Creating an inclusive company culture for those with disabilities
Company culture is the foundation of any successful business, but it often gets a reputation of only being about the ‘cool’ and ‘quirky’ things you do in the workplace. Talk about company culture, and people presume it includes bean bags, ping pong tables, and maybe even a nap pod. But company culture goes beyond the fun work perks. Company culture is the way your business behaves and acts that represent your vision and values. By working on your company culture, you create a space where people and business can thrive together. Yet, company culture is one of the most overlooked areas of business. In a study by Deloitte, 88% of employees believe a distinct workplace culture is important. Which means people are now more aware and switched on about how they wish to feel at work than ever before in our workplace history. If you want to attract the best people and create innovative business, then a key feature of your company culture has to be inclusivity. Inclusivity is the full and successful integration of a diverse range of people into the workplace. While inclusive cultures may make a commitment to diversity, in particular, a truly inclusive culture indicates an environment where respect, equality, and positive recognition are all cultivated. In an inclusive culture, social differences, disability and ethnic differences pose no barrier to the employment experience. To support you in building an inclusive company culture, especially for those with disabilities, here are a few key areas you can begin to work on. Make Your Brand Relatable If you want to show that your company culture is inclusive, then this also has to be demonstrated in your branding. Unfortunately, many organisations say they are inclusive, but don’t action their values into their culture. This starts right at the point of branding. The images and photos you create of your organisation and your service or product should represent your company’s culture. One great example of a business doing inclusive disability well is the energy company Bulb. Over the past few years, they have not only included disabled people in their marketing materials, but they have also updated their business operations to be more user-friendly for those with hearing or eyesight impairments. If your company culture is inclusive, show it. People want to be able to relate to the company they are working for, and believe that the company’s mission and values are something they can work towards. Broaden Your Recruitment Strategy When many organisations seek to recruit new people, it is easy to use a recruitment agency who can do all the hard work for you. However, not all recruitment agencies are well-equipped to support you in building an inclusive culture, and they are not living and breathing your company values in the same way. Alongside using a recruitment agency, look to build your own recruitment strategy that gives disabled candidates the opportunity to apply. This can be done by creating an inclusive careers page on your website and partnering with charities and support groups who can send job applications to potential candidates. Enhance Your Remote Working Capabilities A fundamental part of your company culture is the workplace environment, as this represents your values and vision in a physical sense. As well as making your office and workspace accessible for those with disabilities, it’s also essential you look outside the office space and at your policies around flexible and remote working. In some cases, those with disabilities may not always be able to make it into the office space, and therefore you need to have the most supportive remote working and flexible working practices to help people who may need extra support. Remove Assumptions If you’re just starting to build an inclusive company culture, it can be hard to know what’s the right or wrong thing to do. Even in regards to the language, you use around disabled people, or the expectations you have. The unconscious bias is, unfortunately, what holds many employers back from building an inclusive company culture. But studies continue to show, the more diverse your business culture, the greater the success of the business. To help ease you into building your inclusive company culture look to take part in workplace disability training for you and your team. There are many charities and foundations that offer this type of training who can help you to remove unhelpful assumptions and be able to create a culture where you understand the needs of disabled employees much better. By Lizzie Benton, Founder and Culture Consultant at Liberty Mind Ltd.
