Prader Willi Syndrome

Above is a picture of Bishops Gate, our new provision specifically for those with Prader Willi syndrome. We completed the purchase last week. There is much renovation work to be undertaken to bring the property up to the standards that New Directions operated by.

The property is to be registered for eight persons, there being eight bedrooms. The manager of the home it is proposed will be Mandy Gates, subject to the Care Quality Commission’s approval. Mandy has many years in the care industry and started working for New Directions as bank staff in 1998. She became the manager of Bishops Lodge in 2005. Mandy states that she is looking forward to this new chapter in her career.

Interest in the vacant rooms at Bishops Gate is good. We have been asked to assess four persons to ascertain their suitability to move into the home. We will continually update this website with the progress as to how things are going with this venture.

If you would like more information with regards to this service please e-mail david.palmer@newdirections.gb.com or telephone (01424) 421684.

Monday, 31 October 2011

we all had Halloween party at Bishops Corner. Alan did all the party food

We all played party games like musical statue and hide and seek. We all one prizes on games it was a very good Halloween party.

Thank you very much Donna, Sanchia, Erin and Alan.

Thank you very much from Mr Barrie Gore.

On Friday 28th of October I went with Friary gardeners in the afternoon to laser quest at clambers. We were playing against the co-operative, Parchment Trust. There were two teams blue and red. We work the bread team, which we had to shoot brew lasers which were on their heads. We played five games, one was the practice round. Then in the games one of games we had to defend our place. The blue team had to shoot at us to get as out of the game. Then there was two games which both teams had to plant the bomb which was in the black brief case but over all the red team one. We were get our own back on the co-operative which one. The last time are we played at laser quest I thought it was great fun. The best hiding place was the land Rover.

I think some time New Directions should get to go there and play the game. The price of it is £8.50 but if you get a membership the cost is £6.50.

By Joshua Courtauld at Bishops Croft Robertsbridge.

New Directions has completed the purchase of a property to open another residential care home for adults with Prader Willi Syndrome. This will bring the total number of homes to five, supporting thirty four persons with PWS. Over recent times we have received numerous enquiries for placements within our service. There is much work to be done before the home is ready to open. We will regularly update progress on this web-site.

MY 1 2 1 TO MONKEY WORLD 

On 17/8/11 i got up at 5.00am, i got ready and went down to have my breakfast. Then i waited for Donna to come in. Then Donna came in and then Donna and i went in the taxi and the taxi took us down to warrior square to wait for the coach to pick us up to go to monkey world. Donna and i meet very nice people they were a mum and daughter. Then we went in the coach. At 11am we stopped for a break at a place near monkey world. Then we all went back in the coach so we can go on the road to monkey world, at 12 we got to monkey world and the coach driver took us to the door so he could book us in. Then Donna and i went to the cafe so we could eat lunch and i had chilli con carne on tortilla. Then Donna and i went in the place to take my monkey he’s birthday thing. Then when we went back outside of the door we looked up and we saw my monkey with his mum & dad and sister. Then we went to see more monkeys. At 14.00pm we went to where the other gibbon was so we listened to the keeper about the gibbons and i asked the keeper will my monkey go black she said when he gets to one years old. Then we went to the lemurs and one of them went near me so i have a little friend, then we went to the shop to buy some things. After the shop we meet up with our friends so we went and sat with our friends so we could speak. Then we went outside of the door so we could wait for the coach. Then the coach came and we got in the coach and sat down, then i had my tea and it was very nice .Thank you Donna for taking me to monkey world because i had a good day.

Ryan

On Tuesday, October 11. Me, Lizzy, Mandy and Gayle went to London. We all got ready to go we put our posh clothes on. We left at 40 clock Gayle drove as all to Battle station to catch our train. We boarded the train to London. We got there and we then court a black taxi cab to the church. We met people with the same condition. We also met Jo Brand it was brilliant. We all have photos taken then we took our places for Bush oh. The show started with Joe brand doing stand up comedy. Then there was Opera singing and their work also Down’s people doing a dance and singing and member doing their music as well when it had finished we gave a bouquet of flowers took all the ladies on stage. Then we all went outside to have a chat there was me, Lizzy, Mandy, Gayle and Lizzy friend called Fran who is a lovely attractive lady. We all stood on the grass lawn and had a glass of wine and also we have two canapee. Then we walked to the main road where we caught the taxi back to the station. We got back to Battle station at 00.30 hours. We got back to lodge at  00.50 in the morning. It was a wonderful evening and the magic too. A massive big thank you to Mandy and Gayle for a nice evening.

Mark Porter.

I Louise Newham went on a PWS holiday to the New Forest, I went on a Friday and came back on a Friday. I went with David Palmer, Claire, Duncan and Jacquie Kearns(PWSA) and other people with PWS. I met a lot of new people and made a lot of new friends. On my holiday by took part in activities like shelter building, raft building, making a catapult and swimming. I went around the shops looking for things to buy I won a yellow ball in the arcade and bought myself a Nemo fish toy when I visited the sea life centre.

Signed… Louise.

On 11^th October, Mark, Lizzy, Mandy and Gayle set off from Hastings at 4pm to catch the train to London.  We had our tea on the train, and arrived in London at about 6pm.  We then took a taxi to St Luke’s, where we found many friends, including Jo Brand standing in the entrance.  There was a chance for photos with Jo, which were eagerly taken, see below, and the concert started at 7.30pm.  We had all been looking forward to the fund-raising event organised by the Trustees of the PWSA (UK), and we were not disappointed.

There was such a superb mix of comedy (supplied by Jo Brand) and classical and popular music, Professor Tony Holland gave a talk (as informative and interesting as ever) and also a dance section with a wonderful dance group entertaining us.  

The concert finished about 9.30pm and we were really lucky to have enough time to grab a quick drink on the front lawn before we had to take a taxi back to Charing Cross to get one of the last trains back to Hastings.  We arrived back at Bishops Lodge at 12.20am, all really tired, but having had a great evening.  Thank you Prader Willi Syndrome Association for putting on such a good event, and we are looking forward to hearing how much has been raised. 

Pictures below of Mark with Jo Brand, and Lizzy presenting flower to some of the artists at the end of the evening.

On Wednesday 12th October, I went for my one to one with my Key Worker Debs. I went to Bewl Water reservoir for a 13 mile walk. It was overcast but not too hot, it was just right, then the sun came out in the afternoon. We picked up chest nuts for Debbie’s nephew along the way. I collected some to give to staff at Bishops Croft. Debbie fell in the mud. I was crawling around because it was rather muddy. Debbie hurt her leg and pulled a muscle. I was surprised that I did not get any blisters. We started walking at 1130 am and finished at 6:30 PM we saw hundreds of ducks and eight herons and hundreds of geese. And we saw lots of dogs on our walk. The best bit was that it didn’t rain. I like being out of the house as I like walking. The scenery where we were was very nice. This was my best ever one to one. Thank you Debbie for taking me.

By Christopher Trask at Bishops Croft

On the 2nd car wash at Bishops Lodge we raised £60 for the Prader Willi Syndrome Association. We have given £50 via our initiative and £10 via  www.justgiving.com/helen-bailey3 . We believe this was head and shoulder above most causes. It was a bald effort.

Well done to all fundraisers.