Pray forLivabilityJanuary – April 2012

Livability is the new face of John Groomsand the Shaftesbury Society

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Who we are

At Livability, we are passionate about creatingopportunities for disabled people and supportingthose who want to make a difference in theircommunities.

We offer a wide range of services to support andempower disabled people throughout their lives,from our colleges and school to residential care andsupported living. We also provide many otherspecialist services including brain injury rehabilitationand accessible holidays.

Livability also works with urban churches andcommunity organisations. We provide them withadvice, training and resources to transform theirneighbourhoods.

Our organisations were started by passionateChristians whose faith compelled them to act whenthey saw poverty and social challenges on thestreets of Victorian Britain. Inspired by their legacy,we continue to keep a clear Christian ethos at theheart of all we do.

By sharing our joys and challenges, and bringingthem to God on our behalf, you are truly a part ofwhat God is doing through Livability – transformingcommunities and individuals.

Livability was created from the merger of twowell-respected organisations, John Grooms andthe Shaftesbury Society.

Our founders, John Groom (left) and Lord Shaftesbury

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Don’t give up

Dear friends

Here at Livability, we striveto provide the best possibleservice for our clients, evenwhen the going is tough.We’ve chosen the theme ofpatience and perseverancefor our Prayer Diary this timebecause, like manycharities, the ongoingeconomic climate can makeour work challenging. But wedon’t need to look far for inspiration: our founders,the seventh Earl of Shaftesbury and John Groom,persisted over many years to achieve justice andopportunity for those marginalised by society.

And we have much to thank God for. Looking back,we celebrated Christmas with some joyful eventsthat brought together our service users and supporters.There’s exciting building work going ahead atVictoria Education Centre and Sports College, whilea busy spring season for Livability Holidays willprovide much-needed breaks for disabled peopleand their families.

We are always encouraged to hear from our PrayerDiary supporters, and your recent letters telling ushow you pray for Livability were much appreciated.We’ve included snippets from some of those lettersin this edition.

Thank you so much for persevering with us in prayerand all the other ways you support us. Don’t forgetto look at our new website for lots more informationabout life at Livability; see www.livability.org.uk

Michael Smith OBE

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Focus on...community life

Many of our service users get involved in givingsomething back to their community, perhaps byvolunteering at a charity shop or at church events.Our Lifestyle Choices Brackley service has madetheir local library a much nicer place to be, bysharing their gardening skills. After transformingsome open spaces in the town, this group wasinvited to revitalise the library’s neglected garden.

A team of three made the area into a pleasant placeto sit. “The team has regularly weeded and clearedthe flower bed,” says library manager CatherineFlippence. “They have also grown plants from seedand given plants in pots to the library.”

Now the garden is used by visitors for coffee andcake, and for craft and storytelling sessions.

Please pray that disabled people will be empoweredto play an even bigger role in community life. Andpray they will have the perseverance to overcomepotential barriers, whether those are accessibilityissues, or attitudes they encounter.

Craig (belowleft) andBernard raisedsunflowers forthe librarygarden (left)

Week beginning8 JanuaryLivability launched aChristmas transportappeal throughoutNovember andDecember. Please givethanks for all supporterswho contributed to thisappeal. Transport is afundamental need andprovides so much morethan just a trip to theshops for our residentsand students. We thankGod for our fleet ofworking vehicles andteam of dedicated staffwho drive them.

January

Love does not delight in evil butrejoices with the truth. It alwaysprotects, always trusts, alwayshopes, always perseveres.1 Corinthians 13:6-7

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A resident at a Livabilitycare home, Suzannebenefits hugely from areliable source of transport

Week beginning 1 JanuaryAs we celebrate a new year and pray for a happyand productive 2012, please join in giving thanks forall the Livability Christmas events – the public carolservices and concert, and the individualcelebrations at service centres around the country.May the joy and peace of Christmas remain in ourhearts throughout the coming year.

