A mile in Westminster and a dream come true for Reece

Jodie Baker, Club Rep, The Lodge & Buttercup Close

At Wellgate, supporting someone is about more than the everyday tasks. It’s about helping people live the life they choose, with as much independence as they can have. Sometimes that looks like a night in. Sometimes it looks like a train to London and a mile to walk for charity.

That’s what happened on Saturday 26 September, when Will Morley, from The Lodge & Buttercup Close, supported Reece to take part in a charity walk in London. As Club Rep, I spoke to Will about sharing his story, and he put it into his own words.

Here’s Will’s story:

My Saturday shift was originally 9am to 9pm, but to travel to London with Reece, we needed to catch an 8am train. I was more than happy to change my shift times to suit the needs of the person I was supporting. I also needed to allow for potential train delays. Reece and I arrived in London with plenty of time to spare.

Reece has varying needs, so my job was to support him to stay calm and focused throughout the walk. He also has some very specialised dietary needs, which means it is highly unlikely he would be able to buy food or drinks in London. Because of this, I made sure Reece had a packed lunch tailored to his strict dietary requirements, and plenty of specialist snacks to keep him energised, nourished and hydrated, not only for the walk but for the entire day we were out.

Thinking about the planning involved in taking Reece out for the day, there’s so much more to consider than there might be if I were planning a trip for another tenant. Sometimes it feels like a lot of pressure to make sure the day runs smoothly, but I feel immense joy at being given the opportunity to support Reece.

The weather was on our side. The sky was blue, the sun was shining, and it was warm without being overly hot. We couldn’t have asked for a better day.

I supported Reece to navigate a 2-hour return train journey to London. I helped him find his way through the hustle and bustle of a very busy London. My support helped him both physically and emotionally.

I found it very empowering to enable Reece to take part in such a special day. I’m really proud I could offer the flexibility needed to keep the day running smoothly.

Support work isn’t “one size fits all”. It’s important to put the person being supported front and centre in every decision, and to have a back-up plan in case something doesn’t go right. It’s also important to know that many people with additional needs struggle with last-minute changes, and to understand how I can help relieve the anxiety that may be felt as a result.

At the end of the day, we were knackered, but I’d do it time and time again to see the smile of Reece walking over that finish line. To see the sense of achievement he felt when he reached the end of the walk, and to know that I helped. I helped him achieve his dream. He helped me love my job.

We walked the mile to raise money for a local club called Westerleigh Judo, which teaches adaptive judo to people with complex needs, and for the Evelina Children’s Hospital.

Thank you, Will. Not just for the early train, though that counts, but for everything behind the day. The packed lunch, the back-up plan, and putting Reece first at every step. That’s what Compassion, Independence and Standards look like when they’re lived.

And Reece, well done. What a way to finish a mile.

Do you know a story like this? A moment where someone went the extra mile, sometimes literally? Tell your Club Rep or email ash.akhtar@clubwellgate.com, and it could be our next one.