Bereaved brothers in training for marathon in memory of mum
Two brothers from London will take on their first marathon in a bid to fund the fight against the disease that killed their beloved mother. Oscar and Tobi Kirby-Hogarty are running in the Brain Tumour Research Virgin Money London Marathon team, less than a year after the heart-breaking loss of their mum Lesley to the disease. Devastated by her sudden death, the siblings have already raised £10,000, which will help raise awareness and fund research into brain tumours – a disease which kills more children and adults under the age of 40 than any other cancer. Lesley Kirby-Klappholz, who lived in Twickenham for 25 years, was 63 when she was diagnosed with a brain tumour in May 2019. Having finished a highly decorated career in education five months earlier, Lesley was looking forward to her well-earned retirement. Her professional life had spanned 38 years, which included 11 years of headship. Her first headteacher role began in 2007 was at Shene School in Richmond (now Richmond Park Academy). Tobi, 25, founder and director of MKH Search recruitment business said: “I still remember to this day, when Mum decided to go for the job, she sat me and Oscar down and said, ‘I won’t get it; I’m one of 20 candidates and I don’t have enough experience, but I’ll give it a go!” How wrong she was! Mum’s continuous desire to take on challenging roles prevailed, and she took the position. The commitment and dedication we remember her by is, in part, our motivation for taking on this epic running challenge.” Following a successful tenure at Shene School, in 2016 Lesley, a graduate of Bulmershe College of Higher Education in Reading, returned to Kingsley Academy (formerly Hounslow Manor), a school she had previously worked in as head of modern foreign languages (MFL). The school had been put in special measures and, once again, Lesley rose to the challenge. Tobi, who lives in Clapham South, added: “As before, she loved the broad diversity of students and the challenge at hand. She retired from main-stream education following a tremendous career in which she fulfilled her professional aspirations and made an impact on the lives of thousands of children and the development of hundreds of teachers. She made so many friends and made so many people’s lives richer. We couldn’t be prouder.” Lesley’s shock brain tumour diagnosis came after several trips to the GP, where she had been complaining of memory loss and change in character. She was told the symptoms were probably down to the fact she’d recently stopped working. Oscar, 27, group sales director at ENGAGE Group Limited, said: “She had gone from having a really busy, responsible role to a much quieter schedule. We accepted the initial diagnosis but there were real moments of fear, as her memory continued to deteriorate and we wondered whether it might be early onset Alzheimer’s disease. “On her fourth trip back to the GP’s surgery, she demanded a CT scan. I had no idea this was going on at the time. Then, one evening, I was out for dinner and I got a phone call from my dad to say she had been diagnosed with a brain tumour. It came as such an awful shock.” During the initial consultation with the surgeon at Charing Cross Hospital in Fulham, it was suggested that Lesley’s tumour, around half the size of a golf ball, was likely to be grade 2 and treatable. Because of its location, the medics were confident that they would be able to remove it. However, on 18 June, the evening before she was going into theatre, the family was given the devastating news that the tumour had spread and was now a high grade, butterfly-shaped glioblastoma multiforme (GBM). Oscar added: “We were told that, at best, they would only be able to remove part of the tumour because of its size and spread. The aim of the surgery was to relieve the pressure in her brain. There would be no cure. This was about extending her life for as long as possible.” Unfortunately, Lesley suffered a major haemorrhage during the surgery and contracted a virus. She came out of the operation completely comatose and her distraught sons were told she would only have 24 hours to live. Oscar explains, however, that she went on to defy the odds: “The doctors were gobsmacked at the fight she put up. Her body was incredibly healthy. Eventually, though, she started to decline again and 14 days post-surgery they told us she would never recover. Her heroic fight with this awful disease ended on 8 July 2019.” Now, just eight months on from the tragedy, Oscar and Tobi are hoping to make a difference by running in the iconic, world-famous event, which sees tens of thousands of runners taking on the 26.2-mile course through the heart of London. The televised event takes place on Sunday 26 April. Oscar, who lives in Earlsfield, Wandsworth, said: “I’ve always wanted to take on this fantastic event in our home city and losing mum was the push we needed to sign up. A recurring theme in the speeches at Mum’s funeral and one of the defining features about her was her pragmatism. Her no-nonsense attitude was another motivating factor for our decision to take part and fundraise for Brain Tumour Research. “We want to do something positive to channel our grief and, in doing so, raise money and awareness for this wonderful charity. When we were sorting through Mum’s paperwork after her death, we discovered that she was a regular giver to a number of different charities. We are doing the marathon in tribute to Mum and her charitable nature. It is one last, small thing we can do in her honour and to honour others suffering this horrific disease.” Brain Tumour Research funds sustainable research at dedicated centres in the UK. It also campaigns
