Thursday 7th February was a fantastic milestone in the history of Elfrida Rathbone Camden for our staff, service users, supporters and funders as we celebrated the achievements of the organisation at a reception at No. 11 Downing Street.
It was an evening filled with warm words, lots of laughter and many personal recollections from ordinary people about how they have been helped by Elfrida Rathbone staff. And as Director I was proud to note how many of our service users, including groups like Our Group - Your Group for parents with learning disabilities and the Leighton Project students, have helped ERC and themselves by contributing their skills, ideas and enthusiasm to address barriers for people marginalised within the community.
On the night there were far more people to thank than can be listed here but I must note: Maggie Darling, the wife of the Chancellor, her friends and the Downing Street staff who were so helpful before, during and after the event and who gave us such a warm welcome Ben Cater and Maureen Dixon whose generosity supported ERC to meet the other costs of putting on the event after Maggie Darling allowed us to have the use of No. 11 for free. The several parents and young people who stood up in front of a large and appreciative gathering of 120 people and shared their very positive experiences of support from the 7 O'clock club, Leighton Project, SEN Advocacy Project and Parents & Co. Erin Eve and Chris and Zoe Craymer from Chris Craymer Photographic Agency who produced the stunning images of our young people which graced the walls of Downing Street on the night.
The ERC staff who spent weeks organising the catering, invitations, and information about the organisation - it could not have happened without their effort. And the last thanks are for everyone who attended or who we would have liked to invite (security reasons meant we had to restrict numbers) for sharing in the ERC vision of an inclusive society where the barriers to learning and participating in community life are removed.
Alexis Keir
Director
You can download our latest annual report here.