Annual Review 2008 - QEF

QUEEN ELIZABETH’S FOUNDATIONFOR DISABLED PEOPLEThe Work of the FoundationThe Brain Injury Centre is the only UK rehabilitationcentre offering assessment, intensive neurorehabilitationand education for young adults aged16-35, who have acquired disabilities and associatedlearning difficulties as a result of brain injury caused byaccident or illness.The Development Centre offers young people withcomplex disabilities the opportunity to gain the skillsthey need to move on to a lifestyle of their choice.Individual programmes focus on practical life skills,experiencing supported or semi-independent living,education and opportunities for employment orvoluntary work.The Mobility Centre is expert in providing mobilityassessments, information and advice on driving, vehiclechoice and adaptation to increase independence andimprove quality of life. The Centre also provides trainingfor professionals and Advanced Driving Instructors ondisability awareness.The Resource Centre is a focal point for disabledpeople living in N W Kent, providing a wide range ofservices, information and activities. Transport can beprovided if required.The Training College is one of only four pan-disabilityColleges in the UK. It provides training for sustainableemployment for adults with disabilities, especially thosewho have been forced to change career directionthrough accident or illness. Courses cover business,trade and technical subjects, each focused on a jobmarket and leading to recognised qualifications.2

SQUARINGTHE CIRCLEQueen Elizabeth’s Foundation provides expert, cost-effective trainingand development services to those disabled people who are sometimesdescribed as the ‘hardest to help’. We invest 72% of the income of ourcharitable services in the expert staff required to support themajority of our clients on a 24 hour basis. Our highly-regardedresidential services are subject to regular rigorous assessment bythe Commission for Social Care Inspection and Ofsted and wewelcome this, in order consistently to drive our standards to evenhigher levels. Clients at our Mobility Centre already report 92%satisfaction with the service.We could embrace the increasing trend to deliver cheaper services‘in the community’ by insisting that already hard-pressed familycarers provide out-of-hours support. However, for over 70 years wehave delivered tailor-made residential programmes in a dedicated,specialised and accessible environment, albeit one that now requiresconsiderable modernisation and capital investment. Our clientsreport their fears that as the national ‘Personalisation’ agenda goeslive, they will find themselves ‘abandoned’ at home withoutaccessible transportation and with inadequate State benefits.The Government funding we receive to support the Training Collegehas had no inflationary increase for the past two years and someSocial Services’ Departments are now beginning to follow suit. AtQueen Elizabeth’s Foundation, we believe passionately in providing thevery best quality of training and support for our clients so they maysecure the best possible opportunities when they graduate from ourprogrammes. In addition to our range of services, we are committedto continuing to develop new initiatives and new buildings and yetreceive no Government funding whatever for such works. Will youplease help us to square this circle? Thank you so much for yourmuch-needed generosity and help.Peter SedgwickCynthia RobinsonChairman Chief Executive 3

BRAIN INJURY CENTRE4“I had to return home after a traumatic braininjury because my family couldn’t find thespecialist care and rehab that I desperatelyneeded. Then we were recommended to theBrain Injury Centre. It was friendly,professional and focused on young people.The hospital saved my life but the Centrerecovered it.” KerryContinuous improvement is the focus for all our Centres and isvery evident at Brain Injury, where young people such as Kerryarrive with their lives literally in pieces. With no statutoryfunding available for rehabilitation after a brain injury, manyhave survived against the odds only to find that once they leavehospital they are, quite literally,on their own. Generally lifeexpectancy has not been affected,and the urgency is to regain, orlearn to compensate for lost skills.Most young people arrive in astate of shock, and can find ithard to come to terms with theirsituation. Our first task thereforeis to enable them to developinsight into this life-changingexperience. It can be a difficultand painful process.Each client has a personalisedA client receives physiotherapy.programme that identifies realistic goals and our specialist teamis familiar with these, ensuring a holistic approach. Our clientsare young, so we continually look for therapeutic methods thatare relevant and optimise their abilities. For example, the multimediacentre will include an in-house radio station to developcommunication and cognitive skills in an interesting way.As a specialist College we continually evaluate and improve ourfacilities to secure Government funding and maintain oursuccessful Ofsted accreditations.We give our clients the opportunity to rebuild their lives. It willbe a different life but it will be the very best they can achieve.

