The Music Train is made possible through fundraised income but over the past few years, we’ve found that it has become much harder to win grant funding for the initiative, due to Milestones’ size, which could have placed the future of the Music Train at risk.  We know that the Music Train is a fantastic source of pleasure and community engagement for the individuals who enjoy attending, and we want the Music Train to have a bright, safe and thriving future.

We have worked closely with Liz to be able to find another charity to adopt Music Train – and now we have found a charity that that shares our aims, our values, and our ambitions. This charity is Paul’s Place, and we are delighted to announce that have now adopted the Music Train.

Paul’s Place is a charity based in Yate, Bristol that provides social activities that connect people, reduce isolation, improve health and wellbeing, and give people the opportunity to develop new skills, enjoy new experiences, and live life to the full.

We’re confident that that Paul’s Place will ensure the Music Train continues to thrive, meaning all the people we support will still be able to enjoy the same accessible, live music events, held at the same venues, with the same welcoming spirit. Aside from some minor branding changes, the experience will remain unchanged.

Hilary Crowhurst, Milestones Trust CEO said: “We are so grateful to Liz for her outstanding service to the local community and to the Music Train as a volunteer – in fact, for everything she has done. And we’re also grateful to the Executive team and Trustees of Paul’s Place for adopting Music Train as their own, and ensuring its success long into the future.”

Liz Gray said: “I am very excited that the Music Train is to be adopted by Paul’s Place. This will ensure that The Music Train will continue to enrich the lives of the people who Milestones Trust support and the wider community and possibly spread out to even more communities.”

Lynda Williams, Paul’s Place CEO said: “We are honoured to be adopting The Music Train and look forward to working closely with Liz to ensure this much-loved and essential service not only continues but grows. It is an outstanding project that aligns perfectly with Paul’s Place’s mission to enhance the lives of disabled adults.”

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The new service is the result of a collaborative effort between Milestones Trust, LiveWest, who have provided the accommodation, and South Gloucestershire Council, who awarded Milestones Trust the contract to provide support. The three organisations have worked in partnership to deliver a service that prioritises the comfort and wellbeing the individuals who will live there from day one.

Equipped with modern amenities and staffed by a dedicated team of support workers fully trained in person-centred care, the new supported living service aims to deliver the positive outcomes that Milestones Trust is known for in an environment LiveWest designed to allow people to thrive. For some of the people moving into the service, this will be their first experience of living away from home, representing an important step on their journey to more independent living in the community, with support on hand.

Aimee, a person who has moved into the service said:

“Everyone here is very kind and supportive. I enjoy having independence from home but like having the support when I need it, because it makes me able to do things that I wouldn’t be able to do by myself. I enjoy being with other people and I have made friends, I have gone out with people. I never thought I would do this and the people make me really happy as I don’t feel as lonely anymore. Everyone here is very friendly as well.”

Will Oborne, Director of Business Development at Milestones Trust, said:

“This new development in Bradley Stoke is a great example of strong partnership working to deliver an empowering new supported living environment. We’re excited to see the positive impact it will have on the lives of the lucky few who will call it home.”

Michael Parsons, Service Lead for Extra Care and Learning Disabilities at LiveWest, said:

“Supported housing is a vital part of our national housing system. At LiveWest, we believe everyone deserves not just a roof over their head, but a home that’s safe, stable and meets their needs and desires – and we’re proud to be providing homes for people living with a learning disability at Hornbeam Close.

“Supported housing offers a lifeline to thousands of people – from older residents and care leavers to people living with physical or mental health needs. It provides more than just a place to live, it offers the foundation for wellbeing, independence and stability.

“We work closely with care and support partners to make sure our customers get the support they need – whether that’s care, health, wellbeing services or advice to access employment and training.”

Councillor John O’Neill, Cabinet Member for Adults and Homes at South Gloucestershire Council, said:

“This development represents a significant step forward in our commitment to provide high-quality care and accommodation for adults with learning disabilities in South Gloucestershire. We are delighted to work with Milestones Trust and LiveWest to create such a supportive and welcoming environment where the residents can thrive independently, and we look forward to seeing the positive impact this will have on their lives and the broader community. We are focussed on delivering high quality, affordable housing options across South Gloucestershire and Hornbeam Close is great example of joint working between the council and partner organisations to do just that.”

