Press Releases
April 2012
Walk-in Dreams at the Festival of Creativity
From Wednesday 18 to Sunday 22 April, the Paintworks Event Space on Bath Road will play host to Expressions, a unique Festival of Creativity. Hundreds of artists have made the imagined, inner world life-size, including six giant animal-headed dolls at a tea party, an interactive Tree of Dreams and a tunnel of sensory delights.
Organised by Milestones Trust, a Bristol-based charity supporting people with learning disabilities and mental health needs, the festival showcases work from a year-round programme of arts workshops and mentoring. Professional artists and service users have worked together to create installations for the event, such as a life-size nostalgic pub, a hall of hands, shadow-puppets, secret passages and a knitted room.
“We wanted to work with people to create a world where audiences can be transported into a weird and wonderful dreamland,” says artist Michelle Wren, who has worked with service users to create ‘In My Wildest Dreams’, a themed room in the exhibition. “However when we started the workshops we realised many of the artists no longer have dreams. Some remember their dreams from childhood but for most dreaming is an imaginary place.”
“Our inner lives reflect our individuality, and this event gives free reign to the imaginations of the artists and service users of Milestones Trust,” says Mel Akers, Chief Executive of the charity. “This year’s festival will be an all-encompassing sensory experience, with smells, tastes, textures and sounds, installations you can interact with, and a full programme of workshops.”
There will be activities every day, including electronic music-making, singing, drawing, writing, drama, knitting and shared reading events. Visitors can also have a drink in the life-size nostalgic pub, add to the Tree of Dreams, try Giant French knitting, join a dolls’ tea party, dress up in royal robes and explore the sensory tunnel.
“We expect everyone to be impressed by the collective creativity of this group of artists,” says Mel. “This will be the third time that Milestones Trust has run a large-scale arts exhibition at the Paintworks, with plenty for the public to see and do.”
The exhibition is based around themed areas, joined by a tunnel with peep-holes and surprises. You can become the moving eyes in a spooky painting, or put on a shadow puppet show for those in the next room.
Work from the Milestones Trust textile group will include six animal-headed, life-sized dolls holding an uncanny tea party in a vintage lounge, which the public are invited to join. Helen Houston, Service User Involvement Coordinator explains:
“Our textiles group all have basic sewing skills, and we wanted to do something different so we decided on human-sized animal-headed dolls. Anything you do is a kind of portrait of yourself, so we started thinking about what kind of animal you’d be and why. As we made the dolls and their clothes, their characters developed. For example, the frog is quite artistic and eccentric.”
Finally, in the year of the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee, the exhibition will provide an opportunity for visitors to dress in velvet and ermine, sit on a golden throne, carry a be-jewelled sceptre and wear a magnificent crown. This sumptuous space will be filled with the smell of incense, mirrored reflections, the flickering of medieval candles and the sound of triumphal procession music.
Expressions will be open to the public from 2pm - 6.30pm on Wednesday 18 April, and from 10am – 6.30pm from Thursday 19 to Sunday 22 April inclusive. More details can be found on the Milestones Trust website at www.milestonestrust.org.uk
October 2011
A Royal Opening for Bristol’s Specialist Nursing Home
HRH The Earl of Wessex visted a very special, state-of-the-art new nursing home in Bristol this October. His Royal Highness undertook the formal opening ceremony for Mortimer House in Kingswood on Thursday 20 October. Also in attendance was HM Lord-Lieutenant and a number of guests.
The purpose-built home was 18 months in the making, and has 28 bedrooms. “We’re delighted that His Royal Highness is coming to open the home,” says Louise Chambers, Eldercare Lead at Milestones Trust, “for the residents, it will be a really important event.”
24 people currently live in the new home, which was completed in May 2011. It has filled up fast because no other nursing home in Bristol caters specifically for people with both learning disabilities and dementia. “People with learning disabilities such as Down’s Syndrome are more likely to go on to develop dementia,” says Liz Spires, Home Manager. “In Mortimer house, these individuals may live longer, fuller lives than if they were in mainstream nursing homes.”
