I have two pieces of news to share about the Foundation this month.

The first is that after 4 years of working alongside the HSA Foundation, I am moving on to pastures new, so this will be my final blog as Chair. However, I will continue to be very much involved with the Institute of Person Centred Approaches in India (IPCAI), as a life time member and active volunteer, alongside Kate Toms, from Menter Fachwen and Julie Lunt.  HSA Foundation are currently exploring our return trip to Kerala, in January 2013, with our India colleagues Mathew Kanamala and Mr Sebastian and also their return trip to the UK in Autumn this year, so please watch this space…

The second piece of news is that I am handing over this blog to Helen for future blogs about IPCAI and the wider work of the Foundation.

The Foundation and its work has been so very significant in my life and I am delighted to be able to continue that work with Mathew, to further develop our practical work and strengthen our global community of partnerships and networks. My sincere thanks and appreciation go to my family (particularly John, Jos and my Mum!), friends, colleagues and members of the HSA team, as well as the Trustees of the Foundation for their unstinting support, inspiration and generosity of time and spirit.

If you are interested in the work of the Institute of Person Centred Approaches in India, you can contact Mathew Kanamala directly:  mathewkanamala@gmail.com and you can show your support practically by becoming annual members of IPCAI or Mathew is particularly interested in developing sustainability by inviting lifetime members to join IPCAI.

Here Mathew explores his reflections and learning from workshops IPCAI are delivering to interested individuals and organisations.

"IPCAI has organised one day workshops to motivate our youth and to enable them not to run after perceived urgent things (usually material possessions), and furthermore ignoring those important to and for them issues, to induce happiness in every movement of life.

The theme for this person centred approach as a way of thinking for total personal transformation was, "It is never too early- It is never too late - Let me plan my whole life".

Eight students, from different institutions within our local area, have attended the programme. The programme started at 9.30am and ended at 4.15pm with 4 sessions of 90 minutes each. At the end of the last session the participants submitted a written feedback.

Important observations:

• The participants have decided to change their attitude.
• Many of the participants have realised that they have to change their old habits, into new habits and attitudes to be happy in life.

IPCAI also organised a half day workshop for the students of a certificated course in Counselling at Mahatma Gandhi University, Kottayam. 50 senior students participated in it and here are a few of their observations:

• "I have never thought of the importance of what is important to me in my life!"
• "Now I can understand my wife much more easily"

Another programme organised for 40 students of a certificated course in Learning Disability Management, was a short introductory session and very well received.

We are realising the fact that "There is no waste land, only wasted land." Thank you for your support.

Mathew's and Mr Sebastian's facilitation, including small group work and participants feeding back is particularly unusual in Indian educational establishments, where sessions are 'teacher-led' and participants are passive recipients of information, rarely encouraged to actively challenge on what is being explored.

If you are interested in the work of the Institute of Person Centred Approaches in India, you can contact Mathew Kanamala directly:  mathewkanamala@gmail.com and you can show your support practically by becoming yearly members of IPCAI or Mathew is particularly interested in developing sustainability by inviting lifetime members to join IPCAI.

This month's blog shares the reflections of Mr Sebastian, Mathew Kanamala's colleague and the Finance Director of the Institute of Person Centred Approaches in India (IPCAI).

The visit to the UK in October was for me, the first time I have ever travelled outside India. The trip involved the right set of circumstances for me to personally act with determination and freedom for a mind-shift to have an extraordinary experience in connecting with Person Centred Approaches now I'm back home in India.

The hospitality of the Worsley Marriot Hotel, the pre-conference arrangements and the conference itself, which was constructed in a systematic and professional way, was an eye opener and I have decided to follow the methods adopted there when I organise our Person Centred Approaches programme in India.

The learning experiences at Menter Fachwen with Angela Hughes, Louise Skelhorn, Kate Toms and Dr Bobby Kurian, alongside Angela Hughes and members of Menter Fachwen, have totally changed my views on my sisters and brothers who have a disability in learning. I have personally gained a new insight that people with a range of disabilities, including people with dementia and people who are 'differently abled' are also human beings like anybody else, an essential part of our universe and deserve respect as they live and grow. People who are differently abled have potential which can rightly be channelled to have a life to celebrate moment by moment.

The activities I observed at different locations like social enterprises and locally provided support services gave yet another insight that every human being is valuable and have so much to contribute.

The visit to Accrington (with Samantha Leonard, from Lancashire dementia care services) gave me new insights in using useful items to promote the rights and contributions of vulnerable people, especially people living with dementia in Indian society.

