CONTENTSPeople We Support Activities.................... 1-4, 12Coproduction in action ......5Pro-Active Committee ........6Make and Sell Lunch ..........7STAR Awards 2018 .............8Leaving a Legacy................9Tesco Bags of Help ............9Launch of new brand .......10Activities Volunteering .....11Committee Shortlisted for National Award..................11

Forest Bathing proves a hitPeople we support through our Active Wellbeing service went to Tilgate Park for some forest-bathing, made popular in Japan and said to enhance health, wellness and happiness.

Canon UK volunteeringA team of six staff from Canon UK recently volunteered at Blanford Road, doing some gardening and improving the flower beds.

Trevor embraces springTrevor has had a busy spring with his Support Worker, visiting the garden centre, buying a new duvet cover and eating Easter eggs!

ProactiveNewsletterCelebrating the lives of the people Active Prospects supports

May 2018

Proactive

A Sunny Day in Brighton

Michael, Alison and James enjoyed a day trip to Brighton, with Support Worker Helen, and took the opportunity to visit the pier, the SeaLife Centre and, of course, Harry Ramsdens for a Fish and Chip lunch!

Farewell to Chris BrowneStaff and people we support came together to bid a fond farewell to our Head of Residential Services, Chris Browne who has moved back to the West Country. Everyone wished him success and happiness in the future.

Celebrating the lives of the people Active Prospects supports

Trudy Wins AwardTrudy was awarded a voucher and certificate in March for her positive approach and love of active support outdoors.

Leanne’s Spanish Cycling AdventureLeanne, from Lesbourne Road, was recently off in Majorca on a cycling holiday with her cycling group. She was doing a lot of road racing in the lovely sunshine, preparing to participate once again in the Special Olympics.

Proactive

Richard’s Birthday TreatRichard at Millview recently celebrated his 61st birthday amongst his friends from Millview and Wolverton Gardens. Everyone had a really good time and enjoyed the amazing spread of food.

Celebrating the lives of the people Active Prospects supports

Co-Production ThemesSince the last issue, people we support have been having fun getting involved in the themes of Embracing Spring, and Arts and Drama, with trips to farms, galleries and new activities.

Proactive

Pro-Active Committee Update from Chairperson, Pat Lynch

Since the last issue of the Proactive newsletter, the Committee has been discussing the following:

- The Committee discussed the rebranding of Active Prospects and said they were keen to replace their logo with a new one that fitted with the new main logo. A new logo was drafted and agreed subject to finalising it with a change of name for the group in a few weeks’ time.

- The Committee were briefed about the Active Prospects’ Star Awards and reminded how they could nominate staff and people we support. Everyone was looking forward to the event as last year’s was so good.

- Everyone was reminded that the Horley Carnival is coming up and that we are having a stall again this year. Volunteers were requested to take part.

- Jade set the Commitee a challenge to get to know people in their local community, in the local shop or pub. Everyone agreed it was important to smile, be friendly, introduce yourself and tell the person your name and ask their name.

- The Committee took part in clay sculpting to tie in with the Arts and Drama co-production theme in April.

- The AGM has been set for 19 June 2018 at 5pm at Head Office. All Committee members were asked to attend.

- Pro-Active Committee meetings will be changing to the 1st and 3rd Thursday of the month 10.30am-11.30am.

- All services were asked to provide a dish for the Make and Sell fundraising lunch on Wednesday 2nd May from 12.30pm. Proceeds will go to the Committee.

Reminder: Everyone is welcome to come to meetings. Minutes and future dates are available in each service, and dates are also on the website.

Pro-Active Committee Update

Staff and people we support munch and raiseThe Proactive Committee organised their final fundraising make and sell lunch at the old Head Office and there was a great turnout with some fabulous food being brought along for everyone to enjoy. They raised a whopping £146!

Celebrating the lives of the people Active Prospects supports

Following on from the success of last year’s People Awards, we are once again planning a glittering awards evening, on Friday 13th July at the Gatwick Manor Hotel, to celebrate the amazing work of Active Prospects’ staff, and the aspiring lives of the people we support.

Families/carers and advocates are invited to nominate individuals for an award. A nomination form is included with this newsletter which you are asked to complete and return by the closing date of 15th June 2018. Alternatively, you can email sarah.dodwell@activeprospects.org.uk with the details of your nomination to include the nominee’s name and location/service, the award for which you are nominating them, and your reasons. The more information you can provide the better their chances of success.

Awards include:

Most Aspiring People (3 awards*) Most Aspiring Staff Member or ApprenticeMost Enabling People (3 awards*) Most Aspiring Volunteer or InternMost Active People (3 awards*) Best New Member of Staff, Intern or Volunteer Most Aspiring Staff Team Most Enabling Staff TeamMost Transformative Team Most Valuing ManagerBest New Service or Initiative Most Valuing Assistant Manager/Team LeaderMost Caring Staff Member (3 awards)

* Awards for people we support Nomination Deadline: 15 June 2018

Email nominations to: sarah.dodwell@activeprospects.org.ukor post to: ActiveProspects,1CastlefieldCourt,ChurchStreet, Reigate,SurreyRH20AH

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Celebrating the lives of the people Active Prospects supports

If you’re thinking about leaving a legacy in your will, please consider choosing Active Prospects and helping us to continue the important work we do, supporting local vulnerable adults with learning disabilities, physical and mental health needs to lead full and aspiring lives.