HRH The Earl of Wessex toured the home, including its landscaped gardens, and met the chief architect, several of the charity’s Trustees, and the Chief Executive of NHS Bristol, Deborah Evans. The home arranged for one of its residents, Betty Bickerstaff, who has been with the Trust for over 20 years, to present a posy to The Prince. Since moving to one of the Trust’s community homes, when Stoke Park Hospital closed, Betty has helped interview new staff, and has been very involved in consultation work about the building project.
The home’s residents were very excited about meeting His Royal Highness. “It will be a wonderful occasion,” comments Louise, “one that everyone will remember for years to come.” In celebration of the opening there was also harp music, refreshments and a speech from Milestones Trust’s Chief Executive, Mel Akers.
Mortimer House is the first specialist home of its kind in Bristol. Every aspect of this £3.3 million project has been designed to enable its residents to manage their lives as independently as possible, without depending solely on medication.
There will be automatic lighting to maximise alertness at different times of the day, for example, and individual kitchenettes so people are not dependent on institutional-style dining. The beautiful landscaped grounds, and the general environment, will contribute to an enhanced quality of life.
The home will play host to a range of activities. With the help of volunteers and tutors, Mortimer House will offer regular arts, crafts and current affairs activities to help with memory-stimulation and engagement.
This will be the first nursing home that has ever been built for people with both learning disabilities and dementia in Bristol. “The Trust has taken into account that the Council needs to make savings at this time,” says Louise, “but we are developing a service that will offer good value for money as well as a high quality of life for its users.”
The home has been built by Spectrum Housing Group and is run by Milestones Trust, a Top 300 charity supporting people with learning disabilities and mental health needs in the Bristol area.
October 2011
Knitted Boat Makes a Splash in Bristol
Covert knitting group Knitiffi are back in Bristol!
The group, made up of staff and service users from charity Milestones Trust, famously covered a caravan with knitting last year as part of the charity’s Expressions arts event.
Now they’re back and bigger than ever, making a splash in Bristol with a knitted boat.
“Knitiffi is about knitting in incongruous places to make you look again”, said group member KnitTGritti. “We knit to soften the edges of our world and make you smile.”
The group will be wrapping the boat in its woolly coat on Thursday 13 October with the help of some dinghies. The wool will be knitted around the boat like a giant cosy.
The boat will then set sail from Saltford on Friday 14 October at approximately 11am, reaching Bristol Harbourside by 4.30pm, where it will stay close to the Watershed Cinema until Wednesday 18 October. Members of the Knitiffi group will be sleeping in the boat each night.
The boat has been a community knitting project with over 20 of the Trust’s staff, service users, friends and relatives contributing to the final knitted coat, working on sections at home and at group sessions.
KnitTGritti said the idea was to make the project the group’s biggest so far: “It does sound a bit mad but we’re pulling it together really fast. The quirky details have to be bigger this time. People have knitted fish, seagulls and an anchor.”
The project is part of Milestone Trust’s annual Expressions event which showcases the artistic talents of the people the charity supports.
Work from the Milestones Trust textile group and from individuals supported by the Trust will also be showcased at the Centrespace gallery and St Stephens Café and garden. This will include six animal-headed, life-sized knitted dolls holding an uncanny tea party, created by the textile group. Helen Houston, Service User Involvement Coordinator explained:
“Our textiles group all have basic sewing skills, and we wanted to do something different so we decided on human-sized animal headed dolls. Anything you do is a kind of a portrait of yourself, so we started thinking about what kind of animal you’d be and why. As we made the dolls and their clothes, their characters developed. For example, the frog is quite artistic and eccentric.
“We made dolls, and you play with dolls, so we’ve played with them – we’ve set them up as a life-sized dolls’ tea party. In the exhibition, they are waiting for the public to join in – there will be empty seats!”
A trail of blue knitting will also be knitted around lamp posts between the boat and the exhibition to direct people between the two places.
