Together we transform lives: see the difference you're making.
I’m delighted to introduce our first 2026 issue of Shaftesbury News.
This magazine is about celebrating the people we support and the dedicated teams and communities that stand alongside them, including you, our loyal supporters.
Last year was incredibly busy for Shaftesbury.
We broke new ground for the organisation with the opening of our Memory and Dementia Support service in Suffolk and the launch of our Learning Academy for staff.
We welcomed our Patron, Her Royal Highness
The Princess Royal, to Shaftesbury Ivy Lodge in Bournemouth and transported some of our supporters back to Victorian London at a special event at the Ragged School Museum.
And at the heart of our work, we supported more than 4,000 children, young people and adults across our disability care, rehabilitation and special education services.
We have plenty to look forward to in the coming year. We will begin running our first short breaks service for children and young people with disabilities and are expanding the Learning Academy by providing courses for the people we support. We call this Learning Together or side-byside learning; I think this is a powerful phrase and will produce powerful outcomes.
Our development and growth are only possible with your support, so as ever, I thank you for your continued commitment.
Until next time,
Sally Chivers Chief Executive
Life changed in an instant
Meet Matthew, whose world turned upside down following a tragic accident
4 Childhood memory inspires donation to Shaftesbury appeal
Find out why it meant so much to Joan to contribute to the renovation of Shaftesbury Talbot Manor 6 Students benefit from animal assisted therapy
Find out how animals will soon be playing a part in Shaftesbury's education work
7 Picking up the pace at Shaftesbury Bradbury Court
Learn how vibrant and varied activities bring joy to the people we support
9
From a hill farm to the House of Lords
Discover the journey of our Vice-President, Lord Curry of Kirkharle CBE
10
Make your Will
Discover how Shaftesbury's free Will service could help you plan for the future
11 Why I'm running a marathon for Shaftesbury
Hear from Kate, who's taking on 26.2 miles in aid of Shaftesbury 12 Parallel Windsor
Find out how you can lace up your running shoes to support Shaftesbury
Life changed in an instant
One of the most important things in Matthew’s life is spending time with his precious children.
As a hard-working, family man, it’s something he used to be able to take for granted.
His Support Worker at Shaftesbury Ashley Place, Belinda, told us: “Matthew worked at Army and Navy for 11 years. He was a sociable man and used to love to do barbecues and teach his girls how to cook traditional Nigerian food.”
Life changed in an instant when Matthew fell off his push bike, hit his head on the kerb and suffered a catastrophic brain injury.
He’s now non-verbal and non-mobile, which means quality time with his three daughters is more important than ever.
After his injury and medical treatment, Matthew went to a residential home some distance away from his family. He didn’t get to see them much, which was hard for all of them. But after he
moved to Shaftesbury Ashley Place, his situation improved signifcantly.
Matthew can now play a big role in his daughters’ lives. They visit often, especially for occasions like Christmas, Easter and Halloween.
Matthew is supported to buy them gifts and in August last year, they went to a family wedding together.
It was a very special day, Belinda told us. “The girls were all over their dad. It was quite emotional,” she said.
Matthew’s story is a stark reminder of how disability can affect any one of us and our families. It shows how some people supported by Shaftesbury face unimaginable challenges and how the dedication of our staff teams can help overcome barriers.
If you’d like to support our work with a donation today, please visit shaftesburygroup.org/spring-news or call us on 0191 500 9176
Childhood memory inspires donation to Shaftesbury appeal
It means a lot to Joan to help us re-open the doors of Shaftesbury Talbot Manor. As a child in the 1940s, she lived close by the house in Bournemouth and has fond memories of it as a boys’ home.
Joan has not returned for many years but was delighted to see the building feature in our Christmas 2025 Opening Doors appeal. We are aiming to raise £600,000 to transform the building into a state-of-the-art home for adults with complex health needs.
Thanks to the generosity of people like Joan, we’re almost there.
Part of the Shaftesbury family for over 40 years, the home is temporarily closed for renovation. When it reopens, it will provide 10 people with en-suite bedrooms, integrated assistive technology, round-the-clock nursing care and welcoming communal spaces.
Crucially, it will also be a place where they can build their confidence, independence and live a life that adds up for them.
Now in her 80s, Joan has actively supported Shaftesbury for decades. She attributes this to a lifelong admiration of our founder, the 7th Earl of Shaftesbury. His Christian values continue to inspire our work and resonate strongly with Joan.
She now lives in Suffolk but instantly recognised the name Talbot Manor when our Christmas appeal landed on her doormat. Fond memories
of growing up on a neighbouring farm inspired her to make a generous contribution towards the renovation project.
“My parents, my mother especially, would be thrilled. My donation honours them. The boys’ home represents a happy time of my life. What appeals to me most is the idea of the new residents having their own rooms and facilities,” says Joan.
“I’m getting on now, so I’d like my money to do something useful. To hear about this has been wonderful, I’m thrilled to bits!”
