Events

In November 2009 we held  a successful Focus on families Day in Edinburgh.

 It was Muhammed Ali who said   “Friendship is the hardest thing in the world to explain. It's not something you learn in school. But if you haven't learned the meaning of friendship, you really haven't learned anything”

In celebration of friendship many of our lifetime members, our associate members, our focus people, our community connectors, our circle members, our Board members and our staff joined together for “Family Focus Day ”at Davidson’s Main Church Hall in November 2009. What an event this was! Vickie Cammack who is Founding Director of PLAN Canada (Planned Lifetime Advocacy Network) was our guest speaker.

Vickie had just flown in from Vancouver and it was a testament to her passion, steely resolve, eloquence, gentle persuasion, warmth, the list goes on and on, that she overcame her jet lag and provided us with two inspirational morning and afternoon sessions.  

A big thank you to Vickie and a huge thank you to all our members who travelled far and wide,from Ayr to Aberdeen,to join together and provide such a wonderful forum to learn, share stories, enjoy a workshop and laugh together!  

After a morning session held by Vickie with community connectors, staff and Board members, in the true spirit of hospitality family members and friends all joined together to indulge in a lovely sandwich lunch and home baking. Thanks to Suzanne and the Equal Futures Team for co-ordinating this, which wasn’t without its challenges. However once the intricacies of the church dishwasher were mastered the afternoon teas and coffees were plain sailing.

In the afternoon session Vickie’s presentation “Better Together” was made to a packed hall of families and friends. She spoke about resilient networks (or circles as we call them) and how their experience in Canada had taught them that these are:

-    inviting and hospitable

-    have intention and purpose

-    find ways for everyone to contribute

-    have someone who takes the lead on organizing the network (circle)

With moving accounts of how the lives of people can change by the power of relationships, she encouraged the movement of Equal Futures to continue with its revolution of contribution, reciprocity and belonging.

The afternoon had many inspiring moments and highlights including:  

The Price family and Alex Cant hosted a music workshop and thank you to them for enabling us to understand what a wonderful medium music is for us all to express our feelings.
- The pre conference literature for the Scottish Inclusion Institute Conference in September 2009 promised to “bring together a unique group of thinkers and doers to create a learning opportunity”. Equal Futures brought its own unique group of members together who had attended the three day event and they treated us all to very special individual reports and presentations on how they had enjoyed, participated and contributed in workshops, networked, reflected and learned. Who could forget Lindsay’s magic wand or Madge’s half full glass!

Inspiration Awards

The day ended on a very high note of celebration with Denis Rowley, Equal Future’s Director, introducing the first Equal Futures Inspiration Awards. Denis said he wanted first to describe the qualities of the person selected to receive
the inaugural Inspiration Award. The award winner had been described as

•Wise
•Knowledgeable
•Determined
•Spirited
•Passionate
•Welcoming
•Hospitable
•Loving Mother and Daughter
•Well travelled
•A modest expert
•Insightful
•Shares her knowledge
•Teacher
•Storyteller
•World leader
•Inspirational
•Constructive critic
•Enthusiastic
•In for the long haul
•World leader…….
•And much more!

It was no surprise to everyone, except perhaps Helena Cant herself, that she was the first recipient.   Denis asked Vickie if she would come up and present the award.

In Vickie Cammack’s Mothers Day blog on the PLAN Institute website she writes:
“On our recent trip to Europe I had the privilege of seeing the steely force of love in action - mothers.  In England, Scotland, the Netherlands and Greece mothers are embracing some of our thorniest societal challenges to create social and economic justice for their sons and daughters with disabilities.
At first glance Helena Cant is an unlikely pioneer.  Her gentle smile and curious disposition belie the strength of character that has founded two innovative organisations.  We first met Helena and learned about her and her daughter Lindsey’s dreams when she visited our home to find out more about our work. She attended our leadership training and was the driving force behind Equal Futures the PLAN replication in Scotland.  She has been the north star for the young group, holding the light on core values of relationships, family direction and financial independence through lean and rocky times.”   
Later in the article she concludes:
“Caroline (founder of Embrace UK) and Helena sat together at our workshop in York. As I looked at them, strong and steady, side by side I was flooded with confidence about the future of the family movement in the UK. “

An Inspiration award richly deserved.

Denis then surprised Helena, Vickie and the rest of the company by making a second Award. He said the winner shared all the same Gifts as Helena Cant -
•Wise
•Knowledgeable
•Determined
•Spirited
•Passionate
•Welcoming
•Hospitable
•Loving Mother and Daughter
•Well travelled
•A modest expert
•Insightful
•Shares her knowledge
•Teacher
•Storyteller
•World leader
•Inspirational
•Constructive critic
•Enthusiastic
•In for the long haul
•World leader…….
•And much more!  
And then asked Helena to present the second Equal Futures Inspiration Award to Vickie Cammack!