ABC Project

At Dhiverse we aim for inclusivity and equality in everything we do and we want everyone to have the opportunity to be equipped to make informed decisions around sexual health, consensual and pleasurable sexual activity, healthy relationships and personal safety.           

It is legal for anyone aged 16 years and over to engage in consensual sexual activity with partners of the same or opposite sex. This applies to anyone with a learning difficulty (LD) or autism, provided the person has the capacity to consent to sexual activity.

The project is funded by a National Lottery Community Fund grant and it has three strands:

1.‘ABC Programme’

This is a 6 session modular programme for anyone with a LD or autism who needs support and information around relationships, sex, sexual health and keeping safe. The programme gives participants the opportunity to develop their understanding of relationships, consent, good sexual health and keeping safe (both online and in the community). The programme helps individuals to understand they have choices and how to express the choices they make. The project also helps participants to recognise abusive behaviour in themselves and others and to understand what is acceptable and what isn’t. Being able to let someone know that we don’t want to do something or we don’t want something to happen can help prevent abuse, including sexual abuse and physical abuse. Being equipped with the right skills and knowledge can help to prevent participants from becoming either a potential victim or perpetrator.

The programme covers:

• Understanding relationships
• Being assertive and communication skills
• Consent
• Keeping safe and taking risks
• Staying safe online and in the community
• Sexual health
• Anger management

The programme is designed to be delivered to groups of up to 10 participants, on a one-to-one basis or for couples and can also be tailored to meet the needs of individuals and groups with a pick and mix of topics.

Sessions are generally provided in house at your venue and are 1 hour to 2 hours long, depending on the needs of the participants. One to one or couples sessions can be provided at a place of their choice providing it is suitable, in terms of confidentiality and safety. We risk assess all new venues.

This programme is free to anyone in Cambridgeshire or Peterborough.

The charge to people outside of Cambridgeshire and Peterborough is:

• £60 per session + travel costs to and from venue
• £40 per session if delivered by Webinar

2. ‘Understanding ABC’

This workshop aims to help parents, carers and professionals explore the relationship and sexual needs of people with a LD or autism. It will enable you to understand some of the barriers people with a LD or autism face when learning about relationships, sex and sexual health and to consider more effective ways to communicate with someone with a LD or autism about sex and relationships.

We will cover:

• The legal rights of someone with LD or autism, around relationships and sex
• Strategies to support someone with LD or autism with their relationships, sex and sexual health
• Communicating more effectively with someone with LD or autism around the subject of relationships and sex
• Understanding what is meant by “Having Mental Capacity” to make decisions with regard to sexual relationships
• Exploring when an individual’s rights need protecting and when safeguarding measures need to be put in place

This CPD Accredited workshop is 1.50 to 2 hours and FREE to people in Cambridgeshire and Peterborough. It can be delivered face to face at your venue or via Webinar.

The charge to people outside of Cambridgeshire and Peterborough is:

• £100 per group (minimum 4/maximum 16) + return travel costs to venue
• £60 for a group session delivered via Webinar

3. Project Development Group

To help keep the project fresh and up to date and to ensure that it is user led and always meets the needs of those taking part, we run a project development group.

Anyone who has participated in the project or anyone who has an interest in ensuring equality for people with a LD or autism is welcome to join the group. We can hold a group meeting at your organisation or you can join us when there is meeting taking place in another venue. Meetings take please several times throughout the year.

• ABC Referral Form for 1-1 Support – DOWNLOAD HERE.
• ABC Booking Form and T&C’s = DOWNLOAD HERE

For more information on any aspect of the ABC Project, to check availability or to make a booking please contact Liz MacKenzie, ABC Project Manager.

The Team