Affinity Trust teams bag national awards

Affinity Trust staff have picked up two prizes at the National Learning Disability Awards: the Great Autism Practice Award and the Supporting Older People award.

The Great Autism Practice Award went to Adam’s support team in Leeds. Adam is a young man with autism, who attends the opportunities service.

Like many autistic people, Adam struggles with changes to his daily routine. So his team worked with him and the local community learning disability team to ensure he has a varied, structured programme of activities. These include saxophone lessons, arts and crafts, and visits to the cinema.

Thanks to his support team’s person-centred and flexible approach, Adam is calmer and more content.

The award judges said: “A fantastic team, making real changes. Their passion for making a difference really shone through and they have a positive outlook to life achieving excellent outcomes. This outstanding team demonstrate the true meaning of care, whilst remembering to laugh, smile and have fun.”

Reassurance

The Supporting Older People award went to the former support team at Cregg Na Ba. This was a residential home in Battle in East Sussex, run by Affinity Trust till late 2018.

One of Cregg Na Ba’s former residents was Christopher, also known as Toppy, who had lived there for many years. Staff ensured Toppy had the best possible quality of life, taking him on regular trips, organising Rupert the Bear-themed birthday parties, and supporting him to go to church and to family parties.

When Toppy, now in his 70s, was nearing the end of his life, Affinity Trust staff ensured he was comfortable and pain-free, even reading his favourite Rupert the Bear books to him through the night.

Several of Toppy’s family wrote to thank Affinity Trust staff. One said: “The staff welcomed us compassionately as our visits grew more frequent towards the end of Toppy’s life, offering tea, cuddles and reassurance. We were kept informed throughout his palliative care and were confident that he was in the best place possible.

“Toppy died surrounded by his blood family and his extended care family, all of whom loved him and we are so grateful to Tony and staff for allowing that to happen. We grieve together as one family.”

The awards were presented to the teams by actor and campaigner Sally Phillips at the awards ceremony in Birmingham on Friday 28 June.