James loves board games. But for a long time, it was a hobby with nowhere to go. Living in supported accommodation, the people he knew didn’t share his enthusiasm, and the opportunities to meet others who did were hard to find.
Here’s how Big Life Adventure helped him to not only find a new community, but build one.
Challenge
James’ situation isn’t unusual. Across social care, there are people with passions and ideas – but no way to share them, leaving them isolated. What James needed was a way to reach beyond traditional people-focused planning and his own four walls to find like-minded people.
From small beginnings.
Using Big Life Adventure, James started a group for people who love board games. It didn’t take long for others to join. Around 45 people became part of the group – sharing their favourites, swapping tips, chatting, and forming real online friendships. There was even a bit of kind flirting, which, as Peak15 Chairman David Holmes put it, “felt quite nice.” Then those digital connections spilled into the real world.
Real people. Real connection. Real impact.
The group decided to meet in person for a board game night at the Butterfly Project in Horsham. Around 35 people turned up. There were snacks, laughter, and, of course, games.
It didn’t stop there. The group kept going. Regular games nights were followed by quizzes. And James went from being someone with a quiet passion to becoming a social organiser, building a circle of friends and experiences that had been impossible before.
Notably, even staff got involved. As Geraint Thomas, Big Life Adventure’s Chief Technical Officer, observed:
“James invited our people to come along in their own time to play board games, because they were into it too.
It’s really helped to break down barriers between staff and the people they support.”
A person-led social revolution
This is more than a feel-good story. It reflects what’s been a long-sought goal in social care
– genuinely person-led support.
“That’s quite remarkable,” said David. “It’s an example of somebody we support making it happen themselves.
One of the holy grails in social care is how to make it user-led, but we’ve never quite achieved it before implementing Big Life Adventure.”
What We’re Seeing
James’ story is just one of many. But it proves that when people are given the right tools, they don’t just participate. They lead, create, and thrive.
As Geraint put it: “My life is full of fist bump moments – all these little miracles twinkling on our platform. And the best part? I miss 99% of them, because they’re happening all the time.”
