Issue 4 - Spring 2023
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COMMUNITY MAGAZINE<br />
SPRING <strong>2023</strong><br />
Meet Monika<br />
Page 15<br />
Upper <strong>Spring</strong>land: The Road Travelled<br />
Page 4<br />
Extending Our Partnership: Heriot’s Rugby Club<br />
Page 12<br />
Scottish Charity Awards: We’re Finalists!<br />
Page 19<br />
1
CONTENTS<br />
8<br />
Our Inclusive Community:<br />
The Road Ahead<br />
4<br />
15<br />
11<br />
Impact of your Fundraising<br />
How you’ve been helping<br />
19 We’re<br />
Scottish Charity Awards<br />
finalists!<br />
12<br />
Welcome<br />
Welcome to issue four of CS Matters. I’m<br />
not quite sure where to start – there<br />
has been so much going on across<br />
Capability Scotland since Christmas.<br />
We’ve seen quite an increase in activity from the Care<br />
Inspectorate in recent weeks. After a quiet period<br />
during the pandemic, we’ve seen a surge in services<br />
receiving visits from the inspectors. And I’m delighted<br />
to say that the feedback in the final reports has been<br />
really encouraging. Despite all of the challenges and<br />
arguably tougher standards being expected, our<br />
grades have remained strong and, in some cases,<br />
even increased. A huge congratulations to all our<br />
teams across Scotland for this achievement.<br />
We continue to advance the Our Inclusive Community<br />
Project (OICP) at Bertha Park, with a new microsite for<br />
updates and news: https://oicp.capability.scot/<br />
I’m particularly proud of the work we’ve been doing on<br />
co-production in relation to OICP. The process we’ve been<br />
going through to have the voices of our current residents,<br />
customers and their families heard has been outstanding.<br />
It is so important that those people most affected by the<br />
move to our new flagship facility have influenced and<br />
shaped the design of both the building and service.<br />
And that’s just scratching the surface! I hope you enjoy<br />
reading about all the latest news from Capability<br />
Scotland and that your <strong>2023</strong> is going well.<br />
2<br />
Brian Logan,<br />
Chief Executive
Our #CSNorthLanark<br />
customers and staff<br />
celebrated Easter with<br />
a fantastic party! Prizes<br />
for word searches, the<br />
best Easter bonnet<br />
decoration, good tunes,<br />
meeting new friends<br />
and lots of chocolate. A<br />
massive thank you to our<br />
friends at inspirent for<br />
allowing us to use their<br />
amazing meeting spaces<br />
free of charge, and<br />
providing complimentary<br />
refreshments!<br />
"I want to bring one<br />
of your employees,<br />
Paul, to your attention.<br />
Paul is part of my<br />
son Jamie's care<br />
team. Jamie had<br />
the opportunity to<br />
take part in a Karate<br />
tournament and<br />
needed the funds<br />
to participate. Paul<br />
from #CSDundee<br />
asked if he could<br />
Dundee<br />
organise a fundraising<br />
event for Jamie,<br />
which we gratefully<br />
accepted. The event was a roaring success, exceeding the<br />
amount needed. We as a family want to highlight the sterling<br />
work and commitment that Paul put into this event, in his own<br />
time too. We feel Paul is a credit to himself and Capability<br />
Scotland, and want to pass on our sincere gratitude."<br />
Jamie's father sent this to us about Paul - he truly is<br />
a credit to our charity, and constantly goes above<br />
and beyond in his work. Well done Paul!<br />
Corseford College<br />
had an exciting<br />
visit from Mhairi<br />
Black MP who<br />
met our students,<br />
explored our<br />
college projects,<br />
and sat for a great<br />
interview!<br />
Upper <strong>Spring</strong>land, Perth<br />
A massive #ThankYou to Rapid<br />
Relief Team UK for their visit to<br />
Upper<strong>Spring</strong>land in April, providing an<br />
amazing burger bar for our social care<br />
team - sun was shining and the burgers<br />
were fantastic!<br />
Corseford College, Kilbarchan<br />
3
Greig, The Studio<br />
Customer<br />
Upper <strong>Spring</strong>land in Perth is one of the<br />
cornerstones of Capability Scotland and<br />
a mainstay for the Perth community - the<br />
largest and perhaps most widely recognised<br />
part of our charity.<br />