Stroud man with learning disabilities makes gallery debut
An artist from Gloucestershire with learning disabilities is exhibiting his paintings this month at a Stroud gallery. Rob, who is supported by national learning disability charity Hft, will be showcasing 20 pieces of his work at Lansdown Hall from 17 March. Painted in his trademark abstract style, the artist has coined his work as ‘upside down art’ as many of the paintings can be viewed at any angle. Inspiration for Rob’s art comes from religious architecture including churches and cathedrals, with particular focus on arches and stained glass. The 75 year old has been painting for as long as he can remember and is supported in his pastime by Hft staff at his supported living service in Stroud. The service, which was rated as ‘Outstanding’ by the Care Quality Commission (CQC) in 2018, has an art room regularly used by Rob and his housemates. Support workers are on hand to provide encouragement and ensure people have access to the materials they need. One of Rob’s support workers even supports him to go on trips to exceptional churches and cathedrals in the UK, providing inspiration for his work. Rob’s art exhibition kicks off with a private viewing for family, friends and Hft staff and will be on show for a week, until 22 March. The artist is a regular visitor to the accessible venue, and regularly drops in to view the latest exhibitions. The chance to display his own art there came about after Rob enquired about opportunities to showcase his art locally. Rob said: “I’m very proud to have my paintings exhibited at Lansdown Hall. In the future, I’m hoping to do more exhibitions, sell my work and become better known as an artist.” Emma Bagley, Divisional Director at Hft, said: “We couldn’t be more pleased that Rob has been given the opportunity to showcase his talent to the whole community. Rob has been supported by Hft for all of his adult life and we’ve loved being able to see him flourish as an artist over the years. His time to shine is finally here and we hope that other people are inspired by his creativity and commitment to his work. “Rob is one of 60 people in Gloucestershire who we support to live the best life possible. Having the chance to pursue your passions is hugely important, and we work hard to ensure people are able to live with more independence and choice. Rob’s success is testament to this and we’re so proud of him.” Hft currently supports more than 2,500 people with learning disabilities across the country. This includes supporting people with learning disabilities to live independently in their own homes, providing employment services to help people develop skills and experience for work and helping people to pursue hobbies, make new friends and get involved in their local communities.
Naidex 2020 Important Information
We know many of you were planning on visiting Naidex next week, so we wanted to let you know that the event has been postponed – please see statement below. Naidex 2020 and All Co-Located Events Rescheduling Due to Coronavirus The organiser of leading independent living show Naidex (17th-18th March 2020, NEC Birmingham), has been closely monitoring updates on the spread of the COVID-19 Coronavirus. Like many large event organisers, the health and safety of our visitors, exhibitors and staff is always our number one priority. This is particularly pertinent in the care and health sector communities that Naidex brings together. Many of our visitors are, or are on the frontline of supporting, the most vulnerable in society. This combined with the fact that health and social care workers will be critical to ongoing containment and management strategies, means that we have taken the decision to reschedule Naidex to later in the year and will confirm this date by Monday 16th March 2020. This will include all events co-located with Naidex including Smart Home for Assisted Living, Dementia, Care & Nursing Home Expo, Home Care Expo, Care Tech Live, European Neuro Convention, Medical Imaging Convention, European Oncology Convention and AI&ML Convention. While this is not a decision that has been taken lightly, we feel that it is the right one – not just for the care and health sector but for the wider community as a whole. We are of course, in ongoing communication with our exhibitors, speakers, partners and suppliers. Those we have managed to speak to thus far have been exceptionally understanding. If you are affected and the team hasn’t managed to reach you yet, please know that we will be in touch very shortly. Alternatively, please contact the event team directly at Enquiries@ROARB2B.com or +44 (0) 117 990 2107. Thank you for your understanding and support and we look forward to welcoming you later in the year. Please click here to be taken to the Expo website for future updates on when the show will be held.
