Pray forLivability

May – August 2012

Livability is the new face of John Groomsand the Shaftesbury Society

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Who we are

At Livability, we are passionate about creatingopportunities for disabled people and supportingthose who want to make a difference in theircommunities.

We offer a wide range of services to support andempower disabled people throughout their lives,from our colleges and school to residential care andsupported living. We also provide many otherspecialist services including brain injury rehabilitationand accessible holidays.

Livability also works with urban churches andcommunity organisations. We provide them withadvice, training and resources to transform theirneighbourhoods.

Our organisations were started by passionateChristians whose faith compelled them to act whenthey saw poverty and social challenges on thestreets of Victorian Britain. Inspired by their legacy,we continue to keep a clear Christian ethos at theheart of all we do.

By sharing our joys and challenges, and bringingthem to God on our behalf, you are truly a part ofwhat God is doing through Livability – transformingcommunities and individuals.

Livability was created from the merger of twowell-respected organisations, John Grooms andthe Shaftesbury Society.

Our founders, John Groom (left) and Lord Shaftesbury

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Celebrating achievement

Dear friends

I’m sure that, like me, youare looking forward to theOlympic and ParalympicGames later this summer.As an ex-rugby player and akeen runner, I’m alwaysinspired to see the fantasticachievements of sportsmenand women. The gamesgive us a great opportunityto celebrate the talent andhard work of athletes from around the world.

Off the sports field, it can be harder to recogniseachievement. In real life, there are rarely finishinglines to cross or a panel of judges awarding points.

Working with disabled people, we have to makesure that we encourage and celebrate achievementof all kinds. What may be an everyday occurrencefor one person may be a real triumph for another: astudent who manages to express his preference forapple over orange juice, a young adult who takesthe bus on her own, or an older person who learnshow to cook himself a basic meal for the very firsttime.

As we watch this summer’s medal-winners andrecord-breakers, let’s remember to look out for thebrilliant achievements of people all around us, andmake time to celebrate with them.

Thank you so much for your support.

Michael Smith OBEChief executive

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Focus on...our trustee Jenny

Livability has a team of dedicated trustees who givetheir time and expertise to help the charity runsmoothly and true to our Christian values.

Jenny Edwards, a wheelchair user, has worked withus for three years, having first encountered Livabilitythrough our accessible holidays service.

“I’ve always been passionate about disabled peopleand the issues that concern them,” says Jenny. “Ithink my motivation as a trustee is twofold: to hearwhat our service users have to say and representthem; and to bring together Christian groupsbecause we are all part of God’s family.”

Jenny has worked with the Disabled ChristianFellowship (DCF) since 1973 and travels widely totalk about what this inclusive group can offer to alldisabled people. “I always try to fit in a visit to a Livabilityservice when I’m travelling for DCF,” she says.

Jenny’s work received special recognition earlier thisyear, when she was awarded the MBE for herservices to disabled people.

When she heard news of her honour, what pleasedher more than anything was that her nomination hadcome from individuals whom she’d been supporting.

Jenny travelled to Windsor Castle for the investiture.“The Queen said to me ‘You’ve been doing this along time, haven’t you? But don’t stop now!’”

Jenny’s big day, with her sister (right) and friend in attendance

Livability will again be at the Christian ResourcesExhibition (CRE) from 8-11 May, in association withthe Churches for All consortium. Please pray thatchurches will respond enthusiastically to our“Inclusion Charter” resources that encourage themto be more sensitive to the needs of disabled people.

May

I can do everything through himwho gives me strength.Philippians 4:13

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The CRE offers a great platform to highlight themarginalisation faced by disabled people

Week beginning 6 MayThe Queen’s Speech at the StateOpening of Parliament, on 9 May, willlay out government plans for all newlegislation in the forthcomingparliamentary session. Please praythat any legislation which touches ondisabled people’s lives will beprogressive and will work towards asociety that truly values disabled people.

Also at CRE, Livability’s Legacy Manager AlastairEmblem will giving a seminar in association with theChristian Legacy consortium: please pray thatAlastair will be able to inspire church leaders toencourage their congregations to consider legacygifts to Christian causes.

Governmentlegislation plansare announcedthis month

May

Week beginning 13 MayGive thanks for all the brave Livability runners whoparticipated in the London Marathon last month.We celebrate their fantastic efforts, which not onlyraise a substantial amount of money to supportour work, but also inspire us by their determinationto succeed.