Up on Isla Road, we’re home to 56 people<br />
supported by around 200 members of staff<br />
who ensure the people living with us have<br />
everything they need to live their lives the way<br />
they wish to, whether that’s developing their<br />
education, learning new skills, or enjoying<br />
days in the sunshine with friends.<br />
As we develop plans for building a new<br />
facility with exciting opportunities but<br />
with the same exemplary support through<br />
Our Inclusive Community Project (more<br />
on this later in CS Matters), we wanted<br />
to take a little tour to enshrine what<br />
currently exists and the social care we<br />
provide.<br />
We opened Upper <strong>Spring</strong>land in June<br />
1978, thanks to generous donations of<br />
land and capital from the Gannochy<br />
Trust. John (below) was one of our<br />
first residents, Upper <strong>Spring</strong>land<br />
opened on a Thursday (1st June)<br />
and he moved in on the Monday.<br />
4<br />
Peter, The Studio Customer<br />
John, previous Customer
“Once I had seen what they were<br />
doing in Perth, I was determined to<br />
move there and have my own front door<br />
and key. This was the independence I<br />
had always wanted.”<br />
Reflecting on the move, John said: “I<br />
cannot describe the feeling I had. Here<br />
I was with my own front door and the<br />
key in my hand. It was fantastic.” John<br />
lived and worked at Upper <strong>Spring</strong>land,<br />
eventually working as part of our kitchen<br />
staff, preparing meals and snacks for our<br />
then residents.<br />
John (second from left) receiving keys<br />
to his own flat in Perth city<br />
For decades, across the UK social care settings<br />
have often been guilty of being institutionalised.<br />
Upper <strong>Spring</strong>land has always strived to be an<br />
exception to this: whilst people do live with us<br />
permanently, we have a strong focus on providing<br />
long-term support until such a time that someone<br />
has the skills to live independently.<br />
John moved out some years later, into his new<br />
home in the centre of Perth: “I remained at Upper<br />
<strong>Spring</strong>land until I became more independent. I then<br />
got the chance to move to a flat in the centre of<br />
Perth. I had lived in a care setting all my life so this<br />
was a huge move for me. I carried on working at Upper<br />
<strong>Spring</strong>land even when I was living<br />
in my flat.”<br />
Through the years, we have been<br />
steadfast throughout changes in<br />
society, as well as marked changes<br />
in our own organisation, but we’ve<br />
continued to deliver the same<br />
#CaringSupport for every resident<br />
that lives with us over the past 45 years.<br />
Grant, on the front of an older<br />
leaflet for Capability Scotland<br />
And what a 45 years it has been! We’ve<br />
supported so many memorable characters<br />
(like Hugh, always suited and booted for<br />
the day, pictured below), people who have<br />
met and become life-long friends, and even<br />
people who have met and later married.<br />
These days, Upper <strong>Spring</strong>land is now four<br />
distinct services but it continues to remain one<br />
community of residents, staff and volunteers.<br />
Hugh Arbuckle<br />
5
Erin working on<br />
communication<br />
Our Residential Services Today<br />
Named after their respective rivers,<br />
Annaty, Tayview, Rosiebank & Tummel<br />
are home to our residents and where<br />
we support them with communication,<br />
personal care, medical needs, emotional<br />
support, and achieving the goals that<br />
people set for themselves - and, of course,<br />
the daily living tasks that we all do such as<br />
shopping, paying bills and cooking meals.<br />
We support a wide range of disabled people<br />
with additional and complex needs in these<br />
services, as well as an even wider range of<br />
daily activity.<br />
own. It was kind of a big thing for me although<br />
for most people, that is probably nothing but for me,<br />
it was huge.”<br />
It was two years ago when Natalie made it the<br />
furthest she’s been on her own. Now, she is holding<br />
down two jobs that she loves: paid consultancy<br />
work at the Scottish Commission for Learning<br />