Finally, the hospitality, the love and care that I enjoyed at Louise's home will remain as an everlasting memory.
M.J. Sebastian

Looking at different ways person centred approaches can be introduced effectively within Indian culture, especially with such importance being placed on academia and professional qualifications makes the work Mr Sebastian, Mathew and their IPCAI colleagues and supporters so groundbreaking.

Mathew is extremely interested in furthering his knowledge around care for our older population, so can you help support us to strengthen IPCAI and continue to share interesting and informative learning experiences? Are you involved in any work with older people, using person centred thinking and approaches that might be useful for IPCAI to make links with? All or any links would be hugely appreciated; please don't underestimate the importance Mathew places on your support. Thank you, in anticipation!

If you are interested in the work of the Institute of Person Centred Approaches in India, you can contact Mathew Kanamala directly: mathewkanamala@gmail.com and you can show your support practically by becoming members of IPCAI for a very reasonable fee, either paid annually or Mathew is particularly interested in developing sustainability by inviting lifetime members to join IPCAI.

Thank you, in anticipation, Louise Skelhorn.

This month I wanted to share with you Mathew and Sebastian's reflections on their recent trip to the UK. One that seems to have had a lasting impression:

"We, Mathew Kanamala and MJ Sebastian arrived in Manchester on Saturday 08^th October 2011 for a 13 day programme on Person Centred Practices organised by HSA Foundation in the UK.

Our major observations and learning points:

The Gathering at the Worsley Marriott hotel was very enlightening and we had a chance to interact with many people in the field of PCP. Louise and I delivered a market place stall of 'International Learning -from India'. Participants' inquisitiveness related to the progress of PCP in India, was highly appreciated and several people have offered their support to the development of our Indian organisation, the Institute of Person Centred Approaches in India (IPCAI). The main thing I personally noticed is that of the learning attitude of the participants, as well as the assurance in promoting person centred thinking in different areas. It was well organised and the systematic programme under the leadership of Helen Sanderson and her team was excellent.

Another important event was the Strategy day with Helen Sanderson, Louise Skelhorn, Kate Toms, Dr Ninan (Bobby) Kurian and M J Sebastian, at HSA HQ. It was a brain storming session as well as the appraisal of the last 12 months work in India. I feel that we have miles to go before we can sleep again! Spreading the idea of PCP throughout India is a heroic task and we can do this with the help of HSA Foundation and our growing support through our growing membership in IPCAI. We will have to keep our feet firmly on the ground over the next few years, with a continuous international exchange and partnership! IPCAI have decided to focus on a national level promotion of PCP in the next year. So it is important to bring people from Delhi, Calcutta, Goa, Mumbai and Bangalore for the next PCP workshop.

As expected Julie, Louise, Kate and Angela (Hughes) did a fantastic act when we were visiting Menter Fachwen in Wales. The experience of writing the third paper with Julie, Louise, Bobby and Kate was really an exchange of international learning! This paper will be published alongside the first two papers in IPCAI's bi-annual journal to be launched very soon. The journey from the Gathering to Menter Fachwen was a journey from a thinking laboratory to land!

Another mile stone of this visit was the experience of practical thinking and visits organised by and with Samantha Leonard, a woman with a passion and commitment of the art of social work. We spent the day visiting many organisations working for the empowerment of vulnerable people with such an inspiring human touch. We are remembering the names, which helped us there such as Caroline Otieno - Dementia Project Officer for Lancashire county Council, Rachel Hughes - Field Navigator and Georgina Watson - Deputy Manager for GS Social Care Solutions. Our sincere thanks go to you all for making our visit such a wonderful experience and highlight.

Overall it was a thrilling discovery. IPCAI must give a chethna (Sanskrit word meaning life)-dimension to the chinthana (Sanskrit word meaning thinking) pre-occupations of our country.

I am very glad about getting the connection with IPCAI and HSA USA and we are mutually contacting each other now.

I can't forget the love of all the people who helped us, especially our local guardian John and my loving Jos! Thanks to Julie for the initial preparations and big gratitude to Louise, a lady with confidence of realistic achievement and vibrant thinking! Thanks to Bobby for a memorable stay and for the opportunity to have a fishing experience in the Irish Sea!

We are experiencing "the spirit of being" and this will become the change agent, with the support of Helen Sanderson and the Foundation.

I conclude with a quote by the former President of India, Dr. APJ Abdul Kalam

"Small aim is a crime".