January

Week beginning 15 JanuaryWe’ve been encouraged by your letters telling ushow and why you pray for Livability. One writer, withfamily experience of disability, says she gives thanksfor Livability’s work in enabling disabled people tolive fruitful and independent lives. Let’s thank Godfor prayers answered last year, and pray withrenewed faith in 2012.

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Livability supports disabled people to live asindependently as possible

Week beginning 22 JanuaryAt this time of the year, we often turn our thoughtsto the coming holiday season to keep us goingthrough cold winter days. Livability provides hotelsand self-catering breaks for disabled people andtheir families throughout the holiday season.

Give thanks for all the staff who work hard to providethis service. Pray that all the people they serve willenjoy a well-deserved break this year.

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Week beginning29 JanuaryPlease pray for all thosepreparing for the LondonMarathon in April to raise vitalfunds for causes like our own.Participants include LorraineEagles, an administrator at oneof Livability’s care homes.

Lorraine (inset) and allour runners dedicatemany hours to trainingand fundraising

Inspiring prayerIf life is a marathon rather than a sprint,take a few minutes to reflect what stageyou have reached. Pray for Livabilityservice users as they persevere throughtesting times and experience the highsand lows of their own journeys.

Lorraine has been fundraising furiously and traininghard to ensure she finishes the course. Pray forLorraine and other race entrants; for confidence,mental strength and physical resilience – and agreat sense of achievement afterwards!

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Disabled people are more than twice as likely to beunemployed as able-bodied people. Livability istackling this with our new Enterprise Agency, whichoffers advice and expertise on setting up a business.

Carol, a librarian for 30 years, had to leave her jobwhen she was treated for a brain tumour. She hasbeen left with limited concentration and energy, butwanted to work “for my independence and income,and my self-worth – it’s amazing how much self-worth is wrapped up in having a job you love”. Anexperienced seamstress, Carol had helped withcostumes for amateur dramatics groups for ten years,and felt fancy dress hire would be an ideal businessto run. A local advisory service put her in touch withLivability, a link-up which has made all the difference.

“It’s quite a scary business negotiating with thebank, government channels and grants on yourown,” says Carol. “Livability took the pressure offme and streamlined the whole process so much.Without them, I would have been floundering.” Carollaunched in autumn 2011 with 250 costumes,offering a personalised selection and alterationservice. She was “absolutely thrilled” when shediscovered Livability’s Christian ethos, because shecomes from a strong Christian background.

Focus on...our Enterprise Agency

Please pray for Carol and other Enterprise clients

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We also rejoice in our sufferings,because we know that sufferingproduces perseverance;perseverance, character; andcharacter, hope. Romans 5:3-4

February

Married couple Colin and Wendy now enjoy improvedfacilities and greater privacy

Week beginning 5 FebruaryPlease pray for the refurbishment at Dolphin Court inSouthend-on-Sea. We are slowly transforming thebathroom facilities at Dolphin Court so all residentshave access to their own bathroom and shower.However, now more than ever, we are praying forfunds so the work can continue. It provides somuch independence and freedom for residents.

Last November we lost our dearcolleague Abi Hollingworth. Abiwas a senior member of thefundraising team, and workedhard to raise vital money for ourservices. Please pray for hergrieving family and colleagues atthis sad time.

Abi made a hugedifference to manythrough her work

February

Week beginning 19 FebruaryLivability chief executive Mike Smith joined LivabilityOverseas recently, to give the keynote speech at aspinal injury conference. This brought togetherhealth professionals from south-east Asia. Pleasepray for Livability Overseas’ work in the comingyear, that it will result in improved health for many.

Mike meets a spinal injury patient

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Week beginning12 FebruaryChristian community charitiesare generally small whichmakes it hard to invest intraining. Livability’s CommunityMission team offers affordableChristian training for communityworkers. Pray that those whoneed our events are able toattend this year.