Disability (more on this role soon!) as well as<br />
Birmingham University - she was even involved in<br />
recruiting our current Chief Executive!<br />
In Tayview, you may recognise our residents<br />
Donna and Nicole.<br />
Donna (below) recently featured in our updated<br />
values campaign, lending her voice to what<br />
‘Open & Honest’ means to her: “it’s speaking<br />
your mind.”<br />
Natalie, ready to go to a play<br />
Natalie (above) has lived at Annaty since 2018:<br />
“the people who live here together, we’re kind of<br />
like a family”.<br />
At Annaty, Natalie is supported to maintain her<br />
freedoms to live her life as she wants. We’ve helped<br />
secure new and better wheelchairs for her, allowing<br />
her to go into Perth alone (or with us if she chooses).<br />
6<br />
“I went to the Tesco on Crieff Road, which<br />
is the furthest I’ve been<br />
on my<br />
Donna, giving views on our values<br />
In her words, Donna said: “I am a very<br />
friendly person and easy to get along<br />
with. I have a massive interest in music<br />
and have been lucky to be part of the<br />
Inspiration Orchestra which I play the<br />
keyboard in. This was a big goal of<br />
mine. I enjoy the practice sessions and<br />
performing in front of the community<br />
to make others as happy as me.”
David<br />
We caught up with Nicole at a<br />
recent photoshoot in Tayview,<br />
reading a story to the people she<br />
lives with. She continues to make<br />
vast improvements to her health,<br />
well-being and daily activities. You<br />
can read her full story on our website.<br />
Nicole at story time<br />
The Studio<br />
Rosiebank and Tummel offers nine<br />
apartments for people who have the most<br />
complex care and support needs, as well<br />
as three respite spaces for short breaks.<br />
The Studio is a skills-focused day<br />
opportunities service where people<br />
who live on the Upper <strong>Spring</strong>land<br />
campus can attend if they choose<br />
to do so, as well as people who live<br />
elsewhere.<br />
At The Studio, it’s always a bustling,<br />
lively place with art, music, outside<br />
sports, Makaton singing group, digital<br />
work, and access to our inclusive,<br />
accessible gym. Everything we do at<br />
The Studio is inclusive of everyone – no<br />
matter what the ability. And we do so in<br />
a way that promotes independence and<br />
enjoyment.<br />
Joseph out for a walk<br />
Joseph (above) lives in Rosiebank and Tummel<br />
who is a smiley young man - he enjoys going for<br />
a walk in green spaces, and we’re fortunate to<br />
be situated close to lovely parks and areas prime<br />
for a walk!<br />
With over 40 years of history and hundreds<br />
of residents across those years, it’s hard<br />
to fit in everything, and here we have only<br />
just scratched the surface of a place that<br />
has a special place in the story and heart<br />
of Capability Scotland. As we look forward<br />
to a new development, we look forward<br />
to ontinuing to have a positive impact<br />
on the lives of the people we support.<br />
You can learn more about Upper <strong>Spring</strong>land on our website. If you’ve got any<br />
hello@capability.scot7<br />
history to share about Upper <strong>Spring</strong>land, get in touch:
Our Inclusive Community Project:<br />
Strategic<br />
Definition<br />
Preparation &<br />
Brief<br />
complete complete<br />
Concept<br />
Design<br />
early work complete<br />
Microsite Launched<br />
Over recent months, we have been developing a microsite (small website) dedicated to<br />
Our Inclusive Community Project. The microsite is the online hub for all things related to<br />
the development of the project. Take a look:<br />
oicp.capability.scot<br />
When we embarked on Our Inclusive<br />
Community Project, we developed<br />
a busy schedule of co-production<br />
activities which is already well underway.<br />
So far, we have made sure there have been<br />
lots of opportunities for our customers, staff,<br />
friends and families to submit their feedback,<br />
and we have been delighted with the positive<br />
response that has been received.<br />
Since November 2022, we have been busy meeting<br />
people on a one-to-one basis or in groups, issuing<br />
surveys and asking for feedback. Across all of these<br />
