Livability Prayer Diary May-Aug 2012

Pray for Livability May – August 2012

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

Who we are

Our founders, John Groom (left) and Lord Shaftesbury

At Livability, we are passionate about creating opportunities for disabled people and supporting those who want to make a difference in their communities.

We offer a wide range of services to support and empower disabled people throughout their lives, from our colleges and school to residential care and supported living. We also provide many other specialist services including brain injury rehabilitation and accessible holidays.

Livability also works with urban churches and community organisations. We provide them with advice, training and resources to transform their neighbourhoods.

Our organisations were started by passionate Christians whose faith compelled them to act when they saw poverty and social challenges on the streets of Victorian Britain. Inspired by their legacy, we continue to keep a clear Christian ethos at the heart of all we do.

By sharing our joys and challenges, and bringing them to God on our behalf, you are truly a part of what God is doing through Livability – transforming communities and individuals.

Livability was created from the merger of two well-respected organisations, John Grooms and the Shaftesbury Society.

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Celebrating achievement Dear friends I’m sure that, like me, you are looking forward to the Olympic and Paralympic Games later this summer.

As an ex-rugby player and a keen runner, I’m always inspired to see the fantastic achievements of sportsmen and women. The games give us a great opportunity to celebrate the talent and hard work of athletes from around the world.

Off the sports field, it can be harder to recognise achievement. In real life, there are rarely finishing lines to cross or a panel of judges awarding points.

Working with disabled people, we have to make sure that we encourage and celebrate achievement of all kinds. What may be an everyday occurrence for one person may be a real triumph for another: a student who manages to express his preference for apple over orange juice, a young adult who takes the bus on her own, or an older person who learns how to cook himself a basic meal for the very first time.

As we watch this summer’s medal-winners and record-breakers, let’s remember to look out for the brilliant achievements of people all around us, and make time to celebrate with them.

Thank you so much for your support.

Michael Smith OBE Chief executive 3

Focus on... our trustee Jenny Livability has a team of dedicated trustees who give their time and expertise to help the charity run smoothly and true to our Christian values.

Jenny Edwards, a wheelchair user, has worked with us for three years, having first encountered Livability through our accessible holidays service.

“I’ve always been passionate about disabled people and the issues that concern them,” says Jenny. “I think my motivation as a trustee is twofold: to hear what our service users have to say and represent them; and to bring together Christian groups because we are all part of God’s family.”

Jenny has worked with the Disabled Christian Fellowship (DCF) since 1973 and travels widely to talk about what this inclusive group can offer to all disabled people. “I always try to fit in a visit to a Livability service when I’m travelling for DCF,” she says.

Jenny’s work received special recognition earlier this year, when she was awarded the MBE for her services to disabled people.

When she heard news of her honour, what pleased her more than anything was that her nomination had come from individuals whom she’d been supporting.

Jenny travelled to Windsor Castle for the investiture.

“The Queen said to me ‘You’ve been doing this a long time, haven’t you? But don’t stop now!’”

Jenny’s big day, with her sister (right) and friend in attendance

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May I can do everything through him who gives me strength.

Philippians 4:13

Week beginning 6 May The Queen’s Speech at the State Opening of Parliament, on 9 May, will lay out government plans for all new legislation in the forthcoming Government parliamentary session. Please pray that any legislation which touches on legislation plans are announced disabled people’s lives will be this month progressive and will work towards a society that truly values disabled people.

Livability will again be at the Christian Resources Exhibition (CRE) from 8-11 May, in association with the Churches for All consortium. Please pray that churches will respond enthusiastically to our “Inclusion Charter” resources that encourage them to be more sensitive to the needs of disabled people.

The CRE offers a great platform to highlight the marginalisation faced by disabled people

Also at CRE, Livability’s Legacy Manager Alastair Emblem will giving a seminar in association with the Christian Legacy consortium: please pray that Alastair will be able to inspire church leaders to encourage their congregations to consider legacy gifts to Christian causes.

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May Week beginning 13 May Give thanks for all the brave Livability runners who participated in the London Marathon last month.

We celebrate their fantastic efforts, which not only raise a substantial amount of money to support our work, but also inspire us by their determination to succeed.

