2003 Award winners

A-H | I-Q | R-Z

Asian Blind Association

Formed in 1995, the Association provides help and support to Asian people with visual impairments in and around Coventry, and aims to ensure that its members gain confidence, training, empowerment skills and self-awareness. Membership is open to people from all religions and denominations.

The Association organises awareness days, social and cultural outings and other activities. It invites speakers from organisations, including those dealing with health and education, and offers informal counselling for people who have recently acquired visual handicap. Advice is given about benefit entitlements and other rights.

Membership varies between 25 and 35, with ages ranging from 20 to over 70. Interpreters in Urdu, Gujarati, Punjabi and Hindi are available if required.

Contact: 024 7644 2961

Cheltenham & District Sports Association for the Disabled

Founded 48 years ago, this group provides exercise, instruction and help in the water to disabled people of all ages, and operates a sailing section on a local lake during the summer. Every Friday, a Disabled and Carers Club provides indoor activities.

There are 84 members on the group's register, with around 50 attending each week. Each disabled person can bring a helper if necessary. Transport and a chair lift are provided for wheelchairs to and from the swimming pool, and a hoist is available to help bathers into the water.

The swimming and water activities have proved most beneficial and therapeutic for the disabled people. To be weightless in the water, free from the constriction of a wheelchair or from pain, is a great relief for many.

Contact: 01242 517018

Churches Action for The Homeless

Perth-based CATH is a voluntary organisation committed to working with the homeless or those at risk of becoming homeless. It aims to nurture safe and supportive environments, enabling clients to make informed choices about lifestyle and living arrangements. Access to services is open to all those in need without commitment to change.

Over the years, the organisation has moved forward from being a campaigning group running winter soup kitchens and all year weekly soup runs, to one that runs:
• a ‘Drop-In’ day centre in purpose-built premises with many facilities
• accommodation in a hostel, small group home and supported flats
• New Futures Centre assisting people into employment, education or training
• youth initiative
• outreach / streetwork services
• key deposit service
• literacy project.

The organisation, with its active voluntary management board, is also at the centre of the local authority strategy on tackling the problem of homelessness in Perth and Kinross.

Contact: 01738 580188

Clwyd Special Riding Centre

Clwyd Special Riding Centre is a unique local charity run by a group of volunteers. Every week it welcomes over 200 people of all ages with special needs who benefit from the pleasure and stimulation of riding and carriage-driving.

It is the only riding holiday centre in Great Britain where groups of people with special needs from across the UK and abroad are able to experience the enormous benefits of a residential riding holiday.

As anyone who has enjoyed the opportunity will know, learning to ride or drive a carriage offers an inspiration and challenge that is quite unforgettable. For people with disabilities, the experience is all the more special.

Contact: 01352 770446

Dunstable And District Disabled Sports

In July 1995, a small band of people attended a badminton course with a view to adapting the game for people with disabilities. This quickly grew into ‘DADDS', a registered charity whose aim is to increase sporting and social activities for people with disabilities.

DADDS encourages the development of people with physical disabilities and/or learning difficulties by offering a programme of leisure activities that provide opportunities for participation, integration, and personal development. They
run recreational activities for people with all forms of disability regardless of age, gender, ethnic origin or religion, and cater for over 100 clients a week.

Contact: 01582 601725

Epsom & Ewell Phab

Initially set up to provide leisure activities for physically disabled youngsters in Queen Mary’s Hospital, Carshalton, and their siblings, this club then opened its doors to other young people in the area. It provides integrated activities for those with and without physical disabilities.

Over a recent 12 month period, the group helped 110 young people. For example:
• after 10 years with the club, a disabled young man moved into youth work and disability awareness training and now supervises apprentices in music and performing arts. He continues to help the club as a volunteer on its annual holiday;
• two young boys with speech difficulties learnt to say their first recognizable words on a PHAB holiday;
• one young girl enjoyed the holidays so much that she now works as an outdoor pursuits instructor.

