Lorna’s Story: Creativity, Connection and Confidence
Lorna has attended ECL Chelmsford, also known as Highfields, a day centre for people with learning disabilities and/or autism for a number of years. She loves arts and crafts, and at the day centre she regularly gets to indulge in her favourite past time. The centre has always encouraged her to explore her creativity, but recently she has had the chance to take that passion beyond the centre and into her local community.
Through the centre, Lorna has been taking part in Buzz in the City, a sculpture art trail and fundraising initiative organised by Farleigh Hospice, Chelmsford For You (the city’s Business Improvement District), and Chelmsford City Council.
It just so happened that Lorna’s sister, local artist Jennifer Flint was one of the artists commissioned to help the Highfield’s customers to design and decorate their bee sculpture, so Lorna was able to work alongside her sister and her friends at Highfields to help create one of the bee sculptures displayed in the city.
I was really excited painting the bee...We did drawing on the side of the bee it was good fun.
Lorna, attends ECL Chelmsford - Highfields Day Centre
“I was really excited painting the bee with my sister,” Lorna recalled. “We did drawing on the side of the bee. I have so many friends in Highfields. It was good fun with all the paint.”
For Jennifer, the project was just as meaningful:
“The fact that they do lots of arts and crafts at Highfields is great for Lorna. That’s one of her skills, and it’s been a really great way for her to make friends and to experience different things that she wouldn’t necessarily do at home.”
The group worked together on the bee design, a bold black and gold art deco pattern with positive messages such as bee kind, bee brave, bee safe, bee independent. Jennifer explained how touched she was seeing the staff team at Highfields encouraging the customers to lead on the project:
“It was quite an emotional moment really. I felt like it was something special, that they really listened to the customers and let them take the lead.”
Through the project, Lorna not only developed her artistic skills but also took pride in sharing her work with the wider community. Seeing the bee sculpture on display in the garden gave her the chance to let others enjoy the results of her creativity.
The opportunities for Lorna haven’t stopped there. Lorna met the ECL Community Connecting team at one of Highfield’s customer forums where customers are invited to share new ideas and feedback. Lorna expressed an interest in their service, and so they worked with her to find out about her skills and what she would like to do in the community. This led to them supporting Lorna to become a volunteer at a local Age Concern lunch club. Every Friday, Lorna makes teas and coffees, serves lunches, and helps with the washing up.
“I really like volunteering with old people,” Lorna explained. “I like helping them, and I like my job at Age Concern. Every Friday I make tea and coffee for the old people and serve their lunches. I’m happy. My job makes me more independent, getting the bus and believing in myself.”
“I really like volunteering with old people. II like my job at Age Concern. Every Friday I make tea and coffee for the old people and serve their lunches. I’m happy. My job makes me more independent, getting the bus and believing in myself.”
Lorna, ECL customer
Jennifer added, “it’s been really good for her to know that she’s valued as a volunteer and feel like she’s making a difference.”
ECL Chelmsford Learning Disability Manager, Jade Walton, summed up what this means for people like Lorna:
“Our Community Connecting service helps people access things in the community they might not usually do, through social clubs and volunteering roles. For Lorna, it’s been a fantastic way to use her skills, connect with others, and build confidence.”
Lorna’s story shows how our day centres can be the starting point for opportunities that stretch well beyond the activities inside the building. With the right support, she has been able to nurture her creativity, share it with her community, and take on new roles that give her a sense of purpose, independence and pride.
