i t y p r o Upward Mobility UPMO j e c t . c o m w w w. u p w a r d m o b Annual Report

Transcription

1 Upward Mobility w w w. u p w a r d m o b UPMO i l i t y p r o. c o m j e c t Annual Report

2 Message From The Founder It s been a big year for Upward Mobility with a number of positive developments and many more on the way in the near future. As always, it s the people that have made this year a success. I am immensely proud of the staff team here at Upward Mobility. We have a truly inspiring and talented team who recognise and appreciate the unique qualities of those we support and continue to push the boundaries of what we are able to do as an organisation. We recognise that what we do is special - we are directly contributing and investing in the experiences and meaning of people s lives. With that understanding we know as an organisation that it pays off to invest in our people. We have invested a great deal in training and development for our staff and will continue to do so. This training is specifically tailored to the high quality, interactive work we do at Upward Mobility including Working with Complex Behaviour, Data Protection, Safeguarding Vulnerable Adults, Sign-along (a simplified form of sign language) and Curriculum of Excellence Workshop Facilitation. The Charity is supported and maintained by a carefully tailored operational structure which allows for a greater level of support to our staff team, more effective communication with parents and the on-going development of cutting edge, educational workshops and activities. To further enhance our service some operational changes were made in the last year such as the creation of four Team Leader posts, an additional Staff Team Manager and one Workshop Quality Assurance Administrator. This past year we fully upgraded our method of scheduling workshops and support services by integrating a new online rostering system. This specialised software ensures greater efficiency, reliability and flexibility in scheduling. Upward Mobility is fortunate to have the guidance and support of a highly experienced Board of Trustees. Recently, we have been joined by Alison Bunn, a qualified actuary at Standard Life, and Liz Taylor who specialises in training, development and HR across a range of industries. We are also proud to have forged a collaborative relationship with Edinburgh Pallet, a registered Charity managing St. Margaret s House where we operate. They have been very supportive of our work and we are fortunate to be working so closely with another organisation that not only values our work, but shares our vision. While our workshops are diverse, they also allow flexibility so targets and outcomes can be tailored to the individual. In the year ahead, we will increase opportunities that focus specifically on the development of employable skills and work experience projects such as Heart & Soil. We will be further developing a respite service called Outward Mobility. This project will focus on weekend and overnight trips with an emphasis on outdoor education, developing domestic skills like cooking, and encouraging teamwork and cooperation amongst students. As Upward Mobility grows I am conscious that we maintain our person-centric approach, its rich flavour, its service quality and its heart. Upward Mobility is a vehicle for creative expression, healthy living and promoting community integration and inclusion. I thank you all students, parents and staff - for helping to make Upward Mobility the success it is today and for paving the way towards a future of sustainable, personalised service delivery. Yours sincerely Joshua Barton Managing Director, Upward Mobility Josh (far right) at the Highlands Outward Mobility Weekend, Link to our Inspectorate Reports at: 2

3 Who Are Upward Mobility? Upward Mobility are a registered Scottish charity striving to meet the educational, recreational, social and support needs of people with learning disabilities and autism. It began life in 2006 in response to an expanding gap in the service provision of meaningful day services for people with learning difficulties and in 2008 became a founding tenant at Edinburgh Palette. Growing strongly every year, Upward Mobility now runs over 70 workshops per week for over 120 students, 52 weeks a year. Workshops are designed to encourage and enable the development of physical and practical learning as well as life skills and employable skills. The Care Inspectorate in its annual report describes Upward Mobility as a forward looking, expanding and hugely popular service which is constantly striving to provide support and activities of a high standard. Why Is Upward Mobility Different? Rather than just provide support and respite, Upward Mobility provides workshops and classes that teach life skills. With the focus on learning, students gain valuable life skills such as how to learn and mental and physical self-care. A dynamic workshop structure lets students follow their passions through a flexible learning programme. Students can even choose a Rolling Workshop Option where the student rotates through the various classes. This can also help a student decide what they like best or if they feel like a change. Every student has a dedicated case manager, always there to help and advise. Upward Mobility focuses on: Providing quality workshops, as well as support and respite Ability not disability Teaching practical life skills Promoting independence Creating work experience opportunities Students gaining real world qualifications (in partnership with Edinburgh College) Flexible, personalised, student-centred approach Building valuable partnerships Staff that genuinely care 3

