Enable in Cornwall Ltd

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Introduction.

Enable provides access to opportunities in Cornwall for education, training and the work environment for people with physical disabilities or sensory impairment.

Attitudes towards the roles that people with physical or sensory impairment have to play are changing. Enable is at the forefront of this change.

Enable, in partnership with voluntary supporters, education establishments and training organisations, offers information and opportunities to enable people with physical or sensory impairment to access work or training opportunities, to access education and to use their skills as volunteers

The aim of Enable is to support you with your abilities in a welcoming and friendly environment.

Enable provides access to opportunities in Cornwall for education, training and the work environment for people with physical disabilities or sensory impairment.

About us.

Enable is a charity that works with people aged 16-64 who have a physical disability and/or sensory impairment and live in Cornwall. We offer free independent information, advice, guidance and support to assist clients in overcoming barriers they may face in accessing education, training, paid employment and voluntary work.

Clients can self refer or be referred to us by friends, family or independent bodies such as social services, doctors, jobcentres, etc. Our advisors arrange to meet clients in their own homes, or any other venue they prefer, to discuss what experience the client has and what they would like to achieve in the future.

Some contact us to help gain or improve their skills in IT, Maths and English, others may like to learn a completely new skill. Most of our clients want to find work either voluntary or paid. We may also be able to help with sourcing a personal computer.

We research the options available to our clients and also offer help with issues like putting together CV's, regular job searches, completing application forms, attending interviews, benefit advice, transport, funding and arranging support workers.

Our advisors are fully trained in Advice and guidance and offer a friendly tailored service to meet the needs of our clients individual requirements.

History of Enable

The Enable project was started in 1996 as part of Scope for Cornwall. In April 2003 it became a registered charity and with the help of funding from Cornwall County Council Adult Social Services, commenced trading as Enable in Cornwall Ltd.

Enable is a "not for profit" limited company overseen by a board of directors most of which have a disability and have used the services of Enable.

We currently have eleven directors:

Gordon Faddy - Chair
Pete Skea - Vice Chair
Ann Kerridge
Elaine Leggett
John Pritchard
Julia Luxton
Sarah Warne
Alan Sanderson
Helen Adams
Judy Groves
Lyn Chapman

News.

SKY DIVE FOR ENABLE IN CORNWALL


On Saturday 26th July Gordon Faddy, our chairman, and Jason Pickett, a friend of Enable, both took to the skies to raise money for us.

Jason was first to jump. He was well supported by lots of family members and friends. Jason has never flown before so this was his first time flying as well as skydiving. They dressed him in a very fetching yellow flying suit and bundled him into the plane. His face as he bounced along on the runway in front of us was one of excitement and trepidation. We all watched (apart from his son Bradley who could not bare to watch) as the plane gained height and then disappeared from view. 

We then chatted amongst ourselves and enjoyed our picnics until about 20 minutes later when we suddenly spotted a parachute above us. Jason glided gently downward waving to us all and made the perfect landing. He really enjoyed the experience and would love to do it again perhaps without an instructor next time. 

Next up was Gordon. He decided against wearing the trendy flying suit but did have to wear the attractive leather helmet that made him look like the Red Baron. They also secured his slippers with lots of masking tape to stop them falling off on to the spectators during the jump. He was then placed in the plane and his legs were taped to the instructors to prevent a bumpy landing and off he went. He seemed to be gone for ages and we all got cricks in our necks searching the sky’s for him. Eventually we spotted the rainbow parachute and Gordon floated slowly downwards and made a smooth and safe landing. Amanda his partner had suggested that we try and catch him in his chair as he landed but we decided it was not the most practical of suggestions!

The day was a real success. The sun shone, we all had a great day, and thankfully they both landed safely. The final amount of money made from sponsorship is not known yet but Jason has raised about £430 and Gordon had raised £650 but there is still more to be collected. This includes the money collected by Gordon and Enable staff and directors outside Asda, Morrisons and Sainsbury’s in Bodmin in the week of July 7th.


