to the first Branching Out of 2020 - we are proud to include updates on new developments, information from our ECG, customer/learner stories of adventure and achievement and details of our 30-year celebration event (party frocks out & not to be missed).

I would like to say a big thank you to everyone who worked for us over the Christmas and New Year period, we are so grateful to you and your dedication which allowed our customers and learners to have an extra special time.

I find myself busy doing the budgets with our managers and finance team, but you can rest assured that one of my priorities is not only to develop a balanced budget, but to be in a position to confirm employees’ pay awards from April 2020. I will confirm with you as soon as I can.Kind regards

Tel: 01539 735 025 Email: enquiries@oakleatrust.co.uk www.oakleatrust.co.uk www.right2work.org.uk

The Oaklea Trust ... celebrates 30 years

Join us as we step “Through the Looking Glass”

In 2020 The Oaklea Trust charity reaches a major milestone

– we’re 30 years old. It’s something really worth

celebrating and we’d love you to join us. We will be

holding a fundraising event to mark the occasion.

The evening’s theme is inspired by Alice in Wonderland

as we take you ‘through the looking glass’ and

share with you our journey over 3 momentous decades.

The evening includes pre dinner drinks, a sumptuous 4 course

meal, raffle prizes and auction, music and entertainment.

Oaklea has continued to respond to the changing needs of

individuals and communities during this time. That’s why we have

been inspired by Lewis Carroll – “every adventure has a first step.”

We would love you to join us: customers, learners,

colleagues and suppliers celebrating together.

At The North Lakes Hotel, Penrith, Cumbria (JN 40 M6)

On 13th June 2020

Pre dinner drinks from 7pm

Dress code Black Tie and Fabulous

The guest numbers are limited so to reserve your

tickets (£40 each) please contact us:

E: enquiries@oakleatrust.co.uk T: 01539 735025

Clive Wigley,Chief Executive

CELEBRATION

Happy Birthday to... US!

Oaklea Newsletter | Issue 1 2020

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Grimes, pictured inset, (who was also a Director at R2W)

has stood down after many years’ service at Oaklea. Cate has been involved with Oaklea for around 17 years and has been a Trustee, then Acting Chair and Chair for the last 3 years.

There’s also the return of a familiar face but this time to R2W! – former Oaklea Trustee Andy Blackman is back and is now a Director on the board at R2W.

Hitting us for 6!If that’s not enough - as well as all this we also have some major changes at Board level –with 6 new Trustees joining us following our most successful recruitment campaign ever.

The 6 new Trustees have expertise in the following:

• Nigel Woodcock a former NHS Chief Executive who now runs his own management consultancy working predominantly on projects across the country in the NHS. He also has extensive non executive director/lay governor experience.• Maxine Denoual (pictured left with CEO Clive) a former nurse working across the country for various NHS hospitals. She has been a School Governor, is a Company Director

and Secretary for Nenthead Community Works CIC.• Susie Grainger an Outdoor Education and Training Officer. She has worked as a Lecturer at Newton Rigg College & as a Volunteer/Apprentice Coordinator. • John Nicol a qualified Solicitor. Has previous experience as a non executive Board Member and is currently a member of the Management Committee of the Cumbria Law Centre. • Stuart Davison a background in archaeology and worked for various local authorities in the museums sector. Has also worked as an independent consultant providing advice to a variety of organisations in the cultural heritage sector. • Chris Reed an expert in three dimensional design and has worked in both the UK and Australia on domestic and commercial architectural projects

A big Oaklea weIcome to new Chair Andy Scott.Tell us a bit

about yourself I was born & raised in Dewsbury, West Yorkshire and have spent the last 30 years living in Cumbria with my wife Anne.What were you up to before Oaklea came calling I have spent 40 years in the Accountancy profession, running my own practice for 10 years before selling on in 1987. I dealt with a wide variety of clients and small businesses and enjoyed training the junior staff members watching them mature and gain qualifications.Tell us a bit more about your working life When I moved to Cumbria I was employed as Manager in a firm of Chartered Accountants in Lancaster until 2012 when I took early

retirement. Since then have been self-employed running a Garden Maintenance business locally. You are used to giving up your time to support local causes I was a volunteer for the Leonard Cheshire Befriending Scheme providing respite care for disabled/disadvantaged Children and a volunteer for the South Lakeland Support Group for Disadvantaged Children & their Families.And away from being Chair/work I enjoy playing golf and am a keen supporter of Rugby League and Nottingham Forest Football team.

