Resources for involvement
We raise charitable funding to add value to the work we do on user involvement. For example, a lottery grant helped pay for setting up resource rooms around the country and buying equipment to allow us to record client newsletters onto audio tape and CD for those who have difficulty reading, amongst other things.
Client newsletters are produced regionally by clients. The regional Client Involvement Officers provide training and support to help the editorial groups use IT, make editorial decisions, and develop the content and design of their publications.
Interactive and online
Clients can explore their talents through our interactive web site, CGTell (Carr-Gomm tenants exploring life-long learning), which is supported by the Big Lottery Fund. Open CGTell website in a new window.
CGtell is an interactive web site which provides resources and news about learning opportunities, with a searchable database of courses. The site’s Creative Zone includes an online recipe book, gallery and a creative writing section where clients can post recipes, pictures and articles on the site. The Never-Ending Stories section is an experiment in collaborative writing – different authors work on one story together adding a paragraph at a time.
Carr-Gomm have recently provided more computers at a project level, so that more clients have access to this resource.
Being creative
We encourage and support people to challenge themselves by trying something new. As well as trips, activities such as poetry and painting help people to discover their hidden talents and to raise their self-esteem.
Our arts, multi-media and drama projects give clients the opportunity to express themselves and display their achievements. These often take place in resource rooms based in our schemes and at events such as our clients’ conferences.
Over 150 people from across Carr-Gomm attended our most recent national conference in Reading. A group of clients chose the venue and format of the day which included workshops on Carr-Gomm as well as IT, using digital cameras, mask making and music. As well as learning new skills and meeting people, for many clients this was a chance to get away from home. Visiting different places and going on holiday is an important step to independence so Carr-Gomm offers trips as well as support organising their own holidays.
Dramatic changes
Drama is a very powerful tool for clients to communicate their views and feelings with other clients and staff. Clients have worked with theatre company, Playback, in our north region. Clients shared their personal stories at Playback performances, by telling these themselves or by asking the actors to enact them. The workshops gave staff much greater insight about the people they support and clients found this a very non-threatening way to bring up issues affecting them.
Duane took part in a recent film course for clients in London. The course gave six people the opportunity to make two short films about issues affecting clients. Duane and the group chose to make a film about setting up a bank account and another on dropping litter.
“I feel I have learnt more than just the technical skills of making films”, says Duane. “I feel confident working on my own and in groups. I also found I had skills I didn’t know I had before such as making props and coming up with story ideas”, he says.
Complaints, Compliments and Queries
Developed in conjunction with our clients, our Complaints, Compliments and Queries (CCQ) procedure is designed to be highly accessible and user-friendly. The purpose of the CCQ is to offer Carr-Gomm clients and people applying to us for housing and support, a clear and simple way to tell us about their experience of our service.
Our Complaints, Compliments and Queries (CCQ) Procedure can be found in our Supported Housing Management Manual, which is for sale through Consult Carr-Gomm. Open the Consult Carr-Gomm website in a new window for more information.
