SeeAbility Woodlands - Celebrating 8 Years of Success!!

SeeAbility Woodlands opened in October 1998 in Horley, Surrey, to provide a residential home for 7 adults with a visual impairment and additional disabilities. With its' philosophy to promote independence and through the skills and support of a dedicated staff team, SeeAbility Woodlands has enabled people to explore their potential, make choices and achieve the outcomes they want. Some examples of the successes achieved during the past eight years include:

People Realising Their Goals and Moving On To Greater Independence - Three of the original occupants living at Woodlands have been supported to move on to live in their own homes and enjoy the choice, security and fulfilment this offers.

Social Inclusion - Through SeeAbility's 'Social Inclusion Programme' two support workers at Woodlands have received enhanced training in working with people with a visual impairment to develop skills and challenge the barriers to social inclusion.  An external evaluation concluded the social inclusion programme "has contributed greatly to enabling SeeAbility to provide a more unique rehabilitative service" to the people living at Woodlands. In real terms this expertise, supported by a Senior Rehabilitation Practitioner, has enabled individuals to achieve personal goals ranging from joining a local gym to learning to use information technology to maintain contact with friends and family.

Engaging With The Local Community To Expand The Facilities - With help from the local community and the staff team, the people living at Woodlands have realised their plans to expand the facilities available. In 2003 an accessible sensory garden was developed with the support of volunteers from Barclays Bank. In October 2006 a Craft Studio was opened in the grounds, which is fast becoming a valued resource. The additional space and equipment are already being put to good use by people at Woodlands for activities such as Braille training, computer studies and keep fit sessions, with plans to extend opportunities to include craft and woodwork. The craft studio has recently hosted a demonstration of CCTV equipment which helps people with low vision to get more from their remaining sight by displaying printed information from crosswords to photographs on a TV screen, and will soon provide a venue for a local community friendship club.

A Positive Outlook:
Building on its' experience, the future for SeeAbility Woodlands is looking very positive:

• Two people are actively being supported to part buy their own property through 4ability's shared ownership scheme, with the social inclusion team playing an integral role in supporting them to develop skills to manage in their own home.
• The potential of building additional accommodation in the grounds is being explored, enabling SeeAbility to provide much needed specialist services to more people, supporting them to fulfil their potential.

Everyone is looking forward to exciting times ahead!

To find out more about SeeAbility Woodlands, please click here.