County Derry man Jonathan Fillis transforms life through Trust's 'Opportunities for All' Day programme

"Day Opportunities has made a massive impact on Jonathan’s life and ours as a family.”

For some people, including those with a learning disability, aspects of life like achieving qualifications, going out to work or pursuing a hobby, don’t come as easy.

But the right support can make a huge difference, and the Northern Health and Social Care Trust’s Day Opportunities service helps to ensure that adults with a learning disability can live life to the fullest and achieve their potential.

One of those adults is Jonathan Fillis from Coleraine, who has been a Day Opportunities service user for the past 15 years. In that time, Jonathan’s confidence and independence have soared, leading him to his ‘dream job’ with Coleraine FC.

Jonathan’s brother Stephen has shared his story as part of the Northern Trust’s Opportunities for All series, which showcases the transformative power of Day Opportunities.

Read Stephen’s story

So, I’m here to talk about what it’s been like growing up with my brother Jonathan.

Jonathan is ten years younger than myself, and he was diagnosed with a learning disability in the early years of his life.

At the beginning it was no different than having any other baby in the house, just the usual screaming and dirty nappies. At the age of 10 I stayed well away from those duties.

It was more into my late teenage years and early 20s that I began to notice the challenges that Jonathan and our family would face as Jonathan was nearing the end of his primary school years.

Moving through teenage years and into adulthood is tough and stressful for anyone. Worrying about exams, what school or university to choose, learning to drive, girlfriends/boyfriends, applying for jobs, planning a future. However, having these choices is a privilege and one we all take for granted at times.

Stephen Fillis, his brother Jonathan and sons Jacob and Jonah, showing their support for Coleraine FC.

For our family, thinking of Jonathan, it was ‘what’s next?’, ‘what will he do all day/week?’, ‘how will he get there?’, ‘what if people take advantage of him?’, ‘he can’t be left alone’, how will we continue to work?’. It was a complete unknown.

Working through this was a family effort by my parents, my sister and myself. Jonathan’s learning disability shaped all our lives and brought us all closer together. We always included Jonathan in everything we did as a family and have tried to give him the experiences that we all get from life.

Being the oldest I would look after Jonathan when I could for my parents, in between school and them getting home from work.

I have always tried to involve Jonathan in all areas of my life. He was my best man at my wedding and when I played football in my 20s, I brought Jonathan with me to every game and at any opportunity in a friendly game we always gave him a chance to play. I took Jonathan to watch Coleraine on Saturdays, both to home and away games, as he just loves football. I refuse to go to Chelsea games with him as I’m a Man United fan. I leave that to my Dad.

Jonathan has shaped all our lives. My father has been involved with Special Olympics in Coleraine for years now, helping with the bowling and swimming groups. I became a volunteer with Special Olympics and was part of the group which set up the Special Olympics basketball team in Coleraine. Being involved in these groups was my first time working with adults with learning disabilities outside of the family home. This gave me a different outlook on life; watching their sheer joy at competing and the positive attitude that all these young people had towards life.

Jonathan Fillis on holidays with his family.

After leaving school Jonathan joined the Northern Health and Social Care Trust’s Day Opportunities programme which was a big step for my family - handing over that support and care and watching him move out into the community and a world of unknown and those worries I mentioned previously. Jonathan has now been with Day Opportunities for 15 years.

In that time, he has had opportunities with college, Alternative Angles, Base, volunteering in a café and charity shops to now volunteering at Coleraine Football Club, describing his time in the club shop as his dream job!

Day Opportunities has made a massive impact on Jonathan’s life and ours as family. From a boy who was stuck to our side at all times, to a young man who can now access the community independently, getting the bus to town, walking around shops and buying things for himself. Most importantly, making decisions for himself and living a meaningful and happy life.

I suppose I should mention that I am now a Day Opportunities Coordinator with the Northern Trust. It is a privilege to get to work with families and services users and help them through the same challenges we faced as a family.

To this day, Jonathan is a big part of my family life and loves being an uncle to my two boys, Jacob and Jonah. He stays with us at weekends, which the boys love as they get to stay up later.

Stephen Fillis and his brother Jonathan both grew up with a love of football.

He comes on our family holidays every year or if we are going on a day trip, he always gets the call.

This year, the Northern Trust is celebrating 20 years of its Day Opportunities programme, with the Opportunities For All series highlighting its development and just some of its many success stories over the past two decades.

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To read more inspiring stories about achievement, empowerment and how we help people to reach their full potential go to https://www.northerntrust.hscni.net/opportunities-for-all.