Milestones Trust is committed to making a positive impact in the lives of those it supports, and this new service in Bradley Stoke is a testament to that commitment. We look forward to welcoming the new residents and supporting them in living their best lives.

With all of its registered services rated as either Good or Outstanding by CQC, Milestones Trust has a long-standing reputation for excellence in providing support for adults with learning disabilities and adults with mental health needs.

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The service marks a collaboration between Places for People who own the building, and Milestones Trust who provide support. In preparation for the move in, Milestones staff have also worked in partnership with the individuals who will be living at the service and their families, to involve them in decisions affecting the design and decoration to ensure that it really does feel like home.

Equipped with modern amenities and staffed by a dedicated team of fully-trained staff who are passionate about making a positive impact, the new supported living service will deliver the positive outcomes that Milestones is known for, maximising individual choice and independence.

Charlie, who has moved in said:

“I am very happy in my new house, and I am excited about living with two friends. I like my new house and my bedroom is the best!”

Charlotte Radford, Service Manager said:

“We are thrilled to be opening this new supported living service in Swindon. Our goal is to create a supportive and empowering environment where people can thrive and I know that this new service will demonstrate our dedication to improving the quality of life for those we support.”

Claire, mother of Tom who has moved into the new service said:

“They say all good things come to those who wait…

“Ten years ago, Tom did a PowerPoint presentation at school. He was very clear that he wanted to live independently with his friends, and have a key to his own front door.
Finally, that day has come and to say we are grateful is an understatement.

“The journey has not been easy, and the weekly two hour commute to get him to his new job as the move-in date goalpost kept on moving was challenging. However, it gave the support staff and Tom valuable time to get to know one another, so one must hold onto that (even though stress levels were at times through the roof!)

“After moving him into his super new home, seeing him with his friends, and observing his sense of ease with those supporting him, we drove away with real sense of accomplishment, and the knowledge that he has such an exciting time ahead of him.

“The commitment shown from Milestones, from those supporting him on the ground so to speak, to the team behind the scenes, has been exceptional. And we look forward to his continued development as they provide the support yet the space to let him grow.

“So, whilst there is for us a huge period of readjustment ahead, it comes with a deep, rooted knowledge that this is the right thing for Tom. How lucky we are.”

With all of its registered services rated as either Good or Outstanding by CQC, Milestones Trust has a long-standing reputation for excellence in providing support for adults with learning disabilities and adults with mental health needs. The opening of this new service in Swindon marks another step forward in the Trust’s ongoing mission to deliver high-quality, person-centred care.

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The bright, airy space has been deep cleaned, painted, and decorated with new furniture. The directors of The Coronation Centre CIC said they were “pleased to welcome Milestones Trust back to the Centre” and that the refurbished space “will make users feel valued, and provide a safe, supportive space within the community”.  The space received a big thumbs up from the team. Sarah, one of the people who attends the group, said that it’s “nice to be back here”. This was echoed by Kate, one of the support workers who said, “it’s so much cleaner – we’re very excited to be back in a bigger space”.

The re-opening celebration featured speeches from local councillors, one of the directors of the centre, and the Vice Lord-Lieutenant of Gloucestershire – the King’s representative in South Glos. Following the speeches, the attendees of the event were treated to food and drinks, as well as a chance to meet some of the directors and people involved in getting the centre re-opened. Lizzie Jerome, the Senior Operational Manager for Stepping Forward, said “It was a wonderful event, it’s so nice to see everyone involved in the centre and we are so glad to be in the space”.

The team have big plans for the space. Louise, one of the support workers said, “it’s lovely, and really good to have the kitchen in the same space as the activities”. When asked what activities they had planned, Louise said that the Valentine’s edition of their ever-popular discos would be first.