DEVELOPMENT CENTRE“I’m 20. A brain injury resulted in complexdisabilities. I need full-time care. Like others myage, I also need to develop a lifestyle. Here Ihave the opportunity to experience differenttypes of accommodation with support, so that Ican make an informed choice. What more couldI ask?” DebsWe are continually introducing new elements to our service -most notably this year with the opening of Hamilton House,named after the late Lord Hamilton, who actively supported theFoundation for many years to offer young people with disabilitiesthe same opportunities as their able-bodied peers.Hamilton House provides purpose-built accommodation designedfor six disabled young people living as a group and will increasethe range of lifestyle options available to our clients.Most clients arrive at the Centre directly from home or college,with little experience of managing their own lives. We work withthem to develop individual programmes that enable them to learnthe life skills they need and, when they feel confident, to putthem into practice within asupportive environment.The range of living optionsis particularly important asit enables them toexperience living alone orwithin a group.The Centre offersoccupational andphysiotherapy support, acomputer room and aprogramme of activities alldesigned to engage clientsso they will learn in aThe customised, fully equipped kitchen atHamilton House.positive way. Our clients have complex disabilities and need to beable to manage the level of care and support that will be requiredthroughout their lives. Our role is to equip them with the skillsand confidence to evaluate their options, make informed choicesand live as independently and happily as possible.5

MOBILITY CENTRE6“I lost both legs and one arm whilst serving inAfghanistan. I wanted to drive - but on my terms –in a car – not from a wheelchair. Otherwise, frankly,I didn’t want to know. The assessors were great.They listened, ran a battery of tests, declared mesafe to drive and recommended the necessary caradaptations. Fantastic!” Royal Marine, MarkThe Mobility Centre enabled Mark to regain the freedom andindependence of driving. That is our focus – our expertise. At its coreare the initial assessments which establish the level of driving abilityand determine the adaptations necessary to get someone on theroad, or enable them to resume driving.Our Driving School offers all the necessary support. Equipped with aprivate track, tuition is available for under-age, first-time drivers andthose returning after an accident or illness. Under expert guidance theycan learn from scratch, regain theirdriving confidence or retrain tobecome familiar with caradaptations in a supportiveenvironment. Recommendations forpassenger transfer, wheelchair andscooter needs are also offered,each solution focusing on achievingthe greatest possible independence.Our commitment to sharing ourexpertise and ‘training the trainers’is only exceeded by the demandProviding privacy and reassurance, theCentre has its own driving track.for our courses. We offer in-house training for Approved DrivingInstructors in teaching disabled people to drive. Building on thesuccess of these we now hold regional courses in the UK and abroad.The Centre is continually improving its efficiency. Our recent operationalreview has resulted in a more cost effective service provision. We havesignificantly exceeded the Department of Transport targets forassessments, and continue to answer over 5,000 telephone enquiriesfor mobility related information every year. We are actively exploringother opportunities to grow our skills and expertise.

