News & events Sun shines a spotlight on VIP event at Summerfield Court
This summer, we’ve welcomed a succession of VIP guests to our specialist support services across the UK. From MPs to Mayors and impassioned Councillors, we’ve opened our doors and invited them into our homes. Learning about what we do and meeting the people we support; they’ve joined us for a summer of celebration. Honouring the achievements of the people we support and their support teams, news of these visits and gatherings have spread far and wide.
Alongside the fun and games, the people we support have actively demonstrated why specialist, expert-led social care and support is crucial to their wellbeing.
Showcasing their skills and talents, visits from local authority figures has instilled community values in the people we support. Feeling seen, heard, and included, each event has reinforced to the people we support that they are important members of their communities.
And with lots of achievements under their belts this year, our esteemed brain injury rehabilitation services team joined in with the festivities too. Following on from the smashing success of welcoming Mrs Emma Lewell-Buck (MP of South Shields) to Cleadon Court, they’re continuing to blaze a trail with a spell of late summer and early autumn open days.
Recently, Vicki Bennett, Operations Director for Brain Injury Rehabilitation at Voyage Care, welcomed the Lord Mayor of Leeds, Councillor Abigail Marshall Katung, and Councillors Kevin Ritchie and Tom Hinchcliffe to Summerfield Court.
With the support of Summerfield Court’s team, led by Manager Gary Franklin, and the infectious, vibrant spirits of the people we support, the Mayor and Councillors experienced a day in the life of the people we support at Summerfield Court. They also witnessed first-hand how effective support can transform life after brain injury.
Importance of passion
Welcoming members of Parliament and local Councils marks a significant shift of interest in the social care sector. Understanding the need for positive change to further improve the lives of vulnerable people, our guests have reflected our ambitions to set the wheels of evolution in motion.
Earlier this year, we launched our manifesto for change within the wider social care sector. Every day, we witness the abilities and possibilities of the people we support. With the right opportunities and an understanding team behind them, they can achieve their goals and realise their dreams.
We knew it was time for us to stand up and ask for change. Since launching our campaign, which was presented to Parliament earlier this year, we’ve created ripples in the pond, attracting keen, earnest interest from local MPs and Mayors in pockets of communities across the country.
Our VIP guests
With our advocacy for vulnerable people at the heart of all we do, we knew that the Lord Mayor of Leeds and fellow Councillors Kevin Ritchie and Tom Hinchcliffe were ideal guests to welcome into the home of the people we support at Summerfield Court.
Over the course of their careers, Summerfield Court’s special guests have remained steadfast in their commitment to campaigning for those who are unjustly discriminated against or subjected to avoidable inequalities.
The Lord Mayor, Councillor Abigail Marshall Katung, studied Politics and International Studies at the University of Leeds. Recently appointed as the Lord Mayor of Leeds, she was previously in post as a Councillor for Little London and Woodhouse Ward since 2019. During this time, she served as the Chair of the Scrutiny Board for Adults, Health, and Active Lifestyles. Since elected by fellow Councillors as the 130th Lord Mayor of Leeds, she has pledged to: “tackle injustice, inequalities, promoting a fairer and prosperous society.”
Councillor Kevin Ritchie has a similar policy of passion, with an established interest in social care and disability. A fellow member of the Scrutiny Board for Adults, Health, and Active Lifestyles, he is also a member of several other disability-focused organisations, including the Learning Disabilities Partnership Board. Currently, they are aiming to deliver a co-produced strategy: ‘Being Me’. This strategy is designed to elevate Leeds into the best city to live in for vulnerable people.
Recently elected in 2023, Councillor Tom Hinchcliffe has extensive experience in communications management in the political arena and is a contributing writer at Huffpost. Similarly impassioned about equality and human rights, he’s particularly interested in worker’s rights to challenge employer’s unfair decisions regarding vital issues, such as pay and working conditions.
Collectively, they represent the values shared by our colleagues, operations team, and the people we support at Summerfield Court.
Located in a diverse, suburban pocket of Leeds, welcoming them into our home shone a light on a shared passion for improving the lives of people who have suffered brain injuries.
Breaking barriers, stamping out stigmas
Summerfield Court is home to 17 people who have suffered brain injuries. Many of the people we support here transition to our warm, inviting home after periods of acute, intensive rehabilitation. Using slow stream rehabilitation, we work with them to rebuild daily living skills and reframe their cognitions. Through this approach, we empower the people we support to achieve their rehab goals and achieve a level of independence that’s right for them.
