Livability News (Summer 2014)

news Summer 2014 Issue 16

Our homes are transforming lives read about Treetops in Colchester p4-5

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HRH Princess Royal opens Livability’s hydrotherapy pool

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The key to happiness?

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Events calendar

Livability is the new face of John Grooms and the Shaftesbury Society

Message from Dave

News and Updates...

Welcome to the summer issue of Livability News.

In this issue, we want to illustrate and celebrate how the lasting kindness and generosity of supporters like you helps us transform the lives of the disabled and disadvantaged people we support.

A shining example of the tremendous, positive impact that we can have together is the recent opening of our new hydrotherapy pool at Livability’s Victoria Education Centre, after a successful fundraising appeal. And your support for our February Appeal, which was all about disabled people having choice and independence in the kitchen, helped to make it such a resounding success.

We hope that you will be inspired by some of our new initiatives and we would like to tell you about the improvements we have made to our residential home, Treetops. Accessible facilities, such as adapted kitchens and bathrooms are crucial to developing a disabled person’s independence and improving their quality of life.

This issue also highlights the continuing success of our Enterprise Agency, which helps disabled people set up their own business, and we wanted to share with you the story of our Entrepreneur of the Year, Rezene Woldeyesus.

We have big dreams and ambitions when it comes to disabled and disadvantaged people and their wellbeing. Every contribution towards that makes a difference and we value and cherish each individual act of kindness.

I would like to thank you again for your continuing support and for giving us the opportunity to make a difference every day to the lives of some of the most vulnerable people in society.

Best wishes,

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Dave Webber Chief Executive

HRH Princess Royal opens Livability’s hydrotherapy pool for disabled children 10th December 2013 marked a big occasion at Livability’s Victoria Education Centre when Livability’s Patron HRH Princess Royal attended to open our new state of the art hydrotherapy pool.

Livability launched a major appeal, the “Sparkle” Appeal in 2010 to raise the £2.8 million needed for the pool and work was completed in the autumn of 2013. The new pool has temperature control, modern changing and hoisting facilities and is now accessible for all to enjoy and use.

Students and staff had put together an exciting programme of activities for the launch day including a disco light show at the pool, a table cricket demonstration and a visit to the school’s radio station suite.

Principal Chris Davies was very happy to see the pool finally open, “We are delighted to welcome HRH The Princess Royal to our school. Her Royal Highness launched the start of the building works for the pool a year and a half ago and we are really proud to now be able to show her this fantastic new addition to our facilities.”

The hydrotherapy pool plays an important role in the development and the well-being of the students. Not only can it improve blood circulation, relieve pain and relax muscles, it is a great way to have a lot of fun too.

We would also like to thank everyone who donated to our Sparkle Appeal for their generosity. The pool is already making a big difference to the lives of disabled children and young people.

Rezene Woldeyesus – Livability’s Entrepreneur of the Year

Mr & Mrs Drinkwater – Their lasting legacy Derrick and Pat Drinkwater were long-term supporters of Livability and very sadly both passed away last year.

Derrick, in his last years of work, helped The Shaftesbury Society in London with church projects, and then retired to Bournemouth to become a volunteer and Governor at Livability’s Victoria Education Centre. Pat, as a midwife, delivered many of the children who went on to attend Livability’s Victoria Education Centre over the years.

We are very thankful for the help and support Derrick and Pat have given us over the years and for individually leaving a legacy. This kind gift will go towards helping the students at Livability’s Victoria Education Centre, a cause so very close to their hearts. They will be very much missed.

A gift in your Will could help give future generations the freedom to live their lives and the chance to use their abilities, whatever challenges and barriers they face.

For more information on leaving a gift to Livability in your Will please contact our Supporter Services Team on 0207 452 2121, or tick the legacy information box on the enclosed reply form and return to us using the provided envelope.

Every year Livability’s Enterprise Agency holds an awards evening to recognise our disabled and disadvantaged clients who with the support of Livability, have developed and launched their own company. The evening ends with our prestigious Entrepreneur of the Year award.

This year the award went to Rezene Woldeyesus pictured above with Livability’s Alice Morris. His passion, strength, and determination led him to challenge the technology company, Apple, on disability and accessibility issues.

Rezene, who has a hearing loss, was keen to access Apple’s popular training programme. However, Apple declined his request to provide him with a sign-language interpreter. So Rezene logged an official complaint which resulted in him challenging the company’s accessibility practices at an official meeting with Apple’s management. In response, their access policies and practices have now been altered to meet the needs of their deaf customers.

This in turn, resulted in Rezene developing his new business providing Deaf Awareness and Accessibility Training Services to a range of organisations.

