Prayer Diary
Mar 2026 – Aug 2026
Prayers for YOU
If you are bereaved or in low spirits…
Heavenly Father, shine a light upon my path and fill me with your peace. Grant me the strength to face each day. May I feel your presence to lift my heart and be carried by precious memories of loved ones.
Amen.
Gracious God, help me see the light that still shines, even in the darkest night. Help me see a way forward by lifting my spirits and renewing hope. May I feel your strength and know your presence Amen.
Welcome to our Prayer Diary
Dear friends,
Welcome to our twice-yearly Prayer Diary. Through this diary, we ask for your prayerful support for our work. With every edition, we also now include prayers for you; this time the focus is on your inner strength at times of challenge.
This spring, we reflect on how everyone has a light to shine — through personality, kindness, faith and presence.
For the summer months, we celebrate moments of joy in our everyday lives. It’s a reminder that life’s journey is not just about
the destination, but the ordinary, the challenging and the joyful moments along the way.
We’re grateful for the people supported by Shaftesbury who have written some of the prayers and are regularly praying for others in our community. As part of our commitment to use simple language and avoid jargon, you may notice the wording and style of our prayers has been adapted.
Thank you for being a loyal prayer partner and for supporting us to improve lives.
Until next time,
Sally Chivers Chief Executive
PS Have you seen the online Prayer Diary? It includes the same content but saves on print and postage costs. If you’d like to receive your Prayer Diary electronically, go to www. shaftesburygroup.org/prayer or scan the QR code:
Spring flowers
Being outdoors
Seeing friends
March
Our theme for spring: “Let your light shine before others” Matthew 5:16
Week 1
Gracious God, St David’s Day, Dydd Dewi Sant, is a reminder to give thanks for our services in Wales. We pray the people we support there can be proud of who they are and have confidence in their abilities. We give thanks for the dedication and expertise of our staff and volunteers in Wales. Amen.
Week 2
Lord, we pray for our frontline support workers who work so hard to make a difference to people’s lives. We pray for encouragement so they can empower the people they support to shine. Amen.
Week 3
Father in Heaven, as we approach Mothering Sunday, we pray for mothers caring for children and young people with disabilities and for the people we support who are parents themselves. We pray for your guidance in challenging times. May they know your love, Lord. We offer thanks for all who parent. Amen.
Week 4
Dear God, we pray for people with disabilities who have felt isolated over the winter. As we move into spring, we pray they can get out more and experience connection with other people. Give them the confidence to shine, Lord. Amen.
Tina
+ Cooking + Knitting + Eating out
What makes life add up for Tina?
When Tina was born prematurely with cerebral palsy, her parents were advised by doctors she would be unlikely to survive beyond six months. Having now reached her 70s, Tina remains determined to live life to the full, despite being unable to walk or stand unaided.
Supported at Shaftesbury Bradbury Court in Harrow, Tina counts each day as a blessing, delighting in the fact she has defied all the odds.
She joins our prayer circle via Zoom and often reads out the prayer for the week from this guide.
“I know it’s best for me to be here. I would get lonely otherwise. I’m at risk of getting ill or falling over, which means I need someone to be around in order to feel safe. There is always someone here for me – that’s really important,” she says.
Tina has lived at Shaftesbury Bradbury Court for over two years and never wants to leave: “I’m just really happy here. This is my home.”
Why our work matters
Disability can create barriers in people’s lives making them more susceptible to loneliness, isolation, unemployment, hardship or mistreatment.
By focusing on what matters most to the people we support, we help them overcome barriers, enabling them to lead full and meaningful lives.
What makes life liveable is never down to just one thing – it’s the sum of many things. At Shaftesbury, we use Life Sums to tailor support according to individual need.
A Life Sum is a personalised list of things that bring joy or comfort in a combination unique to us all. It helps us ensure that life adds up for each and every person we support.
Support
Please support us so we can continue to make life add up for children, young people and adults with disabilities.