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Time to celebrate as the ticker tape draws near

Week beginning 20 MayThis week, the CommunityMission team hosts a trainingday in Sheffield, designed tohelp churches understand andengage more effectively witholder people in their community.Please pray that attendees willleave empowered and inspired.

On May 24, our trustees anddirectors have an away day toreview and develop Livability’sstrategic goals for the future. Please pray forwisdom and discernment for all participants, so ourwork with service users can be made even moreeffective and at the centre of all we do.

A foodbank volunteerat Community Missionolder people's day

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Week beginning 27 MayRuth Smith, from the Community Mission team,recently facilitated a training day on goodgovernance. Attendees said the day had beeninvaluable. Please pray that even more people willbenefit from Community Mission’s training this year.

Inspiring prayerAmid the clamour and competitiveness oftoday’s world, we often fail to recogniseour achievements – whether large or small– and just move on to the next task.Think back over the last few months to achallenge you’ve successfully met. Andask God to help you celebrate.

Please pray for CRP(Centre for theRehabilitation of theParalysed), Livability’spartner in Bangladesh.CRP is the onlyspecialist spinal cordinjury rehabilitationcentre in Bangladeshand offers services eachyear to 900 inpatientswith spinal cord injuryand 27,000 outpatientswith disabilities.

We also ask for God’sprovision as CRP seeks to extend its treatment andrehabilitation services throughout Bangladesh. Praytoo for the success of Valerie Taylor OBE (CRP’sfounder) as she undertakes a fundraising andawareness tour of the UK, Germany and Franceover the coming weeks.

CRP treats thousandsevery year

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The Princess Royal Livability Award honoursmembers of staff who have gone the extra mile.People like Sally Matthews, a member of theHinwick Hall College team.

In 2009/10 just three Hinwick students gained workexperience. Thanks to Sally’s sterling efforts, thisnumber rose to 32 last academic year. Not only didthe placements help students make the transition toadult life – building self-esteem and confidence – butsome led to permanent employment.

Employers can still be reluctant to take on disabledstudents, but Sally has no doubt about the impactof the work experience programme. “It has provedto be an extremely valuable enhancement to the livesof students,” says Sally who is also a member of thecollege’s local governors’ board. “It gives them theopportunity to develop and transfer their skills in arealistic working environment.”

As we celebrate the success of exceptional staff likeSally, let’s also give thanks for the many dedicatedindividuals who, through their daily Livability roles,are increasing independence, choice and freedomfor disabled people.

Focus on...HRH award winner

Sally was thrilled to receive her award from our patronHRH Princess Anne

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Well done, good and faithfulservant! You have been faithfulwith a few things; I will put you incharge of many things. Come andshare your master’s happiness!Matthew 25:23

June

Thank you for the music

Week beginning 3 JuneThe generosity of our supporters really does make adifference to the lives of disabled people. Localcommunity friends of Hinwick Hall College raisedmoney to buy the students a jukebox, plus over 100CDs chosen by the students. Let’s thank God for allthe pleasure this great gift is giving our students!

This month sees the opening of the new facilities atJohn Grooms Court in Norwich. The project hastaken nearly four years to come to fruition, so let’scelebrate and give thanks for all the hard work inplanning, raising funds, and completing the buildingand refurbishment. Pray the new facilities will be ahuge blessing to all who use them.

June

Week beginning 17 JuneA big thank you to supporters who have contributedmore than £20,000 to Livability’s Plan for Living.Pray these gifts will be life-changing as we use themto convert more bathroomsinto wheelchair-accessibleshowers and upgrade morekitchens, giving moreresidents like Colin andWendy the freedom andindependence they needand deserve.

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Week beginning 10 JuneWhen teacher Marianne Harding at Victoria EducationCentre (VEC) saw how much her own children enjoyedworking with a professional orchestra at school, shewas determined that VEC students wouldn’t miss out.

She successfully bid for a £24,000 grant from YouthMusic for students to play violins, cello, double bass,trumpet and cornet with the Orchestra of the Age ofEnlightenment andAssistive MusicTechnology with DrakeMusic. The high pointwas performing with theorchestra in two concertsearlier this year.

Please thank God for theenterprise of staff likeMarianne, and for the joythis event brought tostudents.

Suzanne Davenport, a Livability resident, wanted toraise vital funds for a new specially adapted minibusand car through her very own “Suzanne’s Wheel’s”appeal. Give thanks to Suzanne and all our generoussupporters who helped her achieve this goal.

