Livability Prayer Diary January-April 2012

Pray for Livability January – April 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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Don’t give up Dear friends Here at Livability, we strive to provide the best possible service for our clients, even when the going is tough.

We’ve chosen the theme of patience and perseverance for our Prayer Diary this time because, like many charities, the ongoing economic climate can make our work challenging. But we don’t need to look far for inspiration: our founders, the seventh Earl of Shaftesbury and John Groom, persisted over many years to achieve justice and opportunity for those marginalised by society.

And we have much to thank God for. Looking back, we celebrated Christmas with some joyful events that brought together our service users and supporters.

There’s exciting building work going ahead at Victoria Education Centre and Sports College, while a busy spring season for Livability Holidays will provide much-needed breaks for disabled people and their families.

We are always encouraged to hear from our Prayer Diary supporters, and your recent letters telling us how you pray for Livability were much appreciated.

We’ve included snippets from some of those letters in this edition.

Thank you so much for persevering with us in prayer and all the other ways you support us. Don’t forget to look at our new website for lots more information about life at Livability; see www.livability.org.uk

Michael Smith OBE 3

Focus on... community life

Craig (below left) and Bernard raised sunflowers for the library garden (left)

Many of our service users get involved in giving something back to their community, perhaps by volunteering at a charity shop or at church events.

Our Lifestyle Choices Brackley service has made their local library a much nicer place to be, by sharing their gardening skills. After transforming some open spaces in the town, this group was invited to revitalise the library’s neglected garden.

A team of three made the area into a pleasant place to sit. “The team has regularly weeded and cleared the flower bed,” says library manager Catherine Flippence. “They have also grown plants from seed and given plants in pots to the library.”

Now the garden is used by visitors for coffee and cake, and for craft and storytelling sessions.

Please pray that disabled people will be empowered to play an even bigger role in community life. And pray they will have the perseverance to overcome potential barriers, whether those are accessibility issues, or attitudes they encounter.

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January Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres.

1 Corinthians 13:6-7

Week beginning 1 January As we celebrate a new year and pray for a happy and productive 2012, please join in giving thanks for all the Livability Christmas events – the public carol services and concert, and the individual celebrations at service centres around the country.

May the joy and peace of Christmas remain in our hearts throughout the coming year.

Week beginning 8 January Livability launched a Christmas transport appeal throughout November and December. Please give thanks for all supporters who contributed to this appeal. Transport is a fundamental need and provides so much more than just a trip to the shops for our residents and students. We thank God for our fleet of working vehicles and team of dedicated staff who drive them.

A resident at a Livability care home, Suzanne benefits hugely from a reliable source of transport 5

January Week beginning 15 January We’ve been encouraged by your letters telling us how and why you pray for Livability. One writer, with family experience of disability, says she gives thanks for Livability’s work in enabling disabled people to live fruitful and independent lives. Let’s thank God for prayers answered last year, and pray with renewed faith in 2012.

Livability supports disabled people to live as independently as possible

Week beginning 22 January At this time of the year, we often turn our thoughts to the coming holiday season to keep us going through cold winter days. Livability provides hotels and self-catering breaks for disabled people and their families throughout the holiday season.

Give thanks for all the staff who work hard to provide this service. Pray that all the people they serve will enjoy a well-deserved break this year.

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Week beginning 29 January Please pray for all those preparing for the London Marathon in April to raise vital funds for causes like our own.

Participants include Lorraine Eagles, an administrator at one of Livability’s care homes.

Lorraine (inset) and all our runners dedicate many hours to training and fundraising

Lorraine has been fundraising furiously and training hard to ensure she finishes the course. Pray for Lorraine and other race entrants; for confidence, mental strength and physical resilience – and a great sense of achievement afterwards!

Inspiring prayer If life is a marathon rather than a sprint, take a few minutes to reflect what stage you have reached. Pray for Livability service users as they persevere through testing times and experience the highs and lows of their own journeys.

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Focus on... our Enterprise Agency Disabled people are more than twice as likely to be unemployed as able-bodied people. Livability is tackling this with our new Enterprise Agency, which offers advice and expertise on setting up a business.

Carol, a librarian for 30 years, had to leave her job when she was treated for a brain tumour. She has been left with limited concentration and energy, but wanted to work “for my independence and income, and my self-worth – it’s amazing how much selfworth is wrapped up in having a job you love”. An experienced seamstress, Carol had helped with costumes for amateur dramatics groups for ten years, and felt fancy dress hire would be an ideal business to run. A local advisory service put her in touch with Livability, a link-up which has made all the difference.

