View from the Chair

25th January 2010

Happy New Year and welcome to my first blog of 2010.

I’ve just got back from the Orford Day Centre, WDP’s temporary headquarters and Centre for Independent Living. I spent the morning delivering a train the trainer session on disability awareness to nine colleagues and friends from WDP. They all volunteered to join our team of trainers who go out into local schools, businesses and voluntary organisations raising the profile of our work and challenging negative perceptions of disability and disabled people. We had a nice mixture of people who together brought a wide range of life experiences, some are disabled people, some are carers and others are keen to support the team. Their lived experiences together with our tried and tested presentations should prove invaluable in our relentless quest to raise awareness of ability and in breaking down the barriers that help create social exclusion. As I was driving home I noticed that it was 10c, which is a far cry from the weather we experienced a couple of weeks ago when it went down to minus 12c. I have lived in Warrington most of my life, and I have never seen snow that heavy for such a prolonged period, and followed by freezing temperatures. It brought the town to a grinding halt.

On the Tuesday I travelled to work, against my wife Pam’s advice. But as we live just four fairly flat miles away I was intent in getting to work as I knew hundreds of staff wouldn’t have had a choice and the NHS doesn’t shut down whatever the weather. That just shows how naive I was. I hadn’t given a thought about how I would get from my car and up the ramp to the front entrance at Hollins Park House in 6 inches of snow. Thank goodness for the guys from our estates department who came to my rescue and dug a path to get me into the building. Worse still they had to clear the route again as I left for home, and then my car got stuck and they had to use the tractor to get me mobile again.

Sorry guys, I promise to think of others next time I try any heroics. Down at WDP we also had a team of Snow Heroes who got into work and cleared safe routes into the Centre from the car park.

During the past week we have received the sad news that one of WDP’s friends, Keith from The Shop on Chester Road has died after a long battle with cancer. I visited Keith in St Rocco’s Hospice a couple of weeks ago, I told him that everyone at WDP and the DAD Team were thinking about him. Our thoughts are with his wife Alice, and their family and friends.

Since the freezing weather has gone and we have returned to normal business we have received great news at WDP. The takings from the Christmas fundraising activities was over £11,500; which is a real credit to everyone who helped out on the Santa’s Grotto, Christmas tombola and raffle, this also includes the team at Orford who wrapped up all the presents and folded thousands of raffle tickets, but when it comes to folding tickets our team at the market deserves the top prize because they managed to keep the tombola going with over 50,000 raffle tickets.

We are all now looking forward to our Easter activities, then we will be busy moving back to Beaufort Street, next the official opening, then Disability Awareness Day, Positive Action Awards, Annual General Meeting and by then it will be time for Christmas fundraising to start again. Hey it never stops at WDP. Yesterday afternoon I took my usual weekend drive past Beaufort Street to check on progress of the refurbishments and I have to say that I wasn’t disappointed. One can see from the outside that the site is looking much tidier, the new build workshop is up to roof level, the extension on the caretaker’s house is completed and the new fencing has opened up the site. I’m hoping to take a look around the inside next week. I will keep you updated.

Finally before I close I must mention that one of WDP’s volunteers Dave Molynuex, who is recognised as our unofficial photographer and video producer, is home and resting after major heart surgery. I spoke with Dave earlier today and I have to say it was great to hear him sounding so very positive as he told me that he is looking forward to a new pain free life and getting back to WDP and planning our next project.

Thanks again for your interest.

Until next time, take care

Dave Thompson