Hungry for knowledge:a delegate at one ofour CommunityMission training days

Livability students are learning to communicate their storiesthrough the medium of film

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Week beginning 26 FebruaryMaking a transition from college to adult life can bea very challenging time for young disabled people.Communication limitations can add to the difficulties.Our students are using simple video cameras tomake short, personal films about transitions for ourwebsite. Please pray that this will prove a greatresource online for disabled young people.

The government is reviewing the way that disabledpeople access services. Although major change is onthe horizon, the details are far from clear. Please prayfor Livability’s leaders as they take the organisationthrough this unpredictable time of change.

Inspiring prayerThink back to a difficult situation youhave faced in the past – reflect on howyou managed to get through it bypersevering in God’s strength. Pray forsimilar strength for Livability staff andservice users.

Focus on...Community Mission

Community work can be lonely and tough, which iswhy Livability’s Community Mission team supportsthose who do it. The team recently invitedexperienced community development worker DaveAndrews to speak at a number of events. Davespent 11 years working with an Indian slumcommunity and 20 years in downtown Brisbane,Australia. He believes all Christians are called tobuild community locally as well as share their faith.

At our “Be the Change” event in Leeds, Dave spoketo 80 delegates working in tough areas of townsand cities – now even tougher after recent cuts.Afterwards, 85 per cent of the delegates said theyfelt better equipped. One delegate said: “Theteaching was inspiring, practical, honest andthought-provoking. I loved so much of it beingrooted in story and experience.”

Please pray that all delegates will remember achallenge from the day – it is religious just to quote theBible, but revolutionary to live it out. Pray thatchurches and Christian communities in your areawill model God's love.

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“Be the Change” delegates were keen to learn fromDave’s insights and hard-won experience

March

Week beginning 4 MarchComputer systems provide vital support to everyaspect of Livability’s operation, so please pray forsmooth running of our systems, hardware, softwareand processes. Also ask God for wisdom and helpin carrying out new and current projects andservices, particularly in the areas of timing andfinancial investment.

You have persevered and haveendured hardships for my name,and have not grown weary.Revelation 2:3

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Week beginning 11 MarchPlease pray for Livability’s newDirector of Fundraising andCommunications PhilipRoethenbaugh (right) for guidanceand wisdom. Let's ask God for atime of renewed success in securingmuch-needed funding for our work.

Residents online at one of our residential centres

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March

Week beginning 18 MarchAfter 18 months of planning and hard work, Livability’snew website is launched, giving a brand-new lookto the charity. Give thanks for the web manager andweb design team, who made this happen.

Livability’s website is our professional face online, allowingpeople to find out more about our services

Please thank God for our staff. Financial constraintsmean that we haven’t been able to award staff a costof living pay increase for the past few years. Butdespite this, staff remain committed to providing thebest possible services.

We were delighted to receive a letter fromLambeth Palace in which the Archbishop ofCanterbury thanked us for our Prayer Diaryand offered to include prayers for Livability ina week of special intercession. Please givethanks for clergy around the country whominister to our service users..

“Teach me, O God, to use all thecircumstances of my life today sothey may bring forth the fruits ofholiness rather than the fruits of sin.

“Let me use disappointment asmaterial for patience. Let me usesuccess as material forthankfulness. Let me use suspenseas material for perseverance. Letme use danger as material forcourage. Let me use reproach asmaterial for longsuffering. Let meuse praise as material for humility.Let me use pleasures as materialfor temperance. Let me use painsas material for endurance.”John Baillie (1886-1960)

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Pause for thought

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March

Week beginning 25 MarchWe are currently redeveloping John Grooms Court,our residential care home in Norwich. Pray thatresidents’ lives won’t be too disrupted by the work,and the work will stay on budget. The refurbishmentis scheduled to finish this month. Please pray for asuccessful completion so all residents can enjoy thenew building. We are thankful to all who havedonated and been involved in this significant project.

Local MP Chloe Smith visits John Grooms Court, Norwich,as building work starts

Please also continue to pray for our SparkleAppeal – raising money for a hydrotherapypool at Victoria Education Centre. We arenow 60 per cent of the way to our target,thanks to many people’s generosity. Pray thatwe will be able to raise the remainder of themoney quickly.