Getting to Know You - New Oaklea Chair

Here’s Andy giving a grand tour of R2W to two teachers from Kenya, Brian & Joab – who were seeing first hand ideas on developing social enterprise

Say Hello, Wave GoodbyeWe wanted to bring you up to date with some key changes affecting the running of Oaklea Trust.

Last Autumn we said goodbye to two very long serving Trustees – Pam Clark and Janet McMeekin. Pam has been a Trustee since 2008 and Janet since 2012 - they’ve both had a huge impact on the direction of the Oaklea Trust as it has continued to grow in this time. Both were present for their final AGM in November.

On top of that our Chair, Cate

Trustees New faces making Oaklea a smooth operation Trustees

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“Proper Old School” – That’s Oaklea!Oaklea Trust is looking into the possibility of developing a former school building in Alston, Cumbria.

We are acting in a supportive role with the ‘Alston Old Primary Working Group’.

The group are made up of interested parties from the Alston Moor area with expertise in a variety of areas. The group invited Oaklea to assist them - after all The Oaklea Trust strapline is ‘Building Stronger Communities.’

We intend to hold some public meetings in 2020 where we will share more information.

Happy Anniversary - 1 year on! - or more aptly ‘where did the time go’19 December- marked

exactly a year to the day we had the ‘Acquired’ sign erected at Edenside.

A huge amount has happened since then - not least the public meetings, community engagement -and a huge amount of locally led fundraising! (we broke the £30k milestone 15 days before Christmas and by New Year’s Eve had broken the £40k mark!).

So a huge big massive thank you to all involved - we couldn’t do this without you.

Alex Wolfenden, Operations Director and Project Lead on Edenside for Oaklea: “After a significant consultation with the Environment Agency, technical specialists Curtins and the local community; the final revision of our plans to transform the former Edenside Care Home into 18 Extra Care apartments has been submitted to Eden District Council for planning permission.” We are expecting a decision in early Spring 2020.

We caught up with two lovely former employees of Edenside who still live in the Appleby area.Joyce was in charge of the cooking for 37 years. Janet was a Care Assistant who rose to become Acting Manager - 28 years service. They recall many great days at Edenside.

Joyce remembers having several 100 year old birthday parties - and even one for a resident who was 110!

Joyce; “I did notice retired people came in younger in the early days but now will be much older as we are living longer.”

Janet on her long service; “I knew it was time to retire when people began to mistake me for one of the residents.”

Some of the “Alston Old Primary Working Group” at the Market Cross, Alston

Edenside Update

1 Year on!

ALL IN THE PLAN

A WANDER DOWN MEMORY LANE

40 K+ RAISED SO FAR!New Look New ApproachOaklea have launched a new service for young people aged 0-18.

“We believe in young people” does exactly what it says on the tin! The new look Children’s Team will cover

Furness, Eden and South Lakes.

To find out more visit http://www.oakleatrust.co.uk/what-we-do/young-people and download

the leaflet.

£40,304

https://www.facebook.com/Alstonoldprimary/

New offer for

South Lakeland, Barrow/

Furness & Eden

Oaklea have a new and expanded Children &

Young People’s Team which seeks to promote

your child’s personal and social development.

We will:

• offer young people safe spaces to explore

their identity and be creative with a trusted

adult (who knows what is needed)

Our aim is to support children and young people to:

• Have fun

• Explore their values, beliefs, ideas and issues

• Enable them to develop their voice,

influence and place in society

• Acquire a set of practical or technical skills and

competencies, to realise their full potential

Our qualified team can offer

support at every stage of

a young person’s life. We

work with all young people

whatever their personal

circumstances and whatever

challenges they may

be experiencing.

Every young person is

welcome; we want

to offer a positive

experience for

all that is fully

accessible and

without stigma

or barriers.

We believe inyoung people

L I V E L E A R N W O R K A C H I E V E

Registered Charity No. 1091722

We aim to offer support at every

stage of a young person’s life...

Oaklea’s Children & Young People’s Team seeks to

promote young people’s personal and social development

and enable them to have a voice, influence and place

in their communities and society as a whole.

It aims to build resilience and character and

give young people the confidence and life skills

they need to live, learn, work and achieve.

