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SPRING 2013NEWSLETTER

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Contents

Welcome

News

Waitrose Trolley Dash

Great Dorset Bake Sale

Volunteers

Thank you

Events

Find and follow us

Meet our staff and people we suppport

Get Involved

E-mail us

Diverse Abilities Plus is a Dorset based charity that provides a lifetime of invaluable support and care for many hundreds of children, young people and adults with physical and learning disabilities in our local community.

Number of people we support:

495Providing almost 250,000 hours of care every year!

Diverse Abilities Plus is the trading name of Diverse Abilities Plus Ltd. Registered as a charity in accordance with the Charities Act 1993. Charity No. 282197

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Another newsletter packed with a huge amount of activity. It’s really good to see us find new ways for people to live in their own home and on this occasion a big thank you has to go to the Talbot Village for their support.

We keep growing our services and adapting them to give individual support to those that need it and we really appreciate the financial support and the volunteers from the community, it can’t be done without you.

The event season is about to start I urge everybody to look at ways to support us. We should have something that takes your fancy: free falling, cake sales, Dragon boats - all good fun and hopefully something for everyone.

Thank you for your support,

Mark PowellCEO

We spend 84pin every £1

supporting children and adults with

disabilities.

Our purpose is: Provide, adapt and

develop our services to meet the needs of

people with either or both physical and learning disabilities

in our community

In 2012 Diverse Abilities supported

473 families in Dorset

It costs us over £13,000 a day to provide all of

Diverse Abilities’ services

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New service for Supported LivingSupported Living welcomed two new faces on the 1st Febuary into a bungalow in Talbot Village. Ingrid and Dominie had previously been in residential care so the new experience of living with someone independantly is a massive step for both of them. The results have been fantastic with both settling in to their new home and surroundings within our Supported Living service. Ingrid is especially fond of making the most of the new garden (as pictured) and Dominie is enjoying being closer to her family in Bournemouth.

This is a great example of the positive effects of supported living compared to residential care. Ingrid’s friends and family say she has never been more happy! Dominie is also making the most of being closer to her family compared to when she lived in Weymouth. The independence that Ingrid and Dominie now have allows them to make decisions for themselves, decide what they do with their days and even what they cook themselves for dinner!

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Christmas Partyin supported LivingWith entertainment from super groups like The Village People and The Spice Girls it’s no wonder the Supported Living Christmas party was a fantastic success!

Along with the brilliant entertainment everyone recieved an award for something they achieved in 2012. Here are some of those awards.

Andrew JonesParascending on holiday!

Gillian Boyce Attending Pottery

Matt HaleRiding his bike

Julian SmithSwimming

Graham WillsSettling into his new home

Simon ShaveFor being a fantastic blogger

Eric GarlicDoing a photography course

Tim HinvesSwimming

Peter CawsMaintaining Independance

And many more...

Well done to all who took part in the party and all those who won a certificate, keep it up ready for next years celebrations!

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Holidays in Children’s Services:Over Christmas Children’s Services supported almost 150 families:

PROVIDING ALMOST

1800hours of care

THIS COST US:

£35,000TO PROVIDE.

We did this with support of the local community.

Thank you to everyone who supported us over the holidays!

These statistics are just a small insight into the work Children’s Services do throughout the year.

You may of recieved a letter from us over Christmas asking for your support over the holidays. Here’s what your support helped us to achieve:

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Langside Tuck ShopThe Community Group at Langside School opened their classroom as a sandwich bar and tuck-shop recently. It was an exhausting day but thoroughly enjoyed by both staff of the pop up sandwich bar and it’s customers. Thank you to everyone involved for making it such a success.

Easter Holiday fun!Here are some examples of the Easter holiday activities through our Children’s Team.

Ringo’s Adventure WonderlandWet and Whacky SwimmingBowling Easter Egg HuntBouncy Castle

Monkey WorldRoller DiscoSealife Centre VisitWater ParkFarmer PalmersTennis and other sportsAnd lot’s more!

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Project Hangout joins the Children’s TeamDiverse Abilities has always strived to be a leader in service provision for children and adults in Dorset. The new service to join the Children’s Team is called Project Hang Out, which aims to be true to its name. Project Hangout’s aim is to open up our services to a wide audience of children and young people with disabilities. It encourages new friendships and access to new and fun activities, and links in very well with our existing services.

