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.