Contact: 01372 722644

Fife Christian Counselling Centre

Fife Christian Counselling Centre offers an independent and confidential service, completely free of charge, to all people, regardless of social status, race, religious or philosophical belief. It also provides training in counselling and pastoral care, supervises professional counsellors, and runs retreats.

All team members gift their time, skills and expertise. Counsellors receive ongoing training and supervision according to the guidelines of the Code of Ethics and Practice.

Over the last ten years the centre has continued to expand with new members joining the team. Referral demand continues to outweigh resources and the possibility of moving to larger premises is being explored.

Contact: 01592 744632

Friend to Friend

This West Yorkshire group bring elderly and isolated people together for discussions, a hot lunch, social activities (including musical entertainment and/or talks by experts on important safety aspects in the home), and outings. Members also receive a monthly newsletter to help them stay in contact, even when they become too frail to join monthly meetings.

Seventy to eighty members usually attend and free transport is provided door to door. There is also a befriending scheme that can provide home visiting if the need is identified.

This year, the group put on a public concert. Funding has been obtained for a ‘gentle walking’ group which meets in the summer. In the winter months there will be exercise and Tai Chi sessions.

In 2002, with the help of external funding, the group ran a Golden Jubilee project culminating in an indoor street party and exhibition called ‘Fifty Years On’. This led to an 18 months Local Heritage Initiative grant to record oral history entitled ‘Tales of the Mills’.

Contact: 01484 345651

Focus Youth Project Management Committee

The Project was founded in 1992 by a number of local activists who realised that the lack of a youth service in the Viewpark housing scheme, with its large numbers of young people, was causing problems.

The local activists held public meetings and lobbied local politicians until a purpose-built youth centre was provided for the benefit of the whole community.

The running of the Project is overseen by the 12-strong voluntary Management Committee which is supported by Community Services and funded by North Motherwell Social Inclusion Partnership. The young people on the Project nominate two of their representatives to attend full committee meetings.

An average of 200 young people aged between 12 and 25 benefit on a weekly basis from the centre’s resources and facilities; and during the last 10 years, over 2,000 young people have been members of the Project and have been given opportunities which would not have been possible without the Focus Centre.

The photograph below shows members of the Management Committee receiving the Award from the Lord-Lieutenant of Lanarkshire, Gilbert Cox MBE JP, on behalf of Her Majesty The Queen, at a reception on 23rd June 2002.

Contact: 01698 811925

The Gatehouse – Oxford’s café for homeless people

The Gatehouse, which operates from the basement of the Northgate Hall in St Michael’s Street, provides food and a place where homeless and vulnerable people feel welcome for two hours each evening, six days a week, between the closing of the homeless day centre and the opening of the night shelter at 7pm.

As many as 100 visitors use the café on any given evening. They can help themselves to books, board games, second-hand clothes and newspapers, all provided by supporters at no cost. They are also given information about where they can get long-term help. Sandwiches, cake, tea, coffee, fruit (soup in winter) is provided without charge.

Over two hundred Oxfordshire people regularly volunteer their time to serve refreshments. At least as many make sandwiches, cook soup and bake cakes at home before bringing them into the centre. There are 30 food preparation groups. Help in kind is also given by city centre food stores.

Contact: 01865 792999

Green Health Partnership Volunteers

This group provides opportunities for people living with mental health problems to become involved in practical conservation and horticultural activities. Based in the gardens of Shipley County Park, Derbyshire, the group offers a wide range of practical conservation activities ranging from tree planting and nursery work to footpath construction and environmental art.

The main objectives are to provide a supportive environment in which volunteers can develop practical and personal skills, work towards qualifications and be part of a friendly team working to improve the environment.

Contact: 0115 9307404

Greenwich Chinese Community School

Established in 1981, the School’s aim is to encourage an understanding of Chinese culture and to bring harmony to the multicultural community. In addition to providing education, bilingual support for the UK National Curriculum, and cultural activities, it runs a homework club, youth club and summer scheme. It also organises festival celebrations and cultural exchanges.

In 1981, the school started with one volunteer teacher and eleven children. In 2003, it has 53 volunteer teachers and 450 children.

Contact: 020 8858 2140

Next page