2014–15 - Assist Trustassist-trust.co.uk/.../01/...Annual-Review-2014-15.pdf · even a visit to Harry Potter world!). the recently launched “lunch club” is already proving to

2014–15

Progression services for people with learning difficulties Registered charity no. 1057772 Registered company no. 3206320

Members Christmas Party 2013 and Spring disco 2014

Assist trust 2014–15 3www.assist-trust.co.uk

contents

Outcomes 2014 4–5

Message from the Member’s Committee 6

Activities and groups at Assist 7

Members AGM speeches 8–9

Housing and employment 10–11

Message from the trustees 12

Plans for the future 13

Financial information and Acknowledgements 14

Diary dates for 2015 15

4 Assist trust 2014–15

outcomes in 2014

confidence and self esteem levelsBy recording progress as members try new things, speak up for themselves and volunteer information in groups etc. we have calculated that 128 individuals improved their levels of confidence and self-esteem at Assist in 2014 (over 96% of the total number of people attending – plans are in place to make that 100%!).

taking Responsibility / Attitude and motivation levelsAll members are encouraged to take more responsibility for themselves at Assist – in carefully managed ways – as part of the activities and groups which are on every timetable. internal and external work placements naturally follow on from these habits and this year we calculate that 119 individuals (89% of the total) have demonstrated a more mature attitude and higher levels of motivation as a result.

Daily Living and money skillsAll members have attended groups at Assist which are designed to help their daily living skills over the course of the 3 timetables that ran this year; taking part in cooking groups, money skills groups, out and about groups, “come dine with me”, “Healthy tuckshop”, orienteering and many others.

travel skillsAgain, all Assist members are encouraged and supported to travel to and from different Assist properties and out into the community and, when staffing levels allow, we also give intensive training for those who are ready to make journeys more independently. over the course of the year, 31 individuals were travel trained to manage specific routes in this way.

internal Work PlacementsA total of 106 individuals gained internal work placements at Assist over the course of 2014.

external Work Placements42 individuals successfully applied for external work placements with support from Assist in 2014, with the supported employment team finding 18 new placements to add to the list (see Acknowledgements section for details).

Outcome Measuring at Assist The new Assist Trust Assessment and Support tool shows the outcomes in the lives of the members which are important to them:

Key Key

Community Life

378

Last year

52338Attitude and Motivation

LevelLast year

63342

7This year

655

Category

4

This year

57

Taking ResponsibilityRelationships

CategoryDaily Living SkillsTravel SkillsMoney SkillsWork Skills

ConfidenceSelf Esteem

Level

Friendship Groups supported to social events 55 members were supported by members of staff giving up their own time over the course of the year, to go out in small friendship groups to venues of their choice (including pub visits, meals at the chinese restaurant, theatre and cinema trips and even a visit to Harry Potter world!).the recently launched “lunch club” is already proving to be very popular among members who are keen to spend more social time with their friends.


Our website has more details on how we help our member’s achieve success: www.assist-trust.co.uk

128

individuals improved their levels of confidence and self-esteem (over 96%)

89%of individuals have demonstrated a more mature attitude and higher levels of motivation

31individuals were trained to travel independently

54groups on offer throughout the year, designed to help with daily living skills

106

individuals gained internal work placements at Assist

42individuals successfully applied for external work placements

55members, supported by staff, went out socially in small friendship groups


messAGe FRom tHe memBeR’s committee

We’ve had a busy year at Assist trust.

in December our christmas Disco had a Winter Wonderland theme with pompom snowballs and a giant snowman. it was great fun, especially at the end when we had a big snowball fight with all the pompoms we’d all made.