Donate online at www.shaftesburygroup.org/donate
Thank you.
April Let us pray
Dear God, help us radiate your love and bring hope to those in need. Give us strength to live out your truth in our daily lives. We pray for those who are bereaved or finding life difficult. Please comfort them in their grief. Amen. Support Family Friendship
Week 1
Almighty God, thank you for the cross of Jesus. As people who live with disabilities, we know what it’s like when our hands won’t work. We know what it’s like when legs won’t support us. We know what it’s like when we struggle to breathe. We know what it’s like for others to moisten our lips with a sponge. Thank you that we are the body of Christ. Amen
*Written by a member of our prayer circle
Week 2
Lord, at Eastertide we thank you for the gift of new life. May people born with disabilities know your love and have your light shine upon them always. We pray for them to be fully included by churches, faith groups and society. We give thanks for time spent together at this special time of year. Amen.
Week 3
Creator God, we thank you. We are made in your image. Perfect and loved. Perfect and unique. Perfect and independent yet perfect and dependent on others. As the prayer circle gathers each Monday, we support and encourage each other. We thank you that we are your creation and that you are well pleased. Amen
*Written by a member of our prayer circle
Week 4
Heavenly Father, we pray for all those involved in planning of a new short breaks service for children. We give thanks for the small acts of compassion that shine light on the Shaftesbury community. May people with disabilities know the joy of feeling valued and cherished. We pray they can lead meaningful, fulfilling lives. Amen.
Week 5
Loving God, our lives are complicated at times but never boring or ordinary. Our bodies are painful at times. Our brains are busy. On our own we can struggle. We pray Shaftesbury as a team can shine light to the world. Amen.
*Written by a member of our prayer circle
Why our work matters
Research published by the government in 2025 evidenced the wide range of barriers having a detrimental effect on the lives of people with disabilities.
One such barrier is accessibility. There are ‘persistent obstacles’ including communication and transport, with many spaces not well designed or supported, despite some improvements.*
*Source: The lived experience of disabled people in the UK: a review of evidence, The Cabinet Office Disability Unit, July 2025
Overcoming barriers
Wheelchairs have been a long-running problem for people supported at Shaftesbury New Court Place in Hertfordshire. It can take years for residents to be issued with a new one by the service provider and parts for damaged wheelchairs take too long to be delivered.
Getting out in the local area is also problematic as the pavements are uneven, making it uncomfortable for wheelchair users.
Sir Oliver Dowden, MP visited this Shaftesbury service to understand residents’ frustrations. After he raised the issue in Parliament, the provider arranged a clinic for anyone with a wheelchair issue. Problems relating to hospital transport and inaccessible pavements were also followed up with the relevant authorities.
“They should make it a priority for us to be happy with our wheelchairs. I was very pleased Sir Oliver came to listen to all of us,” said Walid, one of the residents.
Comfort Days out Reading Music
May
Let us pray
Lord, we give thanks for our family members and for everyone that shares with us their time, their friendship, their support and their love. Please fill our homes with your peace and guide us to share your love with everyone we meet. In Jesus’ name we pray. Amen
*Written by a staff member
Week 1
Almighty God, we pray for people with disabilities who are unable to be at home with loved ones. We think especially of children and young people living apart from their families. May they take comfort from visitors and the connection they share with others in the Shaftesbury community. Amen.
Week 2
Dear Jesus, Light of the world, thank you for making us beautiful. Help us to shine like stars. Jesus, you came to earth as a human like us, vulnerable and in need of care support. We thank you for the hands and hearts of all who care for us. Amen.
*Written by a member of our prayer circle
Week 3
Gracious God, in Dementia Action Week, we pray for people living with memory loss and dementia. We know this can be an anxious and confusing time for individuals and their families. We give thanks for our team of dementia advisors in Suffolk. We pray they can bring wisdom and new ideas on how to live with symptoms to people affected by memory loss. Amen.
