The Pelican Project Exeter CIC

The Pelican Project

What is The Pelican Project?

Young people leaving special education face a cliff edge with few activities to enjoy once they leave their schools and colleges. It is lonely, isolating and frightening. The Pelican Project is there to offer the chance of different story. Our current members enjoy a program of groups and social activities, run in collaboration with Exeter’s social and cultural hubs. These include art, digital design, drama, wellbeing programs, holidays and gatherings at the pub. Our team of qualified SEN teachers and industry professionals make sure our members diverse needs are understood, whilst immersing them in mainstream activities and networks.

2. What change is The Pelican Project trying to achieve?

Our membership of young people (fondly known as Pelicans) includes individuals with a host of physical and cognitive disabilities, including profound, severe and moderate learning disabilities, autism, cerebral palsy, downs syndrome and a range of mental health conditions. Some Pelicans are augmented and alternative communication (AAC) users. These young people typically arrive at TPP with low self-esteem, exhausted and mistrustful of a community that has failed them.

The overarching aim of TPP is to improve quality of life for the Pelicans and their carers. Our program offers the opportunity for members to try, learn, fail and succeed and in doing so, build an identity that goes beyond their disability. Previously marginalised individuals feel a greater sense of belonging as they take ownership of spaces, build relationships with peers and make connections across the community that thrive beyond Pelican activities. Stagnated members can grow again, with powered wheelchair users walking lengths in swimming sessions, AAC devices being put to use at bustling city bars and fledging artists seeing their work in public exhibitions.

5. How can you help The Pelican Project?

We are urgently seeking funding to continue our programme of activities. This year we face a shortfall and without further funding we cannot provide the support our members desperately need. Your donations will support our members to continue accessing the people, places and activities that they love. It could help us expand our provision and change the lives of more young people who desperately need our support. It could help our staff and freelance teaching team through training, especially for those who don’t come from an SEN background. And it could provide more opportunities for our parents and carers to connect with each other.

Volunteers needed

We are looking for volunteers with expertise in creative practices to run parts of our workshop program.

What your gift could provide

£75

Accessible space hire for one of our workshops

£150

Delivery of one workshop by our team of SEN teachers and specialists

£700

Running one of our groups for half a term

Fundraise for us!