I began my journey with Treasure Seekers long before I began working here. I have a sister with a learning disability and after my mum passed away, I took a large role in helping out with my sister. Finding Treasure Seekers was such a blessing for both of us. My sister lives in America, where almost all disabled adults ‘work’. This gives them purpose and my sister loves her job. However, there is not much in the way of activities that are suitable for those with disabilities. When she started to spend a lot of time in the UK, I needed to find things for her to do that didn’t involve hanging out with me all the time. She needed to spend time with her peers. We fortunately stumbled upon Treasure Seekers coffee morning, for adults with learning disabilities, in Tredworth.
My heart was so full of joy for the people that attended and watching them be free to be themselves meant so much to me.
Fast forward a couple years…. After working in social care, for adults with learning disabilities, for a couple years, I just felt there was a better way to serve this community of people. I believed they had more to offer than just ‘being’. I believed they should be given the opportunity to find their own strengths and to be able to build on those; to be the best version of themselves. As I had spent a lot of time during those two years, attending Treasure Seekers activities with my sister and others that I supported, I went to Jan to discuss an idea I had to start a day service for adults with learning disabilities. I trusted that she would know if my ideas would be helpful to this community. I knew how much she cared about them and would be honest with me.
Like many of the people we support, I found my community ❤️
