Leonard Cheshire Disability is a disability charity that has been operating for over 65 years, born out of the life experience and inspiring vision of one man: Leonard Cheshire VC. We support over 21,000 disabled people in the UK, providing innovative services that give disabled people the opportunity to live a life without barriers. We believe that disabled people should have the freedom to live their lives the way they choose - with the opportunity and support to live independently, to contribute economically, and to participate fully in society. LCD supports people with physical impairments, learning difficulties and long-term health conditions, as well as their carers, friends and families. The needs and aspirations of disabled people are at the heart of what we do. Holehird, Windermere is a residential home (with nursing care) situated in the beautiful Lakes District, providing services for adults with a range of physical disabilities. There are 27 permanent residents and 2 respite rooms for people who wish to enjoy a break at our care home. Our aim is to enable these individuals to maximise their abilities, in order to realise their potential to live with as much independence as possible. The objective of our project is to empower and enable disabled people to access social, leisure and employment activities in Windermere. Our EVS volunteers support our staff teams in providing an active and stimulating environment for our residents. Through EVS Volunteers disabled people at Holehird are able to access their local services and social opportunities more easily and regularly, thus improving their confidence, independence and quality of life. EVS volunteers develop meaningful relationships with residents and staff, while gaining an insight into disability care and campaigns in the UK, as well as learning valuable skills which often lead to future employment and study opportunities. Hours of work are flexible and some weekend/evening work is often required. Holehird has the capacity to host 2 EVS volunteers as part of a larger international volunteering cohort. Being an equal opportunities employer, we aim to achieve a good mix of different nationalities, gender and ability. EVS volunteers have a genuine interest and passion for working with people with disabilities. Most volunteers have volunteer or study experience in a similar sector or personal experiences providing support to family or friends and want to learn more. As we work with vulnerable adults, we need to ensure that we select volunteers that have a good command of English and are kind, patient and compassionate. Our volunteers are actively involved in shaping their EVS experiences and the activities plan for residents. We encourage volunteers to bring their own ideas, skills and passions to share with residents. As a result, the role is varied depending on the needs of clients and the activities our clients like to engage in. Our residents make sure their home has a lively atmosphere. At their request we offer lots of activities, including art classes, quizzes, computer classes and cooking. We also hold events in the home where we are joined by people from the local community. Volunteers also assist on social outings, day trips, LCD meetings and events. Hence the delivery of activities as part of our EVS program is heavily influenced by the skills and motivation of our volunteers to design a creative and fun activity program for residents. EVS volunteers have lasting impact on many different aspects of our service users’ lives. Volunteers enable disabled people to be more independent, enjoy a greater choice of activities and form a healthy social relationship. The local community learn more about other cultures and disability. With support from EVS volunteers we are able to host more local social events at Holehird that spread the EVS program and disability issues, as well as creates a warm and welcoming environment within our care homes. An active and varied social life for our residents is often key to their health, happiness and quality of life. Thus the impact of the EVS project at Holehird addresses a very basic human need of developing real and meaningful relationships, which is a fantastic result. Leonard Cheshire Disability is a huge supporter of the EVS program due to the massive flow on effects this program has for our residents, local communities we work with, staff and our volunteers. We have witnessed improved confidence of our residents, extended and varied activities programs of services that host EVS volunteers, the mentorship skills that our staff gain, and the friendships and connections that are made between our care homes to places and people all over Europe. EVS opens a dialogue between young people from from different countries about how different societies and cultures work with disabled people and works towards LCD's goal of challenging perceptions of disability internationally.