Our team of dementia advisors in Suffolk
Week 4
Lord Jesus Christ, help Shaftesbury within the coming years to grow and grow. Guide people working with Shaftesbury, people who support us in our homes, as they help us to live our lives to the full. Amen.
*Written by a person we support
Why our work matters
The number of pupils with special educational needs (SEN) in England has significantly increased, according to government figures.* There are more than 1.7m pupils identified as having SEN, an increase of 93,700 since 2024.
Shaftesbury’s specialist school and colleges aim to secure the best possible outcomes for children and young people with disabilities, giving them the opportunity to learn and grow.
We work closely with families and commissioners to provide support through education, training and community partnerships. Our provision actively promotes inclusion and emotional wellness for children and young people.
*Source: Special educational needs in England, Academic year 2024/25, Department for Education
Helping young people to Thrive
Lee* is a teenager with profound learning disabilities and autism who is supported by Thrive, Shaftesbury’s children’s service in the North East.
When Thrive first got involved, Lee was only managing an hour of school each day, and his parents were struggling to cope.
A support worker shadowed him at school over a period of eight months to gain his trust and give him more confidence through structure and routine. It made such a difference that Lee was eventually able to attend school full-time.
*Name has been changed
Support
Your donation means we can continue providing an exceptional level of care for children and young people.
Please support our work by donating at www.shaftesburygroup.org/donate
Thank you.
June
Our theme for summer:
“The joy of the Lord is your strength” Nehemiah 8:10
Week 1
Father in Heaven, this week we celebrate and give thanks for all our volunteers who regularly give up their time to help Shaftesbury services. May they know how valued and appreciated they are. We pray that supporting people with disabilities is a rewarding and uplifting experience that enriches lives. Amen.
Week 2
Lord, we pray for the teachers and support staff in our education settings. We know this to be a busy time of year for schools and colleges. We pray for our students as they sit their exams. May they feel your unconditional love and peace. Amen.
Week 3
Gracious God, we give thanks for fathers and the important role they play. We pray especially for those facing hardship as a result of a disability. We pray for people we support who are parents. We ask for blessings for fathers caring for children with disabilities. May they know your presence, Lord. Amen.
Shaftesbury Victoria School
Week 4
We pray for the clergy and leaders who help sustain the faith of all those in our community. We offer thanks for people with learning disabilities who are supported to express their faith in meaningful ways. Help us recognise what their stories of faith can teach us. Amen.
Why our work matters
Studies* show that the likelihood of mental health problems is higher for people with a learning disability. This can be explained by genetics or a higher incidence of negative life events. Access to fewer resources and coping skills can also be a contributing factor, as can the impact of societal attitudes towards people with a learning disability.
*Source: www.mencap.org.uk
Matthew
+ Nights out
+ Friends
+ Confidence
Finding a community
Matthew is supported one-to-one by Shaftesbury Anvil House in Essex due to his distress behaviours.
He struggles with his self-esteem and feelings of rejection so is supported to attend events for adults with learning difficulties at local nightspots. Being able to go out in the evenings and make new friends has really improved his confidence.
“This is exactly what a 33-year old should be doing. The new friends ask after him if he’s not there which makes him feel good about himself,” says Service Delivery Lead, Carolyn.
In the two years since he joined Shaftesbury, Matthew has really come out of himself and is so much happier.
July
Let us pray
Lord, as the academic year comes to an end, we think of our school and college students. We pray for safe travel for those going on holiday. We ask you to comfort those who find the lack of structure and routine difficult. We pray for parents and families who may feel extra pressure over the summer. Amen.
Week 1
Lord, we pray for people supported by Shaftesbury to live independently. Grant them courage and resilience to overcome barriers they face in life. We pray they are treated compassionately by the communities they live in. Amen.
Week 2
Dear Lord, we pray for those with communication challenges. May they feel safe and secure in the support they receive in order to be understood by those around them. We pray staff have patience and resilience to offer the best possible care and improve quality of life for the people we support. May they be filled with your love and feel your presence. Amen.
