It’s an important time of year for Shaftesbury; as a Christian charity we throw open our doors to the season of goodwill, utilising the Christmas campaign to welcome in new supporters to our vital work.
This year’s theme is Opening Doors which reflects Shaftesbury’s belief in making Christmas fully inclusive.
Come December, many of us will be opening doors; to advent calendars, friends and family, parties and special events – doors which are often closed to people with disabilities.
Barriers include inaccessible venues, lack of affordable transport options, overcrowded spaces, overstimulation from loud noises and flashing lights, social stigma and prejudice. For people with disabilities, these challenges can limit their enjoyment of Christmas, compounding a sense of loneliness or isolation.
This latest campaign highlights how Shaftesbury is actively opening doors to make Christmas as inclusive as possible. From here on in, staff teams across all our services will be going the extra mile to ensure people we support can take part in seasonal activities and enjoy a fun and festive Christmas. This includes people with lifelong disabilities and those who have acquired a new disability through an accident or ill health.
One such service is Shaftesbury Ashley Place in Bognor Regis, West Sussex, which opened its doors to a film crew, enabling us to capture some powerful personal stories for the campaign.
Matthew’s story is a reminder of how Christmas can look very different for people with an acquired disability, many of whom are facing challenges they could never have imagined. As a father of three young daughters, Matthew’s life was turned upside down after a tragic accident and he is now supported in Shaftesbury residential care.
Abandoned as a baby, Veasna, or V as he prefers, has Cerebral palsy and is non-verbal. He was unhappy where he was living previously, making him withdrawn and anxious. Since arriving at Shaftesbury Ashley Place a year ago, he is now thriving and loves his new-found independence. His advocate shares how V has been empowered by Shaftesbury and loves feeling part of a family.
Mandy is in her 70s and has been in residential care all her life. Her strong Christian faith means Christmas is an important time for her and she is supported to attend church every week. Mandy loves her sea view and en suite facilities at Shaftesbury Ashley Place. Every morning she seeks out manager Sarah for a hug; she has never felt more settled.
Find out more on by visiting our campaign page about acquired disabilities here – https://www.shaftesburygroup.org/opening-doors and our campaign page about barriers that those with disabilities face here – https://www.shaftesburygroup.org/open-doors