Hangout has so far been very successful with sessions at Monkey World, pottery painting in Christchurch, at Putlake Farm and to Adventure Wonderland. Project Hangout really compliments and fits well with all of Diverse Abilities’ Children’s Team activities. It’s great for the kids to have continuity in staffing and procedure. With such a wide range of opportunities Diverse Abilities makes it as easy as possible for a child to have fun experiences and their families to have support at wide range of times and days.

For more information on how to access these services please call:01202 718266or e-mail:info@diverseabilitiesplus.org.uk

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Holiday and After School fun with the Children’s Team

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Haskins name Diverse Abilitiesas their Charity of the Year

We are pleased to announce a new partnership with Haskins

Garden Centre.

Diverse Abilities Plus will be at the centre regularly and there will be fun events throughout the year. Watch this space for

more details.

Thieves steal from LangsideThe exhaust and catalytic converter were taken from underneath a special wheelchair-adapted Minibus outside langside school just before Christmas. This meant that the bus could not be used to transport the students to visit Santa.

Fortunately there was a happy ending as Hendy Van and Truck Hire, based at the Nuffield Industrial Estate, ordered the new part and fitted it to the minibus with the highest priority to enable the Santa trip to go ahead, while Bournemouth Rotary paid the

£300 insurance excess.After hearing of the trouble Secure Micro Solutions in Leeds has given the charity a free catalytic converter alarm and Redkite in Wimborne will fit the alarm in the New Year.

THANK YOU TO ALL!

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WhitePepperPlaqueLook out for our plaque if you are ever in White Pepper Cookery School in Lytchett Matravers. This is to show the brilliant partnership we’ve shared with the school and the fantastic sipport they’ve offered Diverse Abilities Plus. We hope it can continue long into the future!

Langside ChristmasCards sent far and wide

This Christmas saw a fantastic fundraising idea supported by a local company. Students of the community group at Langside designed and made Christmas Cards. These were then professionally printed by International Cards and Gifts with no cost to the charity Sale of these Christmas cards raised almost £1500 for the charity.

Keep an eye out next Christmas for the 2013 designs

Thanks again to International Card’s and Gifts

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WIMBORNE WAITROSE

TROLLEY DASH

RAFFLEWaitrose Wimborne has given Diverse Abilities Plus a fantastic prize to raffle. The chance for one of our supporters to win a high octane Trolley Dash around the store. 3 minutes to fill your trolley.

Each ticket costs £2BUY YOURS NOW

Terms and conditions can be found on our website

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TROLLEY DASH

RAFFLEWe need your help!If you would like to help Diverse Abilities Plus by selling raffle tickets on behalf of the charity please get in touch We will send you a pack.

To buy or help sell tickets pleasephone or e-mail Hugh

hugh.felstead@diverseabilitiesplus.org.uk

01202 718266

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T H E G RE AT D O R S E TBAKE SALE

2013

2012 IN

PICTURES

Last year there were almost 40 bake sales held which raised £5000

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Due to the success of the 2012 Great Dorset Bake Sale, Diverse Abilities will be repeating

the event in 2013.

The aim of The Great Dorset Bake Sale is to have as many bake sales as possible held

country-wide during the week beginning the 6th May, all raising money for Diverse Abilities .

If you or the company you work for would like to take part in The Great Dorset Bake Sale please get in touch. We will provide you with a fantastic pack with everything you’ll need to

raise money for our charity.

To be part of this baking extravaganza call or e-mail Beccy

01202 718266beccy.payne@diverseabilitiesplus.org.uk

STARTS 6TH OF MAY AND LASTS A FULL WEEK!

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In 2011 we welcomed 73 volunteers:VOLUNTEER

In the year the hours and effort the volunteers gave saved the charity

£17,500That’s equivalent of a

£240 donation EACH

Here are some of the volunteering opportunities:

Play VolunteerOffice VolunteerEvent Volunteer

Help in the charity’s projects (Children/Adults)

There are lots of opportunities. Get in touch to find out more!

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We need your contacts!As Dorset’s Disability charity we would love to spread our message to everyone in Dorset! The quickest way to do this is to go to places where we can meet lots of people.