If anyone would like to contact Mathew, to show your support and/or become a member of IPCAI, supporting its fantastic work and to receive the journal, please contact Mathew Kanamala directly: mathewkanamala@gmail.com

This month's contribution comes from Kate Toms, CEO of Menter Fachwen in Wales and one of the founding members of the Institute of Person Centred Approaches in India (IPCAI). Thanks Kate and over to you…....

Hi,

I've been asked by Helen and Louise to contribute to the HSA foundation blog in relation to our continuing work in Kerala.

What a delight to be asked!

But what on earth shall I write about?

Then I thought why not talk about the way the project at the new Kanakari building in Kottayam is developing into a community based Social Enterprise- and what entrepreneurs Anu, Lintu and the rest of the women are becoming.

In my last visit in January this year, I spent a lot of time with the staff at Ashabhavan focusing on the value of participation in your local community and how important it is to be actively engaged in a variety of meaningful tasks.

In many ways having to make a profit out of the activities, produce and products comes naturally to everyone at the Ashabhavan project. At the moment they are working on the production of the most delicious pickles, relishes and sauces, as well as making handmade jewellery and cards.

If we look at the making of the homemade pickles as an example, it actually involves many tasks that are suitable for everyone to take an active role in.

When we think it through, the pickle consists of vegetables and spices that all have to be planted, tended, picked then pickled.

Sounds like Peter Piper should be in there somewhere!

The product then has to be put into jars, labelled and eventually sold.

These homemade products will then be sold at church fetes and in due course at the Ashabhavan shop and they will be making a profit of almost 100%.

Another  good example I can share with you is of how things are changing for the women is when two of the women who attend "the Ashabhavan Centre" started work experience in a busy community cafe, one of their daily duties was to prepare vegetables for the community based cafe in the busy town of Kottayam.

After being faced with huge mounds of onions, garlic, aubergines, okra, green beans etc for a few weeks, the women stood up for themselves and respectfully demanded the same pay as the regular staff... after some discussion they were successful, they got it, they were paid properly at the going rate for the hours they worked.

Now that's what I call a result, it meant that for the first time ever those women were able to contribute financially to the family income.

When I go back in 2013, the plan is that we will continue looking at the value of working in a busy Community based Social Enterprise, but I think I will be pinching some of their recipes and having a go at some of the pickles and sauces here at Menter Fachwen.

                     http://www.menterfachwen.org.uk/EN/about.asp

We've had a busy time this past month preparing for Mathew Kanamala and Mr Sebastian's arrival, as well as preparing for our annual Person Centred Thinking Planning and Practice Gathering.

After a restful first few days acclimatising to the cold and rain, Mathew, Sebastian and I presented the work of the Institute for Person Centred Approaches in India (IPCAI), at the Gathering. This focussed on our partnership work fostered through the HSA Foundation, alongside the learning from our January trip, with Kate Toms from Menter Fachwen, Julie Lunt and myself. Mathew and Mr Sebastian received fantastic feedback, as well as generating important networking links to other organisations and individuals who are interested in creating relationships with IPCAI, as well. For example, we were approached by a provider organisation, who supports people with a learning disability nationally and internationally, who are interested in starting a conversation, based on mutual learning and support and also by Oonagh McKay from Derby who is interested in offering practical support to IPCAI through volunteering. Thank you Oonagh and Mathew will be in touch.

Mathew and Mr Sebastian also met with Helen, myself, Kate and Dr Bobby Kurian to think strategically about the partnership between HSAF and IPCAI for the year ahead and beyond. We are looking into what it will take for Mathew to become the first accredited person in India in Person Centred Thinking and Approaches. Very exciting indeed!

Mathew and Mr Sebastian met with Kate Toms and Angela Hughes at Menter Fachwen and spent valuable time updating Mathew's one page profile and adding detail to Mr Sebastian. Sincere thanks Angela for that hugely useful planning session.

As founding members of IPCAI, Julie Lunt and I committed ourselves to writing a paper on our experiences in India. This has developed into 3 papers!!!

The first 2 co-authored by Julie and myself are now be available through the HSA website /whats-new/the-first-two-of-three-papers-regarding-person-centred-practice-in-india-are-available-now-.aspx and the third paper will focus primarily on Mathew, Mr Sebastian's and Dr Bobby's perspective on what it will take to implement our learning across India, taking on board our achievements so far, as well as the cultural challenges facing IPCAI. Our third paper will be available later on in the year.