We all like the new furniture at Lazar which arrived just after christmas, it’s very comfortable.

in march we enjoyed a spring Disco and at the end of may we were very lucky with the weather when we had our open Day up at Heath Gardens. We sold lots of plants, drank tea and ate cake, enjoyed the ferret racing (thanks Philip) and raised £550!

this year’s summer Ball’s theme was “A night at the oscars” complete with our very own life size oscar statue and lots of mini oscars which we all made. everyone dressed up and had a really good time. We had lots of posters of films (donated by the odeon cinema at Riverside) on the walls.

We’re now looking forward to this year’s christmas Disco which we will be planning with the events Group.

more and more of us have been enjoying Zumba, lots of us have got internal or external work placements, some of us have moved into Assist housing, several more members are now working towards travelling independently and a number of us have enjoyed outings and evenings out supported by staff.

once again some of the trustees have come in to visit the member’s committee and we’ve enjoyed thinking of questions to ask them on behalf of all the members and getting to know them.

sadly this year we’ve lost a few members of staff, but we are looking forward to working with and welcome our new members of staff and all the new members who have joined us.

Lots of us have got internal or external work placements and some of us have moved into Assist housing


Activities AnD GRouPs At Assist

cAse stuDies

Gary

Gary used to be an extremely shy individual who would find it difficult to answer direct questions or put his own point of view across to others.

Joining in groups and forming a circle of friends helped Gary to feel more comfortable in social situations.

“i think i am very good now, i do cooking, make sweets, my work [preparing salads and other food at the Kings centre].”Gary is also showing his new found confidence in groups by speaking up, volunteering information and asking questions about things he is not sure about.

Gino

Gino has recently increased his attendance at Assist from two to five days. Although the transition from college wasn’t easy for Gino, he is now really engaging with the groups and activities on offer, and seems to have got a lot more out of them as a result.

A key change for Gino was being treated as an adult, and being given the opportunity to test out independence in a safe environment.

“the travel training is really good, with Alison, because i like to get out and have a drink.”

Ben

Ben really enjoys the range of groups on offer at Assist, and likes to take an active part.

“i like football, i like Zumba and building employment skills and car maintenance.”For Ben, gaining independence is a daunting prospect, but gradually, he is building confidence and trust and is starting to think about the future. Groups which start to introduce these ideas, but without putting pressure on individuals, have been really helpful: “in building employment skills, we were learning different things and looking at the prices of things in cafes. We had some A3 paper and we were working out how to get to the other side and back.”

Being able to form and keep friendships and relationships is also really important to Ben. “i’ve got a good relationship with my girlfriend.”


Katie – favourite groupHi, my name is Katie.one of my favourite groups at the moment is the mousehold group.i work with Ben, he’s my boyfriend.We have bonfires and we use the wheelbarrow and we cut the plants on mousehold.it’s very good, because it’s working and i’m quite good at it.thank you very much

simon Mash – working at Notre DameHi, my name is simon.i’ve done lots of jobs at Assist.i’ve worked at norwich city college, washing up and serving.i’ve worked at Forget-me-not café, cleaning the kitchen.i’ve worked at st stephens church, wiping the tables.i now work at notre Dame school, in their dining room, washing up, cleaning the bins and cleaning the tables. i travel there independently.i am a very hard worker and had very good reports.thank you

thomas – internal jobHello, my name is thomas.my job is to get the milk on tuesday mornings at colegate.i get the milk from the orange tree café.one of the staff showed me how to get there. now i can do it on my own.i like doing this job.i feel good about it.thank You

Lauren – starting at AssistHello, my name is Lauren.When i first started at Assist, it was a bit scary. i didn’t know many people, but it was oK.i don’t feel scared now.my best friend is Jessica, we have a laugh and a joke.thank you

Lee – friends and groupsHello, my name is Lee.i have got some good friends at Assist.i have a laugh and a joke with them.We talk about films and wrestling and wrestling films!my favourite group is football, i scored 2 goals last monday.thank you very much.

