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Service Users from a residential project have enjoyed a couple of great holidays recently………..and supplied HILT with a pictoral record of their trips. The project was closed down for a week while everyone was away, but it provided staff and service users with a break from their usual routines and a chance to relax in new surroundings.
Meanwhile Gary and Churinder were enjoying sunnier climes in
Mauritius. They went to a water-theme park and Gary did a spot
of para-gliding and drove a motor boat. Gary joined in some dancing
with the local beauties, and both Churinder and Gary enjoyed getting
to know a bit more about the country’s wildlife. But watch
out for those alligators!
LET'S GET MOVING
One of HILT’s oldest projects at Albion Drive closed its’ doors for the last time in January. Mark Stinson who was Manager of this project has now moved to be Manager at another Hilt Supported Housing project. A very large removal van was needed to help the last 2 service users, Philip and Sheila to move their possessions to their new homes. The day itself went off without any hitches. Sheila went off for lunch to a nearby café and then made the short journey to her new home on foot. Philip was very helpful in directing the removal men around loading his possessions onto the van and then transferring everything to his new flat at a different Hilt Supported Housing scheme. Since moving to her new home, Sheila has met all of the other people living in the various flats throughout the building. Everyone has greatly warmed to her and she has already made friends with a couple of people. Sheila is having a house warming party next week and she will invite former flat mates from Albion Drive, people from other Hilt projects. She is delighted with her new home and is especially pleased to have more space. She is also pleased to have shops, cafes, and a park on her doorstep. No home is complete without a pet. Sheila is planning to get a kitten. If anyone has a kitten or knows of one which may be available please contact Mark Stinson (020 8880 1095 or email: mark@hilt.org.uk). Having a kitten would mean a great deal to Sheila. It would undoubtedly add a great deal of fun to her new home.. Sad goodbyes to Lauri Thompson who is leaving HILT to travel
and work in Greece, and to Sam Brown and Leeroy Lugg who are moving
on to new pastures. Good luck RADOSTINA’S READY……
Radostina Kazmin (aka Tina) joined HILT as a volunteer in 2002. She returned to her native Bulgaria in July of the same year to complete her studies in Biology. In 2003, Tina returned to London and re-joined HILT, originally as a member of the sessional staff team. She became a Support Worker at one of the Islington projects in 2004, where she was a huge hit with staff and service users alike. Tina has just been on holiday to Ireland with one of the service users from Islington, and is now in the first week of her new post . After her meteoric rise through the ranks of the organisation
we feel confident Tina will adapt to the challenges of her new
role, and wish her every success. PATHS FOR CHANGE
This provided HILT managers to discuss their working practices in HILT and consider the expectations of the service. The practicalities of improving service user choice were at the forefront of much discussion. The day mixed practical workshops with some fun exercises that let people get to know each other a bit better and learn about the similarities and differences people face in their work. Susan and Sarah led much of the discussion and workshops, and everyone agreed it made a welcome change to get away from their normal work environments.
The next Managers’ away day is scheduled for March 21st. This should provide the opportunity for further dialogue between different managers. There will be further opportunities to develop creative strategies for individual teams and the organisation as a whole.
AUTISM AWARENESS
John Cahill, from HILT's Occupational Team has been heavily involved in this process along with Beverley Jenkins from St Leonard's Health Team. The training has been well received by the colleges and has been mixture of discussion, presentation & group excersies. This will have a positive effect for services within HILT and in other local services for autistic people. In the meantime HILT's autism project continues to grow, as new service users and staff join the project. Watch this space!
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LAST
OF THE SUMMER WINE
Florence,
Keith & Alan had a whale of a time in Minehead, Somerset.
They walked on the beach, ate lots of delicious food in the restaurant
and made friends with the hotel staff. The weather was cold but
bright and the scenery was magnificent.
…..and
speaking of Mark's change of job, a new Deputy Manager has been
appointed to support him and the rest of the staff team. 
On
January 28th, HILT held its’ first Manager’s Away
Day meeting at London Voluntary Services Council building on Holloway
Road.
One
of the workshops involved developing a strategy for organisational
development in four key areas. These were: inclusion, independence,
rights & choice. By the end of the day each team manager had
developed their own individual strategy for development within
their own teams.
HILT
has been asked to work in partnership with the Health Team at
Social Services to inform and educate tutors at local colleges
on autism.