Week 3
Almighty God, we pray for all the people supported by Shaftesbury. May they find comfort and friendship in our community and experience joy in their everyday lives. We pray they feel safe, listened to and respected. Amen.
Week 4
Lord God, we thank you for our managers and senior leadership team. Help them to know they are your dearly loved children. Please help them to think clearly in their planning and to lead with integrity. Amen.
*Written by a person we support
Week 5
Heavenly Father, we pray for young children with disabilities. We ask for guidance for parents seeking specialist educational provision. We give thanks for the dedication and expertise of staff at our school and colleges. Amen.
Why our work matters
Government data* shows that the number of people reporting a long-term health condition and the number classed as disabled continues to rise. Nearly one in four of the working-age population (aged 16-64) were classed as having a disability between April and June 2025 (10.4m).
The increase in disability is associated with an increase in people reporting mental health conditions and “other health problems or disabilities”.
*Source: Department of Work and Pensions report on the employment of disabled people, updated November 2025
Supported back to work
Cara was still in her 40s when she experienced a stroke that left her with a lasting brain injury.
As a single mum to two school age daughters, Cara needed support from our specialist rehabilitation service to overcome the physical challenges caused by the stroke, but also to help cope with the longer-term emotional impact.
Returning to work as a teaching assistant was a daunting prospect – made harder by the fact Cara has an unseen disability. Her symptoms include extreme fatigue, sensory overload, headaches and reduced physical resilience.
Shaftesbury Icanho offered a holistic approach, which included family counselling and liaison with Cara’s employer to facilitate a phased return to work. It meant adjustments could be made to accommodate her brain injury.
Our brain injury rehabilitation service enables clients to see they have a future once their formal rehabilitation ends. Please support this work by donating at www.shaftesburygroup.org/donate
Thank you.
August Let us pray
Dear God, we thank you for the fun and friendship at our day centres. These are important community hubs, offering a warm welcome to all who attend. Thank you for the sense of reward and fulfilment that motivates staff and volunteers at the centres. Amen.
Week 1
Dear God, alone I don’t feel much joy. Today I feel weak. I get sad at times. I struggle as a person living with disability. Then I remember you. Creator God, thank you. Thank you for the joy of everything you have made. Thank you for strength inspired by your beauty. Amen.
*Written by a member of our prayer circle.
Week 2
Lord, thank you for all our donors and supporters. Through their generosity we can provide the best possible care for children, young people and adults with disabilities. We pray for sufficient funding to continue expanding our work to benefit as many people as possible. Amen.
Week 3
Loving Jesus, people look at us with complex disability and think we can do little. We remember when you became a human baby you were helpless and tearful. We remember that when you were on the cross all you could do was cry out. We thank you for the lives we change just by being us. Our weakness is strength. Hallelujah. Amen.
*Written by a member of our prayer circle
Week 4
Father in Heaven, we pray for young people at our supported living services as they make their first steps towards independence. We pray they can guide and support each other and enjoy the sense of community. We offer thanks for the staff who encourage and support personal development, helping young people overcome barriers. Amen.
Why our work matters
Research* shows there are not enough recreational activities that are fully inclusive. Evidence gathered from people with lived experience shows how physical barriers and social stigma make it harder for people with disabilities to take part.
*Review carried out by the Centre for Disability Studies at the University of Leeds and Disability Rights UK, published in July 2025
Supported in faith
Mandy has been in residential care all her life and has been experiencing health challenges in recent years.
She takes comfort from her strong Christian faith and regards her church community as her family. It’s where she met her friend Jean over 20 years ago.
Jean helped arrange Mandy’s move to Shaftesbury Ashley Place in Bognor Regis as she felt the facilities and care were superior to anything else they looked at. Mandy loves having her own room and a sea view. She’s formed a strong bond with staff and feels happy and secure.
“Mandy’s an amazing person who has accepted her lot despite a difficult life,” said Jean.
