“I like making my own dinner and making a pot of coffee for visitors coming to see me.”
Alan has been on a long journey which has led to receiving his Individual Budget and finding personalised services which work for him. Alan left Lennox Castle at 32 years old, he had been living their since he was 6 years old. Since leaving the institution Alan attended a day centre for many years. He also lived in shared accommodation. He didn’t enjoy going to the Day Centre, it was not his choice to go there.
When Alan was introduced to the Personalisation pilot he asked his team and some friends to help him think about the kind of life he would like. Friends are very important to Alan. Spending time with old ones and having the chance to meet new ones. His team helped him to think about the different ways he could spend his Individual Budget that would allow him to do this.
It was a challenge for Alan at first thinking about how he could use his Individual Budget because he had never had that type of freedom before. He realised that he could combine some of his budget with his friends to allow them to do things together. Now instead of going to a Day Centre Alan spends his time meeting up with his friends Hilary, Margaret and Miriam.
They often share a meal together, or organise a days out together and split the cost. With Alan’s 50th Birthday coming up soon he is planning to use his budget to go away on a holiday and celebrate. He has met lots of new people over the past year including Claire who is now a close friend and dancing partner on a Friday night.
Alan has realised that by sharing support with friends they can do much more. They don’t all need one-on-one support and can use the budget on other things if they share support. Alan now has the freedom to choose who he spends his time with. His Individual Budget puts Alan in the driving seat and surrounded by great friends he is now living the life he has always wanted.