Dorincourt’s Fashion Show

                                                                              On the 30th May, the clients of Dorincourt hosted a magnificent fashion show.

Each client chose their own outfit to display and the accompanying  music.

There was of course many hours of preparation beforehand with much attention to hair, make up and cloths.

The flexispace was turned into a catwalk with lighting and fashion posters.

And each client  was magnificent in taking centre stage and parading their chosen cloths.

Warren’s Wedding

 After a serious motor bike accident, Warren’s plans for getting married were put on hold. After undergoing an intensive rehabilitation programme he came to Dorincourt in 2009 to regain his confidence and life skills. His dream was to one day be able to walk again so that he could walk down the aisle with his fiance.

After over three years od patience, hard work and dedication, Warren has achieved his goals. On Saturday 25 May, he and Molly got Married in Leatherhead.

A number of staff and clients from Dorincourt were able to attend their wedding and the weather gave them a glorious day.

For those that couldn’t attend, Warren and Molly returned to Dorincourt for their reception. They had a wonderful cake cutting ceromony in the dining room to which everyone was invited.

We wish Warren and Molly all the very best for their future together as they move into their new house.

New staff joining the Care Department

During April and May we had the following new staff join the Care Department;

   Katarzyna Fuszara

   Razvan Rogozan

   Georgina Demianow

   Belinda Bright

   Jacqueline Smith

   Veronika Karing

QEF to Benefit from Mindtunes

DJ Fresh unveils his latest ground breaking project: ‘Mindtunes’ Music created using the latest brainwave technology

You may need to turn annotations on to access the links at the end of the video

In a world first, international music artist, DJ Fresh launches Mindtunes – a break through project where music is created using the latest brainwave technology*.

The Smirnoff Mindtunes project brings together chart topping British electronic music producer DJ Fresh and PhD. Julien Castet, a leading brainwave technology expert, to enable a group of disabled music fans, who cannot play regular instruments, to create a music track controlling musical software with nothing but their mind.

Supported by QEF, The Smirnoff Mindtunes project aims to raise money for the charity through proceeds of the sale of the track.

Brainwave technology (BCI) has many potential applications. The Smirnoff Mindtunes project – the first of its kind – focuses on how this technology can be used to transform brain activity and emotions into music, enabling physical barriers to musical creativity to be broken down. Technology expert PH D. Julien Castet uses an ElectroEncephaloGraphy device (EEG) to measure the electrical activity of the brain, turning brainwaves and emotions into musical beats. In collaboration with DJ Fresh, the beats and sounds are overlaid and produced to create a unique music track.

“Ever since I was a little boy I’ve loved technology and always wanted to work with something cutting edge. What a privilege to be given the opportunity to do just that and collaborate with some truly inspirational people. The power of the brain and this brainwave technology is amazing – to think that Mindtunes was created solely by a group of disabled music fans using only their minds. I am very proud to be part of this project – it just goes to show what people have the power to create if they’re given the opportunity,” says DJ Fresh, who produced the finished track.

This project follows on from Smirnoff’s long history of pioneering innovation and is the first in a series, which will demonstrate how innovation and inventiveness enables us all to realise our creative potential.

Emma Sherwood-Smith, Smirnoff Marketing Manager Western Europe says, “We are very excited to be releasing this brand new track produced by DJ Fresh. Enabling a group of musicians to fulfill their musical ambitions has been an amazing experience. Not only does The Smirnoff Mindtunes demonstrate there is a creator inside each of us, but will also raise money for a charity that helps thousands of disabled people every year realise their true potential.

Jonathan Powell, QEF Chief Executive, says, “Smirnoff Mindtunes is a brilliant project and we are very proud to be a part of it. Giving a group of talented disabled individuals the opportunity to realise their potential and turn dreams into reality has been an unforgettable experience for all. It is the very essence of what QEF stands for and it is very refreshing to see a brand invest so much to offer people the chance to use technology that has previously been beyond their reach. I hope that this is the first of many successful projects and opportunities we have a chance to be involved in – Smirnoff Mindtunes has set a precedent.”

Mindtunes is available for download from iTunes, Amazon and other digital retailers.
Click here for more information.