We are delighted to have been able to support Rezene through his business start-up by providing business mentors to guide him through the planning process and offer business advice. He is truly deserving of the title Entrepreneur of the Year.

Since 2011 Livability has supported over 250 people to start their own business, a wonderful step forward in achieving a transformed society where disabled and disadvantaged people can live life to the full.

February Appeal Update In February, we wrote to many of you asking if you would help disabled people by sending a gift to fund vital kitchen adaptations.

In our letter we featured Robert and talked about the adaptations we had made to his worktops and cupboards at Dolphin Court, Southend, which not only improved the accessibility of his kitchen, but also helped him gain the confidence to cook independently for himself.

We shared Robert’s favourite recipe and many of you came back to us with your own favourite recipes ranging from cakes to pasta dishes. We were delighted to receive them and a selection is now featured on our website at www.livability.org.uk/your-recipes.

So far the appeal has raised over £37,000, a wonderful achievement so thanks to all who donated for your kind support.

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Livability’s Treetops transforming lives Every disabled person has a right to live with dignity and independence. But what happens when something as basic as their home makes that more difficult?

Jim in his old kitchen

For many disabled people, inadequate and inaccessible facilities mean having to depend on help from others to do everyday things like cooking and bathing. Yet, with the right opportunities and support, disabled people can be in control and make their own choices.

That’s why we’re making it a priority to refurbish living areas in our residential homes – and give our disabled residents more freedom than ever before.

At our Treetops home in Colchester we want to update and adapt kitchens in residential flats, and a communal bathroom.

You’ll remember we wrote to many of you in February, to ask for your help in updating the kitchens at some of our other residential homes.

We had a wonderful response and now we urgently want to do the same at Treetops. We’re confident it’s going to transform people’s lives.

In fact, we already know what an impact these changes can make.

Take Jim, for instance who has lived at Treetops since an accident.

Before, Jim was a very independent man. But, since the accident, he has had to work very hard to regain control over his life. The care of the staff and the facilities provided at Treetops have been key to helping him along on his journey.

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“the new kitchen is brilliant” Jim

For Jim, it’s led to a profound emotional transformation. He told us: “When I came to Treetops, I had nothing but now I am happy

here. When I was younger I trusted no one – but after being at Treetops for so long, you get to know the staff here and you grow to trust them.”

It’s by no means the only big change Jim’s been through. Thanks to kind donations received from supporters like you, we invested £7,500 to make vital improvements to the accessibility and facilities of Jim’s kitchen area and bathroom.

With the old layout, Jim still found certain tasks in the kitchen difficult.

So, we removed the hob to provide easier access to his sink, added height-adjustable worktops and installed sturdier cupboards to give him more confidence taking things off the drop down shelves.

It’s made a big difference to Jim’s life. He told us: “The new kitchen is brilliant! They work with you to sort out where you want everything.”

We also fitted his bathroom with new flooring, replaced the old toilet and painted the walls a light blue colour of Jim’s choice, which gives the room a bright and spacious feel.

It’s an important part of the changes we’re trying to make – as Treetops’ Deputy Manager, Sue Bishop, explained: “It’s important the residents here get to choose and personalise their areas as much as they can. The more opportunity you give them to make choices, the more feeling of control they get back over their life.”

Certainly, there’s no looking back for Jim. “I want to keep my

Q & A: Sue Bishop

Deputy Manager, Livability’s Treetops We chatted with Sue Bishop, Deputy Manager at Livability’s Treetops about her work and what she loves most about the job. independence,” he told us. “In my room, I can do what I want and be who I want to be.”

Q: What brought you to Livability’s Treetops?

It’s so important to us at Livability that we are able to carry out this work. We urgently need to focus on adapting kitchens in our homes by adding features such as pull down cupboards and height adjustable worktops.

Many of our bathrooms also need to be upgraded and adapted with walk-in showers or new baths. These practical changes mean that disabled people can live with independence and dignity. Your support will enable us to make a difference for many disadvantaged and disabled people like Jim.

A: I first started at Livability’s Treetops almost 15 years ago when I moved to Colchester. I loved the family atmosphere and wide range of challenges. Every day at Treetops is different. Personally and professionally you are never bored and the relationships you have with residents and their families can be rewarding and fulfilling.

Q: What do the residents like about living here?

A: They like the fact that there is an informal atmosphere and that wherever possible, staff will help them to fulfil their wishes by meeting their health and care needs – in a way that is the least restrictive to them.

Q: What work still needs to be done to the kitchen areas and bathrooms?

A fresh cup for Lily “I do like to make a cup of tea,” says Lily, with a smile.