Mathew and Mr Sebastian are also looking forward to a day with Samantha Leonard (Locality Commissioning Manager for Adult & Community Services, Hyndburn) and colleagues across Lancashire, exploring their work around dementia care, before they head home to Kerala later this week. Sincere thanks, in anticipation, to Samantha and colleagues.

If you are interested in supporting IPCAI to build sustainable capacity, either through forging partnerships with people on an individual or organisational level, then Mathew would be delighted to hear from you. Please contact Mathew directly: mathewkanamala@gmail.com

As we prepare in earnest for Mathew and Mr Sebastian's October trip, Julie Lunt, Sue Soper, Gill Bailey, Kate Toms and I are developing a robust timetable of events and hospitality.

Particular thanks to Samantha Leonard for your very kind offer of sharing your work in Dementia Care in Lancashire with our guests…Julie is in the process of contacting and finalising this exciting opportunity with Sam.

The last time Mathew came, one of the things he was very appreciative of was the time he spent with our HSA colleague Angela Hughes, developing his own 1 page profile and exploring person centred thinking in more detail and depth. We hope to create a similar opportunity with Mr Sebastian when they spend time at Menter Fachwen in Wales during their October trip. This will also give Mr Sebastian the opportunity to review the excellent work undertaken by Menter Fachwen. This is a social enterprise organisation, which supports people with a Learning Disability to develop work skills in catering, through a bakery, running a café, environmental conservation and woodworking skills.

We believe that the social enterprise model could work very well for people with a Learning Disability in India, as it supports the values of contribution through work. In India there are no social services, or a welfare system run by the State, so people have to contribute to society and it is through the contribution of meaningful paid employment that creates status and value. Through the visits to Menter Fachwen, Mathew and Mr Sebastian will be able to see and consider the possibilities and opportunities that could be transferred back to Kerala.

What Julie and I discussed with the Social Workers and staff at St John of God, a children and young adult's charity, was their desire for people to have paid, valued work alongside their significant concerns with increasing work opportunities, whilst balancing the need to support people to be safe and healthy within an Indian context.

Ashabavan, supported by Menter Fachwen, have been developing a social enterprise model and this potential is being realised through a brand new purpose built base in Kerala. They are currently considering opportunities such as animal husbandry and establishing a laundry. Whilst these ideas are in their early stages, to even be considered reflects the changes in attitude and indeed, what is possible.

As part of Mathew and Mr Sebastian's visit, Trustees for the HSA Foundation and members of Menter Fachwen are meeting with Mathew and Mr Sebastian to discuss ideas and progress within IPCAI (The Institute of Person Centred Approaches in India) since our January trip. We look forward to this time to reconnect, share our learning and to return some of the wonderful hospitality showered upon us by our India colleagues.

We are currently busy organising a Foundation sponsored 10 day trip for Mathew Kanamala and his colleague Mr Sebastian during the period of our Annual Gathering of Person Centred Thinking, Planning in Approaches in October.

Mathew is specifically interested in developing his knowledge and building on his networks of like minded professionals in the UK, which will enhance the work the Institute of Person Centred Approached in India (IPCAI), is working tirelessly to achieve.

Mathew has recently sent me a report he has written, highlighting a new month long course for "Geriatric Care" he leads on. Here is an excerpt from his report:

Background of the program:

The importance of taking care of the elderly has become more relevant in India due to the increased life span and consequent increase in the population of the aged. Because of the demographic transition and changing family structure, care of aged is emerging as a concern of modern times. The support system and the care giving that had been available in earlier in the traditional family set up for the elderly has withered away and as a result, the institutional care of the elderly is becoming the need of present time, even though it is considered to be the last resort.

Participants' profile:

People from different realms of social service sector, professional nurses, home nurses, voluntary workers, professional social workers and students participated in the programme. The participants were from Goa, Andrapradesh and different regions in Kerala. 28 members participated in the programme.

The interactive sessions were very informative and all the members had an active participation in the discussions. In between the lecture sessions, there were group discussions among the participants. In the group discussions, the participants were divided in to five sub groups and were asked to have a discussion regarding the topic. A leader in that group guided the discussion. After the discussions, the participants summarized their points and the leader presented in front of other group members in a chart paper. After each presentation, active discussions used to happen. In this way, the group discussions helped the participants for the enhancement of their knowledge and skill.

Conclusion:

We wish each of our participants would actively contribute for the quality care of the elderly people in their own locality. We are sure that our participants will be sensitive to the issues faced by the elderly in Kerala and will take initiative to build support groups in their own villages.

