Rhys is 19 years old and has been a bank support worker with Brandon for almost two years. He shares how the job helped him to achieve his dream of going to medical school.
24-year-old Jordan works at the Sesame Centre in Rugby, and recently achieved a Distinction in his Lead Adult Care Worker Level 3 Diploma. In this blog he tells us about his career in care so far and how he got to where he is today.
Gavin had been living in Honiton in Devon, since 1999. Brandon Trust started supporting him in 2011.
Gavin lived with John, and they had known each other since they were young men. Over the years, Gavin’s team of staff supported him with his declining health, alongside his family who were fully involved in his support.
Hi. I’m Abby and I’m the area manager for Oxfordshire. The garden at one of the services I manage in the Bicester area, was desperately in need of some love. The housing provider keeps the garden tidy, but they don’t make it ‘special’.
Hi. I’m Niki. I’ve worked for Brandon for over 20 years, and recently moved into an acting locality manager role in the Gloucestershire area.
When I took on my new position, I was asked to think about how we could improve the appearance of the front of the house I was working in, to make it feel more homely and attractive for the people supported there. It’s important that houses feel like a home, and gardens are an important part of that.
The team can never get enough of shopping second hand and this year, we’re joining in with Sustainable Fashion Week - an event we are proud to be a part of, and one that we hope will contribute to a better way of shopping.
Our Chief Executive, Sue Porto, shares her views on yesterday's announcement on funding and calls for the Government to urgently reconsider their approach in relation to social care.
Lisa Allen, is the coordinator at our social enterprise, Elm Tree Farm, in Bristol. Just over a week ago, Lisa and the team fulfilled a long-held dream of entering an agricultural show with their cattle.
Now in its fifth season, the London allotment is going from strength to strength. Thanks to generous donations, the allotment is preparing for a much-needed makeover, including new greenhouse and shed.
Brandon project leader, Samantha, works with young people who experience barriers into employment. In partnership with the Going the Extra Mile (GEM) project, she supports people to tackle the challenges that come with disability and social isolation.
June is the month which is dedicated to celebrating the LGBTQ+ communities all around the world. June is the chosen month to celebrate Pride, as it was the month of the Stonewall Inn riots which took place at the Greenwich Village in New York City in late June 1969.
Adrian has been working as a lead support worker for Brandon Trust in Westbury-on-Severn for nine months. He describes why it’s a great career choice for ambitious people.
Hello. My name’s Angela and I want to tell you about a new project in Cornwall that I’m excited to be involved with. I’m the team leader at Zion House, a service which, when finished, will offer a complete support package for people who have a learning disability and also dementia. The service plans to combine state of the art accommodation with lots of assistive technology and added extras.
It’s Mental Health Awareness Week and we’ve been talking about the importance of communication for good mental health. When it comes to living with a learning disability or autism, communicating with people around them can be challenging for some. Our Positive Behaviour Support (PBS) Team has been working hard to share their knowledge to help people with a learning disability or autism communicate their needs with their teams. Here they share how it has a positive impact on their mental health.
So, this week being Deaf Awareness Week, got me reminiscing about my time as a British Sign Language (BSL) interpreter. It was such an amazing job to have, and I met so many extraordinary people.
It’s that time of year when our thoughts turn to the gardens here on the farm. We’ve been so happy to welcome our trainees back after lockdown just in time for the main seed sowing season which kick starts the vegetable and cut flower gardens. It’s a time of hard work but great energy, when you get up close to the plants at the very beginning of their journey – lots of TLC now, really pays off in the long run.
Heather is a team leader nurse at Brandon. In this blog, Heather talks about her own autism and the impact of COVID-19 for people with sensory support needs.
Aaron has autism and has been supported by Brandon since he was a child. Rebecca Silgrim, Aaron’s Team Leader, describes how well Aaron has settled into his new life away from his family home.
I met Vincent in summer, 2019. He was supported by his former foster carers, Graham and Irene. He was 19 years old and crippled with social anxiety. He had worked in the past but due to his autism, he struggled. It knocked his confidence and self-esteem, and he was very negative about his future.
Luke has autism lives in Cornwall with three other gentlemen supported by Brandon. In this blog, Luke’s mum, Jenni, reflects on the past year and the many changes and challenges brought about by COVID-19.
Hello there. I’m Petra and I joined Brandon in the role of Retail Manager at the end of September 2020. Since then, our three Bristol-based charity shops have only been open for a total of nine weeks!
Like everyone else, we’ve needed to adjust to new ways of working and running our shops. I have to say, that every single member of our retail team, has been absolutely brilliant during this time. They are a great bunch of hardworking, creative people, always supporting and looking out for each other.
Hello. My name is Ben and I live in North Somerset. For this year’s Down’s Syndrome Awareness Week, I wanted to share how I’ve been learning to use technology to connect with people.
Josh has been working for Brandon for two and a half years. Starting as a support worker, he describes his journey from teacher training to social care.
Over the last year Jon has expanded his horizons, even at a time when we have had our freedoms and activities restricted. Through a care plan created by his Team Leader, Paula Bolter, and agreed with his sister, Jon’s support workers have helped him feel more confident and less anxious. Paula explains more in this insightful blog.
I’ve been working for Brandon for three years as a support worker. What appealed to me was the supported living style of support Brandon provides in the community which was suited to my background.