RESOURCE CENTRE“I became disabled following a stroke after thebirth of my son. The Centre helped me regainmy confidence after such a life-changingexperience and I recently married. I can nolonger drive but transport enables me to visitthe Centre, which gives me great pleasure anda welcome break.” NikkiAt the Resource Centre we work to ensure that opportunities areavailable to meet the individual needs of our clients.Approximately 160 people use the Centre which offers a range ofservices, activities and information for adults in North West Kentwho have a physical disability or sensory impairment. It focuseson ability, encouraging users to try new activities and to developexisting skills.Some, such as Nikki, acquired their disabilities as adults and theCentre helps them to adjust to the change in lifestyle and rebuildtheir confidence in a supportive environment.Our facilities are social, active and stimulating – all presented inan informal and accessible setting. For example, clients can learnor refine their computer skills,or participate in arts and craftsincluding silver and costumejewellery making. For theadventurous we visit KentGliding Club monthly whereclients can fly in a two-seaterglider – with the opportunity totake the controls if they wish!The Centre has a fullyequipped gym and offerssome complementarytherapies and transport isavailable for those for whom travel is difficult.Pottery, just one of the ways clients mayexpress their creativity.During the last year discussions have been taking place withKent County Council to consider how existing services might bedelivered within the local community rather than from a standalone Centre. These discussions are ongoing.7

TRAINING COLLEGE8“Severe depression left me needing to retrainand the College gave me a really positive start.My skills and needs were assessed and atraining programme designed for me. TheCollege was a place with no pressure; I couldtrain at my own pace, learn new skills andregain my confidence.” NeilHere too, no-one stands still – we work hard to raise the standardof the vocational training that we provide for disabled people,supporting it with services constantly fine-tuned to meetindividual needs.A good example of this is therecently expandedAssessment andDevelopment Centre (ADC)which has a positive impacton trainees like Neil and uponthe College itself, resulting inincreasing retention rates.Trainees are assessed and, ifnecessary, redirected to moreThe new, interactive Horticulture classroom.appropriate courses to ensuresuccessful completion and sustainable employment.The ADC has been further improved by the introduction of aprogramme focusing on the development of personal skills.Courses are continually reviewed to ensure they meet the demand.For example the IT Support and Maintenance course has doubled insize. First trainees are joining the new Customer Service coursecreated in response to market needs and Horticulture has beenrefreshed with upgraded facilities and interactive teaching aids.Our Employment Development Department received their secondaccreditation from ‘matrix’, a renowned quality standard that appliesto service provision. First awarded in 2003, this repeat successillustrates the College’s commitment to continuous improvement.The College’s success rate is above that of most mainstreamcolleges – this is especially notable given that trainees aremanaging a disability and being challenged on their courses.

RETAIL TRADING“I have enjoyed a fulfilling life and am gratefulfor that. I will happily devote the remainder of itto this incredible charity. I appreciate thecompany of the other volunteers – here we arereally making a contribution. It feels so good tobe giving something back.” Heather, VolunteerThe Trading arm of the Foundation, whichencompasses 14 shops in the south east and a mail order service,continues to explore new opportunities for expansion.Our Epsom shop was recently refitted, Leatherhead provides shoppingand a popular café whilst Chessington reopened last autumn after a fire.A new shop in East Horsley made a promising start in February 2008.Our thanks go to the army of enthusiastic volunteers who work hard toensure that everyone who visits has a positive shopping experience.Our mail order business is flourishing. In addition to fulfilling ordersgenerated by our own catalogue, Trading has increased its number ofcharity clients to 15, which has increased our revenue in this area. Weare lucky to have a team of volunteers who are reliable, willing andvery able, ensuring that we can meet the demands of the high level oforders generated.Within our own catalogue we have a growing range of interestingproducts, some of which are featured below. To expand thereach and ease of shopping with us, we launched a pilot onlineservice last Autumn. This proved very popular and is set togrow further.For the person who has everything – here are three gifts thateven they might not be able to do without – available atwww.qef.org.ukWellie warmers –just pop them in themicrowave – marvellous!If you use a walkingstick why not chooseone that folds up, iseasy to carry andlooks great.To save any hassle or costat the airport, don’t leavehome without using thiscompact digital scale to weighyour luggage.9

