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Out and about<br />

British Institute of Learning<br />

Disability Annual Conference –<br />

From Good to Great; support that<br />

helps make great lives’ for people<br />

with learning disabilities and their<br />

families.<br />

Our award winning team from<br />

Nottingham were asked to take part<br />

in this conference in November to<br />

share their expertise. They ran an<br />

interactive group discussion around<br />

the main areas of support for older<br />

people within the community such<br />

as rights, choice, capacity and<br />

partnership working.<br />

Representing the team were<br />

Katherine Newton, Bridget Boggan<br />

and Lynsey Clarke; winners of<br />

the National Learning Disability<br />

Supporting Older People with<br />

Learning Disabilities award.<br />

Finalists announced<br />

for the Independent<br />

Specialist Care Awards<br />

We are proud to be finalists in two<br />

categories:<br />

• Care Pathways – Eden Futures<br />

• Supported Living – Greenways<br />

Service Gloucester<br />

We are also pleased to announce<br />

that Pam Mellor, Commissioning<br />

Officer – Winterbourne at NE<br />

Lincolnshire County Council, is a<br />

finalist for Best Commissioner. We<br />

nominated her due to her innovative<br />

approach to commissioning and<br />

her collaborative approach to<br />

working with providers.<br />

Speaking at the Autism Show by Ashley Phillips<br />

When offered the chance to go<br />

to the Autism Event in Manchester<br />

and to do a presentation about<br />

my experience and time living<br />

in Eden, I said yes without a<br />

second’s hesitation because it<br />

is something very<br />

close to my heart<br />

and I’m so glad I<br />

did because I loved<br />

every second of it.<br />

My Presentation<br />

Lorna Durant (Eden<br />

Futures Service<br />

Manager) started<br />

off the presentation<br />

explaining<br />

everything about<br />

supported living and<br />

Eden. I could feel<br />

my heart bumping,<br />

my legs going to<br />

jelly and my hands<br />

were shaking, but I<br />

was determined to<br />

do my bit.<br />

So I started off by introducing<br />

myself, and then I tried my best<br />

to explain my experiences of<br />

living in a shared house, and<br />

the challenges and difficulties I<br />

faced with that, and how I, and<br />

my brilliant Keyworker Richard,<br />

Laing Buisson – Northern Long Term Care Conference<br />

Our CEO Andrew Lennox & Head of Business Development David<br />

Whittock presented at the Northern Care Conference. The presentation<br />

was titled - ‘Innovation in Supported Living - Collaboration is the Key’<br />

They discussed the<br />

changes in the<br />

sector and how<br />

true partnership<br />

working between all<br />

agencies, with the<br />

person at the centre<br />

of the discussion,<br />

will lead to support<br />

and housing<br />

solutions that best<br />

meet local needs<br />

and individuals<br />

preferences.<br />

managed to work hard to get<br />

me into my own single dwelling<br />

bungalow within Eden. I then<br />

moved onto how much happier<br />

I am living on my own, explained<br />

that there were teething problems<br />

but nothing<br />

that a bit of<br />

communication<br />

and understanding<br />

of my needs<br />

couldn’t sort out.<br />

Being Involved<br />

It was my first time<br />

public speaking,<br />

and I think I’ve<br />

come along way,<br />

because if you<br />

asked me just 3 or<br />

4 years ago I would<br />

not have had the<br />

confidence or<br />

belief in myself to<br />

do that.<br />

I am proud to have Asperger’s<br />

and do think it has helped make<br />

me the person I am today. When<br />

I was younger as a kid I didn’t<br />

accept it, I was in denial. But now<br />

I’ve accepted it I am confident<br />

with the person I am, but still willing<br />

to learn and improve, and never<br />

stand still or go backwards. We<br />

never stop learning after all.<br />

7

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