This week sees the launch of our Life Sum campaign, which goes right to the heart of Shaftesbury’s mission to enable people with disabilities to lead full and meaningful lives.
A Life Sum is a list of the things that bring joy, comfort or challenges in a combination unique to each individual. The concept reflects Shaftesbury’s commitment to people-centred care, ensuring that life adds up for each and every person we support.
Our campaign urges individuals to consider what’s really important to them – what adds to, or detracts from, wellness and a sense of self. Sharing your Life Sum (and encouraging others to do the same) helps raise awareness of our work.
Life Sums celebrate diversity and offer an insight into what makes us unique. They can help get to know someone on a more personal level and find common ground. Perhaps your Life Sum will create an instant connection with someone, or provide a new topic of conversation.
Our aim is to strengthen the Shaftesbury community nationwide, but also to reach beyond it. As Life Sums are applicable to all walks of life, it’s a means of reaching a wider audience who may not be familiar with our work.
Please spare a few moments to complete and share your own Life Sum. Even better if you can share it on social media or within your own networks to encourage others to get involved. It’s a quick and simple way to show your support for Shaftesbury.
Phil lives at Shaftesbury Brookside in Edgware. Community and a sense of belonging is important to him and he is passionate about music. His Life Sum includes friends, pub meals and movie nights.
Catherine from Shaftesbury John Grooms Court in Norwich shares Phil’s love of music and has been a committed Daniel O’Donnell fan since she was a teenager. She likes cats, snooker, scrabble and shopping. What’s important to Catherine is feeling empowered and being a voice for disabled people. Her Life Sum also identifies what detracts from being able to lead a full life:
“Transport is a barrier to being able to access something you enjoy doing. It makes you feel strange when you can’t do something you really love, and you feel isolated. It physically and emotionally affects you if you can’t do something you really like.”
Tina lives at Shaftesbury Bradbury Court in Harrow. Her Life Sum includes cooking, knitting, fish and chips and TV. She doesn’t like stairs and please don’t offer her marmalade!
Shaftesbury employees and the people we support are actively encouraged to reflect on and share their Life Sum as part of our commitment to people-centred care. We hope that friends, family and supporters will get involved too.
Find out more about our Life Sum campaign at shaftesburygroup.org/life-sum. Download a free wellness guide, create and share your own Life Sum, or make a donation.