More 30 Wishes granted

A football fan, a new communal activity space and a coffee lover have been selected as the next batch of winners in Lifeways’ 30 Wishes campaign for 2026.  

The initiative, which launched as part of the organisation’s 30th anniversary celebrations, is continuing this year and has already helped several of the people it supports achieve long-held dreams that they would struggle to achieve without financial support.    

Read on to find out more about the three nominations that were selected. 

Stadium tour wish granted for Spurs fan  

Football fan Liam from The Green supported living service near Hitchin was nominated by Support Worker Derek Clarke to go on a Tottenham Hotspur stadium tour. 

Service Manager Leela Lamb said that when she told Liam the news, he was over the moon. It would take Liam a long time to save for this and justify spending money on a tour of the stadium and visit to London.  

When asked who he would like to take with him for the stadium tour, he pointed and said Derek. 

“I am very proud of the fact that someone from my service has won, and I know how excited he will be to do the stadium tour.” 

A shared space for spending time with friends 

Church View supported living service in Sunderland is celebrating after their wish was granted for a new communal activity space, which will bring residents together for group activities and social connection. 

Service Manager Rochelle Scott, who made the nomination, said she knew how much turning the “boring shed” into a communal area is important to everyone at the service. 

“I am so happy that Church View have been recognised for 30 Wishes. When I announced that we had won the smiles on their faces and their reaction was priceless. I know how much everyone will benefit from this, for everyone to be included and enjoy social interaction with each other.   

“Every individual in Church View has their own ideas of what we can plan to enjoy spending time together. We know it is going to be hard work to transform our shed to how we want it, but we are excited to get started and to finish it making it our own.” 

Coffee and conversation 

Vincent and his friend Paul have been given up to £200 to host their own coffee morning at Lynwood Avenue in Newcastle. 

Vincent has recently bought a new coffee machine that he can’t wait to show off to other residents, and Service Manager Jamie Turner said that granting wishes for the people we support is such an amazing thing for Lifeways to do.  

“It is these simple things that make the biggest difference. Seeing the people we support’s faces when they get to socialise more and to do something that they love really is great!”