Mel Akers, Chief Executive of Milestones Trust said: “Expressions encourages everyone to access their creativity. Knitting and sewing is very inclusive, anyone can be a knitter and be involved in a huge public project like this. The people who we support get a real boost to their self confidence when they see their work on show and the positive reaction of the public.”
The Expressions Exhibition can be seen at the Centrespace gallery and St Stephen’s Café and garden from 14-22 October. Expressions will then be back in 2012 from 16 -23 April.
October 2011
Expressions Exhibition: Tea in the Uncanny Valley
Milestone Trusts ‘Expressions’ group are presenting their latest exhibition at St Stephen’s Café and Garden this October.
‘Tea in the Uncanny Valley (and other weirdness)’ is the latest collection from the group which is dedicated to increase inclusion and participation in the arts. The exhibition features the work of Milestones Trust’s textile group and from individuals from the trust.
We will have a Big Draw event and Big Knit event, plus drawing workshops and a poetry evening. Expressions exhibitions are always more than just pictures on gallery walls.
The collection includes life size textile figures and a mix of graphic works in the Centrespace Gallery. It then extends into St Stephen’s café and garden for outside works, including giant blackboards as part of the Big Draw month, plus Milestones’ own Big Knit event, crafted by the Knitiffi group of local urban guerrilla knitters!
Amongst the attractions will be a Drawing Exchange event on Saturday 15 and 22 October, poetry sharing on Monday 17 October and performance of poetry on Friday 21 October, led by the Studio Upstairs writers group.
The collection will be exhibited at the Centrespace Gallery 15-19 October and at St Stephen’s Café and Garden 15 -22 October.
For more details contact Alan Altoft at Alana@milestonestrust.org.uk
May 2011
900 Miles to Help Disability Charity Go Further
Jennifer Lauruol and Richard Gibbens will be cycling 900 miles at the end of May to raise money for Milestones Trust, the charity that supports Jennifer’s daughter in a care home in Bristol. They will cycle from the French Atlantic coast to the Alps, climbing over 2,744 metres and following part of the route taken by the Tour de France.
Milestones Trust, like many other care providers, is facing cuts. “It is a values-driven organisation and its costs are very real because of the quality,” comments Jennifer. “We want to support the quality of care given.” Jennifer’s daughter Marie Lauruol, who has learning disabilities, lives at Kilvie house, one of fifty care homes run by the Trust. “She has lived there for ten years,” Jennifer comments, “she is happy and has a good life there.”
Jennifer’s dream is to set up a fund for Milestones Trust that will allow the charity to continue being innovative with its services – going the extra mile for residents. It might pay for sensory gardens, more trips out, and making the homes more sustainable “That would be a great dream of mine – to help Milestones grow more of its own food and become more green.”
Jennifer, a garden designer, and her partner Richard, an Occupational Therapist, will be cycling across France on hand-built, British-made bikes. “All our bicycles have names,” says Jennifer, who will be riding ‘Mirabelle’, while Richard rides ‘Daffodil’. Richard has recently started his own business, Proud To Ride Classic, which refurbishes quality second-hand road and racing bikes.
The pair are no strangers to long cycle rides, “In 2004 we cycled the length of the Pyrenees,” says Jennifer, “about 700 miles.” However this route will be especially challenging. They set off on the 1 June from Arcachon in France, and cycle through Bordeaux all the way to Col d’Agnel, the 2,744 metre peak on the Tour de France route.
“This is a positive activity against the cuts,” they comment. It is people with learning and other disabilities who will feel the cuts most across the Bristol area.
April 2011
25 Years of Supporting People to Achieve Their Own Milestones
A special exhibition by acclaimed photographer Adriano Gallo is being created to mark the 25th Anniversary of health and social care charity Milestones Trust (formerly known as Aspects and Milestones Trust).
It will be launched at a major event on 15 April at the Vassall Centre, Fishponds, Bristol, which celebrates the charity’s silver anniversary and its rebranding as Milestones Trust. 