Time to celebrate as the ticker tape draws near

Week beginning 20 May This week, the Community Mission team hosts a training day in Sheffield, designed to help churches understand and engage more effectively with older people in their community.

Please pray that attendees will leave empowered and inspired.

A foodbank volunteer

On May 24, our trustees and at Community Mission directors have an away day to older people's day review and develop Livability’s strategic goals for the future. Please pray for wisdom and discernment for all participants, so our work with service users can be made even more effective and at the centre of all we do.

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Week beginning 27 May Ruth Smith, from the Community Mission team, recently facilitated a training day on good governance. Attendees said the day had been invaluable. Please pray that even more people will benefit from Community Mission’s training this year.

Please pray for CRP (Centre for the Rehabilitation of the Paralysed), Livability’s partner in Bangladesh.

CRP is the only specialist spinal cord injury rehabilitation centre in Bangladesh and offers services each year to 900 inpatients with spinal cord injury and 27,000 outpatients with disabilities.

CRP treats thousands every year

We also ask for God’s provision as CRP seeks to extend its treatment and rehabilitation services throughout Bangladesh. Pray too for the success of Valerie Taylor OBE (CRP’s founder) as she undertakes a fundraising and awareness tour of the UK, Germany and France over the coming weeks.

Inspiring prayer Amid the clamour and competitiveness of today’s world, we often fail to recognise our achievements – whether large or small – and just move on to the next task.

Think back over the last few months to a challenge you’ve successfully met. And ask God to help you celebrate.

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Focus on...

HRH award winner

Sally was thrilled to receive her award from our patron HRH Princess Anne

The Princess Royal Livability Award honours members of staff who have gone the extra mile.

People like Sally Matthews, a member of the Hinwick Hall College team.

In 2009/10 just three Hinwick students gained work experience. Thanks to Sally’s sterling efforts, this number rose to 32 last academic year. Not only did the placements help students make the transition to adult life – building self-esteem and confidence – but some led to permanent employment.

Employers can still be reluctant to take on disabled students, but Sally has no doubt about the impact of the work experience programme. “It has proved to be an extremely valuable enhancement to the lives of students,” says Sally who is also a member of the college’s local governors’ board. “It gives them the opportunity to develop and transfer their skills in a realistic working environment.”

As we celebrate the success of exceptional staff like Sally, let’s also give thanks for the many dedicated individuals who, through their daily Livability roles, are increasing independence, choice and freedom for disabled people.

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June Well done, good and faithful servant! You have been faithful with a few things; I will put you in charge of many things. Come and share your master’s happiness!

Matthew 25:23

Week beginning 3 June The generosity of our supporters really does make a difference to the lives of disabled people. Local community friends of Hinwick Hall College raised money to buy the students a jukebox, plus over 100 CDs chosen by the students. Let’s thank God for all the pleasure this great gift is giving our students!

Thank you for the music

This month sees the opening of the new facilities at John Grooms Court in Norwich. The project has taken nearly four years to come to fruition, so let’s celebrate and give thanks for all the hard work in planning, raising funds, and completing the building and refurbishment. Pray the new facilities will be a huge blessing to all who use them.

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June Week beginning 10 June When teacher Marianne Harding at Victoria Education Centre (VEC) saw how much her own children enjoyed working with a professional orchestra at school, she was determined that VEC students wouldn’t miss out.

She successfully bid for a £24,000 grant from Youth Music for students to play violins, cello, double bass, trumpet and cornet with the Orchestra of the Age of Enlightenment and Assistive Music Technology with Drake Music. The high point was performing with the orchestra in two concerts earlier this year.

Please thank God for the enterprise of staff like Marianne, and for the joy this event brought to students.

Suzanne Davenport, a Livability resident, wanted to raise vital funds for a new specially adapted minibus and car through her very own “Suzanne’s Wheel’s” appeal. Give thanks to Suzanne and all our generous supporters who helped her achieve this goal.

Week beginning 17 June A big thank you to supporters who have contributed more than £20,000 to Livability’s Plan for Living.

Pray these gifts will be life-changing as we use them to convert more bathrooms into wheelchair-accessible showers and upgrade more kitchens, giving more residents like Colin and Wendy the freedom and independence they need and deserve.