But it hasn’t always been so easy for her to do.

Lily came to live at Treetops when her multiple sclerosis became so serious that she needed help with basic daily activities. She was grateful to have a caring new home – but her kitchen wasn’t ideal.

Lily struggled to reach the taps and difficult to access made getting the items she needed more difficult than it had to be. Even something as simple as making a cup of tea was a challenge.

But that changed when we fitted Lily’s kitchen with a new sink, taps and shelves. Now, she likes nothing more than making herself a cup of tea and enjoying the comfort of her own room, “I like being in my room,” she told us. “I can do what I want in my room.”

A: It would be brilliant if the remaining kitchen areas and the communal bathrooms could be brought up to the standards of those that have already been done. The involvement of the residents and improvement in their quality of life enables them to feel valued and reduces isolation. Independence and control is very important to our residents.

Q: What does achieving impact for disabled people mean to you?

A: When people think of impact, they envisage something huge but often it is the smallest things that have the greatest impact, such as being able to reach everything in your kitchen cupboard, not just the things at the front or someone having the time to sit and chat with you about the world or politics, not just health or care subjects; staff having the time to be spontaneous and spend time with you as a person and not to carry out a task is one of the greatest impacts we can have on an individual’s life.

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Engaging Communities:

Livability’s Happiness Course: The key to happiness?

Adam Bonner

“It’s totally changed my idea of success. Before, I thought success was a business and a big house, but now I know success can be being a good mother, having a good marriage.”

Happiness course attendee

Adam Bonner is Director of Livability’s Community Engagement Team, helping churches transform their communities.

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lessed are those who B mourn, for they will be comforted” Matthew 5 (New International Version)

Many theologians today explain that when Jesus repeatedly says “blessed are those who..” in the Sermon on the Mount, it can literally be translated as “happy are those who..”

Our Christian understanding of happiness therefore is about sacrifice, forgiveness, unconditional love and the active pursuit of justice both individually and as a society.

These are the radical concepts which drove Livability’s founders John Groom and Lord Shaftesbury to begin and sustain their significant work with disabled and disadvantaged people. Today, Livability remains committed to pursuing our vision “of a transformed society where disabled and disadvantaged people can live life to the full”. Evidence of this is shown throughout this newsletter, and our Happiness Course is another contribution we are very proud off. Through training churches with the Happiness Course we are actively equipping them to help their community explore what real happiness is about and what contribution we can all make to our own and the happiness of our neighbours. Perhaps your church or community group would like to take part and experience the Happiness Course? If so, please get in touch with us.

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Earlier this year, Livability’s Happiness Course was run for ten Mothers whose children attend a primary school in London’s Tower Hamlets. Most were Asian and Muslim, and all wanted to learn more about happiness.

The Happiness Course was designed by Livability as a tool for local churches and community projects to better engage with their neighbours and to talk about things that really matter. It is based on scientific research, ancient wisdom, and real-life experience.

The four sessions look at true happiness, real success, healthy relationships and deeper meaning.

As they learned about the science of happiness, the London mums were keen to relate theory to their real lives. For example, research tells us that marriage is one of the keys to long term happiness – but the group was interested in the difference between arranged marriages and ‘love matches’. Their answer?

Whether the marriage has been arranged or not, “You still have to decide to accept and love the other person as they are – you can’t change them.”

Other women compared their lives to the lives of family back home in Bangladesh: “In my village, people work hard all day in paddy fields, then come home to a small tin house, but I think they are much happier!”

As well as delivering the course ourselves, Livability has trained dozens of leaders to run the courses in their own communities.

Hundreds of people have completed the course, receiving practical tools to improve their lives, whether that’s reviewing their life priorities, or taking time to strengthen relationships.

If you would like to know more about the Happiness Course, email happiness@livability.org.uk

Want to be happier?

Try one of these simple tips: •

Every night for two weeks, write down three things that you are grateful for that day.

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Make a list of activities that make you happy, then make the time to do some of them!

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nce a week, swap an easy, enjoyable activity, for O something a bit more challenging – instead of getting a takeaway, learn a new recipe; instead of watching a TV programme, phone someone you love.

Events Update Skydiving for Livability

Eye gaze equipment helps disabled students thanks to Friends Group Imagine being trapped in a world with so much to say but with little means of interacting or communicating with the outside world. Without the help of assistive technology, many of the students with severe, complex and profound needs at Livability’s Nash College in Bromley, Kent, have extreme difficulty in engaging with the world around them.