“It’s quite a scary business negotiating with the bank, government channels and grants on your own,” says Carol. “Livability took the pressure off me and streamlined the whole process so much.

Without them, I would have been floundering.” Carol launched in autumn 2011 with 250 costumes, offering a personalised selection and alteration service. She was “absolutely thrilled” when she discovered Livability’s Christian ethos, because she comes from a strong Christian background.

Please pray for Carol and other Enterprise clients

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February We also rejoice in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character; and character, hope. Romans 5:3-4 Week beginning 5 February Please pray for the refurbishment at Dolphin Court in Southend-on-Sea. We are slowly transforming the bathroom facilities at Dolphin Court so all residents have access to their own bathroom and shower.

However, now more than ever, we are praying for funds so the work can continue. It provides so much independence and freedom for residents.

Married couple Colin and Wendy now enjoy improved facilities and greater privacy

Last November we lost our dear colleague Abi Hollingworth. Abi was a senior member of the fundraising team, and worked hard to raise vital money for our services. Please pray for her grieving family and colleagues at this sad time.

Abi made a huge difference to many through her work

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February Week beginning 12 February Christian community charities are generally small which makes it hard to invest in training. Livability’s Community Mission team offers affordable Christian training for community Hungry for knowledge: workers. Pray that those who a delegate at one of need our events are able to our Community attend this year.

Mission training days

Week beginning 19 February Livability chief executive Mike Smith joined Livability Overseas recently, to give the keynote speech at a spinal injury conference. This brought together health professionals from south-east Asia. Please pray for Livability Overseas’ work in the coming year, that it will result in improved health for many.

Mike meets a spinal injury patient

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Week beginning 26 February Making a transition from college to adult life can be a very challenging time for young disabled people.

Communication limitations can add to the difficulties.

Our students are using simple video cameras to make short, personal films about transitions for our website. Please pray that this will prove a great resource online for disabled young people.

Livability students are learning to communicate their stories through the medium of film

The government is reviewing the way that disabled people access services. Although major change is on the horizon, the details are far from clear. Please pray for Livability’s leaders as they take the organisation through this unpredictable time of change.

Inspiring prayer Think back to a difficult situation you have faced in the past – reflect on how you managed to get through it by persevering in God’s strength. Pray for similar strength for Livability staff and service users.

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Focus on...

Community Mission Community work can be lonely and tough, which is why Livability’s Community Mission team supports those who do it. The team recently invited experienced community development worker Dave Andrews to speak at a number of events. Dave spent 11 years working with an Indian slum community and 20 years in downtown Brisbane, Australia. He believes all Christians are called to build community locally as well as share their faith.

At our “Be the Change” event in Leeds, Dave spoke to 80 delegates working in tough areas of towns and cities – now even tougher after recent cuts.

Afterwards, 85 per cent of the delegates said they felt better equipped. One delegate said: “The teaching was inspiring, practical, honest and thought-provoking. I loved so much of it being rooted in story and experience.”

Please pray that all delegates will remember a challenge from the day – it is religious just to quote the Bible, but revolutionary to live it out. Pray that churches and Christian communities in your area will model God's love.

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“Be the Change” delegates were keen to learn from Dave’s insights and hard-won experience

March You have persevered and have endured hardships for my name, and have not grown weary.

Revelation 2:3

Week beginning 4 March Computer systems provide vital support to every aspect of Livability’s operation, so please pray for smooth running of our systems, hardware, software and processes. Also ask God for wisdom and help in carrying out new and current projects and services, particularly in the areas of timing and financial investment.

Residents online at one of our residential centres

Week beginning 11 March Please pray for Livability’s new Director of Fundraising and Communications Philip Roethenbaugh (right) for guidance and wisdom. Let's ask God for a time of renewed success in securing much-needed funding for our work.

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March Week beginning 18 March After 18 months of planning and hard work, Livability’s new website is launched, giving a brand-new look to the charity. Give thanks for the web manager and web design team, who made this happen.

Livability’s website is our professional face online, allowing people to find out more about our services

Please thank God for our staff. Financial constraints mean that we haven’t been able to award staff a cost of living pay increase for the past few years. But despite this, staff remain committed to providing the best possible services.