activities, we have covered an array of topics:<br />
bathrooms, laundries, kitchens, therapies, and day<br />
opportunities. The level of detail provided has been so<br />
insightful – the knowledge and experiences of people<br />
living and working at Upper <strong>Spring</strong>land have given<br />
our architects lots to think about. The information<br />
that has been collectively shared will truly help<br />
influence the service design of comfortable homes for<br />
customers, an efficient workplace for staff and, most<br />
importantly, a thriving community for all to enjoy.<br />
8<br />
We have a packed year ahead in <strong>2023</strong>. Over<br />
the next few months, we will continue to gather lots<br />
of information and think hard about what life could<br />
be like in our new surroundings. Our focus will be<br />
on communal areas, transport, external grounds<br />
and staff working practices. Assistive technology is<br />
another area we will explore – modern tools which<br />
could help support daily life in our homes and centres.<br />
How we present plans about potential assistive<br />
technologies is yet to be decided… watch this space!<br />
Developing our Design Statement<br />
The basis of any successful project is a clear, wellinformed<br />
“Brief”. This should capture not only<br />
what the development must contain, such as the<br />
spaces and functions (a “Design Brief”) but what it<br />
must support people to do (a “Design Statement”).<br />
However, both processes are interconnected and<br />
should also build on previous consultation work<br />
and guidance produced by legislative bodies such<br />
as Town Planners and the Care Inspectorate.<br />
Design Statement Work<br />
In early 2022, Architecture and Design Scotland<br />
(A&DS) started to work with Capability Scotland to
Developed<br />
Design Technical<br />
Design<br />
December <strong>2023</strong><br />
May 2024<br />
Construction<br />
early 2025<br />
Handover<br />
end 2026<br />
In Use<br />
early 2027<br />
support the charity’s ambitious proposals for Our<br />
Inclusive Community Project at Bertha Park.<br />
A&DS have drawn on their experience advising on<br />
major health projects and combined this with direct<br />
engagement with Upper <strong>Spring</strong>land customers,<br />
their families, and staff hosting three hands-on<br />
workshops and recording over 500 responses to help<br />
us create a Design Statement for this project.<br />
The Design Statement is intended to act as a visual<br />
reference guide for architects and planning teams,<br />
to help them understand some of the key principles<br />
we are looking for in a development. It helps develop<br />
agreement on shared values and records key<br />
preferences, such as improved access to services,<br />
increased integration, increased well-being, and<br />
benchmarks for how these might be achieved.<br />
A Design Statement generally contains short statements<br />
of needs matched with images of what success might<br />
look like. Our Inclusive Community Project Design<br />
Statement also includes a view of how the development<br />
will provide a positive addition in a community context.<br />
Our Design Statement looks beyond the hard edges of<br />
the built environment and prioritises key user experience,<br />
and aspirations-focused areas such as accessibility<br />
and site layout, well-being, shared spaces both inside<br />
and out, as well as staff working environments and<br />
the experience of moving around the buildings.<br />
Design Brief<br />
The process for completing the design of a building is<br />
divided into stages. This helps establish milestones for<br />
the submission of progress reports, the preparation<br />
of information for approval, when decisions<br />
need to be made, and for making payments.<br />
It’s taken a significant amount of time and investment<br />
to get to this stage. However, the more information<br />
we can gain from Co-Production in the early stages<br />
of the project, the more effective our decisionmaking<br />
and problem-solving process will be later.<br />
Now that we have completed Stage 2 (concept<br />
design) as the final part of the Design Brief<br />
document, we are commissioning Stage 3 (developed<br />
design) work to allow us to consider various<br />