these words were composed by the members in preparation for the Assist trust 2014 Annual General meeting on Wednesday 19th november at Lazar House

memBeRs AGm sPeecHes


Ellen – independent out and aboutmy name is ellen.i am going to talk to you about independent out and about.i do this on a thursday afternoon.Lucy talked to me about it. she said i am allowed to go out to the city. i usually go to the café at 2pm.i ring the staff at colegate and tell them i will be back at half past 2.i enjoy the freedom and the peace and quiet from the colegate people.thank you to Lucy and the other staff for arranging this.

shane – Working at Beechwood Pet storeHello, my name is shane.i am enjoying my work placement. i work at Beechwood Pet stores, near thunder Lane.i do stock rotation, which means putting old stuff at the back and new stuff at the front.i also do pricing up. i carry things to the car.i’m friendly to customers and i get on well with Debbie and Gary, the owners.i work from 1 to 4 and i travel by bus to get there.thank you very much.

Paddy – holiday in YarmouthHello, my name is Paddy.this year i had a holiday in Yarmouth.i stayed at a small hotel.Katie helped me book the hotel and the taxis.i really liked the hotel, i had my own key to the hotel and my bedroom.the food was good, fried breakfast in the morning and a pot of tea for myself.if i needed anything i could ring a bell.thank you

Heather – Favourite Group / ActivityHello, my name is Heathermy favourite groups at Assist are Zumba and music and come Dine with me. in come Dine with me, we cook meals for guests to come up and join us.We take it in turns to invite people. First we decide what to cook and then we go shopping.i invited Lee Rowell, and we cooked chilli con carne with a jacket potato.i’ve made some good friends at Assist.thank you

Wayne – going to the pub with matesHello everyone, its Wayne.i organise for my mates to go for a trip to the pub.We go to the Duke of Wellington.i go with Daniel and matty.Poppy goes with us but she sits somewhere else.i drink carlsberg.We talk about things in general, like work or what we are doing at the weekend.We have a laugh.thank you

Philip – Phoenix Centre jobHello, my name is Philip.i want to talk about the Phoenix centre.i’ve been working every Friday with my mate matt.i’ve been taking the drinks out. i take the dinners out too.then i help with the cleaning up.i feel great about the job. my boss Peter is a bit cheeky, like a big kid.every saturday morning i always help my sister and her boyfriend taking lots of rubble and muck out.thank you very much


Andrew

Andrew has worked really hard on his social skills and daily living skills while at Assist and has now successfully gained a job at Bicycle Links in norwich. “i think i have done well, i get on well with the job, i’m good at stripping down bikes.”

Andrew was travel trained to manage the journey to work and has recently asked to work longer hours so that he can stay there over lunch and experience more of the working environment.

Claire

“i do the bins, washing up, drying up, hoovering, taking numbers off the clothes hangers”.

“Debbie tells me what to do. told me i was doing a good job.”

“i like it, i love it here [at Assist], i make my own way there, i feel proud about my job, i wait at the crossings”

it took a little while to help claire understand expectations at work generally and, in the past, she would occasionally struggle to accept constructive advice on the subject.

Her move to sense charity shop in march 2013 seemed to help claire find her ideal role and she now manages to carry out her various tasks with

HousinG AnD emPLoYmentcAse stuDies

minimal supervision - often using her own initiative to work out what needs doing next.

Paul B

Paul moved into one of the houses that Assist rents from the norwich and Waveney Friends Association (Quakers) back in August 2013. moving out of his family home was a big change, as Paul says: “it felt a bit strange… it feels alright now, enjoying it.”

Paul’s confidence has grown gradually and he is now making the most of living in his own place. “sometimes have a takeaway, chicken balls and chips”

Paul shares the house with another tenant and they have support from Allied Healthcare. “i walk into Assist by myself, i look after myself well.”

still being near to family has been important for Paul. “see Dad some nights, some weekends”

Paul T

since Paul started at Assist, his social skills and his confidence have improved enormously. After having a job at Age uK for some time, Paul was able to ask for support to find a new, more challenging role.

the employment team helped Paul to find a new position, at the British Heart Foundation shop in the city centre. “i am enjoying it, the change, the atmosphere, the people is all really good. it’s a lot different to what i thought it would be, had to get used to it, a bit overwhelming, it’s a huge store, mostly furniture and electrical,

i’m out front, not just behind the scenes.”At the moment, Paul is working on a computer entering gift aid details, as well as hoovering, tidying and polishing tables and selling badges to promote the charity, but is working towards serving customers on the till. “i am happy with the way things are now.”

