Lucy B
Lucy is almost 20 years old and has been coming to the LSC and Hub since August 2021. Lucy is a bright, fun person who according to Hub Manager, Kerrie Scutt, “Is a wonderful young woman who lights up any room she comes into, we absolutely love supporting her in the Hub”. Lucy really enjoys all the sessions she attends, as well as the social side of the Hub and LSC.
Lucy has Hypomyelinating Disorder, is a wheelchair user, has a gastrostomy (for feeding and medication) and has a visual impairment – Bilateral Nystagmus. For young people like Lucy, fear of the unknown is very real - living with a degenerative condition means that Lucy and her family try to live for each day and not look too far ahead. This means that new experiences can be daunting for Lucy, however when she started here in August, (after having her transition sessions cancelled due to Covid-19 restrictions), Lucy threw herself into everything whole heartedly!
She loves all of the sessions on offer including cooking, yoga, the gym, drama, art, the immersive space, music and visiting Patchwork Farm and it’s clear that she is prepared to give anything a go! When asked about her favourite activities she indicates that she particularly enjoys cooking and Mum, Ally, mentions that she recently made Christmas biscuits for her Grandparents. She also really likes to take part in the yoga sessions at the Hub where she can get out of her wheelchair and relax by stretching out on the floor mats, and she loves to visit Patchwork Farm where she has a great friendship with Nic-Nac the Shetland pony!
Being a drama lover means that Lucy naturally enjoys taking part in the immersive experiences at the Dream Centre. She has enjoyed a nightclub scene there with her friends and even an underwater experience too. In fact, her team call her ‘Lady Lucy’, because she’s just fabulous!
She also loves to workout at the gym, particularly on the Innowalk machine because she can stand upright and be taller than everyone else. Ally says, “She loves to show us photos, the look on her face is priceless, she’s so chuffed with herself!” Lucy is even taking part in a virtual London Marathon, logging her distance every time she goes to the gym. Ally reports, “It’s really nice for Lucy to say she’s been to the gym because it makes her feel the same as everyone else.”
The family were keen for Lucy to have a broad range of enriching and interesting experiences and Ally explains that the LSC and Hub felt so right from the start – “The staff are just wonderful, our confidence has gone from strength to strength. Knowing Lucy is happy and having a fab time means that we can relax because we know she’s safe and in good hands.” They were also keen for Lucy to mix with others, so the social side of coming here is just as important as the activities on offer. Tahlia, a Community Support Worker for the Pathways service agrees, “Lucy has already made some good friends here and she has a particularly strong bond with Connor. It’s just wonderful to see their beaming smiles when they’re together.”
For Lucy’s family, it’s the knowledge that she is in good hands and having a fun time full of rich and varied experiences that has been so positive. Hub Manager, Kerrie Scutt says the fact that Lucy has settled into the hub and LSC so well is a huge achievement in itself, especially as her transition period was cancelled. “It’s services like the Hub and LSC that give young people like Lucy the opportunity to get out, meet people and try new experiences, which is absolutely essential when you are a young person living with a disability”.
It’s clear for all who know Lucy to see how the experiences she is having at the Hub and LSC are enriching her life, and we can’t wait to see the progress she continues to make, including completing her very own London Marathon – Go Lucy!