Prepared by, Mathew Kanamala, Director, Person Centred Approached in India (IPCAI)

What is so groundbreaking with this work is Mathew and his colleagues are looking at different ways person centred approaches can be introduced effectively within Indian culture, especially with such importance being placed on academia and professional qualifications. Mathew's facilitation, including small group work and participants feeding back is particularly unusual in Indian educational establishments, where sessions are 'teacher-led' and participants are passive recipients of information, rarely encouraged to actively challenge on what is being explored.

Mathew is extremely interested in furthering his knowledge around care for our older population, so can you to help us to make our IPCAI colleagues trip an interesting and informative learning experience? Are you involved in any work with older people, using person centred thinking and approaches that might be useful for Mathew to make links with?

All or any links would be hugely appreciated; please don't underestimate the importance Mathew places on this UK trip. Thank you, in anticipation!

Following our first trip to the town of Kottayam, in the southern state of Kerala, India in January this year, where significantly, Julie, Kate and I became founding members of IPCAI (The Institute of Person Centred Practices in India). This is a national forum in which information is disseminated across India about Person Centred Thinking, Planning and Practice.

So, in this month's blog, I wanted to share what has happened since Julie Lunt (fellow Trustee), Kate (Toms, from Menter Fachwen, Wales) and I returned from India. Our colleague and Director of IPCAI, Mathew Kanamala continues to deliver training and support to professionals involved in the care and support of people with a learning disability, including the integration of person centred approaches within a Geriatric Care Course, sanctioned by the Government of India; go Mathew!

IPCAI has recently appointed a person, R.V.Remya, to assist Mathew in delivering IPCAI's practical activities and strategic purpose. Remya has worked from IPCAI as a volunteer for some time and has been hugely helpful in fundamentally shaping the direction and vision of the organisation. Mathew is now committed to looking at different opportunities in which to fund her work, part-time.

One element of IPCAI's challenging vision is to deliver a quarterly professional journal across India; which will include 3 separate but linked articles written by Julie and I, with Kate's input in the third article; all focussed on our shared learning from our time there. The first paper, written by Julie, aims to explore the rich academic and developmental history behind person centred planning and approaches, which informs the backbone of our understanding and development of person centred practice today. This history and critical context setting very much reflected the training programme Julie and I were involved in delivering during our time in Kottayam and Bangalore and resonated with the professionals we met on our journey. Significantly, it also raised lots of pertinent questions for the participants, regarding the impact of person centred approaches on building local and national capacity, professional development and sustainability with professionals, people with a learning disability and their families alike. Our training programme involved a significant element of academia, with references to Wolfensburger's work on Social Role Valorisation (some 50 years ago now!) and John O' Brien's Five Accomplishments…a rich history indeed and one that truly resonated with participants and the very real issues we have faced in the UK over the decade, are similar to those now facing our dedicated and committed colleagues in India.

Our second paper, due for publication in autumn, will look more specifically at Person Centred Thinking tools, skills and techniques and how they can be used flexibly, adapted where appropriate and once again used in a sustainable way. Our third and final paper will focus on our discussions alongside our Indian colleagues, regarding their concerns and apprehensions on building capacity and how they may address those in a local and culturally relevant context.

Watch this space!

A burning question from Julie and I is "do you have any thoughts and experiences of using person centred approaches in India and how this might relate to our work and specifically O'Brien's Five Accomplishments?"

I'd be delighted to hear from you.

I have just taken over this blog, as my position within the Foundation has changed from trustee to chair, which is very exciting and personally a privilege and pleasure.

After our January trip to India, Julie Lunt (a fellow Trustee of the Foundation) and Kate Tom, our colleague from Menter Fachwen, have a continued passion for social justice and change in partnership with Mathew and the IPCAI.

Alongside Matthew, our IPCAI partner, we are interested in focusing on three important questions to help us consider our next steps on this journey together:

These are:

1. How can we truly hear the voices of disabled children and young people in care institutions in India, and in particular in Kerala, where our work was predominantly based?

2. How can we support the development of social enterprises across traditional day centres, supporting women with a learning disability, from a variety of home backgrounds?

3. How can we co-produce and build sustained capacity nationally, around person centred practices?

We will be welcoming Mathew in October to the Gathering and a period of learning and reflection, whilst developing a future strategy for delivering on these together.

Our other focus for the Foundation this year are to develop the End of Life section on our TAYL website, and continue to expand our 'Celebrating Families' work with Liz.

I am looking forward to sharing with you what we are learning and doing through these blogs and in particular welcome your thoughts and reflections on the questions posed.