The Gothic building was purpose-built in 1890 as the Talbot Manor Home for Destitute Boys, and was run by The Children’s Society. It closed in 1984 until October 2024 when it became a Shaftesbury home for 12 adults with disabilities. Joan discovered later in life that her father had been in a workhouse. It’s given her a strong belief in the concept of ‘loving thy neighbour as thy self’ and helps explain her longstanding commitment to Shaftesbury:
“It’s important people know about Lord Shaftesbury and what he did for poor people in this country. He was a wonderful man and I’ve been an admirer of his almost all my life.”
We have had an incredible response from our Opening Doors Christmas appeal. Emma Smith, Shaftesbury’s Executive Director for Fundraising and Communications, said:
"There's a critical shortage of suitable housing for people with complex needs. Talbot Manor will play a crucial role in meeting that demand, and we're hugely grateful to everyone who has supported our appeal."
Students to benefit from animal-assisted therapy
For
many of us, animals can bring a sense of calm. They have a remarkable way of grounding us. For children and young people with disabilities, that connection can help build confidence, emotional regulation and improve wellness.
At our specialist FE college, near Poole, Dorset, we see the therapeutic benefits of spending time with animals every day.
Animal care is woven into the college’s enterprise curriculum, offering hands- on opportunities for students to learn about animal behaviour and welfare. As students feed the chickens, clean out the paddocks or observe the donkeys, they begin to recognise the animals’ needs and emotions and relate them to their own.
For some students, regulating emotions or remaining focused on tasks can be challenging. Heading outdoors and being close to animals can help reduce anxiety or frustration and enable them to reset, ready to return to learning.
Seeing these benefits has led us to explore how animal-assisted interventions can be integrated into structured therapeutic and educational programmes in a more formal way.
In the autumn, members of our therapy team at Shaftesbury Victoria School took their first steps on this journey. During an introductory session
at the college, therapists explored how to interact with the donkeys, learning how they respond to handling and what they need to feel comfortable to work with their handlers. Sessions will continue as the weather improves and a training plan is underway for the donkeys and the therapy team. There is a lot of work to do, but we hope to be able to introduce our first animal-assisted therapy sessions with students over the course of the summer term.
A huge thank you from Director for Education Adele Audin to everyone involved in the plans for this exciting project.
From a hill farm to the House of Lords
Our Vice-President Lord Curry of Kirkharle has spent decades in public service; speaking up on behalf of rural communities, advising prime ministers, and working alongside the future King Charles III.
In 1990, driven by his strong Christian faith, he set up At Home in the Community, a charity supporting children with disabilities in a Christian setting, which later became part of Shaftesbury.
A new biography, Not a Toff, written by Jim Cockburn charts Lord Curry’s extraordinary journey from his hill farm in Northumberland to the House of Lords, showcasing a life guided and shaped by his faith, a down-to-earth
approach and a strong dedication to helping others – just as our work is at Shaftesbury.
Lord Curry has shown this dedication once again by generously donating half the proceeds from Not a Toff to Shaftesbury. We’re extremely grateful to him for his ongoing support.
You can find a copy and help support us at Amazon or Malcolm Down Publishing.
Do you remember the John Groom flower girls?
The plight of Victorian London's flower girls inspired John Groom – one of our charity's forefathers – to dedicate his life to improving the lives of people with disabilities. In 1866, he founded The Watercress and Flower Girls’ Christian Mission, providing hot food and a place to wash and mend clothes at rented premises near Covent Garden flower market.
Over the next 75 years, the enterprise expanded to include a soup kitchen, school and orphanages and factories making artificial flowers for sale all year round, picking up two royal commissions along the way.
By the time Groom’s charity moved its focus to supporting adults with disabilities after the second world war, thousands of young girls had benefitted.
Do you remember anything about the John Groom flower girls? Maybe you knew someone who was a flower girl? Or perhaps you still have one of the artificial flowers they made? We would love to hear your memories communications@shaftesbury.org.uk
Picking up the pace at Shaftesbury Bradbury Court
It’s Wednesday afternoon at Shaftesbury Bradbury Court and Charlie ‘the music man’ is here for his regular session. The people we support have mentioned his name throughout the morning, so it’s clear music-making is a firm favourite on the activity schedule.
There’s disco music blasting out and Charlie’s infectious energy has lifted the room. He has greeted everyone by name while improvising an upbeat tune on his portable electric keyboard.
People are clapping or singing along to the music, waving their hands, nodding and smiling. Some are shaking handheld percussion instruments and those without sufficient grip have the option of miniature bells secured to their wrist to jingle to the beat.
If you’re looking for a Shaftesbury service with vibrant, fun activities, Bradbury Court sets the bar high. The music-making follows a baking session earlier in the day, which produced a huge carrot cake.
The activities are led by Enabling Support Worker Chigo. Since joining Shaftesbury, she has taken on responsibility for the monthly timetable, planning several activities each day, in groups or 1:1 sessions.
Katrina, one of the most enthusiastic participants, says:
“She’s very good for all of us, and she’s a great carer too, so very kind.”
