Building Strong Community Connections Through Empowerment
Meaningful friendships are at the heart of leading a full and loving life, and through an innovative program expansion, individuals experiencing disabilities are forging new and lasting connections.
Since early 2020 The Salvation Army Lawson Ministries in Hamilton has been offering life-changing workshops through their S.A.F.E Hub program on a range of topics, including sexuality, sexual health, abuse awareness, family planning and support, and education for young adults between the ages of 18 and 29.
Liz has attended several S.A.F.E. Hub learning opportunities and left with a lasting positive experience from all of them. She says The Salvation Army has been a beacon of hope, empowering her with invaluable skills that have changed her life.
“I have learned something new in each group session I’ve joined, and the staff have been patient and informative when answering my questions,” Liz says. “I’m happy I can refresh my skills by going back to these supportive groups. Thank you to The Salvation Army for being there for me every step of the way.”
The program has evolved to provide new, transformational opportunities for participants while building further innovative community partnerships. Additional expansion includes instruction in sexual education and internet safety, as well as Fast Friends – a series of interactive social events such as Halloween parties, karaoke, frisbee, soccer games, and board games where participants can meet new people and develop friendships.
The programs have been extremely successful and remain in high demand. To further enhance S.A.F.E. Hub more opportunities for participants to utilize their workshop learnings in every day, real world settings are planned. Additional community partnerships for participants to connect with clinicians and experts in the areas of trauma, human trafficking, behavioural therapy, and media literacy are on the horizon.
“Lawson Ministries provides essential training and skills development to those we serve and it’s compelling and rewarding to see the growth that occurs here. We’re always looking for ways to enhance our programming to create meaningful opportunities for people to connect,” says Lesley Poole, shift supervisor at Lawson Ministries. “We believe combining the program’s teachings with opportunities for participants to meet like-minded people will deliver long-term positive outcomes.”
To support the work of The Salvation Army, please donate at SalvationArmy.ca or call 1-800-SAL-ARMY.
