Annual Review 2008

Jamie and Aspire Housing

My name’s Jamie and I’m 34 years old. Two years ago I was on holiday in Costa Rica – I was having a great day out surfing when I fell off my board and hit my head on the seabed, breaking my neck. I’m now paralysed from the chest down.

I was flown back to the UK and did my rehab in the Southport Spinal Injuries Centre. After months in hospital I was ready to leave and looking forward to getting on with my life. I had a new adapted apartment lined up, but it was still being finished when I left Southport and so I found myself temporarily homeless. This was especially frustrating as I had my old job as a newspaper designer on a national tabloid to return to. Fortunately, I found out about Aspire and they were happy to help straight away.

Aspire offered me a fully adapted property about 30 miles from where I live. I went and had a look and with its level access, adapted kitchen and roll-in wet room shower it suited my needs perfectly. I accepted Aspire’s offer and moved in the following week. I was only meant to be there for two weeks but, as is the way with these things, the works on my apartment were delayed and I ended up living in the Aspire house for two and a half months – this uncertainty about when exactly I’d be leaving didn’t faze Aspire at all and it felt like my needs were always the main concern.

The Aspire property itself was great – it’s just a normal, everyday bungalow but with a bit more forethought about the design which meant that I was totally independent there. And it even benefits from simple things like helpful neighbours who moved my wheelie bin to the right collection point for me! The whole process, and my stay in the house, was a simple and pleasurable experience and meant that I didn’t have to make do with something that really wasn’t suitable.