Two adults with learning disabilities who are supported by the charity Diagrama Foundation, were delighted to be invited to attend an event at Biggin Hill hosted by the Taxi Charity for Military Veterans.
Janice and Ronnie who both have a real love of anything associated with WWII were delighted when they received an invitation from the London based Taxi Charity for Military Veterans to attend an event at Biggin Hill.
At the event Janice and Ronnie met nineteen WWII veterans, as well as six Chelsea Pensioners resplendent in their Scarlets and the D Day Darlings who perform songs from the war time era. They were also treated to the spectacle of seeing two Spitfires take off for a flight to Beachy Head.
Susi Hall, Care -Coordinator from the Diagrama Supported Living Service, who accompanied Janice and Ronnie with Diagrama’s Well-Being Officer Donna Williams said, “Janice and Ronnie were so looking forward to attending this event and it certainly didn’t disappoint. They had a brilliant day and loved watching the Spitfires take off and land. They enjoyed singing along to the music provided by the D-Day Darlings and exploring the Hangar and looking at the planes, jeeps and motorbikes from the war.
“Janice particularly enjoyed talking to the veterans and asking them questions about their medals and war experience and she told me that she had really enjoyed the day and felt very emotional. This was a wonderful experience for Janice and Ronnie and we would like to extend our thanks to everyone from the Taxi Charity who made us feel so very welcome at this very special event.”
Dick Goodwin, Honorary Secretary for the Taxi Charity for Military Veterans said. “When we heard that Ronnie and Janice had a real love of all things connected to WWII, we had no hesitation in inviting them to join us at the Biggin Hill Heritage Hangar so that they could meet some of the amazing men and women who served in WWII. They smiled all day and we hope that they thoroughly enjoyed their day with the veterans and our volunteer cab drivers.”
Diagrama’s Supported Living Service in the London Borough of Bromley focuses on supporting vulnerable people to develop the skills and confidence to live in their own house either on their own or with others so they can lead independent, fulfilled lives.
To find out more about Diagrama Foundation’s Supported Living Service in the London Borough of Bromley visit www.diagramafoundation.org.uk/learning-disability-support/supported-living
About the Taxi Charity for Military Veterans
The Taxi Charity is run by volunteer London black taxi drivers and has been supporting thousands of veterans since 1948. It is the only Forces charity that focuses on providing fun and entertainment and arranges free trips (for veterans from all conflicts) to the Netherlands and France, for acts of commemoration and days out to museums, concerts, or social events across the UK.
2023 is the charity’s 75th anniversary, a remarkable milestone for a small, niche charity peopled by enthusiastic volunteers.
The charity received the Queen’s Award for Voluntary Service in 2021, an award approved by Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II and the equivalent of the MBE for charities.
To fund and facilitate their work, the charity is reliant on donations, grants and sponsorship and launched a ‘75 for 75’ fundraising campaign to raise £75,000 in its anniversary year.
About Diagrama Foundation
Diagrama Foundation is a Kent based charity that supports vulnerable children, young people, and adults to live their best life.
Diagrama has a Supported Living Service across Bromley, three homes for adults with learning disabilities in Orpington, an eight-bed care home for adults with learning disabilities in West Sussex a fifty-bed care home for the elderly with nursing and dementia needs in Essex, and a fostering and adoption service in the southeast.
- The Supported Living Service, cares for 35 adults with learning disabilities, in nine homes across Bromley helping them to develop skills and confidence to live in their own house either on their own or with others.
- At Cabrini House in Orpington the charity promotes the development of core skills for 23 adults with learning disabilities so that they can lead independent lives integrated within their community.
- Duckyls Farm in West Sussex, a care home for eight residents with learning disabilities, joined the charity care provider in February 2023.
- The team at their nursing and dementia care home, Edensor Care Centre in Clacton on Sea, support vulnerable residents to live life to the full.
- Diagrama’s adoption and fostering service cares for children in South London, Kent, Sussex, and Surrey.
Many vulnerable children and adults don’t get the support they need to develop their true potential, but the Diagrama team know that when someone has time and belief invested in them, they come alive, because that investment has made them feel valued and worthy.