If you or someone you support want to attend Stepping Forward, email referrals@milestonestrust.org.uk or call 0117 970 9300. Adults of all ages are welcome, and the staff are experienced at supporting people with a wide range of additional needs.

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The two organisations both share similar histories. Milestones was formed in 1986, just a few years before White Horse in 1990 and both focused on supporting people with learning disabilities in the wake of the long stay hospital closure programme. The merged organisation will support around 530 people across more than 80 services in the region.

Hilary Crowhurst, Milestones Trust’s CEO, said: “As organisations that share similar values and that have reputations for delivering high quality care, the merger of Milestones and White Horse strengthens both, ensuring our long-term stability and sustainability.  By merging, we can expand the reach of the excellent services and support that both Milestones Trust and White Horse Care Trust are known for, establishing our merged organisation as a trusted ‘large but local’ provider in the south west.

“Our combined organisation is better able to deliver long-term and sustainable services to support even more people and I’m pleased to welcome our new colleagues and the people supported in Swindon and Wiltshire into our Trust.”

Erica Pryce, White Horse Care Trust’s CEO said: “Our top priority has been to ensure a smooth and seamless transition for our colleagues, those we support, and their families.

“We are proud of the identity and culture of our Trust and we trust that Milestones will honour and celebrate our legacy and heritage. We believe that those who will be part of the future will embrace the opportunity to learn from each other and create a collaborative, inclusive, and innovative culture across the merged organisation.

“We also believe that the merger will open new possibilities for growth and development for our colleagues and those we support. We believe that this collaboration will leverage the best practice and resources and create a learning environment that supports continuous improvement and innovation.”

Joining forces will allow Milestones to achieve economies of scale while retaining the strengths and resources of both organisations. This will allow for a unified approach to addressing the challenges that face social care organisations in the UK. Utilising the decades of combined experience will allow the combined organisation to extend its reach, maximise its impact, and ensure the sustainable delivery of essential services to even more people in the region.

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The supported living service on Bennett Street was previously run by Mencap. Staff from Milestones Trust are working hard to make sure that the change will be as smooth as possible for both employees working at the service – all of whom will join Milestones, and the people supported there.

Mark Henry the Senior Operational Manager said:

“At Milestones Trust we start with the individual so it’s been great to meet the people we will be supporting and hear about what’s important to them, so that we can ensure that the service we provide matches their wants and needs.”

Jeff Parry, Milestones Trust’s Director of Operations said:

“As a ‘large but local’ provider, we’re really excited at the opportunity to expand into Bath where we can offer the high quality person-centred support that we’re known for, to even more people. I’m also really pleased to welcome the Bennett Street team – along with their skills, experience and dedication – to our Trust. We’re glad to have them on board.”

Gareth – who is supported at the service – is happy to be supported by Milestones and says everyone he has met are “really good people!”

Taking on the service in Bath & North East Somerset means that Milestones Trust now supports more than 470 people with learning disabilities and mental health needs across four different local authority areas.

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The Graeme Close service has undergone a complete refurbishment, with an innovative designed aimed at maximising accessibility for people with physical disabilities. This was funded in part by a large legacy donation from the family of Brenda Hoskins, who once lived in the area, as well as a capital investment by Milestones Trust.

The transition-focused service is intended for use by young adults who have a learning disability, as well as other complex needs, including physical disabilities. They will be supported to develop new skills and become more independent, learning practical skills, such as how to apply for a job and manage a tenancy, as well as managing their emotions and building their own networks. The intention is that after around two years, people supported at the service will be ready to move on to more permanent accommodation with less intensive support.

Staff at the service have undergone a programme of training tailored to equip them with the skills they will need to support people at Graeme Close. This includes training focused on positive behavioural support, autism awareness, person-centred working, and relationships and sexuality.

The building itself, which is in the heart of the lively Fishponds area, is designed to accommodate people who are happy to spend time around others, as well as those who prefer their own space. The ground floor is fully wheelchair-friendly, and Wi-Fi and cabling throughout the building means that assistive technology can be deployed anywhere to support people with a range of complex needs.