Wendy and Colin

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Week beginning 24 JuneThanks to your support, Livability’s service users upand down the country have been able to celebrateamazing breakthroughs in their lives. People likeSimon who lives at a supported living service inGloucestershire.

Simon has beenattendingwoodworkingclasses for 18months and hasrecently made abench for his fellowtenants to enjoy (inmemory of a dearfriend of his). Praythat Livability will beable to give manymore disabledpeople the chanceto expand theirhorizons.

Please pray for the team at Nash College, ourcollege for disabled young people in Bromley, Kent.They are working hard to find more opportunities fortheir students to integrate into the local community.

Inspiring prayerWinston Churchill once said: “Success isthe ability to go from failure to failurewithout losing your enthusiasm.” Indeed,God often uses our setbacks as fuel todrive us on to achieve feats that onceseemed formidable or even impossible.Lord, please transform our attitudes to“winning” and “losing”, so we can serveyou in a spirit of joy and celebration.

Simon’s labour of love

Focus on... givingdisabled people a voice

More than 50 Livability service users met in Londonearlier this year, to take part in a governmentconsultation on disability called Fulfilling Potential.People travelled from as far as Plymouth, leaving at5.30am to take part in the day.

The consultation was designed to feed intogovernment policy on disability. Topics includeddisabled people’s outlook on realising aspirationsand overcoming barriers and negative attitudes.

Delegates represented a wide range of disabilities,including profound physical disability and learningdisability. People were keen to share their views andexperience, which included what a difference goodpublic transport makes to independent living, asdoes care that prioritises choice on everyday issuessuch as meals and bedtimes.

Not surprisingly, cuts in spending on disabilityservices were felt to have created barriers for many,such as lack of access to college courses. Wheelchairusers highlighted the problems they face going tothe cinema because of limited wheelchair spaces.

Please pray that the resulting report, due out latesummer, produces real change in society fordisabled people.

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Our service users’ day will influence government policyon disability

July

Week beginning 1 JulyLivability continues to workwith parliamentary groups onforthcoming legislation ondisability issues. Head ofcampaigns RachaelChristophides askssupporters to pray that thelatest White Paper on SocialCare – which will shape socialcare for years to come – willserve to improve disabledpeople’s lives, despite tight government spending.

I will turn their mourning intogladness; I will give them comfortand joy instead of sorrow.Jeremiah 31:13

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Please pray for the success of Livability’s GardenParty on 7 July. We hope that many of you will join usto celebrate Livability’s work at Latchetts, FreshfieldLane, Danehill, East Sussex. We look forward toyour company.

Rachael Christophides

Please come along to our annual Garden Party

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July

Week beginning 8 JulyAs unemployment among young people steadilyrises, please pray for disabled young people lookingfor jobs. Work opportunities for disabled peoplehave always been hard to find, and today they arescarcer than ever.

Livability’s Enterprise Agency trains and supportsunemployed people who want to start their ownbusiness. Pray for the team’s enthusiasm and energyas they encourage these trainee entrepreneurstowards independence.

Wendy was part of the first group of Enterprise clients. Shewas unemployed, but has now, with Livability's support, setup a vintage clothing business

Week beginning 15 JulySunday 15 July is Disability Awareness Day (DAD).Give thanks for recent advancements in society thatallow disabled people to achieve more in their day-to-day lives. Please pray that through DAD, andother efforts, we will live in a transformed societywhere everyone has the freedom to live life to thefull and opportunity to use their abilities.

“Our God is not made of stone.His heart is the most sensitive andtender of all. No act goes unnoticed,no matter how insignificant or small.A cup of cold water is enough to puttears in the eyes of God.God celebrates our feebleexpressions of gratitude.”Richard J Foster

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Pause for thought

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July

Week beginning 22 JulyLivability service user George will have a few weeksto remember, because he’s been chosen to takepart in the Olympic opening ceremony on July 27and closing event on August 12. George wasselected after a series of three auditions andattended weeks of rehearsals. Please thank God forsuch an amazing opportunity and pray George getsthe most out of his Olympic experience.

Livability puts a highvalue on staff training

Week beginning29 July“Good with outstandingfeatures” – that was the latestverdict from OFSTED followingan unannounced inspection atVictoria Education Centre andSports College, our school inPoole, Dorset. Join us inthanking God for a verypositive report.

Let’s also celebrate with MikeFlavell – manager of JohnGrooms Court in Norwich –who has passed hisleadership and managementcourse which specialises inthe management of servicesfor people with learningdisabilities and mental healthproblems.

