News / media
Enham on BBC's The One Show
12 September 2011
The programme told how Enham was originally created in 1919 to rehabilitate wounded servicemen and provide training and housing for them and their families.
In the first World War over two million (2,000,000) wounded servicemen with 750,000 servicemen being permanent disabled, were repatriated and in need of support and rehabilitation. Enham provided a unique home for these war heroes.
The presenter Michael Douglas talked to people like Doug Saunders (83rs) who was raised at Enham, when his Father was brought to Enham suffering from shell shock
"What was it like to live in Enham?" Michael asked Doug.
"You were so used to seeing men walking with one arm, one leg; nearly everyone had a walking stick you just thought that was the things until you got as a little bit older."
Originally it was just called Enham, but in WW2 as a result of the crucial Battle of El Alamein, after which even more wounded servicemen were returned to Enham. The Egyptian Government contributed a considerable gift of £200,000 to Enham and in a gesture of thanks the organisation renamed the village Enham Alamein.
With their new name, the village of Enham Alamein thrived and in more recent peacetimes the demand for ex-servicemen to be supported diminished, so the Enham Headquarters opened its doors to civilians.
Enham has become a leading disability charity helping 3,000 people a year with learning and physical disabilities.
In the early days horticulture was a firm favourite for the servicemen who had returned from the horrors of war. For these men the peace and tranquility must have seemed like paradise.
Horticulture remains as popular and productive as ever growing produce and flowers, providing experience and a therapeutic environment to learn new skills. Over the years Enham has developed a number of divisions where people can gain work experience and paid work.
The programme visited the workshops where people are provided with work experience and paid work opportunities.
"We look at capabilities, not disabilities, that's how I like to put it. We give people encouragement, a purpose and a value here, which perhaps they could not get elsewhere." say Graham Audin, Divisional Manager of Enham's Packing and Storage.
Over 250,000 people have come to Enham for support over the years and the services and work opportunities it continues to provide enable people to gain skills and confidence and live a more fulfilled life.
Enham Alamein – the definition of a helpful village.
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