If you can help us access these groups or you know the contact details of someone who might be able to help please let Beccy know.

beccy.payne@diverseabilitiesplus.org.ukor call 01202 718266

Churches/Places of worship

Organisations /societies

Network of friends

Teams/clubs of any kind

Activity groups

Companies/businesses

Teachers (schools/colleges)

Social places (pubs/cafes)

Thank You

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TK Maxx on Ringwood Road

who very kindly donated a wonderful £2500 to Diverse

Abilities through their Community Fund scheme

The Bourne Lodge No. 6959 made a donation of £225

9th Parkstone Guides raised £150 through a

Bring and Buy Sale

The Tavern Pub, Poole raised £75.41 through

collection potsOakley Butchers, Wimborne raised £21 through collection

pots

ACT Foundationwho donated £1494.94

Despite all this great support, Diverse Abilities Plus still really needs the help of our local community to help raise the funds needed to provide support and care for people with disabilities. Please email:

if you wish to help.

fundraising@diverseabilitiesplus.org.ukor call us on 01202 718266

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Verwood Methodist Churchfor donating £300 to Coping with CHAOS

Princecroft Willis for their donation of £430

Liverpool Victoriafor their donation of

£1000 towards our Play Opportunities

Wessex Group in Shaftesbury for

donating £500 for sensory toys

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HARBOURVIEWABSEILFrom the top of this abseil you can enjoy a stunning view of Poole Harbour.

To take part in this daring challenge you will be harnessed up and trained by our team of highly skilled and professional abseil instructors. They will ensure you are equipped with the knowledge and training to make your abseil safe and enjoyable

Last years event raised almost £10,000Which is enough to provide :• 3 months of nursing support across our services

OR• Our youth club for young people with disabilities for

half a year.

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HARBOURVIEWABSEIL £10

entry fee

or4 people

for

£30

Email:fundraising@diverseabilitiesplus.org.ukCall: 01202 718266

SIGN UP

NOW

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CASTAWAY 2013Join us in 2013 for the popular Castaway Survival Challenge. Learn how to live off of the land, create shelters and survive the wild.

http://bit.ly/diverseabilitiescastaway

IT’S A KNOCKOUT! Weymouth, June 2013The first ever Diverse Abilities It’s a Knockout! A great fun day for friends and colleaguesMore details will follow shortly.

POOLE DRAGON BOATThe most popular event in the Diverse Abilities Plus calendar is back for 2013 and we want your teams to make it bigger than ever!

http://bit.ly/diverseabilitiesdragon

KAMIKAZE ADVENTURE RUN

Join other Diverse Abilities adrenaline junkies in this grueling and muddy race. Grit and determination are a must!

http://bit.ly/diverseabilitieskamikaze

SKY DIVEIf you have ever thought of jumping out of a plane for charity we have many dates available throughout the year to suit you.

http://bit.ly/diverseabilitiesskydive

For further information and dates please see our website:

www.diverseabilitiesplus.org.uk/events

or call: 01202 718266 and ask for Sharon

CASTAWAY SURVIVAL

This exciting adventure contains fundamental elements of survival, which will challenge you from dawn until dusk (and beyond)!

http://bit.ly/castaway2013

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Find and follow us onFacebookwww.facebook.com/diverseabilitiesplus

Twitterwww.twitter.com/diverseability

Tumblrwww.simonsvision.tumblr.com

Each page is updated with lots of interesting stories and news about Diverse Abilities.

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Meet someone we support

Name: Eric Garlik

What Service do you use?

I live in Supported Living, I moved in to my flat when Edward House closed.

What is your favourite thing about living independantly in Supported Living?

It’s lovely to live on my own. I like doing things by myself like hoovering the lounge or washing up. I’m also trying to do more like washing and ironing.

I also like having the space to have pets. I have a cat called Gorgeous a guinea pig called Sparky and I used to have a fish.

You’ve started volunteering for the Charity in the offices, what do you do?

I do shredding, I help envelope packing when its needed and I also help answering the door. I’ve also started to help with interviewing potential new staff. It’s great to be involved.My favourite part is talking with all the staff. They are very friendly.

What do you like outside of volunteering?

I like hoovers, phones, gramaphones and cameras.I like watching them on Youtube. I have a big collection of different hoovers including very old ones.

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Meet a Parent

Name: Lisa Noel - Amelia’s Mum

Background information:

Amelia’s been at Langside since she was two and a half years old and Smithers since three. I’ve seen the services Diverse Abilities provide improve and increase over the last 5 years. Being able to now utilise Project Term Time and shortly Project My Time now has made her holidays a lot more fun

What is your favourite thing about Diverse Abilities Plus?