options and refresh our project cost estimates.<br />
9
of your<br />
1<br />
1<br />
The unwavering commitment of the<br />
people involved in our work never<br />
ceases to amaze and inspire. In<br />
recent months, the (literally) ‘hairraising’<br />
and innovative efforts to raise<br />
funds for Capability Scotland have been<br />
incredible - keep up the good work!<br />
1 There’s No Place Like Home<br />
We are committed to ensuring that the<br />
people we support live in homes which<br />
are welcoming, comfortable, and fully<br />
equipped to meet their needs. We are<br />
delighted to have been awarded £5,000<br />
from the B&Q Foundation to improve<br />
the communal living spaces within our<br />
bungalows at Stanmore Residential.<br />
These improvements will add comfort<br />
and warmth to the spaces, ensuring<br />
2<br />
10<br />
3
the young people living there can<br />
feel relaxed and happy at home.<br />
2 Inclusive Fitness is Fab!<br />
The Loaningdale School Company<br />
donated £1,760 to enable young people<br />
to attend fitness sessions at Edinburgh’s<br />
DR Inclusive Fitness & Wellbeing,<br />
offering access to a gym exclusively<br />
for disabled people with the use of<br />
bespoke equipment and professional<br />
expertise of the staff. This allows<br />
attendees to work towards physical<br />
targets and enjoy a new experience.<br />
3 Thomas’ Birthday Memorial<br />
Lynsey Durkan hosted a party night on<br />
what would have been her Uncle Thomas<br />
O’Neill’s birthday to raise money<br />
for a sensory garden at the Annaty<br />
Service at Upper <strong>Spring</strong>land. Thomas<br />
would have been 68 on 13 March but<br />
sadly passed away in November.<br />
“I chose to fundraise for Capability<br />
Scotland after my Uncle sadly passed<br />
away after a short illness. He was born<br />
with Cerebral Palsy and there was<br />
nowhere in Glasgow or surrounding<br />
areas that had the facilities that<br />
Upper <strong>Spring</strong>land has: skills centre,<br />
hydrotherapy pool, garden centre,<br />
aviary and more, so he moved<br />
from Glasgow to Upper <strong>Spring</strong>land<br />
in Perth 25 years ago. He settled<br />
very quickly and especially loved<br />
attending the skills centre. He made<br />
great friends with all the residents<br />
and enjoyed playing dominoes and<br />
having a shandy with his friends.”<br />
The event was attended by family<br />
and friends celebrating Thomas’ life<br />
and sharing many fond memories.<br />
An amazing £1,968 was raised as a<br />
thank you to Capability Scotland for<br />
caring for Thomas over the years - it<br />
is has been our absolute pleasure.<br />
4 Hair-Raising Stuff!<br />
Some ideas just come off the top of<br />
your head and that was certainly<br />
the case for Emma Reid who<br />
“braved the shave” at the end of<br />
March, shaving her head to raise a<br />
phenomenal £1,200 to go towards<br />
fun summer plans and outdoor play<br />
equipment at Stanmore Residential.<br />
Well done Emma!<br />
4 4 11
Extending Our Partnership<br />
Heriot’s Rugby Club<br />
Our Charity Partners<br />
Team Capability Scotland at Murrayfield<br />
Tam Cowan, guest speaker<br />
For the past two years, Capability<br />
Scotland has been the charity<br />
partner of Heriot's Rugby Club. Over<br />
that time an incredible £24,000 has<br />
been raised from two charity dinners,<br />
a sponsored cycle as well as raffles<br />
and general donations from the club.<br />
The most recent event was a gala dinner held<br />
at Murrayfield Stadium on in February. 200<br />
guests came from across Scotland to support<br />
the partnership and raise money for Capability<br />
Scotland. The evening was hosted by Willie<br />
Allen, friend of Heriot’s, with guest speakers<br />
including comedian Tam Cowan and former<br />
Scotland International Union playe Andy Nicol.<br />
The speakers were complimented by a welcome<br />
from Brian Logan, Chief Executive of Capability<br />
Scotland, plus a raffle, auction, and a (rather<br />
chaotic!) game of ‘Heads or Tails’ resulting<br />
in an incredible £12,000 being raised.<br />
Mel McCallum, President of Heriot's Rugby<br />
Club said, "We are pleased with how successful<br />
our partnership has been and recognises<br />