If you would like to find out more or

would like to get involved in volunteering

with our children and young people team:

T: 01539 735025

E: enquiries@oakleatrust.co.uk

www.oakleatrust.co.uk

https://www.facebook.com/

oakleayoungpeople/

interested ?Get in touch

4 Oaklea Branching Out Issue 1 2020 5

WHEELY GOOD DRIVECllr Hughie Potts can be seen with Appleby Mayor Jilly handing over a £150 donation following a historic 40 mile tractor run in the summer.

Via Mayor Jilly we’re also handing out certificates for sterling effort in the field of fundraising duty.

Lots of local businesses have supported #ProjectEdenside by having a donation tin.It means every now and then Charles & James from the Oaklea Finance Team hit Appleby to collect overflowing tins. On

one particular day they collected from The Midland Hotel, Hare & Hounds, Eden River Cafe, The Little Shop on the Bridge, Pigneys, Kings Head and Blue Poppy and - wait for it – brought in £170.49 - which when you add Gift Aid is £213.11 – superb effort everyone! Special thanks to Appleby Mayor extraordinaire Jilly Dixon-Dougherty - who has co-ordinated this so well with local businesses.

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DOIN’ THE SHUFFLETim Collins, ‘The Appleby Shuffler’ completed two half marathons for #ProjectEdenside - and brought in a truly stupendous sum - more than £633 once Gift Aid added!

FRIENDLY HANDOVER!Mike Hewitt, the Charity Steward for Vale of Eden Freemason’s Lodge. “When the lodge members found out that Oaklea Trust was looking for donations to assist in their transformation of Edenside, they were delighted to respond with a gift of £1,000.”

No stings attached!CEO Clive went to collect a superb donation of £630 from Maria at Fortis Tattoo. Maria had offered a percentage of her October takings with the willing support of customers - and created quite a social media boost for #ProjectEdenside. In fact when you add Gift Aid Maria’s total is just under £800… incredible.

STRIKING THE RIGHT NOTESAppleby Town Band held two concerts in 2019 for Edenside – and the Eden Valley Ceilidh Band held a gig with a Mexicana themed spread by the Appleby Hub Café Team!

HARE RAISING STUFFHuge thanks to the staff and regulars at the Hare & Hounds in Appleby. They held several events – including a charity night which raised more than £1000+. You can see Appleby based Oaklea Trustee, Linda Adey, presenting Gemma & Sharon from the pub with a certificate to mark their awesome achievements!

MARATHON MAN John Muirhead raised more

than £400+ for #ProjectEdenside doing the Lowther Lakeland half marathon! He even made a wee video of his exploits – which is worth looking at as… dare we

say – it’s quite funny! Go to our webpages http://www.oakleatrust.

co.uk/what-we-do/project-edenside

ALL ABOARD! To mark 30 years of the saving of the Settle-Carlisle Railway - a special vintage charter train ran to Chester. On board the results of a public vote were announced in a ‘battle of local charities’. Oaklea powered through full steam ahead -and won with 64% of the votes! We secured £385 for #ProjectEdenside.

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“The ECG has had a productive year during 2019. New employee representatives (Sophie, Nicola & Shelley) were welcomed from Kendal Supported Living and Adult Care homes along with new rep Karen from the Appleby Hub. We also welcomed one of Oaklea’s new Trustees Maxine who has joined the ECG.

At ECG we share success stories, problem solve ideas and share best practice. The reps attended

a short training session on how to chair meetings effectively and this has allowed them to chair ECG meetings on a rotational basis.

At our last meeting of 2019 we agreed a number of objectives for the ECG to take forward in 2020 (e.g. team building exercise, the re-launch of customer forums, a day in the life of etc). We have vacancies for ECG reps in the Barrow & Ulverston areas.” Helen Shaw, HR Manager.

Meet Richard - he’s on a placement at Oaklea HQ in Kendal (bravery medal pending!)

It’s part of his University Marketing & Business course at UCLAN (University of Central Lancashire, Preston). Richard is pretty well versed in all things Oaklea as he was supported by us when he was a youngster. Then he did voluntary work at the R2W Furniture Warehouse - so he is quite familiar with what we do!

We will get Richard involved with some of the Marketing challenges we face in 2020 - like looking into new areas of business we intend to develop.

Independent thumbs up - IIP Status

Oaklea have secured their Investors in People (IIP) status again. We had our review (September 2019) and the report is very favourable.

Highlights include:

• On the new HQ in Kendal - “The new offices are popular and have benefited cross team working and enhanced the positive atmosphere.”