How the eCane will change the lives of blind and deafblind users
Physicist Ron Liebermann formed Signtel, Inc. in 2000 with the mission to use technology to improve the lives of the hearing and sight challenged people. He hired over 100 such individuals to work as assistant developers, providing their own life experience as input into the products developed. Here, he explains how his product the Electronic Cane eCane will become the eyes and ears of people who are blind or deafblind… The eCane is a contraption mounted and attached to a cane used by blind individuals who are either only blind, or both blind and deaf (deafblind). Its uses are broadly twofold: Firstly, it provides secure navigation. The Electronic Cane guides its holder to a desired location by giving directive instructions towards such location. Secondly, the Electronic Cane acts as a communications tool, utilising mobile phone, sign language, foreign language translation and internet communications. Features of the eCane • The user can access a mobile phone using either voice and/or Morse Code via a button on the Electronic Cane. The user receives input by voice, or Morse Code through vibrations of the Electronic Cane • The user can find out on demand the locations and proximity of their family members (or designated friends), as the Electronic Cane operates with cooperating technologies, such as (RFID), GPS, or Google’s indoor navigation. This is made possible thanks to a contraption such as a wristband, belt or cloth worn by the friend or family member. • The Electronic Cane can navigate to desired locations when the user provides a request by voice or by clicking Morse Code on a button and receiving continuous directions for movements, either by voice or via the eCane vibrating in Morse Code. This makes it easy for the user to find their home, a hotel, office, business facility or store etc. As an example, if a blind individual requests the eCane to be led to a bathroom while in a hotel lobby or supermarket, the eCane will direct that person to the bathroom that is for the correct gender of the blind individual. • Navigation also works within the user’s home around various rooms, features and furniture. Outdoors the eCane guides across roads, up and down pavements, advised by the eCane what store is encountered and what is displayed in the window. Once inside a store, navigation is given, allowing the user to pick up desired articles from the shelf. • The eCane holder is advised about the environment around him or her, such as “a woman walking a small dog is coming towards you and a child who is riding his scooter just past next to you”. This is enabled by a video camera being attached to the eCane system and artificial intelligence analyzing the images. • Enabling the eCane holder to perform monetary transactions, such as payments or receiving money, which is done directly through the eCane holder’s bank account. • Communicating with deaf individuals, utilizing Sign Language, wherein Sign Language of the deaf is captured by the camera which is then translated to the eCane holder in audio and/or Morse Code vibrations. • Secure walking, whereas the eCane detects objects either on the ground or elevated, and warns the eCane holder of their proximity, height, being stationary or moving, as well as giving a description of their nature. • The eCane notifying its holder when the “battery” (mostly a Supercapacitor) needs a recharge, which is mostly done automatically by just being in proximity to the charging facility. • Ability of the eCane holder to find the eCane that was either, dropped, forgotten or placed in any location by pressing a knob on the wristband unit carried by the eCane user. • The wristband mentioned above can also provide various alerts to its deafblind holder, such as a phone call coming in, somebody talking, someone in your vicinity is communicating with you or an alarm clock to wake up the user. For more information about Signtel, see signtelinc.com. Signtel will be exhibiting at Naidex at the NEC on 17 & 18 March 2020, at stand N345.
