www.vassallcentre.org

Case Studies

Cheryl Chilcott
Volunteer Receptionist

Cheryl was born 15 weeks premature, weighing under 2lb and was diagnosed with Cerebral Palsy. Growing up in Cornwall she had to use crutches until she was ten years old. As her disability worsened, she became a wheelchair user. She attended a mainstream secondary school split over two sites divided by a busy road. The College she attended had slightly better access, but in the second year she developed shingles and subsequently post-viral depression. Despite all the difficulties and barriers Cheryl achieved three A-levels in Psychology, Sociology and English Lang/Lit.

Cheryl relocated to Bristol to find work. She joined a leading national fashion chain as a Stockroom Assistant, but the physical barriers were unsurmountable and she became heavily dependent on colleagues to help her move around. This caused a relapse in her condition.

After another operation and period of recovery Cheryl decided to try working again. She loined the Vassall Centre Trust as a volunteer receptionist. The barrier-free environment allows her to move freely and independently and blue-badge parking is plentiful.

The good news is that Cheryl has entered part time paid employment with an organisation in the Vassall Centre, she is delighted and said that this would not have been possible without the experience she had as a volunteer with the Vassall Centre Trust.

Joni Pike,
Volunteer Administrator

Joni works two days a week.  She is profoundly deaf and a wheelchair user.

Joni attended a special school for disabled children, but communication was difficult because most pupils did not have hearing impairments and couldn't use sign language.  She moved to a school for deaf children. Although communication was now much better, wheelchair access was a problem. At 16 she gained an NVQ in Business Administration at a Bristol College anfd followed this up with GCSE's in English and Psychology and A-Level in Psychology, English Language and Literature.
After college she worked as an admin volunteer for SCOPE. She then gained work experience  at an old people’s home in Bristol and moved to work experience with South Gloucestershire Council's Building Control Department. She transferred to paid part-time employment with the Community Care and Housing Department, where a few colleagues did sign language and could communicate with her. Although physical barriers still posed some difficulty, Joni was sad to leave when the project finished.

She was then unemployed for a year before coming to the Vassall Centre Trust as a volunteer. She values the workplace which is all on one level, with wide and automatic doors.Ahe is thriving in a supportive environment which enables her to achieve a multitude of tasks without dependence on others.

Joni was recently appointed to a  short term, part-time administrative post with the charity.