William moved to Allendale Court, one of our LIFE supported
living schemes in the North East, after a difficult period following the loss
of both his parents. He’d been managing his own flat, but found daily life
increasingly daunting, particularly leaving the house and building the
confidence to take on new challenges. When he arrived at Allendale, he
describes himself as shy and reclusive, spending a lot of time in his room.
LIFE by Be Caring is a supported living and outreach service for people with learning disabilities, autism and mental health needs, delivered across the North East. Support is built around Positive Behaviour Support (PBS), an approach that focuses on understanding each person, reducing restrictions, and creating the right environment for people to thrive. At Allendale Court, that means 24/7 skilled support and personalised plans built around each person’s own goals.
For William, what matters is independence.
“Since moving to Allendale Court, I have become a lot more sociable,” he says. “I have grown massively in my confidence in making friends and entering new social situations. I am able to access the community independently and attend my appointments without support too. Through this more active, confident and positive change in my life, I have managed to lose a substantial amount of weight and I’ve begun to chase my dreams and ambitions in my healthier, happier life.”
“I feel really grateful that I am able to take part in this experience in life,” he says, “and I know that this is a skill that I can use to benefit me even further.”
For William, what matters is independence.
“I feel really grateful that I am able to take part in this experience in life,” he says, “and I know that this is a skill that I can use to benefit me even further.”
During a recent review, when asked what matters most to him, William was clear: to live independently in his own flat, and to pass his driving test and own a car. He’s already doing one of those things.
“When William arrived at Allendale, it was evident that he had all the right skills to be an independent young man, but lacked the confidence to achieve his goals. Through his time at Allendale Court and the amazing support provided by our support team William is oozing with confidence! William has been supported to manage his daily living skills, accessing the community and building personal relationships with peers that have turned into really positive friendships. Through all of this, it seems William has found his confidence and is ready to achieve all that he wants in the world. This is exactly what we hope for with everyone who lives at Allendale Court.” Emily Robertson, Team Manager
William’s story is a reminder of what support, done well, looks like. Not doing things for someone, but creating the space and the confidence for them to do things for themselves.