Autumn and Winter 2023 updates
Therapy through music
Every Wednesday, our members enjoy therapy through Music sessions, where they can express themselves. It’s a chance to communicate through music, when perhaps they can’t find the words. We’re extremely grateful to the University of the West of England (UWE) who supply for our Music Therapy sessions, as part of their Music Therapy course.
Boccia at Paul’s Place
Boccia is a fully accessible sport, and at Paul’s Place our Boccia teams are run by disabled people, with the support of Paul’s Place staff. We have two teams in the super league.
Paul’s Place member, Luke, said, “I’m returning to competitions after taking a year out. We practise twice a week, and we warm up to get our arms ready. When we move to Shire Way Community Centre, we could practise more than twice a week to prepare for national league tournaments.”
On Sunday 3 December 2023, our Boccia teams travelled to Berkhamsted Leisure Centre near High Wycombe. The first team won an impressive two out of three games and our second team won one out of three games. Luke said, “it was all a positive experience”.
Boccia England announced its fixtures for 2024, so stay tuned for our Boccia updates.
We welcomed new members of staff in 2023
- Lynda Williams, CEO
- Courtney Harrison, Support Worker
- Melinda Marton, Finance Manager
- David Sully, Communications Officer
- Kayley Waller, Fundraising and Communications Manager
Welcome to our team.
To meet whole team, please visit:
Announcing our new patron!
Ben Atkinson
We’re delighted to announce Ben Atkinson, as our new patron. Ben actively supports our vision for a world that embraces disability and includes everyone. You’ll hear Ben presenting on Heart Bristol Radio between 4pm and 7pm with his feel-good tunes. Ben is an experienced voiceover artist for brands such as, Halifax and B&Q, and he regularly hosts lifestyle awards, events and fundraisers.
We’re thrilled to welcome Ben as our new patron.
Ben Atkinson
Disability History Month 2023
This Autumn, Disability History Month, shone a light on Disability, Children and Youth in the past, now and what’s needed for the future. It took place from 16 November to 16 December.
It was a perfect time to interview our members at Paul’s Place. Hannah and Paul described their experiences at school and their recommendations for pupils in 2023.
To read their interviews, please visit:
Disability History Month
December was also International Day of People with Disabilities
This day highlights the importance of inclusivity, accessibility and equal opportunities for people with disabilities, while also celebrating their achievements and contributions to society.
Here at Paul’s Place, we live by this ethos every day! Take a look at our impact in 2022 – 2023. You’ll hear our members speak about how important it is to make sure they can enjoy an inclusive world.
Our latest impact report video
Paul’s Place Carers
At Paul’s Place we offer carers a space for connecting with each other. We’ve thoroughly enjoyed our wide range of activities this year, including days out and our annual short break.
We send a yearly survey, so carers have a say in type of activities that will benefit them. This Autumn and Winter we’ve organised:
- a short break to Littlecote House in Hungerford
- a pamper day
- a get-together online
- a shopping trip to Highfield Garden Centre in Gloucestershire
The carers say, “I feel relaxed and rejuvenated”, and “it’s a special time just for us”. We all need a break from the everyday routine, and carers have the same need, so they feel refreshed and able to continue doing what they love.
Here’s our Christmas lunch at The New Inn, Mayshill, which serves gigantic plates of festive food.
Carers Christmas Lunch 2023
Paul’s Place wins coveted funding from Global’s Make Some Noise
Heart radio runs its own charity called, Global’s Make Some Noise. The charity raises funds for small and local charities that tackle:
- mental health issues
- food poverty
- domestic abuse
- homelessness and loneliness
The charity also supports people with life limiting illnesses, those who are bereaved or people with disabilities with its fundraising activities.
Pauls Place celebrated as one of the charities that Global’s Make Some Noise will support with its fundraising. We will use the funds to launch our own new in-house volunteering service from April 2024.
To read the full article, please visit:
We’re moving
Our charity is based at Coalpit Heath cricket club, and we’re moving into the much loved Shire Way Community Centre. We will breath new life into the building, which has been left untouched since 2022. Our move will open even more opportunities to enhances the lives of physically disabled adults. We’ve actively asked our members (service users) about the floor plans and what our new home should offer. For example, we’re planning a community café, and an allotment where our members will grow produce for the café. It will give our members opportunities to learn new skills, to volunteer and contribute. We’re also hoping to offer space for the public to hire for their activities and events.
To read the full article, please visit:
