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 and over, 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 nine directors:

Gordon Faddy - Chair

Pete Skea - Vice Chair

Ann Kerridge

Elaine Leggett

Sarah Warne

Alan Sanderson

Helen Adams

Judy Groves 

News.

New Staff at Enable

After interviews on Tuesday 3rd August, Enable is pleased to announce the appointment of two new members of staff. Steve Ford has been appointed as the new Senior Advisor and Pam Griffin as the new Advisor. Both took up their positions on Thursday 12th August 2010.

Steve is originally from the St Austell area but currently lives in Plymouth, although he is hoping to move further west and currently has his house on the market. He has a background that includes time working for the Department for Work and Pensions and, more recently, in the Education Sector.

Steve said, "For some time now I've been seeking to relocate back to Cornwall and gaining this job with Enable is great for me in so many ways. I'm looking forward to working with Pam, facing the undoubted challenges ahead, and continuing the sterling work of the charity.

 

 

 

Pam Griffin lives in St Austell and for a number of years worked with voluntary and charitible organisations. She helped set up a number of projects for disadvantaged young people in Cornwall. Pam is a qualified trainer and ran her own training and consultancy service for Third Sector companies.

Having had her own health blip, Pam is now back on track and looking forward to working in the west of the county as an Advisor for Enable.

Welcome to Enable Pam and Steve. 

Published: 23 Aug 2010
 







Published: 30 Jul 2010
 

User Survey 2009-10

The results of the User Survey which was undertaken earlier this year can be viewed by following the link below.

 www.enableincornwall.co.uk/uploaded/UserSurvey2009-10Report.doc

We would like to say thank you to all the people that completed and returned their survey questionire to us.

Published: 26 Jul 2010
 

Fundraising at Asda, St Austell

On Friday 16th July, Pete Skea, Enable's Vice Chairman, and Sarah Warne, a Board Member, were at Asda in St Austell raising funds for Enable.

The public gave generously and a total amount of £262.62 was raised. Every penny of this money will be used to support clients in improving their opportunities of accessing education, training, paid or voluntary work.

Thanks go to Pete and Sarah for giving their time and to all those that kidly donated, thus making this fundraising event a success.

If you wish to make a donation you can contact the office direct or meet Members of the Board who will be out fundraising again at Morrisons in Bodmin on Friday 6th August.

 

 

Published: 26 Jul 2010
 

My Voluntary Work Placement by Michael Bradford

My placement that Enable got for me is the Bodmin and Wenford Steam Railway station.

To get there, rather than pay for a taxi, I make use of my free bus pass. Someone always helps me get my wheelchair on the bus, no problem!

I arrive. I do two afternoons a week usually and sign on for duty as a non-paid employee. I had to join their Preservation Society and, of course, obey the Health and Safety rules in order to work there. I get "perks" like free train rides and a free cup of tea at break times.

The work I do there is quite natural and enjoyable for me, it's gardening. The "garden" is a rather steep embankment which runs the entire length of the platform. It has been extensively colonised by that feral garden escapee the Wild Rhododendron.

When I began the job in March, brambles were growing down the slopes and smothering a lot of plants on the lower slopes. So, with my long handed cultivator, I raked these so I could pull them out of the soil if possible. I did this all along the platform and then in April and May a mass of plants did come through like the native primroses and celadines. After I had got it looking nice for the tourist season which was beginning it was time to plant up the hanging baskets.

I advised the station Manager which compost to buy, the sort with water storing granules and granular plant food mixed in. I bought the plants from a nursery which had them delivered to the station. I was reimbursed of course.

I stood the hanging baskets on buckets while I planted them up and watered them in really well in this "flaming June" we had this year. I left them like this for about three weeks while they grew together. I had to hose them down on hot days. Finally, another volunteer hung them quite high along the station.

After that I kept pulling and digging out with a trowel more brambles that had grown but I left some to flower and fruit for the wildlife. Next I turned my attention to the rhododendrons whose rampant growth and large leaves shaded out more delicate and native plants. I'm busy lopping all the branches I can reach as it is an alien plant which acidifies the soil even more - a menace.

Well this is about where I am at the moment dealing with the heat and humidity. Now I know what the gardeners in the Rainforest Biome at Eden face.

Michael Bradford.

 

Published: 23 Jul 2010
 

Kay Osberg

Kay is partially sighted and has been a client of Enable for 3 years. During those 3 years Kay has attended Link into Learning to improve her English and maths skills and become a volunteer at the Flicka Horse sanctuary in Mebe. This week Kay received a certificate from Learning South West for being a South West Adult Learners week award winner. Kay received her award on Monday 17th May at Woodbury Park Hotel and golf Club in Exeter.

I attended the presentation evening with Kay and Martin, her support worker from CWLD in Truro. Martin nominated Kay for this award and due to her hard work and perserverance she was selected as the Individual Award Learner for this area.

The evening was a truly wonderful and an inspiring experience. The location was beautiful, the food was very fine and the stories of some of the award winners were moving. Kay was presented her award by Linda Bellingham who some of you might have watched recently in Strictly Come Dancing. Kay had an opportunity when she went onto the stage to receive her award from Linda to tell her story of her achievement. Kay received a massive round of applause when she accepted her certificate and further learning voucher.   

Well done Kay you have worked hard and deserved this recognition.

Published: 27 May 2010
 
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Published: 22 Sep 2007
 

Contact.

Enable in Cornwall Ltd
Unit 1 Bodmin Business Centre
Harleigh Road
Bodmin
Cornwall
PL31 1AH
 

 
Tel: 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.
 

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

http://www.nextstepsouthwest.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.