EDGE - The Enable Derbyshire Gozo Exchange Project
In 2001 Enable’s Executive Officer, Jackie King-Owen, was on holiday in Gozo, Malta. While there, she visited its Day Centre for adults with learning difficulties to buy some tickets for a dinner-dance. And that was the start of the thriving exchange programme now known as The Edge Project.
The dinner-dance was cancelled. But having made contact with the Centre Jackie offered to help raise funds for it in England. It was also agreed that the Centre would use the Gozo apartment belonging to Jackie and her family for respite care and other visitors.
The relationship between the two organisations flourished. In 2002, the Centre’s head, John Camilleri, and seven other people from the Gozo Centre came over to Derbyshire to see Enable’s work.
A year later, ten service users and staff from Enable travelled to Malta on a reciprocal visit. And in 2004, when Malta joined the EU, the formal twinning arrangement or EDGE (Enable Derbyshire Gozo Exchange) Project was established.
Jackie King-Owen with the President of Malta and the Minister for Gozo at the opening of the Santa Marta Adult Training Centre
When the Gozo apartment was sold a few years later, the Enable Housing Association began renting a similar one. This means that today service users and their carers still have the opportunity to visit and experience life in Gozo.
Over the last eight years more than 200 people connected with the Enable Housing Association have stayed in Gozo. This has strengthened ties with the Adult Training Centre as well as boosting the local economy, which relies heavily on tourism.
Service users on a visit to Gozo
Over the years service users visiting Gozo have met two Presidents of Malta. In 2009 Jackie was able to meet the current President, as he made an official visit to open the new purpose-built Santa Marta Adult Training Centre in Gozo. This was a powerful boost to the Project and the President acknowledged all the hard work and donations of the preceding years.
Jackie and Day Services Head Paul Stapleton had travelled to Gozo to take equipment for a new multi-sensory (snoezelen) room. As part of his official visit, the President opened the room. It is now available for local, and visiting, service users as part of the EDGE Project.
Walking in Gozo
The EDGE Project is also an important focus for our social work training. Since the Project began in 2001, Enable has sent six social work students on placements at the Adult Training Centre in Gozo. This innovative opportunity gained us a national Skills for Care Accolade in 2008. Read more»
More student placements are planned. Any social work student who would like to experience life as a trainee social worker in Gozo should contact our Head of Day Services on 01246 599947.
Alternatively, email days@enable-group.org.uk (please put EDGE placement in the subject line).
The creation of the Santa Marta Centre was supported by the work of a local campaign group. Today, this group is known as AFDA, which means ‘trust’ in Maltese and is short for ‘Ability For Disability Association’.
AFDA raises money for day activities and community living and EDGE is a key part of this initiative. Jackie is working with AFDA’s Trust Board to develop housing and support services that will enable people with learning disabilities to remain in Gozo. Without this, they are likely to be moved to Malta, where most residential accommodation is provided in more institutional settings.
Jackie King-Owen and Lin Debenham at a meeting of AFDA, in Gozo
The need to provide local services in Gozo is recognised and supported by the Ministry of Gozo. Around 40 local people will need accommodation in the future and this needs careful planning if their needs are to be met. Enable is proud to be part of this community living initiative.
STOP PRESS Jackie and her PA Lin Debenham made a flying visit to Gozo in late September. As well as agreeing modifications to the apartment and a further year’s lease, a new activity was arranged for service users who visit Gozo. The project, called ‘Dreams for Horses’, gives service users and others the opportunity to experience horse-riding on the island. See www.vmcarriages.com.
