Nothing ‘ordinary’ about this community scheme

The Ordinary Lives Project Team, which is based at the Avro Viking Day Centre, was highly commended in the 'Support for Independence ' category of the awards.

Ordinary Lives is an extraordinary initiative which is aimed at changing attitudes to learning disabilities within the Borough.

The scheme began three years ago with the Ordinary Lives Exhibition, an innovative collection of photographs showing people with learning disabilities taking part in ordinary activities such as cooking, shopping, and swimming.

These were widely exhibited in schools and public places such as libraries and are now featured on the Ordinary Lives website.

The success of the exhibition led to a competition where pupils from schools in Southend were asked to create a tool to promote the fact that people with learning disabilities can lead ordinary lives given the right opportunities and support.

Pupils from Westcliff High School for Boys fought off tough competition to win the challenge by making a video of the time they spent at the Council's Avro Viking Day Centre.

The film included a hard-hitting scene in which a disabled service user was seen being made fun of by schoolboys on a bus.

Anna Waite, Southend-on-Sea Borough Council's Executive Councillor for Adult Social Care, Health & Housing, said: "We are immensely proud of the superb work done by the Ordinary Lives Project Team.

"The NHS East of England Health and Social Care Awards are an annual celebration of the innovative and inspirational achievements of teams and individuals.

"It is very impressive that the Ordinary Lives initiative was highly commended and proves that all the hard work being put in by staff has been worth it."

More information about the Ordinary Lives Initiative and Westcliff High School for Boys' winning film can be seen at http://www.ordinarylives.org.uk/