• “Investment in staff training has continued across all services and all interviewees referred to either management training or other specialist training and support they had received in the past year.”

• “Good use is made of both the Oaklea Trust and an enhanced Right2Work website and the various social media channels (facebook/Instagram/LinkedIN/Twitter). Benefits include overall profile raising, engagement with stakeholders and recruitment of staff.”

• “All felt excited about the wider development of the Trust.”

• Positive comments were heard about the enhanced ECG (Employee Consultative Group) with representation from all areas and services -this is how feedback across the organisation can be collected and ideas and best practice shared.

Welcome aboard Richard

This is Kelvin... be more like Kelvin. He was selected to join the Taekwondo Championships in Italy last Autumn with Team GBR - a massive achievement (8 in the team from across Britain - representing different heights and ages). Kelvin is a very familiar face to Oaklea as we support him plus he’s also a regular at Right2Work.

A key part to the Oaklea Trust Mission Statement is “to support individuals to achieve their aspirations through care, education and development; encouraging independence and maximising capabilities”. What better example than Georgina.

Georgina found a volunteer position at Booths supermarket in Windermere, to work in the cafe. “Booths cafe is often extremely busy - she has learned to work as part of a team, and also learnt to prioritise jobs, and work unprompted.” says support Pauline Coulthard.

Georgina makes a real impression

Employee Voice - Employee Consultative Group (ECG)

If you would like to

know more please contact Helen

T: 01539 735025

8 Oaklea Branching Out Issue 1 2020 9

round-up

Some examples of the jobs Community Works has been doing...

Email:community@right2work.org.uk (contact for CW)

Top Batting Order Revealed! Another great innings to share with you from our ‘Work & Learn’ team.

R2W Employment Advisor, Claire Round: “This is Joe who started the internship programme in September.

We contacted Bob Simpson from Cumbria Cricket Ltd -Bob offered a placement which would also include using Joe’s media and art skills.

He now has a placement which involves using his art work in competitions to publicise Cumbria Cricket Ltd.”

Tom’s a good fit!Our Supported Internship programme is all about ensuring we meet the needs of the people we support.

Jim Thorburn, Employment Tutor for SI’s: “This is Tom - we were able to secure a placement for him with Cumbria Police in their

Northern Traffic Unit in Carlisle.His Police mentor says: “He is

a very determined young man who refuses to be held back.”

Hands Free Opportunity

During national ‘Learning Disability Work Week’ we highlighted the efforts of our ‘Work & Learn’ Team.

This is Dom, who is on a Supported Internship scheme. R2W Employment Advisor, Grant Huck; “The image was taken at the NHS Staff Induction Day. Aaron Cummins the NHS CEO for Morecambe Bay, likes to take what he calls a ‘Rollercoaster Face’ photo of all new staff.”

Looking GoodWe also had Keiron at Tullie House Museum, Carlisle. R2W Employment Tutor Jim Thorburn: “Kieron has thrived in Tullie House and loves helping visitors and colleagues alike.”

Supported Internship update

New R2W websiteR2W Chair Phil Shea likes the new look website: “It captures the dynamism of the company well.”

Heated discussions “In the round”

2 teams from Oaklea and Right2Work competed in the annual Brewery Arts Annual Christmas Quiz in Kendal.

A year ago Oaklea managed to beat off our upstart neighbours - this year roles were reversed -in fact R2W came joint top and only lost on a tie break.

So well done to them - but as you can see we all got together at the end and said ‘here’s to next year’! (after all a key Oaklea Group working behaviour is ‘to embrace team working’).

10 Oaklea Branching Out Issue 1 2020 11

“Recycling” The News?

The Furniture Warehouse (TFW) supremo Chris Pantechis having an enjoyable read of ‘Lakeland News’.

It goes to every house in South Lakeland (54,000 homes) - and this edition the big focus was on recycling for Christmas. The TFW of course feature heavily thanks to the work we do in partnership with South Lakeland District Council (SLDC) and the collection of bulky waste.

Councillor Dyan Jones, SLDC’s Portfolio Holder for Environment, said: “This is a successful and innovative service which helps residents to dispose of items they no longer want & helps those with learning difficulties to gain confidence and valuable work skills.”

Top Ideas!

The Right2Work Board & Management had an inspiring and thought provoking away day at Castle Green Hotel, Kendal before Christmas.

It’s Coffee Time!