“The world of health and social care has changed dramatically in the last quarter of a century,” says Mel Akers, Chief Executive, “and our charity has moved with the times. 25 years feels like a milestone, especially when you consider the achievements our service users have made.”
The exhibition of portraits by Adriano Gallo features service users and staff from the Trust, photographed where they work and accompanied by their own, extraordinary stories. Adriano has travelled from Lucca, Italy to Bristol in order to undertake the project.
Many milestones have been reached in the Trust’s 25 year history. In the 1980s, the long-stay institutions for people with learning disabilities and mental health needs in Bristol were starting to close down, having developed a bad reputation. A purely medical approach was taken in these institutions, and patients were not seen as individuals with social needs. Charities such as Milestones Trust, then called Frenchay Community Care Trust, were set up to buy houses and run small scale residential homes where people could lead ordinary lives after years of living in institutions.
Max Benjamin, Facilities Manager, recalls what it was like in the early days: “it was buzzing, innovative, cutting-edge – we knew our work was special, and so did everyone who worked with us.” Community care was in its infancy, and everyone coming out of an institution had their own story. One individual that Max met, Phyllis, was in service as a girl in the 1920s. Having ‘a bit of spirit’ was enough to get her committed, and she did not get out of the institution until she was an old woman, enjoying a few years of freedom in her eighties when she moved to one of the Trust’s homes.
The Trust is custodian of a vast number of these stories, and during its early years it rose to the challenge of helping people adjust to having choice in their lives for the first time. People needed to learn new skills, and individuals in their sixties, seventies and eighties found themselves able to experience the youth they had missed by living in an institution.
In 1998 about 600 staff, formerly employed by the NHS, moved to the charity. Community care expanded and people were offered more choice. It was at this point that the Trust developed its first Supported Living scheme. Sharing a house did not suit everyone, and so the Trust broke new ground by setting up Larry O’Brien in his own cottage. “It was a loss-leader,” says Debb Stevenson, now an Area Manager, “and Larry pushed us to devise a service for him!” The Trust arranged for live-in support for Larry, and worked in collaboration with his family. When Debb drove him to his cottage in Batheaston for the first time, Larry took out his sewing box, stitched a button to his shirt and said “I’m home now.” Later the Trust supported Larry again to achieve his dream of moving to Ireland.
From this first success, a whole Supported Living department evolved, and the Trust has since supported over 270 people to live a life of their own choosing in flats or shared houses. The achievements people have made since starting to use the Trust’s services have been nothing short of remarkable. Members of our Day Opportunities groups, for example, have learned to read for the first time, to be more active and to speak in public. People who were once invisible staged their own fashion show last year at our Expressions arts event, astonishing their families with new-found confidence.
By 2002 the last long-stay hospital had closed, and the Trust went from strength to strength, having also assisted with the closure of geriatric hospitals and expanded its elder care and dementia services. In 2010 our dementia care home Somerset Lodge took residents on a virtual cruise, bringing the food, sights, smells and entertainment of a different country to the home every day of the week, and helping stimulate people’s memories.
In recent years Milestones Trust has supported people to move to different countries, to find long-lost family, to get qualifications and jobs, and to raise money for charity. Robert, a resident at one of our nursing homes who became severely disabled after swallowing a pen aged 7, raised £500 for African children through a sponsored walk. “Robbie wanted to give something back,” explains his Home Manager, Sousan Asef-Evans.
Milestones Trust looks forward to a strong future, personalising services to enable people to achieve their dreams.
February 2011
New Nursing Home Will be the First of its Kind in Bristol
The roof is now on at a new, purpose-built nursing home in Kingswood. Mortimer House will provide state-of-the-art facilities for people with learning disabilities and dementia, the first home to be built in Bristol that caters specifically for this group. It will be complete in April 2011, providing accommodation for 28 people.
“It’s purpose-built, it’s modern, and we have an excellent staff team,” says Louise Chambers, Eldercare Lead at Aspects and Milestones Trust. “I’m very pleased that we’ll be doing things properly for one of the most vulnerable groups of people in society.”
