2022-08-22 15:03:35
Charity’s housing staff rally together to improve facilities
When the Commercial Housing team at national learning disability charity Hft were asked to vote on what to do for their away day, the idea that stood out was to visit a supported living service to make the facilities better.
As a result, more than 20 members of the team used their gardening and DIY skills to bring new life to the facilities at its Banbury service last week as part of the charity’s 60th anniversary celebrations.
The staff focused their efforts on the garden which was used extensively during lockdown and means so much to the people who use the service. Flowers grown by people Hft supports in the charity’s Ironbridge nursery garden were also planted.
“We came to Banbury with our paints and brushes, our gravel and pots, and our flowers which had been grown in the amazing nursery garden at Ironbridge and set to work,” explains Teresa Parker, Chief Commercial Housing Officer at Hft.
“We separated into small teams and pairs, with each of us working to our strengths to improve things. One team painted the front door, one potted plants, another painted pots and involved the people we support. We had a team working on clearing and replacing the gravel in the garden and some old wooden trains (belonging to a person we support who loves locos), were restored too. We painted a bench and the bannisters that needed some work and care.
Rianne and Angela stand on a freshly painted ramp 
Zoe waters the planters 
Zoe, Teresa and Steven hard at work 
Teresa, Kelly and Zoe give the bench a makeover 
A photo of the garden post-upgrade 
Eden and Ivan applying a new coat of paint to the door 
No 60th anniversary celebration would be complete without a cake! 
The bench receives a bright new lick of paint
“The day saw us come together, in the same way that the people who started Hft 60 years ago came together, to make things better. In their case, they were coming together to create a home in which people with learning disabilities could be supported to take control of their own lives. In our case it was a garden!
“Our work on upgrading the garden may not last 60 years but we really enjoyed team working to make the lives of people we support better, whatever way we can,” Teresa concludes.
Hft’s 60th anniversary celebrations kick off officially in September.
Notes to editors
For further information please email media.enquiries@hft.org.uk
About Hft
Proudly established in 1962 by a group of visionary parents, Hft is a charity supporting more than 2,500 learning disabled adults in England and Wales. Together, we are creating a future where learning disabled people and their families can live the best life possible.
Providing personalised support. Creating solutions for living independently. Coming together to campaign for positive change. Fundraising for new opportunities and a bigger impact.
In 2033, we’ll live in a world where learning disabled people have greater choice. About where they live. The support they need and want. And how to spend their time and money.
Learning disability versus difficulty
A learning disability is different from a learning difficulty but the terms are often confused and used inter-changeably. A learning difficulty does not affect general intellect, whereas a learning disability is a life-long condition characterised by a reduced intellectual ability and struggle with everyday activities.
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For more information about Hft please visit www.hft.org.uk
