Making a positive difference across the North West Head Office Alternative Futures Group Lion Court, Kings Drive Kings Business Park Prescot, Merseyside L34 1BN Call us: 08450 176 744 Email us: mail@alternativefuturesgroup.org.uk Visit our website: www.alternativefuturesgroup.org.uk Registered Office: Alternative Futures Group Limited Lion Court Kings Drive Kings Business Park Prescot Merseyside L34 1BN Registered in England 2679915 Registered Charity Number 1008587 Chief Executive Neil Campbell
Our Promise was developed by the people we support to serve as a constant reminder of why we re here. The people we support are able to measure how well we are doing against these five elements: Welcome to Alternative Futures Group (AFG) We are a very special organisation which supports people to be the best that they can be, in all that they are; whether they are one of the people we support or a member of our team. This booklet will give you a flavour of what makes us so special; our purpose, ethos and an introduction to a few AFG people. Thank you for your interest in Alternative Futures Group. Best wishes OUR PROMISE This is the promise that we, Alternative Futures Group, have made to all of the people who use our services. Keeping Our Promise will help us to achieve our vision A world where people control their lives. Health Live healthily in a warm and comfortable home Take the kind of exercise you want Make sure your medication is well managed Get the healthcare and advice you need locally Take care of your mental and spiritual well being You We will: Treat you with kindness and respect you as an individual with rights, choice and independence Help you to be treated in that way by others Make sure you have the right information to make the best choices Ask you what support you want and when you want it Help you have and keep the personal relationships that you want Support you to meet new people, to go to college and go on holiday Support you to become actively involved with the development of our services Home Be safe at home and out in the community Decide what happens at home and who can visit Keep your money safe and well looked after Keep your belongings safe Keep private information about you safe Neil Campbell AFG Chief Executive PS. Keep up to date with what s going on around AFG by following us on Twitter (@AFGSupport) and Facebook (AFG Support). Community Money Be in control and to be involved in decisions about your life Look after the environment and be green Play a full part in your community Access local groups and clubs Get the money and benefits that are yours Manage your own money Plan for special events like holidays and birthdays Find work or volunteer
Who is Alternative Futures Group (AFG)? Why we exist Founded in 1992, we are a large charitable organisation that provides person-centred, collaborative support to adults with mental health issues and learning disabilities. We aim to foster creative local partnerships to ensure the people we support are enabled to live as independently as possible, as full citizens within their communities. We are a major employer in the North West of England with a team of around 3000 people who provide a range of support to approximately 900 individuals, normally living within their own homes. We also provide specialist short to medium term clinical support within our seven Treatment and Recovery Centres for people who require more structured interventions to support them to get well. We then provide step-down support to enable people to reconnect personal relationships and reclaim their place within their communities. Our ultimate vision and aim is to create A world where people control their lives ; to support people to live as well as they possibly can. This means that we actively encourage a co-production approach to support. Co-production means delivering support in an equal and reciprocal relationship between professionals, people using services, their families and their neighbours. Where activities are co-produced in this way, both services and neighbourhoods become far more effective agents of change. NESTA By developing this approach and building strong local partnerships we are and will continue to be in a position to provide tailored support to enable each person who uses our services to experience the life they aspire to. For more information about the support we provide, please visit our website: www.alternativefuturesgroup.org.uk Twitter: @AFGSupport Facebook: AFG Support The Hand of Choice sculpture designed by the people AFG supports.
AFG People We would like to introduce you to some of the people we have supported in the past or who we still support in some way. They have chosen to share their experiences to provide hope to others. Nancy s Journey Nancy spent many years receiving treatment. Ultimately the support she received through her team at Alternative Futures Group saw her recover to such a degree that after 20 years she was able to live independently and reclaim her life. My Journey: How I became this well and able to take on the responsibility of a job has taken a long time. I had spent many years in and out of the mental health wards of hospital. After ten years of illness, I tried a new drug that worked really well for me. I had come back to myself. I moved into a mental health home where I was closely monitored for 2 years. I then started to live independently in a supervised group of flats, The Limes, with staff available at all times. After spending 7 years at The Limes I eventually became totally independent, happy and confident enough to move into my own home. The journey to get where I am now has been long and hard but now I have a job and have been happily living in my own property for 2 1/2 years. I do hope that anyone with extreme mental health issues can read this and see that when things are so bad and you re in such a bad place that there is so much hope. Nancy.
DJ Jason! Jason from Rochdale, who is supported by his local AFG team, was able to realise his ambition of working on a radio show through AFG s partnership with Pure Innovations. Pure Innovations, which is an organisation which support people with learning disabilities to access education, training and work opportunities have been commissioned by AFG to work closely with a number of people who it supports across the North West, to enable them to access opportunities such as this. Many of these people are now working or learning new skills, with Jason being a great example of how this new partnership directly enriches the lives of local people. Through this partnership Jason was enabled to develop the skills to produce and present a show about football on Pure 107.8 FM, his local independent radio station. Neil Campbell, Chief Executive of Alternative Futures Group said, This is another example of how we build our services around each individual to ensure that all people have choice. It can be difficult finding suitable employment or training opportunities but after just a couple of months of working with Pure Innovations, there are already examples of the people we support being given jobs in local businesses, learning new skills and going to college to study.
Jodie s Experience AFG teamed up with local partners in Rochdale to support people in gaining work experience. Jodie, who is supported by AFG s Rochdale team is delighted with the Receptionist work experience she has been able to gain with a local internet company. Jodie said: I am working as a receptionist. I work every Wednesday. It is the best thing that has ever happened to me. Jodie s jobs include laminating, photocopying and checking emails. Jodie has her own desk and is left to get on with her jobs with minimal support. Jodie s mum echoed Jodie s enthusiasm. She said: This is really good for Jodie which will help her learn new skills. John s Success Story John now lives independently after previously needing more structured support within one of our adult care homes. The flat I am in is spot on. I like that I still have staff coming in each day to support me with some things, but I feel like I am my own man and I like being independent. I get to see my family more too, because they can come to my flat or I can go and see them. When I go to pick my medication up from the hospital I see people who I used to know when I was in hospital and I can see how far I have come. I feel a lot better because I have got a good flat and great staff to support me. I think that I am a success story because I was in a hospital for ages and even though it has taken me a few years, I now live in a flat on my own with a bit of support everyday and I feel sound! Find out more: www.alternativefuturesgroup.org.uk Twitter: @AFGSupport Facebook: AFG Support or call our head office on 08450 176 744