People with some forms of learning disabilities are more likely to go on to develop dementia, and their very specialist needs are rarely met. Every aspect of the £3.3 million project has been designed to enable its residents to manage their illness independently, without the extensive use of drugs.
There will be automatic lighting to maximise alertness at different times of the day, for example, and individual kitchenettes so people are not dependent on institutional-style dining. The beautiful landscaped grounds, and the general environment, will contribute to an enhanced quality of life.
The home will play host to a range of activities. With the help of volunteers and tutors, Mortimer House will offer regular arts, crafts and current affairs activities to help with memory-stimulation and engagement.
This will be the first nursing home that has ever been built for people with both learning disabilities and dementia in Bristol. “The Trust has taken into account that the Council needs to make savings at this time,” says Louise, “but we are developing a service that will offer good value for money as well as a high quality of life for its users.”
The home is being built by Spectrum Housing Group and will be run by Aspects and Milestones Trust (to be re-named Milestones Trust from April).
Jitinder Takhar, Group Director of Development at Spectrum says, "We're really pleased to have been a part of such prestigious and worthwhile scheme. Our thanks go to everyone involved, particularly the constructors – Halsall, and the Architects – BBA. It's very exciting to think that Mortimer House is now nearing completion and will shortly be welcoming new residents."
Enquiries about the project should be made to Louise Chambers at Aspects and Milestones Trust, tel. 0117 970 9300.
December 2010
Trees in jumpers
Yarn-bomb at St Stephen’s Church Garden 
On Sunday 12 December, covert knitting group ‘Knitiffi’, made up of staff and service users from Milestones Trust, ‘yarn-bombed’ the trees in Saint Stephen’s Church Garden in the Centre of Bristol This explosion of community knitting involved over 50 people, working together to create something beautiful and unusual in an outside urban space.
“We braved the cold… to keep the trees warm!” quipped Eddie Longstocking, one of the Knitiffi collective and a Support Worker at the Trust. “It’s all about bringing people together to do something creative, and to bring art into the community.”
People are arriving at the church this week to find the trees dressed in woollen jumpers with amazing design colours and, inside, the small statues around the pulpit wearing little hats and scarves. Tim Higgins, Canon at Saint Stephen’s responded: “Banksey in Bloom’ ! A great way to send the message that Saint Stephen’s spirituality is about a creative and warm centre full of surprises and healing purpose” St Stephen’s has a vibrant arts and faith programme, and was happy to be involved with this project.
Many of the knitters are people with learning disabilities and mental health needs, who are supported by Milestones Trust (soon to be rebranded as Milestones Trust). One Knitiffi member has developed a passion for making pom poms, and his colourful snowballs can be seen dotted around the church garden.
Knitting can often be a solitary medium, but this allows knitters to become part of a very public project. This is the collective’s third major yarn-bombing this year, the last one being the famous knitted caravan at the Expressions arts event, held at the Paintworks in October.
‘Yarn bombing’ is defined by Wordspy.com as “the surreptitious or unauthorized placement of knitted objects on statues, posts, and other public structures.” It can be used to make a political statement, as art, or simply to personalise cold, impersonal spaces.
September 2010
Hands-on Creativity for All at Major Arts Event
Milestones Trust has announced Expressions 2010, a free creative arts event to be held at the Paintworks Exhibition Space, Bath Road, Bristol from 5th-9th October 2010.
George Ferguson, CBE, will open the event with a Private View and charity auction on Monday 4th October. An outspoken former president of the Royal Institute of British Architects, George was also a presenter on the Channel 4 TV series Demolition, and has championed urban regeneration in the South West.
This year’s event places a special emphasis on making the arts accessible and interactive for everyone. As well as a major exhibition, there will be a cardboard cinema showing original film and animation, a giant interactive puppet, a camera obscura, music, poetry and street art workshops, a theatrical fashion show, knitted sculpture, costumed photography and Tall Story writing. Entrance is free of charge.
“Working towards such a high-profile event has focused creative energies right across the Trust,” said Mel Akers, Chief Executive of Milestones Trust.
