, Creativities, SILC schools, PRU schools, Airborough Supported Activities Scheme, visitors on borstal release, we are also vetted annually to enable Barnardo’s visits.
News and developments in Firefly inclusion
We have had the pleasure of working with Powerhouse West SILC to enable us to offer a years work experience placement to one of their students, this has had to cease through covid adjusted opening but we hope to re implement in future. Scope provided funding for the provision of a special needs potters wheel – this provides wheelchair access and upper body support in the form of arm rests, controls are also convertible from foot or hand operation to suit the user.