Participation is high, Chigo explains, because the people we support shape the programme:
“They give me feedback in a survey. Some will tell you exactly what they like at the time. If they don’t like the activity, they will move away. I always know what they want more of.”
Cooking is popular. Other favourites include arts and crafts, make-up and manicure, yoga and book club. “You should see the bingo – it gets quite competitive!” Chigo jokes.
She is animated talking about her role and the beaming smile tells you why she has proved
such a hit. She radiates compassion and it clearly makes her happy to see residents taking part and having a good time:
“Their wellbeing and enjoyment are what brings me joy. It’s giving residents light in their lives and a desire to look forward to the day.”
Nothing is compulsory. Everyone at Shaftesbury is supported to be as independent as they can, including making choices about joining group activities.
Christopher likes gaming on his computer and is a big Manchester United fan. He enjoys his independence, often preferring to do his own thing in his room. But there’s no denying he’s a fan of the music-making! He makes his own way to the session in his electric wheelchair and is soon waving his arm in time to the music, a huge grin on his face.
Brian loved his routines but began to discover the fun of trying something different and took a chance on the National Avocado Day event. Brian loved the hands-on session, learning how to tell when an avocado is ready to eat. “The next day he asked me: ‘Chigo, what are we doing today?’” she recalls. Now, when
asked about his favourite activities, Brian has no hesitation: “Cooking! And bingo!” he says.
Others need less encouragement. Katrina is very outgoing and was into the activities from the start. “She loves it ALL! It’s so rewarding to see,” reflects Chigo.
Shaftesbury Bradbury Court is home to people with more complex needs. Referring to those who are non-verbal, Chigo says: “To see them react or respond to an activity gives me the most joy. They may smile, giggle, move their hands with excitement. It tells me they are engaged. You know you are enriching their lives, which makes the effort I put in so worth it.
“This role is about making each day a joyful experience for residents in their own way, however that looks for them,” she says.
The success of the programme is down to the planning and presentation, Chigo believes. She did training to enhance the look of the timetable and produces a vibrant monthly newsletter. She also prints a weekly timetable for everyone to have in their rooms, so they know what is happening each day. Chigo says proudly:
“I’m the kind of person that sees a need and desires to fill the need. I like to make things work. This is my passion.”
This spring, you can write your Will for free and help us shape the future for the
We’ve partnered with Octopus Legacy to make this easy (and free) for you.
If you create your free Will today, you can have peace of mind knowing your wishes will be respected, and your loved ones taken care of. Including a gift to Shaftesbury in your Will could allow us to remove the barriers that stop people with disabilities from living a life that adds up for them now, and for generations to come.
We will cover the cost of your Will up to £150, so you can write or update a simple Will for free or get a Will with trust at a discounted rate.*
Be remembered not just for who you were, but for the lives you changed and the future you helped build.
You can arrange your Will in
Why I'm running a marathon for Shaftesbury
I’m Kate, a 40-something accountant, running my own business – and now a marathon!
I live in West Sussex with my husband and two teenagers and I’m raising money for Shaftesbury by competing in this year’s London Marathon.
Like many of us, I have friends and family members living with a disability. When I saw an opportunity to fundraise for this invaluable charity, I couldn't say no!
It won't be easy, but if I can endure some temporary pain and raise money for a cause that matters to me, it will be worth it.
Learning about Shaftesbury through a close family member, I was inspired by the work and how many people depend on this charity –and how it relies on fundraising and grants to continue changing lives.
How I'm managing the training
Training for a marathon is a huge challenge on top of a full-time job and busy family life. It can be overwhelming and often demotivating. So I'm trying not to think too far ahead –focusing on a 7.5k run on a Tuesday before work feels more manageable than 200k by the end of the month.
When it’s cold and rainy, it’s tempting to skip a run. But I know it must be done, so I lace up the trainers, turn up the music and get going. I've also dusted off the bikes so my husband or one of my teenagers can cycle alongside me on longer runs. Their company makes the miles pass more quickly and keeps me motivated.
Fundraising
Fundraising can be daunting. Most of us ask family and friends. If it’s uncomfortable asking for sponsorship, you could host an event asking guests to make a donation, or request sponsorship instead of gifts/cards if you have a birthday or celebration.
I play five-a-side football, so will be arranging a mini tournament with match fees going towards my fundraising. It’s fun, and an opportunity to raise awareness about Shaftesbury and why I’m doing this.
It’s also good to make use of work contacts. Some employers may even match fund you. I will be asking my accountancy clients to match fund donations my company makes.
Thoughts about the day
I can't wait for 26th April! I'm lucky to have so much support from family and I know everyone will be willing me on. I feel privileged to do this and raise vital funds for Shaftesbury.
It’s going to hurt to keep going for 26.2 miles, but by the time the big day arrives, it will really just be the victory lap.
If you’re inspired by Kate’s story, and would like to take on your own challenge, including the 2027 TCS London Marathon visit our website www.shaftesburygroup.org/get-involved/events or call Sonia on 07919 598272 for more information.