Over 300 disabled young people to take over Tate Exchange for a festival of creativity
Over 300 D/deaf, disabled and neurodiverse young people to take over Tate Exchange for a festival of creativity.‘I Am At Tate Exchange Festival’ will form part of the 2020 Tate Exchange programme at Tate ModernStudents and teachers taking part in I Am At Tate Exchange FestivalFrom 24-28 March, Tate Exchange will play host to over 300 D/deaf, disabled and neurodiverse young people. Over five days, they will lead a variety of creative workshops, performances, and activities – showcasing their talents, opinions and ideas.Now in its fourth year, I Am At Tate Exchange Festival is a partnership between creative learning specialists A New Direction and over 30 special education settings from across London. The festival works to advocate for richer cultural opportunities for D/deaf, disabled and neurodiverse children and young people, while making disability more visible in London’s cultural venues, and demonstrating that children of all abilities can play an active role in London’s culture.This year, the festival will explore the theme of ‘Power’ and will feature more student-led activity than ever before. Press are invited to join us for the opening day of the festival on 24 March, which will include: Students have also been working with a number of disabled and non-disabled artists in the lead up to the festival to create work which will be exhibited in the space. This year we will also be joined by a cohort of nine Festival Assistants, all of whom are on a work placement through my AFK – a national charity supporting disabled young people into work. The Festival Assistants will be supporting students throughout the week and engaging with the public.Our work at I Am At Tate Exchange is underpinned by the following themes: The festival is part of this year’s Tate Exchange programme – an ambitious ‘open experiment’ which allows other organisations and members of the public to participate in Tate’s creative process, running events and projects on site and using art as a way of addressing wider issues in the world around us.Steve Moffitt, A New Direction CEO, said:‘When we started I Am At Tate Exchange Festival four years ago, we were working with six schools. This year we will welcome over 30 schools into the space, and for the first time have been unable to accommodate everyone due to exceptional demand. This illustrates how important this work is and the appetite for what we’re doing. I’m hopeful that we will soon be seeing ‘I Am’ events popping up in more outstanding cultural venues across London.’Frances Morris, Director, Tate Modern said:‘Spending time at A New Direction’s I Am Festival impressed on me what a truly wonderful initiative it is. Seeing so many young people – many of whom had not been to Tate before – having the time of their lives has been such an amazing and humbling experience. In a time where increasing numbers of students with SEND are being forgotten, projects like the I Am Festival are only becoming more vital, and we at Tate are immensely proud to play our part in it.’ For more informationPlease contact Jim Beck at A New Direction jim.beck@anewdirection.org.uk or 020 7608 8977 / 0788 580 7784To find out more about Tate Exchange please visit tate.org.uk/tateexchange.
I got more help at the cinema than the optician!
Emma and Alan share their experiences of visiting the optician in the UK and believe their cinema provides more support for people with sight loss. Emma feels there is a true lack of appropriate training given to opticians to empower them to support patients with visual impairment. If you prefer to listen to this article, you can access the podcast version at by clicking the following link:https://anchor.fm/visualise/episodes/Our-cinema-provided-us-more-support-than-our-optician-eb1iql If you’re experiencing difficulties with your eyesight, the bearer of that difficult news may well be an optician. As you sit there in front of an eye-chart, struggling to see some or all of the letters, the stark reality that you’re about to lose your sight could be about to hit you … but at a time when you most need information, advice and support, increasing evidence suggests it isn’t always available. Alan is 34 and lives with his partner Emma, in a newly-built house in Runcorn. He has been registered blind now for some ten years. In his early 20s, Alan went to an optician who told him there was something wrong. After six months of tests, Alan was told by a consultant he had Stargardt disease, a form of macular dystrophy, and that he was going to lose all his sight. This was the last time Alan drove. The consultant told him he would have to stop driving immediately. “It’s a degenerative condition, said Alan. “At the start, it felt like nothing was wrong. As time has progressed, it’s got severely and steadily worse. Now, it’s considerably bad and I’m struggling.” Despite Alan’s deteriorating vision, he has continued in full-time employment: “I was actually working as an upgrades and retention advisor for O2, as my eye condition progressed, I was struggling to do my job … struggling to use the systems, so through my employer, we’ve been able to redeploy me into a data analyst role where I’m able to do a lot more stuff. As a result, I’m not tied to a customer; I can help and support the teams instead. I’m getting quite a lot of reward and confidence from that.” Outside work, Alan and Emma both enjoy going to the cinema. Emma takes up the story: “With the cinema, you know you’re going out … it’s a date night … it’s nice, cheap and cheerful. When we were going into the cinema, we were met with very friendly faces at all times, and we didn’t know that there was an audio-description headset – that was a big step in the fact that you enjoyed going out more. Before that, Alan used to come to appease me because I like to go and see all the