Leaving a legacy

Writing a will is an important step towards making sure your wishes can be respected. Once you have taken care of your family and friends, it’s also the perfect way to ensure that a charititable organisation like Active Prospects can continue to be there, far into the future.

If you already have a will and you want to include a gift to Active Prospects in it, there may not be any need to rewrite it. You can ask a qualified professional such as a solicitor to add an amendment (called a codicil). As a general rule, if the change you wish to make is quite small or simple, you can use a codicil, and if the change is more significant or complex you should make a new will.

There are two main types of gift you can make. You can leave a specific sum of money or you can leave a share in, or all of, what’s left of the value of your estate after family and friends have been taken care of.

The advantage of leaving a share (also known as residuary gift) is that it remains the same over time, and you won’t need to change your will to keep up with inflation.

You can also say specifically what you may wish the legacy to be used for, such as activities or for a specific service.

Whatever the value of your gift, it will go a long way to help someone who needs us.

Every Token Helps! Our Active Growth allotment project provides opportunities for people we support and other local adults with learning disabilities or mental health needs to get out in to the fresh air, get some exercise and have the chance to learn new skills.

The Active Growth project is in the customer vote for a grant from the Tesco South East Bags of Help scheme. It’s a scheme which gives community projects and charities like us grants of up to £4000 - all raised from the sale of carrier bags in Tesco stores.

Vote in store during May and June in Caterham superstore, Edenbridge Tesco Express and Redhill Tesco Express to help us get the highest grant award possible.

Please support us in your local store!

Proactive

Brand Refresh launches with moveAs part of the relocation of our head office to Reigate, on 18th May 2018, we have been looking at brand visibility and signage. We renamed two years and had our current brand logo established then.

Some feedback has been that the logo part is ‘hard to read’, and a bit ‘hard’ and ‘corporate’ so we looked at whether to tweak the logo. Initial designs were not very inspiring, so we looked at options for a more significant change.

Having started development of a logo for our Active Wellbeing service, we decided to use this approach for our main logo too. It is ‘softer’ with a clearer sense of wellbeing, positivity and people flourishing, and

the person icon in the ‘i’ connects with the people aspect of our work.

The change is being communicated as part of our office move and our updated offer, and will better communicate our values. Whilst a change of logo is a major decision, the office move provided a perfect opportunity to effect this improvement as we will be updating the majority of promotional and communication items anyway.

We do hope you like the new logo and the variations that are being created to badge different aspects of the Active Prospects’ business. Community Prospects and Active Growth logos are also in development and will form part of the suite.

Celebrating the lives of the people Active Prospects supports

Activities Volunteer brings smiles Our new Activities Volunteer, Jess, led a music session at our London Road service recently, accompanied by Director of Business Development, Sue Stockman.

Tom and Den played along to some old tunes from The Beatles and Frank Sinatra as well as chair dancing to ABBA! Jess was supported in what was her second session but now she feels confident enough to volunteer on her own in future, and she’s already planned a cupcake making session for next time.

Den, turned 75 in April and had a party with a coffee birthday cake, banners and balloons. Here he is showing how much money he will need for his favourite meal out and that he recognises the new £5 and £10 notes.

If you’re interested in getting involved in a small amount of volunteering for activities, days out or in our charity shop, please email sue.stockman@activeprospects.org.uk.

Committee shortlisted for national award We were thrilled to receive confirmation in early May that our Proactive Committee of people we support has been shortlisted for the People’s Award in the National Learning Disability and Autism Awards.

The Committee was nominated by the senior team at Active Prospects for their inspirational approach, active engagement and brilliant progress over the last two years.

The People’s Award is presented to an individual or team of people with autism or a learning disability, to celebrate individuals or organisations who offer exceptional encouragement and support for individuals with learning disabilities and or autism in providing support services and or personal development and inclusion.

The nomination was endorsed by a number of staff members, people we support and parents/carers, and we are most grateful for everyone’s assistance with putting the nomination together.

Director of Care, Jade Vallance, will be attending the second-stage Judging Day on Thursday 24th May, along with three members of the Committee and a member of support staff, with the final award ceremony on 29 June 2018.

We will be sending them lots of luck on the day!

Proactive

01737 924084

www.activeprospects.org.uk

info@activeprospects.org.uk

A Community Benefit Society (26618R) with charitable status

Budding ArtistWell done to Laura Barton whose painting was chosen for display in a gallery in Sutton.

Volunteers Wanted!People we support are invited to join staff for the annual Horley Carnival celebrations. This year’s theme is Heroes and Villains. Tell Jade, Dawn or your Support Worker if you would like to take part!

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Boeing staff volunteer for Earth DayA team of staff from Boeing volunteered at Millview recently for Earth Day. Everyone was delighted with the results and had a great time.

Forging friendshipsDan & Chris met through their Support Worker and now enjoy monthly games of pool.