4 Healthy Living & Self-Awareness Program From its founding Upward Mobility has had a strong healthy living and selfawareness program. Workshops teach life skills that promote and enable student independence at home and in the broader community. By focusing on ability not disability, Upward Mobility creates a positive, open, honest and fun learning environment that encourages healthy habits and positive behaviours. Growing vegetables and flowers Bike Club outing Spotlight on Cookery Cooking doesn t just add flavour to your life, it s a basic ingredient for personal independence. The students research, sample and learn various cooking techniques and create delicious dishes in a fun and friendly atmosphere. Students enjoy sharing what they have made with others, or taking it home for family members to try, as much as they enjoy tasting the food themselves! Anyone for lunch? 4

5 Testimonial: Raygan Bold, Fashion Design Student I ve been attending workshops at Upward Mobility for over two years now. I come 4 days a week and take workshops in Drama, Thai Chi, Relaxation, Music and Fashion. Fashion is my favourite. I ve learnt so much. It s not like school at all because learning is fun. I m no longer afraid of making mistakes as I know that they can only help me learn. I ve leant how to use professional audio equipment, how to sew properly and even how to put a fashion show together from start to finish. students and staff are Upward Mobility. I really don t know what they could do to make it better as it s perfect for me. It s exciting, awesome and cool all at the same time! Raygan Bold I m very into fashion and always have been, but before I came here I had no idea how I was going to be able to design my own clothes. I m now able to sew and draw my own designs. I m always planning ahead with my staff and my latest project is to design hair bands for women to wear at weddings. In the past, I ve planned and run my own fashion show at St Margaret s House. It was a challenge but I loved the process of doing it. My self-esteem was fairly low before I started at Upward Mobility, but now I am a much more confident person due to the friends I have made and achievements in workshops. If it was not for Upward Mobility I would be bored stiff at home as it s not always easy for me to meet people. I now feel much more independent and have a sense of freedom. It s a great place to meet people and hang out with friends as well as take part in the workshops. The different people that attend and work here really make it unique. The Raygan the fashionista! 5

6 Creative Arts Program Creative expression has been shown to: Release tension Relieve stress Reduce anxiety Assist motivation and focus Improve communication skills Assist expression of inner feelings Promote self-confidence Studies have shown the positive effects of creative expression lead to positive outcomes and behaviours which can lead to an improved quality of life. Student artists at work Spotlight on Animation With a full stop motion studio at their disposal, students follow animation projects from concept through design and into filming and editing. An excellent combination of art and film that calls on the development of a variety of skills from story and character design to physical modelling and object manipulation. I would describe Upward Mobility as very good. I like to make cartoons, that makes me happy. Very happy. I also like the people of Upward Mobility, they are my friends. (Colin Marshall) 6

7 Testimonial: Donald Todd, Radio Presenter I was told about Upward Mobility by a member of staff at an agency that provides my support at home. I ve been attending for 2 and a half years now on a Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday and Friday. I do this Radio session every Tuesday morning which is great fun. I have my own online radio programme called The Donald Todd Show which includes interviews with Upward Mobility staff, musicians and other guests. I like to play Scottish music as well as a mixture of other types of music, and talk about topics of interest and importance to me. I like to prepare the week before to keep me focused on rehearsing for the coming week. chance to do what interests me. I would recommend the service to anyone interested in it, but I would tell them to go and see for themselves - have a good look around. It s a great place to be yourself. Donald Todd Link to Donald s show: index.php?page=jellycast&id=4267 I recently went on a visit to a professional radio station and was live on air during one of their shows! I didn t want to leave and hope to visit again someday soon. I get a lot of enjoyment out of the radio workshop and hope that it is moving me one step closer to getting a job in this field one day. My communication has improved a great deal and I feel I know how to present a radio broadcast. In the past, I ve helped out with interviews for new Upward Mobility staff by asking questions to candidates and I would look forward to doing this again sometime. Upward Mobility has made a big difference to my life. I now have choices and thanks to Upward Mobility the chance to do things I want to do. The staff are so friendly and the other students are great too. The truth is, Day Centres did not suit me because there was too limited a choice of what I could do. Upward Mobility has given me the Donald at work in the studio 7