there are many more opportunities for<br />
our two organisations to work together<br />
in the future. Partnering with Capability<br />
Scotland has enabled Heriot’s to engage<br />
with new audiences and allowed us to<br />
use our resources to support people in<br />
the local community. We went through a<br />
12<br />
Heriot’s Players & Guests<br />
Raffle and Auction Prizes all donated -
fairly rigorous process to select our charity<br />
partner and we have not disappointed. I look<br />
forward to the next stage of our partnership<br />
and all the possibilities that brings with it.”<br />
Following the success of the initial two-year<br />
partnership, we are delighted that Heriots<br />
have decided to extend the partnership for<br />
another three years and will continue to<br />
support Capability Scotland until <strong>Spring</strong> 2026.<br />
Planning has already begun for another dinner<br />
at Murrayfield next year and an open road<br />
cycle from St Andrews to Edinburgh, which will<br />
take place in July, and some Heriot's players<br />
joining the Capability Scotland Team taking<br />
part in the Edinburgh Kiltwalk in September.<br />
Ailsa Wallace, Fundraising and<br />
Communications Manager for Capability<br />
Scotland, said, “We would like to say a huge<br />
thank you to everyone at Heriot’s who has<br />
supported Capability Scotland over the past<br />
two years. It has been a pleasure working<br />
together to change and enhance the lives of<br />
disabled people across Scotland. We look<br />
forward to the next three years and celebrating<br />
all that we will<br />
achieve together.”<br />
Willie Allen, Host & Compère<br />
Playing Heads and Tails!<br />
thank you!<br />
13
Our two schools have availability for additional pupils.<br />
Are you (or someone you know) exploring school options soon?<br />
If you follow our social media, you’ll<br />
likely have come across our #YouBelong<br />
campaign over recent weeks.<br />
We’ve been sharing information about our two<br />
grant-aided specialist schools, and showing<br />
our community why Stanmore House and<br />
Corseford Schools are fantastic places for<br />
children with complex and additional needs to<br />
attend - and if they’re going to Stanmore House,<br />
they have the opportunity to live with us too.<br />
We thrive on providing a sense of belonging<br />
in our schools, showing young people that<br />
there is always a place for them in the<br />
world and that they are never alone.<br />
needs as part of the school day, and tailor the<br />
outcomes not only in a way to meet their own<br />
personal outcomes and goals, but to achieve the<br />
very best in their academic outcomes too. We<br />
offer therapies as standard in our timetable.<br />
We have great relationships with the local<br />
community, and recognise community<br />
partnerships as a key element in our school<br />
life, working with organisations such as Project<br />
Ability, indepen-DANCE, the Scottish Poetry<br />
Library and many more. We love introducing our<br />
learners to the new experiences and friendships<br />
that great community links can offer, and we<br />
feel it’s the perfect way for us to round out<br />
our already excellent educational delivery.<br />
Our school curriculum is based on Scotland’s<br />
Curriculum for Excellence, ensuring that learners<br />
have to opportunity to be successful, confident,<br />
effective contributors, and responsible citizens.<br />
We’re consistently investing in our<br />
school campuses to ensure our learners<br />
have the very best education, offering<br />
modern and assistive technology for<br />
communication, interaction and learning.<br />
We deliver key therapies on campus with our<br />
own, multidisciplinary allied health teams. This<br />
14<br />
means we can meet our learners health<br />
Stanmore House School is located in Lanark<br />
and offers residential placements for children<br />
across the country. Corseford School is located<br />
near Johnstone and offers full-time, split<br />
placements or temporary places to children with<br />
complex needs from the Renfrewshire area.<br />
We have available places to<br />
join us in either school.<br />
Get in touch with us to arrange a visit:<br />
hello@capability.scot / 0131 337 9876
You may have already<br />