If you would like to donate to QEF yourself click  Donate to give online.

Latest News on our Building Programme

Work in the Medway corridor to convert the old bedrooms and bathroom has now been completed. As you can see from the photos they look fantastic and staff have now started to move into their new ‘homes’. We envisage this will take a couple of weeks and will inevitably cause some disruption, but we will of course strive to keep everything running as smoothly as possible.

The next stage of our programme is the refitting of our main kitchen and then the dining room. The clients are all very excited about this. We have a mobile kitchen being delivered on site in the first week of June, and work starts on the kitchen, week beginning the 10 June.

Visit our Show Garden at Hampton Court

Spring has sprung, the bluebells are flowering in our woods and we will be exhibiting a show garden for the very first time at the RHS Hampton Court Palace Flower Show 2013, which takes place on 9-14 July.

Our Garden for Joy is named after an inspirational, indefatigable and dedicated friend of QEF, as well as celebrating the life changing work which focuses on what people can do rather than what they can’t.  Here we focus on the joys of achieving greater independence, increased mobility, securing a job or realising tiny personal goals.  It will be the first therapeutic garden ever designed completely from the perspective of wheelchair users.

Donate NOW to become a Founding Friend for our Garden for Joy

Bringing the garden home

The whole point of the show garden is to take it back to QEF Independent Living Services at Dorincourt, home to 37 severely disabled young people who are looking forward to having their own space to socialise, enjoy quiet areas in the fresh air and show off their plant growing skills to their families and friends on Open Days

For our residents being outdoors, with the ability to easily navigate  around their garden space provides the opportunity to shape and take ownership of their environment.  To take care of feeding and watching the antics of birds and wildlife and growing and nurturing their plants is achievable, therapeutic and enjoyable.

Therapeutic, training and social value

Horticulture and the art of growing things from tiny seeds is a huge and rewarding part of our therapy programme. There is an army of disabled residents and volunteers many from local supportive companies itching to rebuild the show garden back at Dorincourt and develop a thriving horticultural therapy programme.  The rebuild is a key part of the garden and will also involve disabled trainees from QEF Vocational Services who are training for a qualification in horticulture and landscaping.

To visit the QEF Garden for Joy and experience it for yourself , click here to book your tickets from the  RHS Hampton Court Palace website .

ILS Group Home Appeal 2013

Building brighter Futures

We have an exciting new project to build a state-of-the art Group Home at QEF Independent Living Services.

Our existing Group Home houses six young adults and has proved to be a great success.  Due to increased demand and a waiting list for our service; we urgently need additional accommodation, specifically for young disabled adults with very complex disabilities and minimum upper body mobility.

This new state-of-the-art Group Home will consist of five en-suite bedrooms, communal lounge, dining room, kitchen and laundry room.  It will provide a bright living environment for disabled people to enjoy the encouragement of peers who share similar aims.

Sarah, resident at ILS, says, “I have complex disabilities.  I came here from home and school keen to learn to look after myself.  QEF enabled me to experience living in a flat and group home.  i am pleased to say that I learnt skills to enable me to live as independently as I can.  I am looking forward to moving on in the future with all my new skills.”

Group Home key Features

• Designed for young adults with complex disabilities and minimum upper body mobility
• Specialist assistive technology and environmental controls
• 5 en-suite bedrooms
• Communal lounge and dining room
• Ground floor access

Design may be subject to alteration

Our target is to raise £256,250 (indicative costs) to cover build, refurbishment, furniture and specialist equipment including profiling beds, airflow mattresses and assistive technology.  Dependent upon funds raised, building work is due to start late summer 2013.  We aim to open the new Group Home in january 2014.

To learn more about this exciting new development, to help sponsor a room or to make a donation, please contact John Chamberlain, Director of Marketing, Fundraising and Communications on 01372 841127 or email john.chamberlain@qef.org.uk

A Palace Garden for ILS

We are have been celebrating.

Our disability garden proposal has been accepted by RHS Hampton Court Palace Garden Show 9-14 July 2013.  More details to follow but what is really exciting is that the garden will be transported to our Independent Living Services at Dorincourt once the Show is over.