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Open Day Success for Route to Independence Launch

21 June 2010

What would your “Route to Independence” be?

Enham leads the way with its new R2I - Route to Independence Programme, officially launched on Friday 18th June, at its Open Day attended by the Mayor of Test Valley, Councillor Chris Lynn.

Over 250 visitors from a wide range of specialist schools, local authorities, parents, carers, care managers and social workers attended at Enham’s headquarters in Enham Alamein to learn more about Enham’s unique learning programme designed to enable disabled people to gain independence in whatever they wish to achieve in life.

The R2I programme has been designed to give people with learning and physical disabilities, and people with mental health problems, greater independence in every day life, whether the individuals’ personal ‘goal’ is to progress to paid employment, enjoy a better social life or live more independently.

R2I is all about choice – you choose from a selection of varied, exciting and interactive courses and projects designed to provide you with the skills you need to live your life – your way.  There are currently over 20 educational learning units including: Independent Living, Mixing with People, Communication Skills, Relationships, Recruiting and Training Personal Assistants, and more, all delivered by fully trained and experienced staff.

This forward-looking programme reflects the need for disabled people to have choice and control over what services they receive and how, and according to their own personal needs, preferences and aspirations. This is a major step away from the traditional approach to providing services, as Enham embraces the government’s “Personalisation Agenda”, which is aimed at providing disabled people with more control over how they receive and purchase their individual support and care services.

Mark Deal, Enham’s Head of Research and Development said, "As a wheelchair user myself and as someone who has lived as a disabled person for over forty years, I’ve seen many changes in relation to services for disabled people.  Disabled people have an absolute right to be part of society and to be in control of those services which enable this.  The government’s policy of providing disabled people with the money to purchase what we need to live independent lifestyles has changed the way many disabled people live their lives. Enham’s Route to Independence service offers disabled people the opportunity to develop the skills other people take for granted when living in the community, as well as those extra skills needed to manage your own care package.”

John Doe, one of Enham's clients who is on the route to independence programme tells how it's made a difference to his life: "I lived at home virtually permanently, coming here gives me independence. I live on my own, I cook my own meals, I do my own shopping, and I help outside in the community."

Lizzie Angus Smith also gets help from Enham: "I do a lot of things here, I've got my own voluntary job, I've gone back into my acting career, I've done some writing, and it's all happening for me."

Enham is offering this new service to day clients in the wider community as well as residents, and it is open to you if you have a disability or additional needs and you are at least 18 years of age.

Be who you want to be

Enham will help you break down some of the barriers which prevent you from being the person you want to be, and help you tackle problems facing you in real life situations. 

Some of the fun activities you could be involved in include projects such as “Come Dine with Me” (covering healthy eating, IT, budgeting, craft, and social inclusion), or pursuing your own hobbies such as going to music festivals. 

Melody Mew, Enham’s Route to Independence Manager says: “Enham is really pleased how much our clients are enjoying the new R2I  programme.  They have so much more freedom to choose the areas of development that best suit them. It means that they can get on with enjoying life.”

How to get started on the Route to Independence Programme

You can be referred to the programme by your Doctor, your local Adult Services Department, or you can self-refer. For further information contact Enham today on 01264 345800 x 2021, or visit our website www.enham.org.uk

More about Enham's Route to Independence programme

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