Milestones Trust’s Chief Executive Hilary Crowhurst said:

“I’m really proud to open our new service at Graeme Close. Our staff will work in partnership with the people we support to help them to achieve the things that really matter to them. We’ve designed this service to maximise independence and enable our support to be flexible and truly collaborative.”

“I’d like to pay tribute to the family of Brenda Hoskins, whose generous legacy donation helped to make the creation of this service possible. We are determined to make them proud of the positive impact it achieves.”

Kim Scudamore, nephew of Brenda Hoskins said:

“I’m so pleased that Milestones Trust have made such good use of our aunt’s legacy and look forward to seeing the service filled up with people.”

His brother Gerald Scudamore added:

“I’m happy that we could play a part in producing such a fantastic facility. Brenda would be so pleased with the result.”

Leo, who has moved into Graeme Close said:

“It was a great event for the official opening of Graeme Close. I feel happy to live in Graeme Close.”

Leo who has moved into Graeme Close

Councillor Amal Ali who attended the event said:

“I was pleased to come to the opening and share in this wonderful event. And I look forward to coming back in a year’s time when it’s full and seeing people flourishing here.”

Jan Lawry, a Trustee of Milestones Trust, said:

“Graeme Close is a transition service, which means that people will typically live here for about two years before moving on to new accommodation. The expectation is that at their new home they’ll be ready to live even more independently. So this service isn’t about standing still, it’s not about putting limits on a person’s potential. To both the people we support and our staff, we’re saying ‘let’s be courageous, let’s see what’s possible.”

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Good quality records underpin safe, effective, compassionate, high-quality care, communicating the right information clearly, to the right people, when they need it. They are an essential part of achieving good outcomes for people – so we’re pleased to be investing in our ability to continue to deliver the excellent support that we’re known for.

We selected Nourish following a rigorous process, which involved staff, people we support and their families, aimed at ensuring we selected the right system for us. The Nourish solution impressed throughout this process, which included trials at a number of our services.

Adopting this new system will:

• Provide us with ‘real time’ information about the care and support people need and receive.
• Allow information to be shared quickly, accurately and safely.
• Make it easier for people we support to access their own records.
• Help support staff to make records more quickly and efficiently – freeing them up to focus on more ‘value-adding’ tasks.

We’re confident that this system has the functionality that we need to fully future-proof our support planning, while being customisable enough that we can adapt it to suit all of our services. It was the solution that most impressed us, as it will allow us to replicate what we already do well on paper, but in a user-friendly electronic format.

Paul Barnes, Nourish’s Chief Customer Officer, said:

“Nourish Care is proud of the impact it makes on the people we help support. Being part of the digital transformation journey with Milestones has shown how truly professional and dedicated their team is, and like everyone at Nourish, they are focused on delivering better care focused on the person. The true benefit of digital shows in the impact and improved outcomes for the person receiving care. The Nourish team looks forward to celebrating those ongoing benefits with Milestones in the coming months.”

Jeff Parry, Milestones Trust’s Director of Operations, said:

“We’re over the moon that Nourish will be providing our new Digital Support Planning system. We considered several different providers during a comprehensive process and Nourish really stood out. Ultimately, we’re making this change so that our staff can record and access information more quickly and easily. It will mean they have more time to focus on the thing that they’re really brilliant at, which is working directly with people we support.”

As we begin to implement Nourish across our services, we’ll continue to work with Guided Innovation, who help social care organisations with finding technological solutions to suit their needs. Guided Innovation provided us with invaluable support during our search for a Digital Support Planning solution, so we’re pleased to continue to work in partnership with their team as we implement our new Digital Support Planning system.

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With the Kingswood by-election fast approaching, Milestones Trust – a charity that supports people with learning disabilities and mental health needs across South Gloucestershire, Bristol and North Somerset, including in the Kingswood constituency – has opened its doors to the political parties, inviting candidates to come and speak with people living in the area about their plans and answer questions.

By inviting the candidates standing in the by-election to speak directly with people supported by Milestones, the charity aimed to ensure that they had every opportunity to be involved in the democratic process and make an informed decision on who they might like to vote for.

