New hub on East Port to give options to people with autism

AN organisation which is dedicated to making a real difference to the life of people with learning difficulties and autism is thriving in Dunfermline.

Real Life Options is a charity that supports people with real challenges to live the life they want, and it has opened a hub at East Port.

It helps people in the area and head of operations, George McGarry, and colleague, Claire Learmonth, recently told Cowdenbeath Rotary Club that the new base has given their clients a boost.

George explained: “Our job is to give great support and care and it means that we do the very best that we can to support them to live well.

“To give great support we have values and these values are how we do things with respect, honesty and responsibility.

“We respect our clients and this means that we will listen to what they say and will treat them as an equal and be very fair.

“Our aim is also to be very responsible and that means that we do what we say. We want to do a good job in the West and Central Fife area and in our clients’ communities.

“We realise that we have to be great at supporting our clients and this means that we get people working together in new ways. Our aim has to be to help people to do their best.”

Claire said the organisation has strong supporters in the community like Bayne’s the Bakers, Howdens, Currys and the Woodland Trust.

And she added: “Everyone we work with has major challenges and the aim of our staff is to assist them to make the best of their talents and we have many currently volunteering and doing well.

“Our goal is to get support from local companies to help develop our volunteering base.”

George went on: “We have been very lucky to get our base in Dunfermline and we have spent some money on creating key elements to assist the people we work with.

“That includes things like a sensory room, a cinema room, and also a kitchen where we hope to give clients the opportunity to develop their cooking and baking skills.”

Real Life Options raise funds in a variety of ways and recently George did a bungee jump which was a big success, but they always look to maintain their funds.

The Rotarians were impressed with the work Real Life Options is doing and have committed to support the organisation with funding.

You can find out more at https:// reallifeoptions.org/