FINANCIAL SUMMARYThanks to the continued generosity of our donors, thecommitment of our staff and close control of our costs theFoundation has been able to achieve a surplus of income overexpenditure. In the twelve months to 31 March 2008 thesurplus achieved was £546k. These additional funds provide theopportunity for us to invest in our current services andinfrastructure while maintaining an appropriate level of reserves.The graphs below give an overview of how our income wasraised in the year and where our expenses were incurred.Income RaisedLegaciesQEF TradingInvestment IncomeGifts & Donations£8,730k£1,189k£948k£607k£162kCharitable ServicesThe income of the Foundation grew by £163k or 1.4% in theyear to £11,699k. The main contributors to this growth were the10% increase in gifts and donations and the 7% increase inlegacies. Income from Charitable Services remained underpressure because of restrictions in Government funding.10

Expenses IncurredQEF TradingAdministrationFundraising£8,835k£939k£837k£542kCharitable ServicesExcludes FRS17 Pension Fund AdjustmentThe total expenditure of the Foundation showed a marginalincrease of £16k over the previous year from £11,137k to£11,153k. In the overhead areas of fundraising andadministration there was an aggregate reduction in expenditureof £89k compared to the previous year. However this was offsetby increases in the costs of providing our services to our clientsand in the operating expenses of the Trading Company.The figures have been taken from the Annual Report andAccounts. A copy of the Annual Report and Accounts for theyear ended 31 March 2008, which contains the Trustees’ Reportand the audit opinion, can be obtained from:The Company Secretary,Leatherhead Court,Woodlands Road,Leatherhead, Surrey KT22 0BN.11

SUPPORTERS AND VOLUNTEERSAs with all charities, we depend heavily on the generosity of companies,individuals and volunteers to help us in our work. Whether it’s in raisingcrucial funds or donating precious time, we would like to say a very big ‘thankyou’ to all those supporters of QEF. Here are just a few examples of the variedactivities and help gratefully received...The sun shone on a dayof fun and entertainmentas QEF hosted a party tocelebrate and thank itsmany volunteers.Clients at the Development Centre try outtheir tennis skills following GlaxoSmithKline’sdonation of a Wii machine and games.Clients at our BrainInjury Centre enjoy aweek of extremeactivities down inExmoor, thanks to theenergy and efforts ofthe South LondonHarriers and theirElmore 7 run sponsoredby Legal & General.12

Giving up their timeso generously,volunteers AudreyClarke and DorothyWheeler help out atone of ourfundraising events.Thanks to the generosity of Bunzl plc, a newcourse on ‘Customer Services’ is added tothe Training Collegecurriculum.Elit Kane – just oneof the manyindividuals to puttheir fitness to thetest and raise moneyfor QEF.A team from Friends Provident demonstrate theircorporate muscle helping to clear a stream and buildbridges at the Training College.13

FUNDRAISINGAs QEF does not receive Government funding for capital projects and newactivities fundraising is key to maintaining the quality of our existing servicesand to introducing new ones.Supporters give to us for a variety ofreasons. And whatever the reason maybe we appreciate their dedication andgenerous commitment. Last yearvoluntary income allowed us tocomplete 20 projects, which otherwisewould not have been possible. Theyincluded training equipment, classroomrefurbishments, new Internet centre forclients, specially adapted cars formobility assessment and rehabilitationtherapy facilities.Here are some highlights of last year’sfundraising events...Corinna, Lady Hamiltonof Dalzell, joins in thefun at a Bollywoodevening with specialguest, Elvis.R-L: MaggieThornton from theBlair Foundation,sponsors of theladies lunches heldat the Queen’sStand, EpsomRacecourse, sharesa joke with guestspeaker, TriciaStewart, one ofthe original‘Calendar Girls’14Eamonn Holmes, one of many celebrities togenerously support our fundraising events.The local Friends groupsof Bookham and Oxshott& Cobham have beensupporting QEF formany years hosting avariety of fundraisingevents including theirpopular Bridge Teas.Oyster shucker at theprestigious annual Guinnessand Oyster lunch held at theMansion House, London.