Thomas

Before thomas moved into one of the properties in norwich that Assist sub-lets to its members, he had been planning and saving for the move for some time. “it was a good move, to go from smallburgh to norwich.”

Being near the city, thomas makes the most of having a busy social life. “i enjoy being in norwich, it’s near places i like [such as the Garage dance studios].”

Although he receives some support, thomas really enjoys having his own space and making his own choices.

“i do some cooking – my favourite thing to make is lemon curd. We share the cleaning, i go shopping every weekend unless i’m doing my dance class.”

this experience has given thomas the confidence to think about an even more independent future. “in the future, i would like to move to a place of my own”.


“i am enjoying it, the change, the atmosphere, the people is all really good”

Andrew

Claire

Paul B

Paul T

Thomas


2015 marks the 25th anniversary of the Assist trust. At the time of writing, plans are in full swing to celebrate that milestone in ways which reflect the remarkable achievements the charity has made in that time.

As ever, the members will be at the heart of these plans as they round off another memorable year at the trust. coproduction has become one of those buzz words in the world of service delivery these days, but we are proud to say that it has been a genuine part of everyday life at Assist long before the phrase was coined. the needs and wishes of the members remain solidly at the heart of everything that goes on at the trust and they are consulted on every aspect of the service we provide, in natural and informal ways, every day of the week. With their blessing, Assist continues to develop the services we provide and continues to go from strength to strength.

outcome measuring is another one of those phrases which can sound a bit abstract when it is banded around, but new systems introduced in 2014 at Assist have started to yield real benefits for the members attending. statistics featured in this review show how individuals at

countinG DoWn to ouR 25tH AnniveRsARYmessAGe FRom tHe tRustees

Assist have made enormous progress in their lives in all the areas that really matter – not just in the obvious and more visible ways – and when we measure these aspects, everyone involved can celebrate and support further progress together with the individual.

more groups and activities have been developed to support that progress, in ever more creative and imaginative ways. Groups such as “Healthy tuck shop”, “come Dine with me”, “upcycling” and “i challenge You” successfully encourage individuals to do more things for themselves and to step out of their comfort zone as their confidence grows.

opportunities for members to show their skills, abilities and new found levels of maturity and confidence have been pursued vigorously again this year. supporting a current total of 86 individuals in a wide range of internal and external work placements, for example, gives testament to the success of the Assist trust model of support, as well as to the skills and application of its workforce.

Further investment in staff development and training has provided high quality trainers in a variety of areas during set aside days at the trust over the year (for such things as professional boundaries discussions, developing expertise in epilepsy awareness and communication techniques). Following a successful sign language taster session held recently, staff members were offered a full 7 week course to develop their “signalong” skills further.

Facilities and resources have been maintained and improved in all sites at Assist, with particular investment made at Lazar House early in the year, to improve the environment for the members attending. similar improvements are planned for all sites at Assist, on a rotational basis.

the needs and wishes of the members remain solidly at the heart of everything that goes on at the trust and they are consulted on every aspect of the service we provide, in natural and informal ways, every day of the week.


PLAns FoR tHe FutuRe

As well as celebrating our 25th anniversary in suitable fashion next year, Assist and its members have a number of plans for the future:• Developing new workshop facilities at the

Heath Gardens project.• Looking into accessible it provision for

all members to enjoy.• improving facilities all round and

purchasing new resources for all groups which Assist provides.