“Visitors will get the chance to express their own creativity, as well as viewing some of the amazing art created by the people our services support,” Many of the projects, such as the animations and photography, are the result of workshops that have been going on throughout the year.
“Expressions, for us, runs all year,” said Alan Altoft, the Trust’s Mental Health Lead. “We arrange for practicing artists to provide mentoring, and run workshops and longer projects, to develop people’s work and ambition. Our aim is to support individuals and groups to exhibit and be a part of Bristol’s thriving arts scene.”
At the end of the exhibition, the Trust will host a Hawaiian-themed party for all of those who use its services, including, of course, the exhibiting artists.
Public opening times are:
Tuesday 5 October: 7.30pm-9.00pm (Wicked Wardrobe fashion show)
Wednesday 6 October: 11.00am-8.00pm
Thursday 7 October: 11.00am-8.00pm
Friday 8 October: 11.00am-8.00pm
Saturday 9 October: 11.00am-3.00pm
For a full programme and details of the workshops, please contact Heather Child on 0117 9709 389, or see www.milestonestrust.org.uk/expressions.html
October 2009
Collectable portrait of Michael Jackson to be auctioned in aid of Bristol Charity
Bristol based charity, Milestones Trust, has been donated a rare first edition Gicl'ee print, of Michael Jackson by international digi artist, B J Chapman. The gift, which will be auctioned, will help raise funds for the Trust's vital work with people with learning disabilities and mental health across the City.
This collectable piece of art, is titled, "A Gentle Soul". The superstar is seen sporting dark glasses and the artwork measures16"x12". The print can be viewed at the artist's web gallery here and where silent bids can be made.
BJ said:
"I met Michael at Earls Court in London a few years ago. As a digi artist, I photograph celebrities and then turn the results in to unique works of art."
The portrait will be on display at Milestones Trust's 'Expressions 2009' creative arts week to be held at the Paintworks Event Space from Tuesday, 6th October to Saturday, 10th October. The week features a major exhibition of service users' art and a packed programme of events. The latter include workshops with a chance to 'have a go' at such diverse activities as street art and making 'just about anything' from cardboard, poetry, drama and a music concert. Entrance to the exhibition is free and opening hours are 11am - 5pm.
David Allford, Manager with Milestones Trust said:
"This is a tremendously generous gift from BJ and the portrait is really stunning. Visitors to our exhibition will be invited to make private bids for the work and we're expecting interest to be very high. Michael Jackson was a real icon of our times and this is a very special way in which somebody can own a unique and individual image of him."
July 2009
'EXPRESSIONS 2009' - Major Creative Arts Event Announced by Milestones Trust
Milestones Trust has announced 'Expressions 2009' - a creative arts event to be held at the Paintworks Exhibition Space, Bath Road, Bristol from 5th-10th October, 2009.
Organised in conjunction with Studio Upstairs, 'Expressions 2009' will include:
- A major exhibition of art
- A music concert featuring the 'AXE Factor' – a reggae and ska and blues band made up of people with learning disabilities
- Drama
- Poetry
- Workshops
Mel Akers, Chief Executive of Milestones Trust, said:
"This week is all about exploring and celebrating the role of art in our lives. Many of our service users are incredible artists and the exhibition will feature an astonishing range of paintings, sculpture and audio visual work as well as music, drama and creative writing. We want people to come along and enjoy the material – but also to join in the 'have a go' activities – ranging from adding items to a 'cardboard house' to painting 'Matisse-style' with paints on the end of long bamboo poles!"
The exhibition is open from 11am to 5pm Tuesday, 6th October to Friday, 9th October, and from 11am – 12:00 on Saturday, 10th October. For a full programme and booking details for the concert and workshops / other activities contact David Allford on 0117 9709 300.
July 2009
"We're all going on a summer holiday……….at home!"
Staff at a Ham Green nursing home, Somerset Lodge, have found a novel way to make sure their residents enjoy a summer holiday – even if they are not able to travel. The holiday is coming to them!!
