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Amber transforming lives getset! The twice yearly newsletter from Amber - Spring 2008 Amber success Amber has two main aims, to get unemployed young people motivated into work or college and to give them the tools to live an independent life where they can meet challenges and setbacks and overcome them. Kim has had more setbacks than most of us could imagine but has tackled them in an incredibly brave and positive manner, he is a true AMBERTEER. Charles Drew, Chief Executive I was at Amber between 1999 and with the fact there was nothing more just misplaced bravado before the walk without sticks for a short 2000 after a life of children’s my consultant could do to fix my leg, fact? To my great relief I was even distance and as soon as I re-gain homes, crime, solvent abuse, drug so it had to come off. stronger and so much more focused. the strength in my thighs I'll be abuse, long term unemployment, unstoppable. Then I can start I hadn't really thought about my time Fast forward a year. I'd been doing homelessness and prison but Amber looking for a job but for now I’ll at Amber for a while. Then one day quite well at physio but due to really transformed my life and I keep myself busy with my college whilst sorting out some paperwork I ongoing circulation problems never looked back. I’ve watched course on digital photography and came across a glowing report from my progress was slow. I was doing Amber going from strength to my computer course. time there that reminded me that voluntary work at a furniture factory strength since leaving and it is thanks to Amber I already had the but was finding it difficult to walk as I'd like to thank everyone that was thanks to what I learned there that tools to deal with any situation that my apparently good leg wasn't up to involved during my time at Amber I have been able to cope with severe arose. All I had to do was apply it to supporting my weight. Out of the from the bottom of my heart to the health problems. this problem. So with my Amber blue I developed a small ulcer on my tip of my stumps, because without After moving back to Swindon I had fuelled motivation and determination toe, which quickly went septic and the skills I learnt whilst with you, severe circulation difficulties and a and a large measure of my morbid within 6 weeks I was under the knife especially my self-confidence, I horrid ulcer on my leg that got and slightly warped sense of humour, again. The other leg had to go. may not have been able to cope steadily worse, the ulcer was I told my consultant to get the saw with this at all. Luckily both amputations were below constantly infected; I had a couple of out and get rid of this burden. the knee making walking so much Forever in your debt, skin grafts, neither of which worked, The real test would be after the op, easier and 7 months after leaving sadly. So after almost 5 years of pain Kim Bond would I still feel as strong or was it hospital I have new legs and can and stress I had to come to terms Amber challenge Day two and we rose early to go to the Science Museum which was great, and after lunch it was back on the buses to come home. As a new Team Leader it was a great way to get to know all the staff but more importantly, to get to know the Amberteers and what makes Trafalgar Square - many Amberteers them tick.” had never been to London before so it Steve Upton, Team Leader was awesome for them. By this time we were so hungry we headed towards Leicester Square ‘Barty’s Challenge’ for our pre-arranged McDonalds meal. Then it was off to Oxford A while ago our Chairman, Barty achieved and was Street and the beautiful Smith, set Amberteers a challenge – delighted to award Christmas lights. There was a the first centre to complete all 100 the £1,000 prize. real buzz in the air and as we activities printed on the back of It was decided to all met at Marble Arch the Amber’s writing paper would get a use this to take all decision as to whether to get cash prize and in December, Bythesea the Amberteers and staff to four taxis back to the hostel, use the Lodge claimed their prize. They had London for a couple of days where underground or walk and save spent weeks researching, completing they had the most amazing time: ourselves £80 for pizzas was quickly and recording activities such as “After arriving at our YH the first stop made, although had everyone known model making, playing tennis and was Tower Bridge. Then in true Blue it was about eight miles and not two, making a pinhole camera and were Peter style we hopped on a tour bus walking may not have been the rightly proud of their achievements. and saw some of the sights before overwhelming choice! I’m sure Early in December Barty visited getting off at Westminster and everyone enjoyed their pizzas all Bythesea Lodge to see what had been walking up Downing Street to the more for their epic walk! ...Read the papers Health Diary Weather Draw how something works Play cards Friends Table tennis Local newspaper Modelmaking Budgeting Reading Clean clothes A4 Folder Trees Get up early Exercise Places of interest Diet Imaginary portfolio of shares Cricket Learn a language Swimming Go on a boat Think positively Painting Write a poem Driving lessons Write your CV Bake bread Make a plan Go on a train Talk to people Certificate Walking Musical instrument Galleries Follow a sport Help others 5 minute talk Go on a bus Communication skills Send off for some information... Amber activities A taste of Teamwork and Leadership Climbing is just one module in certification Amber’s Teamwork, Leadership paperwork that and Communication course and earned the this particular adventure started Amberteers their early Friday morning with some certificate for this team bonding and problem module. We then solving tasks. I set off with the started looking Tour de Cornish Tramways team of Amberteers - Dave, forward to the Early on a February morning, seven Chris, Will, Chris and Richard - next module where intrepid Amberteers, led by our very for the indoor climbing wall at we would have to own senior team leader Geoff James, South Molton to develop some team complete a problem solving journey How many cups!............. headed for foreign lands and entered work and communication skills and across Exmoor, a journey that It is a well known fact that there is, the mystical shores of Cornwall. bash some fear. The day started with demonstrates all the new knowledge and always has been a creature that some low level challenges before learnt by the team over the three Their mission was to lurks in the darkest places of attempting the harder walls. All of the week course. cycle the old Cornish Amber’s centres, sitting in silence team took turns at climbing and more tramways with an Jon Farrer, waiting and ready to pounce. It waits importantly looking after each others’ instructor from the Team Leader for unsuspecting Amberteers to put physical and emotional safety. It was Bissoe cycling centre and Instructor, their cups down and steals them for a good day and the leaning outcomes – Bike Chain Ricci. Ashley Court its own use. We are unsure how were all documented in the NCFE many cup abductions there have After some basic instruction it was been over the years but one thing not long before our brave boys were is for sure, the Amberteers were cycling with confidence and a degree desperate for cups, some say that of skill (let’s not build their part up a single cup at Amber had greater too much), around woods, quarries value than “gold pressed latnum.” and cycle paths. However thanks to the wonderful After a very rewarding time the donation of 2,000 mugs from Amberteers returned back to Ashley Packexe Ltd in Exeter, Amberteers Court, lungs filled with clean Cornish can once again find a mug to drink air and full of enthusiasm. Another from with ease, or having to trade great day at Amber. with the black market... Amber and companies A pond rediscovered British Gas employee Dave Phillips saw “I helped British Gas with the pond Amber’s request on his company’s ‘Get clearing and really enjoyed doing it, it Involved’ intranet site that encourages was good fun. It was very cold and wet volunteering in the community. The and everybody was covered in mud from request was to re-discover an head to foot, but it was funny watching overgrown, leaking pond at Ashley everyone slipping around, people could Court and bring it back to life. Dave not stop laughing. When we had looked at Amber’s web site, liked what finished the water in the pond was A-maze-ing he saw and decided it was an ideal running for the first time in ages, project for him and his colleagues. “It probably years. It felt like we had really Thanks to the generosity of Virgin was a fantastic day. Before we tackled achieved something” Mobile, all 30 residents and their Team the mass of weeds and mud the Chris Davison, Amberteer Leaders from Bythesesa Lodge enjoyed Amberteers gave us a tour of Amber a fantastic day out at Longleat.

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