Wendy and Colin 10

Week beginning 24 June Thanks to your support, Livability’s service users up and down the country have been able to celebrate amazing breakthroughs in their lives. People like Simon who lives at a supported living service in Gloucestershire.

Simon has been attending woodworking classes for 18 months and has recently made a bench for his fellow tenants to enjoy (in memory of a dear friend of his). Pray that Livability will be able to give many more disabled people the chance to expand their horizons.

Simon’s labour of love Please pray for the team at Nash College, our college for disabled young people in Bromley, Kent.

They are working hard to find more opportunities for their students to integrate into the local community.

Inspiring prayer Winston Churchill once said: “Success is the ability to go from failure to failure without losing your enthusiasm.” Indeed, God often uses our setbacks as fuel to drive us on to achieve feats that once seemed formidable or even impossible.

Lord, please transform our attitudes to “winning” and “losing”, so we can serve you in a spirit of joy and celebration.

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Focus on... giving disabled people a voice

Our service users’ day will influence government policy on disability

More than 50 Livability service users met in London earlier this year, to take part in a government consultation on disability called Fulfilling Potential.

People travelled from as far as Plymouth, leaving at 5.30am to take part in the day.

The consultation was designed to feed into government policy on disability. Topics included disabled people’s outlook on realising aspirations and overcoming barriers and negative attitudes.

Delegates represented a wide range of disabilities, including profound physical disability and learning disability. People were keen to share their views and experience, which included what a difference good public transport makes to independent living, as does care that prioritises choice on everyday issues such as meals and bedtimes.

Not surprisingly, cuts in spending on disability services were felt to have created barriers for many, such as lack of access to college courses. Wheelchair users highlighted the problems they face going to the cinema because of limited wheelchair spaces.

Please pray that the resulting report, due out late summer, produces real change in society for disabled people.

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July I will turn their mourning into gladness; I will give them comfort and joy instead of sorrow.

Jeremiah 31:13

Week beginning 1 July Livability continues to work with parliamentary groups on forthcoming legislation on disability issues. Head of campaigns Rachael Christophides asks supporters to pray that the latest White Paper on Social Care – which will shape social care for years to come – will Rachael Christophides serve to improve disabled people’s lives, despite tight government spending.

Please come along to our annual Garden Party

Please pray for the success of Livability’s Garden Party on 7 July. We hope that many of you will join us to celebrate Livability’s work at Latchetts, Freshfield Lane, Danehill, East Sussex. We look forward to your company.

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July Week beginning 8 July As unemployment among young people steadily rises, please pray for disabled young people looking for jobs. Work opportunities for disabled people have always been hard to find, and today they are scarcer than ever.

Livability’s Enterprise Agency trains and supports unemployed people who want to start their own business. Pray for the team’s enthusiasm and energy as they encourage these trainee entrepreneurs towards independence.

Wendy was part of the first group of Enterprise clients. She was unemployed, but has now, with Livability's support, set up a vintage clothing business

Week beginning 15 July Sunday 15 July is Disability Awareness Day (DAD).

Give thanks for recent advancements in society that allow disabled people to achieve more in their dayto-day lives. Please pray that through DAD, and other efforts, we will live in a transformed society where everyone has the freedom to live life to the full and opportunity to use their abilities.

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Pause for thought

“Our God is not made of stone.

His heart is the most sensitive and tender of all. No act goes unnoticed, no matter how insignificant or small.

A cup of cold water is enough to put tears in the eyes of God. God celebrates our feeble expressions of gratitude.�

Richard J Foster

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July Week beginning 22 July Livability service user George will have a few weeks to remember, because he’s been chosen to take part in the Olympic opening ceremony on July 27 and closing event on August 12. George was selected after a series of three auditions and attended weeks of rehearsals. Please thank God for such an amazing opportunity and pray George gets the most out of his Olympic experience.

Week beginning 29 July “Good with outstanding features” – that was the latest verdict from OFSTED following an unannounced inspection at Victoria Education Centre and Sports College, our school in Poole, Dorset. Join us in thanking God for a very positive report.

Let’s also celebrate with Mike Flavell – manager of John Grooms Court in Norwich – who has passed his leadership and management course which specialises in the management of services for people with learning disabilities and mental health problems.