One piece of equipment that has helped our disabled students interact and communicate their ideas more effectively is an eye gaze system. This piece of equipment is configured to track the movement of an individual’s eyes so that they can use their eyes like a mouse pointer on a computer screen.

Daredevils across the country have been taking on the adrenalin rush of skydiving to raise funds for Livability. Supporters have chosen to skydive for their local Livability service, for example one is jumping for our Wall Street centre in Hereford, whilst others have chosen to skydive for our national work, including Rachel who works for our corporate partner Olympus KeyMed. If you or your family or friends want an adventurous thrill, or are looking to mark a special milestone, then skydiving may be for you! Contact the events team on 020 7452 2115 or events@livability.org.uk for more information, including advice on accredited skydiving companies and airfields.

Through local fundraising, the Friends Group of Nash College raised a fantastic £5,900 to purchase the specialist eye gaze equipment, including camera and stand.

This has helped students such as Jonathan and Georgina to step through their favourite music activities and stories independently. Before they would have to press a switch to operate the computer, which was very difficult for them.

Now, through looking and blinking they can move the computer mouse pointer.

To see this technology in action visit www.youtube.com and search for - Livability Students of Nash College using Eye Gaze technology.

Yvonne Fairweather – a life dedicated to helping disabled people We were very sad to hear that Yvonne passed away in February this year. In life, she had been a staunch supporter of the Friends of John Grooms Mill Hill who supported disabled people in residential care homes in their area.

Yvonne dedicated a large part of her life towards helping disadvantaged and disabled people, and in 2004 in recognition of 30 years voluntary service, Yvonne received a special award for her dedication to both the Friends and Council Management of John Grooms.

Livability Friends Groups Our Livability Friends Groups (volunteers who raise money locally to be spent locally at a Livability service) are going from strength to strength right across the country.

The groups organise events in their local community from quiz nights, to music tribute nights, to plant sales and cupcake bakes, all to raise money for disabled adults and children.

You can help us in your local community too; if you are interested in joining or starting up a Friends Group at one of our local centres, or if you would like to raise money for us by organising an event through your local church or community group, then please get in contact with our events team on 020 7452 2032 or events@livability.org.uk.

For more information on Livability Events Visit www.livability.org.uk/events 7

Livability Garden Party Latchetts, West Sussex Saturday 12 July 2014, 11am-5pm Come and enjoy an afternoon exploring the wonderful 8 acres of fine lawns, colourful borders, beautiful water features, a sensory garden, raised vegetable beds, a labyrinth, sunken garden, a Christian garden, a ‘’scary’’ path (popular with children) and many other interesting and beautiful views and vistas in the West Sussex countryside.

Entertainment will be provided and refreshments available.

Entrance tickets are complimentary but we ask for a kind donation towards the work of Livability.

To reserve your tickets ring 020 7452 2121 or email events@livability.org.uk

A small act of kindness

Tools and tips for your kitchen

Each day, the support we receive from community groups, organisations and individuals like yourself means so much to us. At Livability we believe that disabled and disadvantaged people deserve the same respect and choice as everybody else. So when our donors write to us or support our cause it becomes something much more than a simple donation or a letter – it shows that, like us, you care about the lives of disabled and disadvantaged people.

A properly organised and well equipped kitchen can have a dramatic effect on the life of a person living with disability. And it’s not just disabled people who can benefit. Read on for our top tips on how to make your life easier in the kitchen.

A big transformation of lives Every day, we witness how being given the means to be independent can make a big difference to the aspirations of the people we help. For many disabled people, being able to do simple things such as making themselves a meal, visiting the shops or working independently can seem out of reach.

In this edition of Livability News we hope that we have been able to show that making small changes to living spaces such as kitchens and bathrooms, and giving disabled and disadvantaged people the opportunities to make their own choices can have a huge impact on their quality of life. Thank you for the part you play in enabling this work.

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nsure your kitchen work space is well E organised and clear from clutter to aid your concentration and focus. For energy efficiency, and to protect your joints consider where ‘high use’ items are - they should be at waist hight and in easy reach.

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There is a wide range of food preparation equipment designed to make tasks easier – including easy-grip tin openers and non-slip chopping boards. Consider investing in these if you have reduced strength in your hands.

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To help your planning and budgeting - plan your meals each week prior to going shopping taking into account your activities for each day – how much time and energy you will have to spend in the kitchen each day, then produce your shopping list from this plan.

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ake larger portions of food at the weekend or M when you have more time, then freeze portions so you can have those on busier days, or when you are feeling lower in energy.

50 Scrutton Street, London EC2A 4XQ T: 020 7452 2121 F: 020 7452 2001 Email: supporterservices@livability.org.uk www.livability.org.uk