Our Vision
Our Vision is to provide outstanding care for adults with Learning Disabilities in a Christian community where we all flourish.
The reality of British care trends was highlighted by Edward Hall (2004) who remarks in an article for the Royal Geographical Society, “In comparison to the overall population and many other disabled people, the estimated two million people in the UK with mild to severe learning disability have fewer employment opportunities, less choice over housing, fewer options in education, and commonly experience discrimination, abjection, abuse, poor health and a lack of control over the key decisions that affect their lives.” Referring to social exclusion, despite deinstitutionalisation, he calls the life experienced by many people with learning disabilities an “asylum without walls".
Those with learning disabilities are underestimated and are not being given a choice of support and a type of residential setting. If they choose to be a Christian and live a lifestyle in accordance with their faith, with Christian support to help them achieve this then they should be empowered to make this choice. If they wish to live with others rather than alone or with parents, then they should have this choice, too, just as others do.
Care in the wider community and care at home, while the objectives are laudable, do not necessarily enable people with learning disabilities to lead fulfilled lives in communities where they can participate fully, enjoy safety and be understood and valued by their carers. There is a lack of options for many learning-disabled people to be. There is a lack of options for many learning-disabled people to be make true choices over the package of support they receive.
As a result of the glaring void, our service at The Lodge Trust fill, demand for places far exceeds the provision currently available. There's not a week passes without another family approaching The Lodge for support and advice. These families come from all over England and are seeking Christian support for their son, daughter, brother or sister.
The Changes we would like to make
We want to see our community stand strong against the difficulties and challenges that our society and economy throw at us. We want to continue to provide a safe and secure community for our residents for many years to come.
We have a real challenge here at our site to keep up with maintenance and adaptations that need to be made. These costs are not covered by the packages of support our residents receive from central government and are costs that continue to get ever greater.
The current demands on our finances are:
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Building maintenance and upkeep – providing safe, high-standard accommodation for all our residents.
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Providing new adaptions for those residents who are less physically able – this includes electric doors, hoists, specialist beds.
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Projects to enhance quality of life – such as a multi-sensory room, new PA and lighting equipment in our hall for parties and entertaining.
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Enhanced training for our staff – new training equipment for current training, and funding to expand our training provision.
What difference will the changes make?
At The Lodge Trust, we strive for excellence and work hard to ensure all of our residents have happy, fulfilled lives, the safest and most comfortable surroundings possible, to know how much they are valued, and to realize their potential.
Our work means that families can be relieved from the anguish of the uncertainty facing their loved ones when they can no longer provide care. It means that people can be supported to learn new skills and acquire meaningful work experience by highly trained and skilled staff. It helps to combat loneliness and isolation.
Ultimately, with the right support, people with learning disabilities will be seen not as victims, but as individuals who make a great contribution to society.
What's so special?
We believe that the service we have to offer is unique from any other service of its kind. Not only do we offer a Christian community and support to adults who choose to live with us and use our service, but we also offer support to local churches, employers and families of the adults using our service.
We need your help to continue to provide a caring, Christian community here in the heart of Rutland. We want to continue to provide people with friendship, support and family for many years to come. Whether you are local to us or not, you can still be part of our community. There are many ways that you can get involved in what we do.