About Us

For those of us who have a relative with a disability, one of the most pressing questions we face is “What will happen to my loved one when I am no longer here?” No matter how much money is left to an individual, how well a will is written or how good the current support services are, we will never have peace of mind unless we know that there are other people who love and care for our relative after we have gone.

Equal Futures was created to support families to answer this question. We build lifelong Circles of Support around individuals and their families. These circles consist of family, friends neighbours, previous support staff, colleagues and others - in other words a group of people who care for the person at the centre and are passionate about ensuring a good life for them.

We build circles by recruiting and matching a paid Community Connector to a family. Using a range of Person Centred Planning tools the Community Connnector will look at who is already involved in the person's life and at what kind of people and places create energy enthusiasm and excitement for the individual. People will then be invited to become circle members. The circles meet regularly, where they dream and make goals, look at what’s working well already,  and what support the circle bneeds to give for the the focus person to accomplish the life they really want. The meetings are not formal events - sometimes they are task focuse,  on other occasions they are purely social, and sometimes  different circles meet socially together.

We support lifetime family members to plan for the future by completing a Future Planning Consultation and a Family Profile. These help the family to begin to look at the hopes and dreams of their loved one, and just as importantly their fears and nightmares.  The tools help the family to review any  practical steps they have already taken and help to clarify what gaps they still have to fill. We also hold regular information workshops hosted by a range of professionals on Wills and Trusts, Powers of Attorney and Guardianship, Housing Options and Financial Planning.

Families are in control of the circles at all times. The bulk of the membership fee pays directly for the Community Connector's hours. Our Network Co-ordinators is in regular contact with everyone involved providing support and guidance to Community Comnnnectors and families.