• establishing new links with musical Keys – our near neighbours at colegate – for the benefit of the members.

• exploring the possibility of Assist trust running the norman centre café, giving our members more real workplace experience.

• Looking into the feasibility of running an Assist trust shop of our own in the near future, again helping to give members more opportunities in the workplace.

• Helping more people become more independent in their lives in carefully managed ways, so that they can safely enjoy more freedom and feel proud of their achievements.

We need YOUR help!

We know that we need to raise more funds to ensure we continue to develop our services and we need your help. A new Assist Trust fundraising group will soon be launched to propose and co-ordinate more plans to attract more funding. We want to include members and their families, staff, trustees and our supporters in this exciting initiative. Please get in touch with Richard ([email protected]) if you think you’re able to help with ideas, skills or contacts or if you’d just like to help out at events. In the meantime, as they say, watch this space!


FinAnciAL inFoRmAtion For the year ending 31 march 2014

Acknowledgements

income (£) 2014 2013

Donations 9,102 12,058

investment income 63 51

incoming resources from charitable activities 846,149 827,578

total income £ 855,314 £ 839,687

expenditure (£)

staff costs 580,343 564,342

Premises expenses 158,998 144,603

Depreciation 32,397 30,894

£ 771,738 £ 739,839

support costs 46,847 40,805

Governance 3,100 3,600

total expenditure £ 821,685 £ 784,244

surplus of income over expenditure 33,629 55,443

surplus brought forward 333,274 277,831

£ 366,903 £ 333,274

Represented by:

Fixed assets 85,858 118,257

Debtors 65,017 63,668

cash at bank 240,363 161,271

391,238 343,196

Less creditors due within a year (24,335) (9,922)

£ 366,903 £ 333,274

the Assist trust would like to acknowledge the support and co-operation of the following companies and organisations, for helping to provide vital opportunities for the members, for raising funds on their behalf, or for providing support to the charity in other ways.

norwich city councilnorfolk county councilnorfolk and Waveney society of Friends (Quakers)Age uKBeechwood Pet storesBicycle Linksthe BrickmakersBritish Heart FoundationBrooklyn Housethe cabbell Lodgecancer Research uKthe co-operative (earlham Road)Dawn’s new HorizonsDenmark caféthe Fitzmaurice trustForget-me-not caféthe King’s centremr and mrs Haydnms Wixmolly’s Bikesthe naval and military Lodgenorwich Farm sharenorwich odeon cinemathe notre Dame schoolthe octagon chapelopening Doorsthe orange tree caféoxfamthe Phoenix centreRowan HouseRsPcAsainsbury’s (Pound Lane)st Francis churchsensethe stranger’s clubueA overseas Development GroupWHsmithWoodside snooker clubWRvsthe York tavern

© Assist trust, 2014

Designed by JohnsonDesignPrinted by Anglia colour

For full Assist trust financial information please contact the head office, where copies of the most recent fully audited accounts are available. Alternatively, this information can be found on the charities commission website (www.charitycommission.gov.uk). enter the Assist charity number in the search box - 1057772 - to reach the relevant page.


“A Night at the Oscars” Summer party, 2014

DIARY DATeS FOR 2015

Closures (training days) Monday 26th January Tuesday 10th March Wednesday 10th June Thursday 15th October Friday 4th December

Christmas closing Finish at the end of the day on Tuesday 22nd December, reopen on Monday 4th January 2016

Note: As 2015 is a 25th anniversary celebratory year for Assist, all other events details will be announced nearer the time, as they are confirmed.

assist trust20 colegatenorwich nR3 1BQt 01603 230200F 01603 612398e [email protected] charity no. 1057772. Registered company no. 3206320

Assist trust gratefully acknowledges the support of

Documents

2014–15 - Assist Trustassist-trust.co.uk/.../01/...Annual-Review-2014-15.pdf · even a visit to Harry Potter world!). the recently launched “lunch club” is already proving to