We would like to thank everyone for making the day a success including the staff at the Parachute club, Jason and Gordon and all the family and friends that came along to offer their support on the day, and everyone that sponsored Jason and Gordon.  Here are some photos of the event.



Gordon and Jason getting ready for the sky jump in support of Enable in Cornwall 



At the pre-jump briefing


  


 Jason, getting ready to fly for the first time.



 Jason, in full flight.



....and safely down!



Gordon getting ready for his jump.


 



Gordon, on his way down.


 



Gordon preparing to land.


 



........and safely down!


 


 



Published: 28 Jul 2008
 
Enable User Survey 2007/2008

At the end of March we sent all our clients a user survey to complete and return.

It is very important to us to gain feed back from our clients. ENABLE is an organisation with a mission. The barometer that measures whether progress is being made towards this mission is the feedback we receive from our clients. Therefore, all those who work for the organisation value client's opinions, and take a special pride in people being satisfied with the service they have received.

Below is a summary of the results of the survey.

There were 29 responses, which was 20% of the number of survey forms issued.

Question 1 - The age of the respondents:

Only a small number of respondents (7%) were aged between 16 and 25. The rest were evenly spread between the ages of 26 and 65.

Question 2 - The sex of the respondents:

56% of the respondents were male and 44% were female.

Question 3 - How did you find out about Enable in Cornwall Ltd?

Most of the respondents, over 50%, found out about Enable either through the Leaflet we issue, or via Social Services. Very few (7%) found us through the Internet. A few of the other routes to Enable include via a friend, through Mid Cornwall Lifestyles, and via a training agency.

Question 4 - Did you find the advice given helpful?

Almost 60% found the advice "very helpful", whilst 7% said that the advice was "not very helpful".

Question 5 - Was the information clear?

The vast majority found the advice either "extremely clear" or "very clear", although 3% found the advice "not very clear".

Question 6 - Was your advisor easy to talk to?

38% of respondents found their Enable advisor was "extremely easy to talk to", and 49% said they were "very easy to talk to". However 3% found their advisor "not very easy to talk to".

Question 7 - Was your advisor supportive?

36% of respondents found their advisor was "extremely supportive" and 46% "very supportive". However 4% found that their advisor was "not very supportive".

Question 8 - Was your query dealt with quickly?

The majority (77%) found that their query was dealt with either "very quickly" or "quite quickly". The remainder said that their query was dealt with "quickly".

Question 9 - Were your requirements met?

58% of respondents said that their requirements were fully met. However 21% felt that their requirements were only partially met and a further 21% felt their requirement were not met at all.

Question 10 - Did you advisory help you move towards your goals?

62% felt that their advisor did help them move towards their goals, and a further 28% said that they were partially helped towards their goals. 10% however responded to say that they were not helped towards their goals.

Question 11 - Was your experience of Enable in Cornwall good?

Whilst 4% responded to say that their experience of Enable was "Poor", the majority (74%) said that their experience of Enable was either "Excellent" or "Very good".

Question 12 - Would you recommend Enable in Cornwall to others?

92% of respondents would recommend Enable to others.

Question 13 - Do you have any other comments?

More communication would benefit.

Liases well with other services such as the Health Service and other provider. This is important because clients have complex needs.

Visit with Enable and Occupational Therapist was extremely helpful.

I think Enable are brilliant. They have helped me get back to work again and I am very grateful for everything they have done for me. Thanks very much.

For Years I had wanted help but felt unable to ask. I reduced myself to dropping hints and just hoping they were understood. Fortunately they were. I can honestly say that the improvements in myself and my life over the past year has been immense.

More group activities would be useful to get people out and communicating with each other.

I have had two advisors through ENABLE who have always helped me and been there for me. They always listen and try to help.

Thank you for your help and continue your excellent cause to help people who need help.


I put my advisor in touch with some other people who were also helped.

Enable offered and provided me with a lot of advice and help. Very Very pleased.


