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Lifestyle Community BuildingLifestyle Trust provides a day service at community centres based in Chartwell, Hamilton East and Dinsdale. The centres are open from 9am to 3pm on weekdays and are on the Orbiter bus route. One of the main reasons for establishing community centres was to enable adults with disabilities to have the opportunity to meet in centres within their communities rather than an industrial environment. At the opening of the Dalmont Community Centre in Chartwell John Smith, Lifestyle Trust's Manager Community Relations said "The centres may be smaller, but the surroundings are huge," indicating the surrounding neighbourhood with a sweep of his hand. "This is about community building," he told neighbours attending the opening ceremony.
Instead of being assigned tasks in a sheltered workshop, adults with disabilities now come to the centres to catch up with each other socially and to gain the particular skills they wish to develop through Lifestyle Trust's day service.
Many of the 20 people linked to each centre are in paid employment in a range of vocations around town, so ease of access was an important factor when the houses were leased.
The centres are on the Orbiter bus route, close to the people's work and homes, part of residential areas, and easier to reach than the sheltered workshop which was in Sunshine Avenue. People attending the community centre go there to catch up socially and develop skills which enable them to meet their own goals.
Lifestyle Trust is starting to work with people and their families to develop circles of support, where the emphasis is on people, their family and their personal networks working together to enable those with disabilities to live the lives they want.
"What we offer at the centres will make it easier for individuals to choose their own direction and gain whatever skills will let them live their life in a way that has meaning to them," says Lynda Rangitaawa, Lifestyle Trust's CEO.
"We want to see people live the life they dream about." Louise Dunlop, Team Leader, and Lynda Rangitaawa, CEO
at the opening of Dalmont Community Centre, Chartwell.
Inclusion builds stronger communities Service organisations can help people with disabilities only when residents, local associations and businesses welcome people with disabilities as members of their community. Lifestyle Trust supports people in making their own choices. Bridges and barriers to inclusion People interact with a number of different aspects of communities. Community building – a process Building a worthwhile community involves identifying the people already present in the community and their strengths. Strong friendships contribute to society’s good. Making an inventory of the capacities of everyone connected with the person of focus is the starting point. Mentors – those who recognise gifts and make connections The role of the mentor is to make gifts visible. |
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