This rather excellent coffee table was created entirely from scrap by Sam & Nathan from Community Works. You won’t be surprised to learn it was snapped up quicker than they had time to get a celebratory brew in!

Arresting Scenes At OakleaOur Youth club in Furness had some “special” visitors - Cumbria Police dropped in as part of their community links.

Miss Marple aka Adele Wade from our Children’s Team: “They came to talk about internet safety. The young people were also given the opportunity to try on some of the police uniform and handcuffs.”

Pleased To Meet You!This is Gillian one of our lovely customers from Barnard Castle in County Durham.

She’s been run off her feet over Christmas working at Morrisons. Team Supervisor for Oaklea, Nichola Bainbridge: “I managed to catch Gillian as she was heading off for a shift. Her Job role was as a ‘greeter’ where she welcomed customers coming into the store.”

Employee Fundraising UpdateThe Fundraising Committee meet every 8 weeks to discuss current fundraising and decide on new fundraising ideas.

We’ve had a scarecrow competition and a Christmas Fayre in Consett (which raised £500). Plus the Oaklea Christmas Tree and Christmas Jumper Competitions won by teams in Barrow, Morpeth and Barnard Castle.

If you wish to fundraise for Oaklea, require a fundraising pack or have suggestions please email fundraising@oakleatrust.co.uk

round-up

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Reporting for duty Annual Reports for R2W and Oaklea. Download them via Oaklea & R2W websites.

Seven Keys to Citizenship Moving away from an outcome culture and embracing citizenship

There are often times when organisations change, evolve and embrace new directions. Oaklea and Right2Work have always been able to embrace such change quickly and as a result have always had a positive impact on the lives of our customers and learners.

We are making a change that moves us a step away from an outcome culture to one that embraces the principles of Citizenship.

This is to reflect how the social model of disability has moved on.

There are seven keys (pictured, top right) to citizenship and they are universal, i.e. applicable to all.

Holders to the 7 Keys...Kit, Gemma, Nicola & Gillian - 4 Oaklea customers from County Durham received certificates from Durham Constabulary for completing a course on staying safe online.

PCSO’s Preet Singh & Liz Finn then whisked them off for a VIP tour of the UK’s first “Quad” - where all 4 “blue light” emergency services live in Barnard Castle.

Love

Purpose

Life

Help Money

£

Freedom

Home

Annual Report 2019www.oakleatrust.co.uk

A l t o g e t h e r N o w

COMMUNITY

LEARNING

WELL-BEING

ANNUAL REPORT2019

Are we ready - yes we areAll ready for the “Employability Awards” at a winter sun drenched Lowther Castle. Learners from Right2Work and Lowther Estates up for recognition.

Big well done to Robert, Phillip, Alice, Trevor and Charles – the event hosted by Ernest Cook Trust* (new Oaklea Trustee Susie Grainger was MC and works at Lowther Estates on behalf of Ernest Cook Trust.)

*Ernest Cook was the brother of Thomas Cook -who set up the travel firm.

14 Oaklea Branching Out Issue 1 2020 15

Join our online community! Oaklea have an ever increasing presence on social media and we would love you to join us!

Whether you’re a Facebooker, a Tweeter, or an Insta-addict, look us up!

We are always looking out for fresh content so if you have a story to shout about, send it to simon.dey@oakleatrust.co.uk or just tag us!

Oaklea Apprentice AcademyOaklea’s Board of Trustees and Executive Team have approved the launch of Oaklea’s Apprentice Academy and this will commence in September 2020.

Oaklea will employ two apprentices working within our Adult Care Home, Supported Living Projects, Childrens Team and Community Customers in Kendal, Cumbria. The apprentices will have enrolled on a Level 3 Health & Social Care programme through Kendal College and will spend time on a 3 month rotational programme with Oaklea learning new skills in all 4 areas of the business at Oaklea.

Oaklea attended the Skillsfest at Kendal College in November 2019

where we launched the Academy and will begin the process for recruitment during National Apprenticeship Week in February 2020.

We will also be supporting work placements every February for students from Kendal College who are enrolled on the level 2 Health & Social Care programme. This will give them experience and knowledge of Oaklea, our customers and the work we do.

www.instagram.com/oakleatrust

www.linkedin.com/oakleatrust

www.facebook.com/oakleatrustwww.facebook.com/ApplebyHubwww.facebook.com/FurnitureWarehousewww.facebook.com/Right2Workemployment

www.twitter.com/oakleatrust