My Flat and Me.

‘An Englishman’s home is his castle’ so the saying goes

My Name is Richard Currie I’m 30 years old I have a disability , Cerebral Palsy, I use a powered wheelchair as I cannot walk and I also get   help from a Care agency to help get me in and out of bed and help me  with some everyday tasks.

 My flat in Hulme Manchester is fully adapted as to ensure that I am safe and  secure and to ensure that I can some household tasks such as cooking, snacks e.g  scrambled eggs all of these tasks and support networks ensure that I can live on my own independently.

The flat is provided by Arawak Walton Housing Association. This is great as any work that need’s doing on the flat is carried out by a sub-contractor  who  undertake the work for you,  all the people are vetted by Arawack giving me much needed piece of mind when dealing with such problems.

Since the age of 11 I had a dream of living on my own  little did I know what a Challenge achieving that dream   would be. On moving to Manchester  to take up a place at the University I first moved into accommodation provided by the University, the room was brilliant and gave me the platform to go and discover one of the most lively and vibrant cities the UK has to offer I was completely bowled over by the cultural morsels at my fingertips football cricket and all the art politics and history a geek like me could ever wish for!

 

I set my sights on moving to this great City easier said than done, first I had financial and care funding problems.  On top of this I was forced to three times in two years in 2008. Things were looking very bleak regarding my   dream of living in Manchester,  I was on the verge of leaving my student accommodation and becoming  technically homeless, I had been of the waiting list for a flat with no luck , then bingo I was offered a flat  in Hulme, I can remember visiting what is now my home.

 It was a cold grey Manchester morning the rain was lashing down I was cold wet and grumpy things were not looking to promising , I hesitatingly entered the flat fearing a pokey hovel not big enough to move my wheelchair in then I looked up and… hallelujah more space than I knew what to with yippee!

I have been living in my flat for four years it has been tough I have still got care funding issues but I love my flat.

My advice to any disabled person thinking of living independently is it’s tough but… go for it!

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