We at ENABLE acknowledge that while a large percentage of the comments and answers were good, areas have been identified for improvement and we will be working closely with our clients to improve these areas.
We would like to thank all those who took the time to complete the survey.

Published: 19 Jun 2008
 
.
Published: 22 Sep 2007
 

Contact.

Enable in Cornwall Ltd
Unit 1 Bodmin Business Centre
Harleigh Road
Bodmin
Cornwall
PL31 1AH
 
map link
 
Tel/Fax: 01208 77711
 
Our office is open from Monday to Friday 9.00am to 1.00pm, messages can always be left on the answerphone, or you can email us using the link below.
 
email form

Links.

www.youreable.com
Offers help and advice on important issues such as employment, motoring, equipment, money, computing, health and the community.

www.access-ability.co.uk
One stop link shop for those with disabilities. Includes informative articles on current UK legislation plus travel, health, equipment and a notice board.

http://www.disabilitycornwall.org.uk
Help group promoting support and facilitating full inclusion of disabled people throughout Cornwall.

www.dialuk.org.uk
Registered charity with 140 local disability information and advice services run by and for disabled people. Site designed for disabled people. News, information, local contact points, services, how to volunteer.

www.diss.org.uk
Part of the Queen Elizabeth Foundation for the Disabled, based in Surrey. Provides a database of services for disabled people.

www.benefitsnow.co.uk
Guide to and self-assessment service for these two government benefits. Includes bulletin board and chat room.

www.disabilitysearch.net
Portal offering mobility, ability and disability information

www.disabledworkers.org.uk
Database that matches the needs of individual customers wanting a product or service with a local disabled person who is able to provide that product or service.

www.disabilityuk.com
Disabled and disability issues covering health, advice and resources

www.disabilityworld.com
Information on disability issues, directory of suppliers and adapted holiday accommodation, links and forum.

www.disabledinfo.com
Provides information for disabled people, their families and carers, who are looking for help, advice or shopping requirements

www.4dp.com
A UK web portal for disabled people. Live disability news and holidays, online shopping, and chat. [Requires registration. Not all pages are accessible to persons with disabilities.

www.enableme2.com
Directories and guides to health care information, organisations, education, support groups and events. Also has online shop.

www.reddisability.org.uk/DisFamous.htm
Includes rock and pop personalities, sportsmen and women, authors, politicians, presenters, scientists and military heroes.

www.crossd17.freeserve.co.uk
Provides information for those disabled in the UK covering topics such as benefits, benefit rates, contacts and organisations, independent living, social services, NHS, and mobility.

www.oneforus.com
A site for people with learning disabilities rather than parents or carers. Includes information on education, housing, money and other important issues as well as space for people to tell their own stories.

www.bbc.co.uk/ouch
BBCi lifestyle site that reflects the wider view of life for disabled people, with creativity, community, news, messageboards, humour, and user interaction.

www.radar.org.uk
National UK organisation run by and for disabled people. Bookshop, mailing list and email chat service. Links to other relevant sites.

www.therowan.org
Services provided by organisation of disabled people which provides disabled people with access to information, services and resources in order to increase their opportunity for independence.

www.astepforward.co.uk
Information and community site. News, rights and equality, travel and chat.

http://www.opsi.gov.uk/acts/acts2005/20050013.htm
Disability Discrimination Act 2005.

http://www.un.org/disabilities/convention
United Nations convention on the rights of persons with disabilities

http://www.cornwallworks.org.uk
Delivering a step change in the way Cornwall addresses issues of worklessness.

http://www.nextstep-cds.org.uk
Advice to get your career moving in the right direction.

http://www.accessiblesouthwest.co.uk
Accessible South West is a directory designed to assist visitors with disabilities travelling to the South West of England find suitable places to stay and visit.

http://www.mentorsden.co.uk
Cornwall's first business mentoring network for entrepreneurs with disabilities. Mentors Den can assist in financial control, marketing sales,business plans and other facets of running a small business.