Livability puts a high value on staff training

Please pray for all staff undertaking vocational training courses and professional qualifications. Many combine study with work and family responsibilities.

Pray for their success and for others who will take qualifications later this year.

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Focus on... the Paralympics If the British Paralympic medal winners came to your church on Sunday morning, would they be welcome?

Would they be able to get into the building? Would anyone talk to them? It’s questions like this that Livability wants Christians to consider during the 2012 Paralympics.

The Paralympics, which start at the end of August, will be the widest broadcast event for disabled people ever.

The past few months have seen an unprecedented number of disabled people in the media, as big companies sponsor Paralympian athletes.

But as the media, corporate world, sporting and public worlds evolve, how do our churches measure up? So many are still struggling to meet the minimum legal requirements, let alone become places where disabled people can feel safe, welcomed, trusted and respected.

Please pray for Livability as we highlight our “Inclusion Charter” and work with both churches and disabled people. Ask God to help us move towards our vision of a world where people are valued and respected regardless of disability.

The Paralympics inspire students at Victoria Education Centre

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August God is able to make all grace abound to you, so that in all things at all times, having all that you need, you will abound in every good work. 2 Corinthians 9:8 Week beginning 5 August Give thanks for the tremendous work being done to raise funds for our Sparkle Appeal for hydrotherapy facilities at Victoria Education Centre (VEC). We are now more than 90 per cent of the way to our target.

Please pray we will overcome the last hurdle.

David, a student at VEC, revels in the new pool

We thank God for new opportunities to work with disabled people in Devon and South Yorkshire. We are also delighted that new residents are moving into New Court Place, our service in north London, which is home to younger disabled people. Residents enjoy a high level of independence, thanks to a building fitted with assistive technology.

Please pray each person settles in quickly, makes New Court Place’s young friends and enjoys residents benefit from their new life.

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assistive technology

Week beginning 12 August Please pray for four new staff who, funded by grants, are making links with disabled and disadvantaged people who could greatly benefit from our Lifestyle Choices service. Livability wants to make this service more widely available in Essex, Cornwall, London and East Sussex, because disabled people tell us Lifestyle Choices has made a huge difference in their lives.

Lifestyle Choices allows people to choose whatever support they want

Week beginning 19 August Like so many organisations and families across the country, we at Livability have been thinking about our budget: as bills rise and income falls, how do we prioritise our work? Please pray for our leadership team as they make difficult decisions.

Please also pray for Ruby Judt, Livability’s new Director of Finance and ICS (Information and Communication Services), for guidance and wisdom.

Pray for the smooth running of all our financial affairs and our computer systems, so vital for the efficient delivery of services to those who rely on us for support.

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August

This bank holiday weekend, Livability will again be sponsoring Greenbelt Christian arts festival. Pray for us as we provide disability access all over the festival site, and host talks and discussions for people to think more deeply about faith, disability and community.

Making Greenbelt accessible for all festival-goers

Week beginning 26 August Together with Andy Parnham, a former medical doctor and church leader from south London, the Community Mission team is developing a course on happiness and wellbeing for churches to run in their communities. Please pray for wisdom and discernment as the course develops.

Inspiring prayer “God doesn't require us to succeed, he only requires that you try.� Take a moment to reflect on this Mother Teresa quote and what it says about God’s character. Pray that our relationship with God will be based less on performance and more on celebrating his amazing, unconditional love.

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Pause for thought Be of good cheer. Do not think of today’s failures, but of the success that may come tomorrow. You have set yourselves a difficult task, but you will succeed if you persevere; and you will find a joy in overcoming obstacles.

Remember, no effort that we make to attain something beautiful is ever lost.

Helen Keller

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Did you know you can download this prayer diary from our website? Go to www.livability.org.uk/prayerdiary Don’t forget to let us know if you no longer require a printed copy.

If you need this publication in an alternative format, please ring our communications team on 020 7452 2085 Contact us: Gill Troup Pray for Livability editor 50 Scrutton Street London EC2A 4XQ Tel: 020 7452 2000 gtroup@livability.org.uk www.livability.org.uk Registered charity no. 1116530 Registered in England no. 5967087 Livability is a company limited by guarantee The new face of John Grooms and the Shaftesbury Society Cover photo: Richard Hanson Photo p15: Bryce Bennett