Activity co-ordinator Stevie Fuell explains:
"Many of our residents are elderly and live with various types of dementia & mental health problems, In many cases that means they can't enjoy a 'normal' summer holiday that you and I probably take for granted. But the staff here are determined that no one should miss out so this year I've decided the summer holiday is coming to Somerset Lodge".
Our 'special' summer holiday starts on 20th July with the arrival at Somerset Lodge of a big red bus – just like the one in the 'Summer Holiday' film.
During a packed week residents will get to see a special screening of the 'Summer Holiday' film; be entertained by local Cliff Richard lookalike – 'Shakin' Mikey'; be serenaded by a 12 piece 'end of the pier' style brass band; watch a 'Hi de Hi' play; enjoy cream teas, a special 'summer time' entertainer & Punch and Judy.
But it is not just all the activities which will have a summer feel. Staff and residents have been busy making a 'set' made up of all their favourite seaside holiday memories including a papier mache rock pool complete with various sea life and sea weeds, a model donkey, beach huts and a proper sandy beach. One member is even mixing a special holiday tune complete with seagull calls and other holiday sounds!
Stevie said: "The whole week promises to be lots of fun and bring back lots of special memories for all our friends here. And we'll be finishing with a 'thank you' barbeque for all residents and their relatives" organised by the Friends Of Somerset Lodge & staff of Somerset Lodge.
Bristol Care Home Goes All American for a Day!
77 Gloucester Road North – a care home for six people with learning disabilities – is celebrating American Independence Day in style with a special American Yard Party!
The event kicks off at 2pm on Saturday, 4th July, 2009, and local people are being invited to join the fun.
Nicky Richards, Manager of 77 Gloucester Road explains:
"The residents and staff would love y'all to join us – we'll be serving burgers, cookies and lots of other goodies. There will be a balloon release and our own cheerleaders."
"Entry is free but we'll be asking for donations for the refreshments – all proceeds will go towards the costs of a new Summer house and for landscaping work to make our gardens more accessible."
"We'd love to meet our neighbours on Gloucester Road – and our conservatory will be open just incase the day brings very English rain!!."
April 2009
Wyvern Lodge is officially excellent!
A Weston community home for eight people with mental health needs has received the highest possible rating as a result of an inspection by the Commission for Social Care Inspection (CSCI). The Commission undertook the inspection in January, 2009, and has recently announced that Wyvern Lodge in Weston Super Mare achieved a 'Three Star / Excellent rating.
In her report, the Inspector said:
"The service provides an excellent level of support and development opportunities for residents with mental health needs. Residents live in a very well run home and they are very well supported with their needs when they stay there. The manager is very creative in her style and consistently looks for ways to improve standards even further."
Wyvern Lodge is run by leading local charity Milestones Trust which provides a wide range of services for people with learning disabilities and mental health needs. The home is managed by Beth Hendry who has worked at Wyvern for the last 8 years. Of the Inspector's announcement, Beth said:
"Before the inspection we have to provide a lot of information about how the home is run and our management ethos. We put a lot of effort in to providing good quality information so there were no surprises for the Inspector when she arrived. The Inspector drew particular attention to the care plans we prepare with each resident which explore with them the type of support they want. She also liked how we encourage our residents to be part of running the home and also how residents are involved in the process for recruiting new staff.
We have a great team of residents and staff at Wyvern and we make sure the home is a safe and enjoyable place to live. Mental ill health can affect any of us. Many of our residents will move on to more independent living – Wyvern is all about giving people the skills to live in the community."
Beth continued:
"This result is a credit to all the staff and service users at Wyvern Lodge – the efforts of the whole team have achieved this rating and I'm so grateful to everyone for the contribution they make. Perhaps the best thing about the inspection is that I wasn't even in that day – that shows it really is a team effort and not reliant on any one individual!!"
March 2009
Meet the Neighbours at the Chestnuts!
