“My Support Workers support me for my love for Man United”
I’ve lived here since 2014. I love it here. The staff are so nice and kind. They’ve helped me so much here.
A Support Worker helped me move in. Southdown has been excellent to me.
My family live close by. They support me a lot and I have a chat with them on the phone every night. My family are excellent to me. They mean so much to me.
When I first came here, I wasn’t really confident with eating. I used to have a big fear of choking but it’s not so much now. The staff helped me with that.
I have bad anxiety but I am managing it. I have good days and bad days. I get emotional support. They help me by talking and listening, and helping me relax. I do acupressure and deep breathing. I get a 20 minute chat every night to help with anxiety.
When I get really anxious, the staff help me keep calm around health appointments. I get loads and loads of support before health appointments.
Life feels better now I can manage my anxiety.
On Thursdays I have Home Day which is where they help me with shopping. Every day I have lunch with a member of staff – I cook mostly, they cook sometimes.
I like to take pictures. I won fourth prize in a photography competition for people with learning disabilities. I like swimming as well. I go every week. I’ve won a lot of medals in swimming.
I’m a Manchester United supporter. I’ve supported Man United since I was 8 years old. I’m now 40. I watched them play at Old Trafford in 2007. I went on the Old Trafford tour and saw all the old shirts and all the trophies we won!
My favourite player is Lukaku. I like him because he’s big and strong. I like De Gea – he’s a really good player. I’m really pleased we’ve got him. We’ve secured him until 2020. I like Marcus Rashford cos he’s really fast and scores lots of goals.
My Support Workers support me for my love for Man United. We always have goal predictions and chat about it. They’re going to help me see the Brighton versus Man U game next year and I always watch them on TV!
I’ve been to Thorpe Park loads of times with staff and been to visit friends with staff. We go to the Dogs once a month and they help me go on day trips like the Eastbourne Airshow and an Abba tribute concert. We’ve had loads of parties here too – we’ve had a New Year party here and one for Halloween and we have birthday parties here too.
Support Workers are really important for my life.
Southdown manages supported living services across Sussex. Supported living is where an individual owns or rents their own home and has control over the support they get and how they live their lives. Accommodation and support is provided separately. It can be very different for different people. For one person, supported living might be a few hours of support a week to enable them to live independently by themselves in a rented flat. For another it may be around the clock support in a shared house or self-contained flat.