films, but he didn’t have that much enjoyment out of it. That’s given Alan a new lease of life and has enabled him to join in on that activity.” Alan continued: “It’s totally changed my whole experience. I walk in, they come over with the (audio-description) headset and they’re constantly checking I’m getting full use of the cinema, making sure I’m getting all the support I need. They’ll even take me to my seat if I’m struggling; it’s brilliant, I don’t even have to ask them, it’s really good.” In contrast, Alan is less positive over the help he received from the optician: “The optician didn’t really give me anything … they just sent me to the doctor’s; they just said something’s wrong. They didn’t tell me what was going on, what was going to happen … they just said something’s wrong and I’m going to send you to the hospital.” Looking back on his experience at the optician’s, Alan has clear views on how the service he received could have been better: “Firstly, they could have given me a ‘heads up’, letting me know that there was something seriously wrong. At that point, I think they should have given me some support rather than just expecting me to sit there and have to wait for a hospital appointment. I was left not knowing what was going on … the fear of that.” Emma too feels that the optician could have shown more compassion: “While the staff were quite friendly, I don’t think they knew how to support a person who is losing their sight. They couldn’t provide information in alternative formats … I can get a letter in braille, large print or even on an audio CD from my telecoms provider, but not from the optician. The staff at the cinema on the other hand, saw Alan’s guide dog and just dealt with the situation … they seemed to know what to do.” Concerned that Alan was slipping through the proverbial net, Emma took matters into her own hands. With the help of Google and LinkedIn, she came across Daniel Williams, who runs a company called Visualise Training and Consultancy. Among other things, Daniel trains opticians on the services and support that are available to people who are experiencing eyesight difficulties. Emma said: “I was scrolling through LinkedIn and found Daniel Williams. I saw Dan’s guide dog and it hit off from there. I looked at Dan’s profile and what he did and thought wow, this is absolutely fantastic. We had just been trying to get on with things; not realising all this support, guidance and help were available. “I then had a 45-minute phone call with Dan, and he was absolutely fantastic. By the end of the conversation, it felt like I’d known Dan for years. Dan spoke to me on a personal level. He asked me about what support we had had and what we feel we needed. Dan then listed off ten organisations specifically in this area, where we can go and get support. It was simple things like just going for a pint, or meeting people who are in our situation. Emma added: “It didn’t end there. Dan’s phoned me back and he’s pointed me in the direction of places where, not only can we get support and advice,
TGA to launch unique mobility scooter passport and flight checklist at Naidex
TGA will be unveiling its unique mobility scooter passport and flight checklist at Naidex for easier air travel. Naidex 2020, NEC, 17-18 March, stand N812 and TGA mobility test track. As an established specialist supplier of mobility scooters, TGA is committed to accessible travel for all. Advancements in the design of transportable scooters, such as the compact folding TGA Minimo, are opening up opportunities for disabled travellers however there is still a need for advice and information regarding product suitability on buses, trains and planes. Growth in air travel is of particular significance with more scooter owners seeking to take their own products on planes for holidays, business and family visits. The process of transporting mobility products varies between airport and airlines across the world, nevertheless there are common considerations which can assist with more efficient transfers. Therefore, to support hassle-free flying TGA has developed the UK’s first Scooter Passport scheme and flight checklist so travellers arrive at airports fully prepared for any questions they may face. With complete details regarding their product to hand, along with all planning requirements completed, transit of suitable TGA mobility scooters can be more efficient and seamless – on planes, trains and cruise liners. The new TGA scooter passport comprises of a ‘luggage tag’ style design that can be affixed to products before departure. Its reusable, non-tear material allows owners to write all of their scooter details including product name, size, weight and battery type. At check in, airport staff can then make an informed decision regarding handling of the scooter throughout the airport and stowage on the plane. Ground crew and baggage handlers can manage the scooter appropriately to reduce the risk of damage and airline captains are informed so there is no confusion or delay. On arrival, the TGA passport again offers airport staff invaluable information so ultimately the scooter passenger experience is better. To support the free TGA passport customers can also obtain the new TGA flight checklist which is a simple 4-page, tick-box booklet which details all the recommended actions before air travel with a scooter. Planning activities such as informing airline special assistance teams, checking airport accessibility and scooter battery suitability are all included. Actions are chronologically categorised along with a recommended list of paperwork to take to the airport. Many TGA scooter owners regularly fly with their Zest or Minimo scooter however the new TGA passport and flight checklist will make journeys even easier. Free copies of the new TGA passport and flight checklist will be available to dealers and end users on stand N812 at Naidex 2020.