Did you know that Livability has more than 1,600employees? Working hands-on with disabled peoplemeans that our services are only as good as the staffteam that provides them. Each year, the PrincessRoyal Livability Awards recognise exceptional staffmembers who have gone the extra mile to supportour service users.

One of this year’s winners is Lucina Nash. Althoughjust eighteen years old, she has impressed us withher commitment and perseverance, as well as hersense of humour. Lucina joined Livability in 2010 andbegan working with students at Nash College.Unfortunately, the funding for her role was withdrawnafter just a few months.

However, this didn’t stop Lucina. She continuedcoming to Nash College as a volunteer, even attendingtraining days. We have recently offered her a formalapprenticeship, the first apprentice that we’ve everhad at the college.

Please thank God for the difference our outstandingstaff make to the people they work with.

Focus on... people whomake a difference

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Lucina is honoured by our patron HRH, The Princess Royal

April

Week beginning 1 AprilEaster is a great time for churches to reach out totheir local community and Livability has joined upwith Tearfund to equip Christians to transform theircommunities. Please pray for God's blessing onChristians engaged in community work.

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Livability colleges offer disabled young people vitalopportunities to develop skills for independent adult life

Blessed is the man whoperseveres under trial, becausewhen he has stood the test, hewill receive the crown of life...James 1:12

Week beginning 8 AprilLivability’s colleges have been educating disabledyoung people for many years, but we are alwayslooking for ways to provide better services that reachout to more students. As the message of Easter offersus new hope and rebirth, please pray for energy,wisdom and creativity as we review and improve ourpost-19 education services this year.

Week beginning 15 AprilThis Sunday is London Marathon day: please pray forour staff member Lorraine Eagles (featured on p7)who will be putting her fitness on the line for theLivability cause.

Once again, please give thanks for Livability Friendsgroups who are working energetically with localcommunities across the country to raise awarenessand vital funds for Livability services.

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Olympian Dame Tanni Grey-Thompson inspired disabledathletes at the Shaftesbury Lecture last October

Pray too for disabled people around the country, thatthey will be inspired by stories of sporting successand raise their hopes for the future. And pray for us,as we support them to reach their aspirations.

Week beginning 22 AprilHave you got Olympic or Paralympic tickets? Thissummer’s Paralympics will raise awareness ofdisability in a new way. Please pray that Livability willbe able to use this great opportunity to talk about thestruggles that disabled people face on a daily basis.

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April

Week beginning 29 AprilWork experience is an important part of a student’slearning at Hinwick Hall, our further educationcollege in Northamptonshire. Please pray forsuccessful placements and that each student willgain skills and confidence in the workplace.

Louise has gained confidence and self-esteem fromvocational training at Hinwick college

Inspiring prayerReread the four Bible verses onperseverance in this edition. Meditatefor a few minutes on the one that speaksto you most. Ask God to refresh you andgive you new strength for the challengesahead.

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Get in touch with Livability

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Pause for thought

The very tedium, the act of waitingitself, works to nourish in us qualities ofpatience, persistence, trust, gentleness,compassion – or it may do so, if weplace ourselves in the stream of God’smovement on earth.Philip Yancey

We must repeat the same supplicationsnot twice or three times only, but asoften as we have need, a hundred and athousand times... we must never beweary in waiting for God’s help.John Calvin

Contact us:Gill TroupPray for Livability editor50 Scrutton StreetLondonEC2A 4XQTel: 020 7452 2000

gtroup@livability.org.ukwww.livability.org.ukRegistered charity no. 1116530Registered in England no. 5967087Livability is a company limited by guarantee

The new face of John Grooms and the Shaftesbury Society

Cover photo: Richard Hanson

Did you know you can download thisprayer diary from our website? Go towww.livability.org.uk/prayerdiary

Don’t forget to let us know if you no longerrequire a printed copy.

If you need this publication in analternative format, please ringour communications team on020 7452 2085