‘Very proud’: Daniel, who Lifeways supports, enrols on college course in photography!

A talent show at a Lifeways supported living service in Huddersfield led an individual we support on a new path – a photography course!

Last year, Daniel moved from home to his apartment at Ashbrow Heights, to receive support with everyday tasks.

Since he made the move, Daniel’s independence has grown. After lots of work with his support team, Daniel’s now able to independently shop and go to the gym.

But for Daniel, something was missing: a chance to work on his bigger goals. So having long been fascinated with photography, Daniel began taking photos while on his walks.

He started by using his smartphone to photograph the environment around him: buildings, trees, and sunsets.

Discovery

Then, during an ‘Ashbrow’s Got Talent’ show organised by the service support team, the team discovered Daniel’s talent for photography.

“For the talent show, everyone was singing, dancing, doing their thing,” recalls Saddam Malik, Ashbrow Heights’ service manager. 

“But Daniel says: ‘I don’t have a talent.’ So I asked him: ‘What are you good at?’ He said: ‘I’m good at taking photos.’ I go, ‘OK, that’s a talent.’”

For the talent show, the support team wowed everyone at the service by showing Daniel’s photographs – which he’d arranged in time-lapse form – on a projector.

With Daniel’s talent revealed, he expressed a wish to start a photography course. The team supported Daniel to apply to two colleges – and he got accepted to both.

‘Very proud’

Daniel then chose to attend Kirklees College in Dewsbury. He starts his photography course there in January next year. He’s looking forward to it!

“We’re very proud of Daniel for achieving this goal, and being able to do a course in something he really enjoys,” says Saddam Malik.

“Not only that, but travelling independently from Huddersfield to Dewsbury is a big thing. To get there, he’ll take the bus by himself, independently, for one hour each way. This is also a great achievement for Daniel.

“The team and I at Ashbrow Heights look forward to seeing Daniel’s talent grow even further!”

Congratulations, Daniel!

About Ashbrow Heights:

Located in a residential suburb outside of Huddersfield, West Yorkshire, Ashbrow Heights can support up to nine adults who live with mental health needs.

The purpose-built supported living service contains nine one-bedroom apartments – so each individual has their own front door.

The service also contains an accessible garden with a patio, and on-site assistive technology which can be tailored to suit each person’s needs.

Ashbrow Heights is part of Lifeways.

About Lifeways:

With 11,000 colleagues at 1,500 services across England, Scotland, and Wales, Lifeways is the UK’s largest team of professionals who support close to 5,000 adults living in the community.

Lifeways’ extensive experience and national reach mean we deliver extraordinary support to adults, enabling them to live fulfilling and independent lives in the community.

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