The fact all the staff seem to be really passionate about their jobs, the children and adult’s they support. The range in Diverse Abilities services makes it unlike any other charity in Dorset, having support

from child to adult and an established advice service really fills me with confidence for the future.

How have Diverse Abilities supported you and your familiy during your time with the organisation?

Staff go out of their way to support not just the child but also the family too. With so much experience in all of the services provided every decision is helped with staff signposting and support.

How has the organisation grown and adapted?

Over the last couple of years I’ve seen the organisation grow with the times, introducing the new Project Hang Out and Term Time. With parents increasingly struggling in school holidays, just a couple of activities can make such a big difference. I’ve enjoyed seeing the Charity focus on marketing a bit more and shouting about what they do to the public because it really is a fantastic set of people and services that everyone should know about!

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Get involvedAs well as taking part in some of our fantastic events or buying a raffle ticket to win a trolley dash there are many other ways that you can help Diverse Abilities Plus.

Here are just a few ideas:Invite a speaker from Diverse Abilities Plus to a group or club that you’re part of so that other people can hear about how the charity helps local families.

Hold your own event such as a quiz night, concert, car wash or something really zany. We’ll happily help you.

Help us distribute collection tins. We have lots of collections pots that would look much nicer on the counters of your local shops, cafés and pubs than in our office.

Donating to Diverse Abilities PlusSet up a standing order (see back page for form)

Send a cheque made payable to Diverse Abilities Plus (address overleaf)

Visit: www.diverseabilitiesplus.org.uk/support-us/make-a-donation/ to make a donation online

Text PLUS15 £(donation amount) to 70070 e.g. PLUS15 £10

Help us grow (see page 16 for ideas)

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E-mail us

Sponsor the newsletter

Events:sharon.wells@diverseabilitiesplus.org.uk

Volunteering:beccy.payne@diverseabilitiesplus.org.uk

Legacies:helen.mortimer@diverseabilitiesplus.org.uk

Company Fundraisingfundraising@diverseabilitiesplus.org.uk

Recruitment:recruitment@diverseabilitiesplus.org.uk

For signposting to any of the services:info@diverseabilitiesplus.org.uk

Questions and feedback about the newsletter:hugh.felstead@diverseabilitiesplus.org.uk

DON’T FORGET you cancall 01202 718266 for more info

Cover an edition’s cost...Your sponsorship will cover the complete cost of printing, enabling us to maintain our services and reach as many people as possible through our newsletter.

Comes with a feature story about the partnership between the charity and your company.

Cover some of the costs...Your sponsorship will cover some of the costs of the newsletter and allow us to spend the money raised on the services we provide

Comes with Half page full colour advert working closely with our in house design team.

Contact Hugh (e-mail above) to find out some of the other benefits

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Forename SurnameTitle

Telephone Email

I am happy for Diverse Abilities Plus to contact me via email.

Please return this form to:Diverse Abilities Plus, Unit C, Acorn Business Park, Ling Road, PooleBH12 4NZ

SUPPORT USAddress

Postcode

Address: National Westminster Bank 208 Lower Blandford Road Broadstone BH18 8DT

I wish to make a regular donation

The details you will need to instruct your bank to set up the standing order are: Standing Order:

I wish to make a single donation

Data Protection: Your details are held on our database and will not be passed on to any other party (in compliance with the Data Protection Act 1998). If you do not wish to receive any future mailings from us please call the Fundraising office. (01202718266)

Charity no. 282197

Account no: 07444575Sort Code: 52 10 20

Your details

I would like to make a personal one off donation of £ and enclose a cheque made payable to Diverse Abilities Plus Ltd.

Cheque:

Card:I wish to make a single donation of £5 £20 £50 other amount Pleasespecify

Visa MasterCard Switch Other Card No. Security Code Switch Issue Date Valid from date Expiry Date If you would prefer to provide your card details to us over the phone please call

01202 718266

Signature:

Date:

I am a UK tax payer. Please treat all gifts of money that I make today and in the future as Gift Aid donations.I understand that I must pay an amount of Income Tax and/or Capital Gains Tax for each tax year (6 April one year to 5 April the next) that is at least equal to the amount of tax that Diverse Abilities Plus will reclaim on my gifts for that tax year - 25p for each £1

Account name:Diverse Abilities Plus Ltd