The Chestnuts – a care home in Yate for eight people who live with learning disabilities – is holding a 'meet the neighbours fun afternoon' on Friday, 10th April, culminating in the release of 1,000 balloons.
Kay Spray, Manager at the Chestnuts, said:
"We're raising money to install a 'Snoezelen' in our garden – a specially adapted 'log cabin' with lots of sensory equipment which has been shown to reduce stress amongst those living with learning disabilities.
Everyone's welcome on the 10th – we'll be serving teas and cakes and for a donation of just £2 we'll release a balloon. The person whose balloon travels the furthest distance will win a Spring hamper complete with bottle of champagne!
The Chestnuts can be a challenging place to work but it's also a place with lots of fun, laughter and a lovely place to call home."
The fun afternoon starts at 2pm and the balloon release is scheduled for 3pm. Entrance is free although all donations during the afternoon will go towards the Chestnut's 'Snoezelen' project.
For further information contact Kay Spray on 01454 227188
November 2008
IT'S 'HELLO' TO A NEW LIFE FOR IAN AND 'GOODBYE' TO 4 STONES …
Ian Lacey's life has been transformed during the last year. And, at a full 4 stone lighter, Ian looks a bit different too!
Ian (58), who has mild learning disabilities, lived at home with his parents in their bungalow in Willsbridge until just after his 56th birthday. With the sad loss of both his parents, Ian didn't know what the future held.
That's where leading Bristol charity, Milestones Trust, stepped in. The Trust has a special 'supported living' team which strongly believes people should have the right to choose where they live and the support they receive. Ian had always secretly longed for a place of his own and chose to move to his own flat in Kingswood. And that's when Ian decided to tackle that spare tyre!
Janet McIntosh-Rose, Ian's support worker takes up the story:
"I'm green with envy. Since moving to his new flat Ian decided he wanted to lose weight and he's now lost an amazing 4 stone! He's stopped eating fried and sugary foods and makes really healthy salads and eats lots of vegetables. Shedding the excess weight means Ian can be much more active than previously and really enjoy life to the full. I just wish I had his willpower!"
And it's not just his weight loss which has changed Ian's life for the better:
Ian said:
"Moving to my own flat was the best thing I ever did. It's near the shops and I can catch the bus from just round the corner. The flat is really lovely. Living with Mum and Dad was great but there's nothing like having a place of your own!"
"I've always liked working and now I have a great job at ASDA in Longwell Green, working in the coffee shop. I work three days a week and the staff and customers are all really nice and friendly."
In what little spare time he has, Ian enjoys cycling in the local area and is a keen member at Keynsham Snooker Centre. Ian has just come back from his favourite holiday destination - Minehead - and he's already got plans for a return visit in 2009.
Mel Akers, Chief Executive of Milestones Trust, commented:
"Ian is just one of many with whom we work who are proof of just how good life can be when people are given the chance to take their own decisions and enjoy the kind of independence that most of us take for granted."
October 2008
Milestones Making a Difference
Please follow the link below to see the article in Exec Digital published in October 2008.
Article Title - Milestones, Making a Difference
April 2008
NURSES SAY LOCAL CHARITY IS ONE OF THE BEST IN THE UK!
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Milestones Trust has been voted as one of the top 100 organisations to work for by nurses, as recorded in the Nursing Times survey. Nurses from all over the UK were asked to complete questionnaires about their employers, and Milestones Trust were ranked 23rd ahead of many NHS and independent sector employers. Mel Akers, Chief Executive of Milestones Trust said: "We are delighted to be included in the top 100 best employers for nurses. There are some amazingly dedicated people working for the charity, and their skills and enthusiasm are really appreciated by the people who use our services. |
The Nursing Times said " Staff are enthusiastic about working for this organisation, which runs homes, day care, domiciliary care and supported living schemes. One says it is good at matching opportunities to individuals' strengths, development needs or changing circumstances. Nurses praise the autonomy they are given but add that support is there when needed".
For more information on the services provided by Milestones Trust, please call the number above; email info@milestonestrust.org.uk or visit our website www.milestonestrust.org.uk
