Pauls Story with Enable
Moving to Enable from Home
My name is Paul and I am really happy that Enable has helped me to change my life. I am doing lots of new things now and am much happier and more confident.
Since I have been having the support of Enable I live in the home I want, have learned to be a committee member and speak up at meetings to be a committee member and speak up at meetings. I am also doing lots of interesting things in the community such as voluntary work, working on my allotment, doing a disco and riding my bike and meeting with my friends. I am now much more independent and I always have someone to go to if I have any problems and they will help me sort things out.
I used to live with my dad. I wanted to leave home and Enable Housing Association helped me to move into a house with other people. Later I wanted to live on my own.
Getting More Independence
I wanted to stay in the same area and Enable Housing Association helped me find a nice little house and I moved in a few weeks ago. I like living in my new home and I enjoy cooking in my new kitchen. My support staffs help me decide what to cook and to budget my money. I am really pleased with my new house because it is close to my allotment and in a quiet area. My neighbours are also very friendly, which is very important to me.
Helping Train at Sheffield University
I have been involved with Sheffield University helping with training social work students about Service Users. I also learned computer skills at the university. I enjoyed learning about blogging!
Working on my allotments
Since I moved away from home and living with my dad, Enable staff have supported me. I can now do lots more things and I am more confident. I do not always need a support worker to be with me.
Sometimes my support worker comes to my allotment with me and sometimes I go on my own and meet my friends there who also have allotments. I enjoy my working on my allotment, meeting my friends thee and growing my own vegetables. I am also on the Allotment Committee.
Riding on My Bike
In my spare time I like to cycle. I also spend time with my friends. Sometimes I cycle to my allotment which is not too far from my house.
Being the Enable Resident DJ
I wanted to be a disco DJ and do discos for service users and in the community. Enable bought some disco equipment and now I am living my dream and really like being the "resident" DJ. I have lots of CDs and play for Christmas parties as well as community events. I was DJ at a Queen's Park Open day in July. Enable had two stalls and we all had a great day.
My Committee Work
I am very involved with service user meetings and have been voted in as the Chair Person of the Service User Forum. I never used to like speaking in front of people but now with the opportunities I have had with the Service User Forum I have got the confidence to speak up and be in charge of meetings. I am an Enable Committee Member representing the service users. I am also on the Board of the local Council for Voluntary Service called Links.
Volunteering with Enable
I started getting work experience as a volunteer in the Enable sandwich shop in Tibshelf called Shoestring Snacks. I achieve my Basic Food Hygiene certificate and learned how to make the sandwiches and serve customers.
At The Edge Charity Shop
I volunteer at the Enable charity shop called "The Edge". I enjoy serving the public and sorting out the stock, especially the CDs! The Edge Shop raises money for the Learning Disability Community in Gozo, Malta. Enable have now twinned with the Learning Disability Service in Gozo and also organises exchange visits. I have been there twice and enjoyed meeting everyone.
Enable Supported me to use Public Transport
Since being with the Enable Group my support workers have encouraged me to use public transport on my own. This has helped me to be much more independent which has made a big difference to me in my life.
Being Part of the Team Giving Presentations
I sometimes give presentations to different groups. This time we were given lunch in exchange by the First Base Trainees! I enjoy talking to people about how successful my life has become since I started with Enable.