seen 22-year-old<br />
Monika as the<br />
face of our recruitment<br />
campaign in Perth.<br />
We sat down with Annaty<br />
resident Monika, her mum<br />
Julie, and Support Worker<br />
Alison, to learn more<br />
about Monika and her life<br />
at Upper <strong>Spring</strong>land.<br />
Julie said: “She’s always<br />
been cheery, but I’ve<br />
seen her become more<br />
independent since moving<br />
to Upper <strong>Spring</strong>land. I’ll visit<br />
and see her do something<br />
and think ‘I didn’t know<br />
she could do that’.”<br />
Monika prides herself on<br />
being friendly and has made<br />
lots of friends since she<br />
started living with us. If she<br />
had to pick one best friend<br />
though, it would be Katy.<br />
Monika and Katy went to<br />
school together before they<br />
moved to Upper <strong>Spring</strong>land.<br />
Alison, who sees the young<br />
ladies interact, said: “It’s<br />
Happy. Smiley.<br />
Always laughing.<br />
The best friend.<br />
15
Julie & Monika<br />
lovely watching them<br />
communicate with each<br />
other, Katy verbalises<br />
and Monika mimics that<br />
back and you hear them<br />
conversing with each other.”<br />
Last week was a particularly<br />
busy week for Monika, she<br />
has enjoyed swimming,<br />
visiting the dentist, and<br />
cycling followed by picnics<br />
with ham sandwiches (that<br />
she made) and ice cream<br />
(her favourite is strawberry).<br />
In the spare time she does<br />
have when not out and<br />
about, Monika loves reading<br />
books and magazines,<br />
dancing and singing to<br />
pop music - the song “I<br />
Love It” by Icona Pop is a<br />
particular dance favourite<br />
just now. On top of this,<br />
Monika enjoys exploring<br />
music through Makaton.<br />
On first meeting Monika,<br />
one might be forgiven for<br />
thinking she is non-verbal<br />
in her communication<br />
but this is far from the<br />
truth. Julie mentions “Her<br />
biggest thing to support is<br />
communication. It’s really<br />
important to Monika that<br />
people understand her<br />
and that she understands<br />
them. So, learning some<br />
basic signing through<br />
Makaton would be the first<br />
step.” Not only can Monika<br />
speak some words and<br />
comprehend conversation,<br />
she is also bilingual.<br />
Growing up in Finland,<br />
Monika has a good grasp<br />
of the Finnish version of<br />
Makaton signs and some<br />
words and phrases. “She<br />
loves to throw in a Finnish<br />
version of a Makaton sign<br />
just to confuse people!”<br />
How would Monika like<br />
others to see her?<br />
Happy. Smiley. Always<br />
laughing. The best friend.<br />
Monika loves laughing with<br />
people, Julie said: “She<br />
always has a laugh with<br />
people singing, especially<br />
if they’re not very good,<br />
you’ll know it because<br />
Monika will laugh.”<br />
Monika approved of our<br />
singing ABBA when talking<br />
to her - a great compliment!<br />
If Monika could say one thing<br />
to the world for everyone to<br />
hear, what would she say?<br />
“Be patient and please<br />
learn some basic sign<br />
language so you can chat<br />
with people like me.”<br />
That would make her<br />
happy - if everyone<br />
could sign.<br />
16
Supporting Monika’s Dreams for<br />
Inclusive Communication<br />
We understand the vital<br />
importance of effective<br />
inclusive communication for<br />
Monika, and all the people we support,<br />
who deserve to have their voice heard<br />
and understood in a way that supports<br />
them to communicate effectively<br />
We know the importance of this through<br />
learning from people like Monika in how<br />
they see the world and what changes are<br />
required to make society more inclusive for all.<br />
With your donations to Capability Scotland,<br />
we can make a positive impact on the lives of the<br />
people we support by providing them with access to<br />
inclusive communication tools, training for our staff in<br />
Augmentative and Alternative Communication and increasing<br />
awareness of the importance of alternative means of communication<br />
throughout society. The people we support have the right to have their voices heard and<br />
Capability Scotland are dedicated to making this possible. Thank you for your support.<br />