Jeff Parry, Director of Operations at Milestones Trust, said:

“Involvement is a hugely important part of what we do at Milestones. Research published by the government after the last general election confirmed that disabled people, including those with learning disabilities and those affected by mental illness still face many barriers to political participation.

“As well as sharing accessible information such as how to register to vote and the need to take voter ID on the day of the by-election, we also wanted to give the people we support the chance to engage directly with the people that want to represent them in parliament, so that their voices could be heard, and so that the candidates understand the issues that are facing their constituents.”

Candidates from Labour, the Liberal Democrats, The Green Party and Reform UK all attended the event on 31^st January; candidates from the Conservative party and UKIP were invited, but were unable to attend on the day.

Damien Egan, Labour’s Parliamentary Candidate for Kingswood said:

“I really enjoyed the event. There were some great questions from the participants. I delivered my message on the need for change, but it was particularly useful for me to hear the concerns of the people that Milestones Trust supports.”

Councillor Andrew Brown, the Liberal Democrat’s candidate said

“It was fantastic to have the opportunity to hear from people supported by Milestone about their concerns and priorities ahead of the by-election. We covered significant areas of policy from the cost-of-living crisis to the state of our roads, from how we make life easier for those with additional needs to the importance of valuing those who are carers whether paid or unpaid. It was clear to me that there was a real feeling that things aren’t working at the moment, and that change is needed, and I believe that the Liberal Democrats offer the change that Kingswood needs.”

Councillor Lorraine Francis, from The Green Party said:

“Unfortunately, in the UK for too long the two parties who hold the power and are now jostling for first place are the same parties who are responsible for challenges we are facing. They take it in turn to blame each other, when they are responsible. We need parliament to be more representative – it’s time that we have a more diverse range of politicians that understand and speak up for the communities they serve.”

Rupert Lowe, Reform UK’s candidate for Kingswood said:

“Kingswood is having a by-election that it should not be having. I am standing to provide the constituency a national voice and a voice that will fight for lower taxes and less restrictions.”

Richard, who is supported by Milestones Trust in Hanham, said:

“It was interesting to hear what the different candidates had to say. I will vote in the by-election later this month, and though I already had an idea of who I would be voting for, the event helped me know for sure.”

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Abigail and Shelley represent our first cohort of trainee nursing associates, a paid role which combines work-based learning and academic study. For the past two years, they have worked closely with our nursing staff and frontline support teams, developing their clinical skills and gaining invaluable experience in care settings. Alongside this, they have completed a programme of study at the University of the West of England (UWE).

Now that they’ve passed their exams, Abigail and Shelley have registered with the Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC). Qualifying as registered nursing associates gives them the opportunity to work towards becoming registered nurses.

Abigail said:

“I feel excited to start my new career as a nursing associate, and I’m looking forward to using the skills I’ve learnt to help improve the lives of people we support.

It was nice to have Shelley, the other trainee nursing associate, training alongside me. She was a great support and we helped each other out. If anyone else is considering becoming a trainee nursing associate, I’d say go for it! I’m a practical learner so working throughout suited me and meant I could learn new skills on the job. It’s a great route to take to get into nursing.”

Shelley said:

“Working alongside the Trust’s nurses, particularly the nurses at 121 Watley’s End Road, was an interesting experience and enabled me to develop my skills. I am looking forward to my future career and developing my skills further. I was grateful to be able to complete the nursing associate apprenticeship alongside Abi – she was my rock throughout and helped to make it a positive experience.”

Our Clinical Nurse Advisor Beka Wilkins said:

“A massive congratulations to Abi and Shelley on this well-earned achievement. You’ve done it!

This is an exciting time for our new registered nursing associates. Abi and Shelley will now embark on the next stage of their nursing career with The Open University, working towards becoming registered learning disabilities nurses. Watching their progress this far has been a joy.

A second heartfelt thank you to the teams within the services who have supported Abi and Shelley through their two years of training. I know this support has been invaluable.”

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