We were delighted to receive a letter from Lambeth Palace in which the Archbishop of Canterbury thanked us for our Prayer Diary and offered to include prayers for Livability in a week of special intercession. Please give thanks for clergy around the country who minister to our service users..

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Pause for thought “Teach me, O God, to use all the circumstances of my life today so they may bring forth the fruits of holiness rather than the fruits of sin. “Let me use disappointment as material for patience. Let me use success as material for thankfulness. Let me use suspense as material for perseverance. Let me use danger as material for courage. Let me use reproach as material for longsuffering. Let me use praise as material for humility.

Let me use pleasures as material for temperance. Let me use pains as material for endurance.�

John Baillie (1886-1960)

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March Week beginning 25 March We are currently redeveloping John Grooms Court, our residential care home in Norwich. Pray that residents’ lives won’t be too disrupted by the work, and the work will stay on budget. The refurbishment is scheduled to finish this month. Please pray for a successful completion so all residents can enjoy the new building. We are thankful to all who have donated and been involved in this significant project.

Local MP Chloe Smith visits John Grooms Court, Norwich, as building work starts

Please also continue to pray for our Sparkle Appeal – raising money for a hydrotherapy pool at Victoria Education Centre. We are now 60 per cent of the way to our target, thanks to many people’s generosity. Pray that we will be able to raise the remainder of the money quickly.

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Focus on... people who make a difference

Lucina is honoured by our patron HRH, The Princess Royal

Did you know that Livability has more than 1,600 employees? Working hands-on with disabled people means that our services are only as good as the staff team that provides them. Each year, the Princess Royal Livability Awards recognise exceptional staff members who have gone the extra mile to support our service users.

One of this year’s winners is Lucina Nash. Although just eighteen years old, she has impressed us with her commitment and perseverance, as well as her sense of humour. Lucina joined Livability in 2010 and began working with students at Nash College.

Unfortunately, the funding for her role was withdrawn after just a few months.

However, this didn’t stop Lucina. She continued coming to Nash College as a volunteer, even attending training days. We have recently offered her a formal apprenticeship, the first apprentice that we’ve ever had at the college.

Please thank God for the difference our outstanding staff make to the people they work with.

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April Blessed is the man who perseveres under trial, because when he has stood the test, he will receive the crown of life...

James 1:12

Week beginning 1 April Easter is a great time for churches to reach out to their local community and Livability has joined up with Tearfund to equip Christians to transform their communities. Please pray for God's blessing on Christians engaged in community work.

Week beginning 8 April Livability’s colleges have been educating disabled young people for many years, but we are always looking for ways to provide better services that reach out to more students. As the message of Easter offers us new hope and rebirth, please pray for energy, wisdom and creativity as we review and improve our post-19 education services this year.

Livability colleges offer disabled young people vital opportunities to develop skills for independent adult life

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Week beginning 15 April This Sunday is London Marathon day: please pray for our staff member Lorraine Eagles (featured on p7) who will be putting her fitness on the line for the Livability cause.

Once again, please give thanks for Livability Friends groups who are working energetically with local communities across the country to raise awareness and vital funds for Livability services.

Week beginning 22 April Have you got Olympic or Paralympic tickets? This summer’s Paralympics will raise awareness of disability in a new way. Please pray that Livability will be able to use this great opportunity to talk about the struggles that disabled people face on a daily basis.

Olympian Dame Tanni Grey-Thompson inspired disabled athletes at the Shaftesbury Lecture last October

Pray too for disabled people around the country, that they will be inspired by stories of sporting success and raise their hopes for the future. And pray for us, as we support them to reach their aspirations.

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April Week beginning 29 April Work experience is an important part of a student’s learning at Hinwick Hall, our further education college in Northamptonshire. Please pray for successful placements and that each student will gain skills and confidence in the workplace.

Louise has gained confidence and self-esteem from vocational training at Hinwick college

Inspiring prayer Reread the four Bible verses on perseverance in this edition. Meditate for a few minutes on the one that speaks to you most. Ask God to refresh you and give you new strength for the challenges ahead.

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Pause for thought The very tedium, the act of waiting itself, works to nourish in us qualities of patience, persistence, trust, gentleness, compassion – or it may do so, if we place ourselves in the stream of God’s movement on earth.

Philip Yancey

We must repeat the same supplications not twice or three times only, but as often as we have need, a hundred and a thousand times... we must never be weary in waiting for God’s help.

John Calvin

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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