Teenage girl’s innovative donation helps South Coast Spinal Unit
One South Coast family’s experience of their daughter’s life-enhancing surgery has turned into a generous donation for Southampton Children’s Hospital. Lucy Brimecome, 14, who lives with her parents and older brother near Chichester, was diagnosed with scoliosis in 2018. Previously active and sporty, the increasingly debilitating symptoms left Lucy in constant pain, forcing her to give up much-loved hobbies like rock climbing, tap and ballet dancing. Eventually unable even to sit in one position for any length of time, she faced radical surgery to fuse her lower spine. The whole family were understandably apprehensive leading up to Lucy’s operation, but have praised surgeon Mr Evan Davies and all the staff on the hospital’s G3 spinal ward for their exceptional care and expertise throughout the whole process. Unable to drink normally whilst lying immobile in recuperation, Lucy also risked recovery-threatening dehydration. Researching into the benefits of enabling patients with reduced mobility to drink freely and independently, dad Paul found NRS Healthcare’s Hydrant Drinking Bottle, which enabled Lucy to drink whilst lying flat. This simple piece of equipment transformed Lucy’s recovery, reducing the need for invasive drips, needles and IV fluids. Nurses and physios on the unit also heralded the benefits of the bottle, which supported the aims of March’s National Nutrition and Hydration Week. Happening at the same time as the donation, it promotes the importance of nutrition and hydration in the medical, caring and therapeutic professions. Seeing the impact the Hydrant had on his daughter’s recovery, Paul approached NRS Healthcare, (who supply disability, mobility, therapeutic and living aid products), and together with Mark Moran MBE, from “Hydrate for Health” who designed the bottle, they agreed to donate 60 Hydrant bottles to the unit. These will provide vital hydration to other spinal patients in their recovery, allowing staff to monitor fluid intake for more adaptive post-operative recovery plans. Brave Lucy was also determined to give something back, and the opportunity arose when, just 8 weeks into her recovery, she performed in a dance show at Portsmouth Guildhall. Lucy explains: “I’ve been dancing since I was 4, and when my teacher Louisa Chandler at Melana Dance in Emsworth sent videos of the show dances to me in hospital, this became my goal. Although no one believed I’d be well enough in time, dancing on that stage was my dream come true.” Lucy and Louise arranged for a raffle to be held at the show, raising over £500, which Lucy proudly presented to the G3 spinal ward at her 3 month check-up in March. Lucy’s dad Paul says: “We cannot thank Mr Davies and all the team at the spinal unit enough for their amazing care and dedication which I am sure aided Lucy’s much speedier recovery. The work they do is often despite lack of funds and resources like the Hydrant bottles, which we have seen make such a difference to care and recovery. “We also want to thank Mark Moran at “Hydrate for Health”, NRS Healthcare, Louisa at Melana Dance, and everyone who donated, supported and wished us well. However, the real star of the show is of course Lucy. She’s been through so much, she now has 2 titanium rods and 14 screws in her back, but seeing her light up the stage at her dance show was such a reward for her bravery, determination and compassion.”