Virgin London Marathon

The 2013 QEF Team of runners did fantastically well in the Virgin London Marathon with all of our runners completing the race!

A very special congratulations goes to Ben Pilgrim; one of QEF Vocational Services own. Ben trained extremely hard for the Marathon and we would like to say a huge thank you to him for his efforts and for completing his first Marathon in a great time! 

What’s happening in May at ILS

Work in the Medway corridor to convert the old rooms and bathrooms began in early April and is now nearly finished. The target date for the completion and handover is 14 May. This will give us four new offices and a meeting room. Staff currently located in the Cedars’ admin corridor will then move across so that Cedars is completed, vacated and ready for stage 3 of our building plan. We envisage that the moving across will take a few weeks as there will be some down sizing to be done, which of course an ideal opportunity for sorting out all the old paperwork we no longer need or can archive away.  We will of course strive to keep everything running as smoothly as possible.

Visit our Show Garden at Hampton Court

Spring has sprung, the bluebells are flowering in our woods and we will be exhibiting a show garden for the very first time at the RHS Hampton Court Palace Flower Show 2013, which takes place on 9-14 July.

Our Garden for Joy is named after an inspirational, indefatigable and dedicated friend of QEF, as well as celebrating the life changing work which focuses on what people can do rather than what they can’t.  Here we focus on the joys of achieving greater independence, increased mobility, securing a job or realising tiny personal goals.  It will be the first therapeutic garden ever designed completely from the perspective of wheelchair users.

Bringing the garden home

The whole point of the show garden is to take it back to QEF Independent Living Services at Dorincourt, home to 37 severely disabled young people who are looking forward to having their own space to socialise, enjoy quiet areas in the fresh air and show off their plant growing skills to their families and friends on Open Days

For our residents being outdoors, with the ability to easily navigate  around their garden space provides the opportunity to shape and take ownership of their environment.  To take care of feeding and watching the antics of birds and wildlife and growing and nurturing their plants is achievable, therapeutic and enjoyable.

Therapeutic, training and social value

Horticulture and the art of growing things from tiny seeds is a huge and rewarding part of our therapy programme. There is an army of disabled residents and volunteers many from local supportive companies itching to rebuild the show garden back at Dorincourt and develop a thriving horticultural therapy programme.  The rebuild is a key part of the garden and will also involve disabled trainees from QEF Vocational Services who are training for a qualification in horticulture and landscaping.

To visit the QEF Garden for Joy and experience it for yourself , click here to book your tickets from the RHS Hampton Court Palace website .

Hitting the High Notes

Grateful thanks to the Police Unity Memorial Band for a fabulous donation of £1,100.  The Band have been great supporters of QEF and their tuneful efforts are much appreciated.  By all accounts their concerts are extremely enjoyable and the quality of their musicianship very high.  Cue fanfare!

QEF Corporate and Community Manager Sue Pressey joined them with Ashleigh from QEF Independent Living Services to receive a cheque from Band Master Graham.  

Football Match Report

Match Report QEF FC @ Woking FC Football for All Tournament, Sunday 21^st April 2013

On Sunday 21^st April the QEF football team comprising of trainees from theLeatherhead Court site made their first appearance at Woking Football Clubs Football for All Tournament. The tournament was for Pan Disability 6-a-side teams from across the region with teams being entered by several professional clubs including Southampton and Chelsea.

Lead by captain Graham Fuller QEF finished top of their 5 team group with a solid record of three wins and only one defeat. Backstopped by goalkeeper Arjan Sadnani QEF only conceded two goals in the group stage whilst scoring twelve goals including an 8-0 victory against Chelsea FC.

The current QEF line-up exceeded expectations by qualifying for the semi-finals as group winners having only been brought together three weeks prior to the tournament, whilst all the other teams involved have played at least an entire season together and in some circumstances played as teams for many seasons.

In the semi final match up QEF faced tough opposition in an experienced side representing Southampton football club. Following an early goal line clearance by defender Graham Clark followed by a counter attack and a goal by striker Neil Peckham giving QEF the lead. The game was soon level and some strong defensive play by James Brett and David Campbell kept the game 1-1 at the end of the 12 minute match. QEF came closest to scoring in the 5 minute extra time period but the match would end up going to a penalty shoot out. QEF ultimately lost the shoot out 2-1 but could leave the pitch with there heads held high knowing they had given 110% and pushed the eventual tournament winners to the limit. The team received praise following the semi final performance from the match referee and Southampton manager as well as the tournament organisers with many in disbelief of the short time the team had played together.

QEF FC will now look to build on a great day at Woking and are hoping to participate in a few more tournaments this summer before starting the new Middlesex FA Pan Disability Premiership season so watch this space for some more match reports.

The players representing QEF on the day where

Graham Fuller, Arjan Sadnani, Mikal Mursaleen, Neil Peckham, James Brett, Justin Banderas, Graham Clark, David Campbell and Kevin Fenton

Match Results

Group Stage

QEF 8-0 Chelsea

QEF 0-1 St. Albans

QEF 2-0 Woking

QEF 2-1 SouthamptonB

Semi Final

QEF 1-1 Southampton

(Southampton win 2-1 on Penalties)

QEF Community Games Fun Open Day 27th April from 12 noon

The day will include:

• Static exhibitions of driving and mobility products and services 
• Coconut Shy, Tombola, Raffles, Treasure Hunt, Wheelchair Antics  
• Aircraft support seating assessments  /   Young Driver Experiences
• Stalls selling lots of goodies and displays of arts & crafts/KIDDICARTS
• Fun and games for all ages  /  Refreshments available

     …plus the Awards of the Loans of the Amazing Bugzi Powered Wheelchairs

QEF Opens in Walton

“Magnificent!” was MP Dominic Rabb’s  verdict as he poised to cut the ribbon to open QEF’s Walton shop.  He went on to say, “It is beautifully fitted out and has a great display on sale.  I look forward to returning.”  Also joining the celebration were Rob Douglas, QEF Chair, Elizabeth Kennedy, Retail Trading Board member and QEF Trustee, Elise Dünweber

The Walton shop is the fourteenth shop in the QEF chain with two more in the planning.  QEF Retail Trading plays a vital role in supporting the QEF’s work with disabled children and adults.  It relies heavily on a band of dedicated volunteers who ensure that donations are made ready for sale and staff the shops.

If you feel you could help in this way please contact QEF Retail Trading on 01372 843616 or email retailtrading@qef.org.uk

Meaningful Approaches to Therapy

The following article ‘Let me tell you a story’, published in the July 2012 edition of ‘Bulletin’ (the official magazine of the Royal College of Speech and Language Therapists), demonstrates how intensive speech and language therapy sessions at QEF Neuro Rehabilitation Services have enabled therapists to employ innovative, meaningful projects to assist clients with cognitive communication difficulties following ABI.

Let me tell you a story