VIVA! (WALES)

The Organisation What is Viva! Viva! is a registered Charity working with young people aged between 11 and 30 who live in Rhondda Cynon Taff. Viva! was established in November 1992 by “Vales”, now known as the “Arts Factory”, following a successful application for funding to the BBC Children In Need Fund, Wales to facilitate and create quality leisure and training opportunities for young people with and without disabilities. The Ethos of Viva! The ethos of Viva! is to enable and support all of its youth members to become fully involved in community activities. Viva! does this by enabling all youth members to get involved, on an equal basis. Viva! believes this encourages young people to develop greater independence and make more choices for themselves. The Aim The aim of Viva! is to:- Challenge members to raise their aspirations. Broaden their experiences and abilities. Encourage them to develop greater independence. Make more informed choices for themselves. At the same time we expect to raise community awareness in accepting disabled young people as valued citizens. The Goal. Viva’s goal is the creation of:- Equal and valued relationships between disabled young people and their non-disabled peers. The participation of disabled young people in existing community facilities, which they may have been traditionally excluded from because of the stigma and isolation often associated with disability. A shared learning support process between disabled and non-disabled peers We achieve this by harnessing the energy, enthusiasm and potential which all young people have. By giving young people the same opportunities as their peers, we can learn and work together to meet the challenges that life offers.