Today, 16^th April 2026, 40 years since Milestones Trust was incorporated in 1986, our CEO Hilary Crowhurst kicks off our 40^th anniversary with some reflections on her time with the Trust.

I joined Milestones in March 2020 – the very week the country went into lockdown. The timing couldn’t have been more surreal.

Before taking on this role, I’d spent over 20 years working in the learning disability sector. I already knew of Milestones and the fantastic work the organisation was known for. What really excited me in was its reputation for being truly person-centred and passionate about advocating for the people we support. Those values are exactly why I wanted to work in social care; they’re at the heart of why I wanted to work in the sector.

What I didn’t expect was that on my fourth day, when I still couldn’t remember everyone’s names, Boris Johnson appeared on TV and told the nation to stay at home.

For office-based staff, that meant packing up and working remotely. But for our services, it was a completely different story. They had to stay open. Overnight, we were navigating constantly changing government guidance, trying to figure out how to keep people safe. Face-to-face visits stopped, and suddenly, all communication was through little boxes on Zoom. PPE became like gold dust – I’ll never forget the days spent ringing round suppliers, or meeting commissioners in car parks to collect essential stock, all of us masked up and hoping we’d got it right.

Eventually, things eased, and I could meet real people – not just faces on a screen. And honestly, I was so impressed. I still am. Every single day, Milestones staff do amazing things. Within tight resources, they show incredible creativity and imagination to help the people we support achieve what matters most to them.

And it’s not always about big, headline-grabbing moments like flying on a plane or swimming with dolphins (though those stories are wonderful too!). What makes me proud are the smaller, deeply personal wins – someone stepping outside after years of feeling unable to or telling us they feel valued and heard for the first time. Those moments are what make Milestones truly special.

Yes, the financial challenges are real. But together, we’ve worked through the toughest times. Today, as we head into our 40^th year, Milestones is strong, thriving, and – best of all – we’ve kept hold of that passion that defines us.

Here’s to continuing to make a difference, one person, one story, one milestone at a time.