8 Upward Mobility and Respite Upward Mobility provides respite, day trips and longer trips enabling students to enjoy events and places together as a social group. The Breakaway Groups have helped students experience theatre, musicals, big concerts, smaller gigs, football games - sometimes for the first time! Lock Park Adventure Centre, Keith Work Experience and Academic Accreditations All workshops are structured under the Curriculum for Excellence with set aims and objectives that ensure personal development, confidence building and greater independence can be achieved. Upward Mobility also offers Scottish Qualifications Authority Access Level 2 courses in the subject areas of Music, Drama and Art in collaboration with Edinburgh College. secondary schools and those wishing to return to work following a break. Activities include a variety of office roles and the opportunity to assist in arts based workshops. Upward Mobility offers or arranges work experience placements for a wide variety of positions. Current students can explore literacy, numeracy and life skills through activities designed to give an experience of working life. Activities include everyday tasks, production for radio, film and digital image editing and various roles within retail work. The interests and developmental needs of students are reflected in the activities. Links with external placement providers allows students to work outside the project, with the support of one-to-one staff. We also offer work experience placements to schools pupils from surrounding Computer skills for the workplace 8

9 Testimonial: Marsaili Farquhar, Dancer and Choreographer Put simply, Marsaili would never have been able to establish and sustain a career as a trainee in dance and choreography without the support of Upward Mobility and UPMO s Team Mars! Marsaili spends almost as much time in Glasgow, dancing with Independance s Performance Group among others, as in Edinburgh. Marsaili is part of Creative Scotland s Talent Hub in disability dance and is inspired and motivated to be the best dancer and choreographer with learning difficulties she can be. The last few years have seen Marsaili mature and consider every aspect of her life and independence. Her dancing has allowed her to travel e.g. London s Southbank for the Unlimited cultural programme in association with the London Paralympic Games (2012), Londonderry/Derry for the City of Culture celebrations (2013), Glasgow Commonwealth Games Cultural Commissions Barrowland Ballet s The River (2014), meet new people and generally broaden her horizons: all with UPMO support. Right from the start, the Upward Mobility management team identified, with Marsaili and the family, her interests and aspirations before setting realistic goals and time frames for achieving them. Having a team of support staff with similar interests and talents means Marsaili not only has a support worker, but someone that understands her passion for performance, the physical demands it can put on you, and the vagaries of extra rehearsal calls, last minute changes, and the need for a range of skills including travel planning, voice coaching, makeup and hairdressing! Her support team help her make good decisions in relation to budget planning, communicate well with family and external organisations who value their participation, and are always keen to help. While I remain proactive in planning Marsaili s engagements I m very pleased Upward Mobility are investing in their scheduling processes and systems. Marsaili is not one to turn down opportunities and has a very busy schedule! I m very happy with the committed support and flexible service provided. Dance makes a massive difference to Marsaili s physical, and mental, health and wellbeing. It is both creative and therapeutic, and largely prevents any need for NHS services. Christine Farquhar (Marsaili s mother) Marsaili (courtesy of The Herald) 9

10 How We Are Funded Upward Mobility exists thanks to the generosity and support of: City Of Edinburgh Council Midlothian Council East Lothian Council West Lothian Council Community Food & Health Scotland Nancie Massey Charitable Trust Gordon Fraser Charitable Trust Awards for All Miss I. F. Harvey s Charitable Trust The Robertson Trust St James Place Foundation Bank of Scotland Foundation Shared Care Scotland Greggs Foundation 2014 Communities Innovation Fund Edinburgh Lothians Greenspace Trust Santander Foundation. St. Cuthbert s Episcopal Church Crerar Hotels Trust Trustees: C Farquhar (Chair of Board): Project Development, Legislation & Policy J Ireson: Fundraising & Healthy Living Programme S Barclay: Corporate Sponsorship / Fundraising Events L Taylor: Human Resources A Bunn: Finance Registered Bodies: Companies House Office of the Scottish Charity Regulator (OSCR) Care Inspectorate Disclosure Scotland Criminal Records Bureau Scotland (CRBS) Information Commission Office (ICO) Membership Organisations: Scottish Council for Voluntary Organisations (SCVO) Institute of Fundraising (IoF) 10

11 Upward Mobility In Numbers MidLothian (10) West Lothian (1) East Lothian (58) Edinburgh (59) Female (41) Male (86) Student locality Student gender (127 students in total) Student age range (years) Age (years) Number of students Year Annual growth of student numbers 11

12 Upward Mobility St. Margaret s House 151 London Road Edinburgh EH7 6AE Tel: info@upwardmobilityproject.com Web: Charity registration: SC037917