► Fiddler stars in tune with Norwood at £3m dinner
▶ A “WHOLE of life” support offer to Norwood service users with learning disabilities and autism is part of future plans announced by the charity at its dinner on Monday, which raised £3 million.
Addressing more than 1,000 guests at Grosvenor House in Park Lane, co-president Lady Mendelsohn pledged: “No longer will any part of their journey have to be faced alone.
“We will be there throughout by their sides, providing support, advice and advocacy.”
Other priorities for improvements include better access to services and developing Norwood’s capacity “to manage severe autism, including the establishment of a new complex autism supported living facility.
“And to meet the needs of an ageing cohort in our accommodation services, we will need to launch a programme to upgrade our facilities.”
Over the past year, the charity had offered “serious, meaningful assistance reaching more than 4,000 people” through services such as accommodation, psychotherapy, teaching, short breaks and support groups.
Norwood would continue to review its provision and do only what it excelled at, “or where there are gaps we are best placed to fill”.
Thank God we heard about Norwood. From then I could breathe’
Among those featured in the appeal video was Joseph Baker, who Norwood has supported through dyslexia, dyspraxia and social anxiety issues.
His mother Eveanne recalled in the film: “He wasn’t doing well at school, he was very shy, very withdrawn, so anxious about everything. We used to look at him and think: ‘What’s going to become of you?’
“Thank God we heard about Norwood. From then on I could breathe.”
Delivering the subsequent appeal speech, Mrs Baker said that “with Norwood’s nurturing, Joseph has grown into a wonderful, confident and extraordinary young man who can hold his head up high, look you in the eye and lead an independent life”.
Guests were entertained by performances of Fiddler on the Roof classics by Maria Friedman and other stars from the recent West End production.
As they returned to their table, Ms Friedman told a Norwood staff member: “We did it because we believe in what you are doing.”
She said later: “I got a chance to do it on my own but I thought ‘they’re not going to listen to me’. So I got these amazing people to join up.”
Norwood CEO Dr Beverley Jacobson afterwards gave the JC a fuller explanation of the “whole of life” offering.
“From the point of diagnosis through school, college, accommodation, independent living and life’s challenges and milestones right up until end of life care, Norwood will offer a service that will be a consistent presence of support for each family that needs us.”
The dinner proceeds equate to a quarter of the £12 million the charity needs to generate from the community annually towards its £32 million budget.