Donate to Capability Scotland<br />
Turn over to make a regular<br />
donation by direct debit!<br />
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(tick here)<br />
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05/2022<br />
17
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(tick here) year than the amount of Gift Aid claimed on all my donations it is my responsibility to pay any<br />
difference.<br />
18<br />
05/2022
Capability Scotland shortlisted for national charity award<br />
Capability Scotland is set to<br />
star at this year’s Scottish<br />
Charity Awards. Held annually<br />
by the Scottish Council for Voluntary<br />
Organisations (SCVO), the Scottish<br />
Charity Awards celebrate the best<br />
of Scotland’s voluntary sector.<br />
This year’s shortlist includes 32 individuals and<br />
organisations from charities and voluntary<br />
groups across the country following a recordbreaking<br />
number of nominations. While a<br />
judging panel will determine the winners<br />
under nine distinct categories, members of<br />
the public have been voting for their favourite<br />
overall entry in the People’s Choice Award.<br />
Capability Scotland’s Corseford College has<br />
been recognised as a finalist in the Pioneering<br />
Project category.<br />
Liz McConnachie Head of Corseford College<br />
said: “We are so delighted to be shortlisted<br />
for the SVCO Award, we think the title suits us<br />
perfectly, because it describes what we are<br />
- pioneering. It promotes the college and will<br />
let other people know it is a great place for<br />
learning”.<br />
The <strong>2023</strong> Scottish Charity Awards winners<br />
will be announced at a celebratory awards<br />
ceremony in Edinburgh in June, hosted by TV<br />
presenter Sally Magnusson.<br />
Anna Fowlie, Chief Executive of SCVO, said:<br />
“This year’s Scottish Charity Awards are<br />
a fabulous opportunity to celebrate the<br />
exceptional individuals and groups within<br />
our vibrant sector.<br />
“This year’s record-breaking number<br />
of nominations underlines the strength<br />
of Scotland’s voluntary sector, and the<br />
crucial work that we see from charities and<br />
voluntary organisations across the country.<br />
The hard work and dedication of people<br />
and organisations like these 32 finalists are<br />
making Scotland a better place to live and<br />
work.”<br />
Keep an eye on our social media in June to<br />
find out the results.<br />
Read more about our pioneering project,<br />
Corseford College, on our website:<br />
capability.scot/corsefordcollege<br />
19
Coffee Stop<br />
Crossword<br />
1 2 3 4<br />
5<br />
6 7<br />
8 9<br />
10 11 12<br />
13 14 15<br />
16 17 18<br />
19<br />
Across<br />
5 Large paper pad on a stand (4,5)<br />
8 Young male horse (4)<br />
9 As is the Pope (8)<br />
10 Reading matter available from the internet (1-5)<br />
11 Toasted bun (6)<br />
13 Despicable (informal) (6)<br />
15 Awkwardly eccentric (6)<br />
16 Japanese dish - I try IKEA (anag) (8)<br />
18 South American cape (4)<br />
19 Prince of Darkness (9)<br />
Sudoku<br />
9 3 2 4 1<br />
3 1 4 5<br />
2 1 7 8<br />
6 8 9 4<br />
9 8 3 1<br />
6 8<br />
5 7 1<br />
9 8 1 2 6<br />
6 7 4 3 8<br />
Down<br />
1 Raised horizontal surface (8)<br />
2 Makes more interesting (6)<br />
3 Cadence (6)<br />
4 Consequently (4)<br />
6 Last leader of the Sovient Union, d. August 2022 (9)<br />
7 Mary Quant’s iconic attire (9)<br />
12 Loyal (8)<br />
14 Every 52 weeks (6)<br />
15 Arrows carrier (6)<br />
17 Wild goat (4)<br />
LET’S TALK<br />
Answers: www.capability.scot/answersissue4<br />
Capability Scotland Matters is our magazine for the CS community. It<br />
is written by our Fundraising & Communications Team, with the help<br />
of our guest contributors and produced by Capability Scotland.<br />
Email us: hello@capability.scot<br />
Call us: 0131 337 9876<br />
Write to us: CS Matters, Vantage Point, 24 St John’s Road, Edinburgh, EH12 6NZ<br />
Limited by guarantee, registered in Scotland, number SC036524.<br />
Registered Scottish Charity, number SC011330<br />
We’d love to hear what you<br />
think about our magazine or<br />
anything else you’d like to<br />
share. You can email us on<br />
hello@capability.scot