Key to achieving independence after a brain injury is weaving back into the fabric of the local community. For Gary and his team, this serves a greater purpose in the lives of the people we support. Delivering essential social interaction for those who may have lost connections and relationships, it also serves to break down barriers and stamp out stigmas unfairly attributed to people with brain injuries.
For many of the people we support, this approach to rehabilitation has empowered them to reestablish a quality of life they thought had slipped from their grips, following their brain injuries.
In fact, by reintegrating with their local community and reshaping their cognitions, many of the people we support at Summerfield Court have discovered a new level of confidence. With firm self-esteem, they’ve embarked on a quest of self-discovery. Walking along this path, they’ve uncovered new passions, secret skills, and an impressive array of hidden talents.
With a pending visit from the Lord Mayor of Leeds, our housemates at Summerfield Court identified the perfect opportunity to exhibit their talents!
Summer sun and shining stars
Counting down the days until the arrival of their VIP guests, the Summerfield Court household set into action coordinating a day to remember. No detail was missed as the home was prepared for the special day. Keen to demonstrate their savvy skills, our team supported a selection of people we support to prepare for special roles on the day.
Michael, a gallant gentleman was nominated to greet the Lord Mayor and present her with a vibrant bouquet of fresh summer flowers. Sporting a dapper navy-blue ensemble and sky-blue tie on the day, he escorted the Lord Mayor on a private guided tour through the property.
Both Councillor Kevin Ritchie and Councillor Tom Hinchcliffe also received guided tours with Service Manager Gary and regional Placements Manager David Bruin. As their tour wrapped up, they eagerly made their way to the dining room to meet with the people we support.
Bonding over hand-decorated biscuits and tea, the Councillors chatted the day away with the people we support, their family, friends, and superhero Support Workers. The people we support demonstrated with natural flair their growing communication skills and ability to build strong connections with other people.
Councillor Ritchie watched on as two people we support, who have become firm friends, crossed paths in the kitchen. After shaking hands and exchanging fond smiles, they struck up a conversation and roped in Councillor Ritchie too.
Paulina, a former long jump champion, set up to sing for the Lord Mayor and Councillors. With her confidence soaring, Paulina spent the morning warming up her vocal cords. Enlisting two of her support workers as backup dancers, she provided memorable entertainment throughout the day.
Harmoniously singing versions of her favourite songs, including ‘I will survive’ by Gloria Gaynor, the people we support, and Lord Mayor tapped their feet and clapped their hands in sweet synchronicity as Paulina’s voice fluttered through the air.
Survivors and champions
Visibly moved by Paulina’s performance, the Lord Mayor honoured her with the mayor’s pin – an emblem of excellence and outstanding achievement. Feeling accomplished in her own right, Paulina proudly secured her shiny gold pin to her summer outfit.
With the sun lowering, but the atmosphere still running high, the day ended with the Lord Mayor judging a “bake-off” competition. The people we support, along with their support team, hand-made a selection of sweet treats for the Lord Mayor to taste and judge. Torn between tasty morsels, Penny was crowned the winner. Sliding into pole position with her take on a Biscoff cheesecake!
Venturing out into the garden with the Lord Mayor, Penny also received the mayor’s pin. Parading through the crowd with a huge round of applause from her housemates, Penny embraced a well-deserved moment of pride.
Guests, colleagues, and the people we support gathered in the garden for a final farewell to the Lord Mayor. Addressing her audience she shared a powerful parting speech.
Recognising the commitment of the Summerfield Court team, she went on to express her gratitude for the important work they do. Stating that they change the lives of people forced to navigate unexpected journeys – the most difficult ones they will ever face.
Offering a warm expression of gratitude, she thanked everyone at Summerfield Court for welcoming her into their home and embracing her as part of their family.
Operations Director Vicki Bennett took a moment to reflect on the event and basked in a glow of admiration for everyone at Summerfield Court. Knowing events like these scatter seeds of hope for vulnerable people by demonstrating how our support changes lives, she said:
Welcoming the Lord Mayor of Leeds to our open day at Summerfield Court was significant for the people we support. It allowed them to show their rehabilitation progress and the incredible outcomes they’ve achieved with the support from their dedicated, hard-working team. I was immensely proud of the team from the moment I arrived. The organisation and their commitment were inspiring – they poured their hearts, souls, and passion into this day.
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