Please pray for all staff undertaking vocational trainingcourses and professional qualifications. Manycombine study with work and family responsibilities.Pray for their success and for others who will takequalifications later this year.

If the British Paralympic medal winners came to yourchurch on Sunday morning, would they be welcome?Would they be able to get into the building? Wouldanyone talk to them? It’s questions like this thatLivability wants Christians to consider during the2012 Paralympics.

The Paralympics, which start at the end of August, willbe the widest broadcast event for disabled people ever.The past few months have seen an unprecedentednumber of disabled people in the media, as bigcompanies sponsor Paralympian athletes.

But as the media, corporate world, sporting and publicworlds evolve, how do our churches measure up? Somany are still struggling to meet the minimum legalrequirements, let alone become places where disabledpeople can feel safe, welcomed, trusted and respected.

Please pray for Livability as we highlight our “InclusionCharter” and work with both churches and disabledpeople. Ask God to help us move towards our visionof a world where people are valued and respectedregardless of disability.

Focus on...the Paralympics

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The Paralympics inspire students at Victoria Education Centre

August

Week beginning 5 AugustGive thanks for the tremendous work being done toraise funds for our Sparkle Appeal for hydrotherapyfacilities at Victoria Education Centre (VEC). We arenow more than 90 per cent of the way to our target.Please pray we will overcome the last hurdle.

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David, a student at VEC, revels in the new pool

God is able to make all graceabound to you, so that in allthings at all times, having all thatyou need, you will abound inevery good work. 2 Corinthians 9:8

We thank God for new opportunities to work withdisabled people in Devon and South Yorkshire. We arealso delighted that newresidents are moving intoNew Court Place, our servicein north London, which ishome to younger disabledpeople. Residents enjoy ahigh level of independence,thanks to a building fittedwith assistive technology.Please pray each personsettles in quickly, makesfriends and enjoystheir new life.

New Court Place’s youngresidents benefit fromassistive technology

Week beginning 12 AugustPlease pray for four new staff who, funded by grants,are making links with disabled and disadvantagedpeople who could greatly benefit from our LifestyleChoices service. Livability wants to make this servicemore widely available in Essex, Cornwall, London andEast Sussex, because disabled people tell us LifestyleChoices has made a huge difference in their lives.

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Lifestyle Choices allows people to choose whateversupport they want

Week beginning 19 AugustLike so many organisations and families across thecountry, we at Livability have been thinking about ourbudget: as bills rise and income falls, how do weprioritise our work? Please pray for our leadershipteam as they make difficult decisions.

Please also pray for Ruby Judt, Livability’s newDirector of Finance and ICS (Information andCommunication Services), for guidance and wisdom.Pray for the smooth running of all our financial affairsand our computer systems, so vital for the efficientdelivery of services to those who rely on us for support.

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August

Week beginning 26 AugustTogether with Andy Parnham, a former medicaldoctor and church leader from south London, theCommunity Mission team is developing a course onhappiness and wellbeing for churches to run in theircommunities. Please pray for wisdom anddiscernment as the course develops.

Inspiring prayer“God doesn't require us to succeed, heonly requires that you try.” Take amoment to reflect on this Mother Teresaquote and what it says about God’scharacter. Pray that our relationship withGod will be based less on performanceand more on celebrating his amazing,unconditional love.

This bank holidayweekend, Livability willagain be sponsoringGreenbelt Christianarts festival. Pray forus as we providedisability access allover the festival site,and host talks anddiscussions for peopleto think more deeplyabout faith, disabilityand community.

Making Greenbeltaccessible for allfestival-goers

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Get in touch with Livability

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Thank you for your interest in Livability

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Pause for thought

Be of good cheer. Do not think oftoday’s failures, but of the successthat may come tomorrow. You haveset yourselves a difficult task, but youwill succeed if you persevere; and youwill find a joy in overcoming obstacles.Remember, no effort that we maketo attain something beautiful isever lost.Helen Keller

Contact us:Gill TroupPray for Livability editor50 Scrutton StreetLondonEC2A 4XQTel: 020 7452 2000

gtroup@livability.org.ukwww.livability.org.ukRegistered charity no. 1116530Registered in England no. 5967087Livability is a company limited by guarantee

The new face of John Grooms and the Shaftesbury Society

Cover photo: Richard HansonPhoto p15: Bryce Bennett

Did you know you can download thisprayer diary from our website? Go towww.livability.org.uk/prayerdiary

Don’t forget to let us know if you no longerrequire a printed copy.

If you need this publication in analternative format, please ringour communications team on020 7452 2085