TRUSTEES AND GOVERNORSas at 4 July 2008Late Patron:Her Majesty, Queen Elizabeth,the Queen MotherPresident:Corinna, Lady Hamilton of Dalzell, DLBoard of Trustees:Chairman:Peter SedgwickVice-Chairmen:Rupert Evenett FCA;James Wates FCIOB FRSAChairman of Audit and Finance Committee:David Kay FCA FCTMembers:Ebele Akojie MBA ACAMalcolm CockrenPhilip EvansEdward Gates MBEBevil GranvilleEdward Guinness CVOCorinna, Lady Hamilton of Dalzell DLDavid Hypher DLFrank Myers MBELynn Scotcher SROTGovernors:Lady AitkenChristopher Ames FCAJohn Anderson FCIOBMichael Bowman-Vaughan FCAClive BowringWalter Boyce OBESir Francis Brooke BtGeorge BrooksbankStamp BrooksbankColin BrumptonNicholas CalvertThe Right Rev and Right Hon RichardChartres, Lord Bishop of LondonMark Cheyne FCAMalcolm Clark OBEDr Louise Clowes MB BCh DPHCommissioner Elizabeth Matear, FreeChurches’ ModeratorPeter CurryDr Stephen Duckworth OBE LRCP MRCSAngela FraserSally FrostBrigadier Robin Garnett OBE FRCPProfessor Hugh Glanville FRCPRobert GlossopLord Hamilton of Dalzell (Gavin)Dr Richard Hardie TD FRCPEdward HarfordJoy HarrisonBernard Haynes CChem FRSCThe Lady HoldernessDr David Jenkins FRCPJocelyn KeelingPenelope Keith CBE DLAndrew Martin SmithDr Stephen Mattingly TD FRCPProfessor David McLellan FRCPDr Frederick Middleton MRCPMichael More-Molyneux DLLady MorleyHis Eminence, Cardinal Cormac Murphy-O’Connor, Archbishop of WestminsterRabbi Z M Salasnik FJCFrazer Sedcole FCADavid StoddartAnne Subba RowValerie ThumDavid Torrance CA MCTLady Toulson CBEThe Hon Mark VesteyAdrian White CBE DLNicholas WitchellBeryl WrightHonorary Consultant in Rehabilitation:Dr David Jenkins MB FRCP DPhys-MedHonorary Consultant in NeurologicalRehabilitation:Dr Richard Hardie TD FRCPConsultant Psychiatrist:Dr A J M Chisham MB BS MRCPsych DRCOGConsultant Neuropsychiatrist:Dr R Jacobson MD MRCP FRCPsychHonorary Property Consultant:John Anderson FCIOBHonorary Media Consultant:Nicholas WitchellSolicitors:Vizards TweedieBankers:National Westminster Bank plc15

QUEEN ELIZABETH’S FOUNDATIONPROMOTING EQUALITY FOR DISABLED PEOPLEQueen Elizabeth’s Foundation for Disabled PeopleLeatherhead Court, Woodlands Road, Leatherhead,Surrey KT22 0BN. Registered in London No. 892013Tel: 01372 841100 Fax: 01372 844072Website: www.qef.org.ukBrain Injury CentreBanstead Place, Park Road, Banstead, Surrey SM7 3EEPrincipal: Eileen Jackman Tel: 01737 356222Development CentreOaklawn Road, Leatherhead, Surrey KT22 0BTHead of Registered Operations: Eileen JackmanTel: 01372 841300Mobility CentreDamson Way, Fountain Drive, Carshalton, Surrey SM5 4NROperations Manager: Sal Grier Tel: 020 8770 1151Training CollegeLeatherhead Court, Woodlands Road, Leatherhead, Surrey KT22 0BNPrincipal: Garry Billing Tel: 01372 841100Resource CentreBrent Way, Dartford, Kent DA2 6DAClient Services Manager: Robert Bailey Tel: 01322 394100Registered Charity No 251051Chief Executive: Cynthia RobinsonDirector of Finance: Gary Allcott ACMADirector of Fundraising and Marketing: Jacqui Walford