The theme of this year's Learning Disability Week is Do you see me? What an appropriate week to celebrate the winner of our Working Together Award!
What is the MacIntyre Working Together Award?
One of the categories at our annual Marjorie Newton Wright Awards, this goes to a person or group who have involved everyone and worked together (co-produced) on a project or all of the time. People drawing on support will have had power and control throughout.
The Max and Scott Show!
This year's winner is Scott Twycross, a Support Worker from Leicester.
Scott has been working with Max, a creative young man who draws on our support. Together, they produce a newsletter which is eagerly awaited by everyone who knows them.
Their collaboration means that Max is very much 'seen'. Here's Scott's winning nomination:
This is very much a dual relationship and completely collaborative effort, which all comes down to the work that Scott puts in.
Max's interests and charisma have seen him engage in many projects over the years. However, when Scott came into his life, this stepped up a notch. Together, Max and Scott have become the Leicester Newsletter team.
Each month, hours go into researching local events, film releases and important calendar dates. Max will research and write up information, which is then checked through by co-editor Scott, and weeks later staff will have a colourful, personality-filled report on the goings-on in the area and opportunities available to them throughout the month.
Scott wanted to ensure the scope for Max's creativity could be as wide as possible and has worked hard on facilitating 'MaxIntyre productions' to be born, with Max's first video landing on MacIntyre's social media platforms a few months ago.
Since then, Scott has secured funding for video equipment to allow Max to invest more time in this, with the resources he needs. The work that went into their funding application was exemplary and Scott has kept Max at the heart of it continually, giving him control over the process.
Both Scott and Max are generous, warm and friendly people. They have collaboration running through their projects and find ways to include others. From staff cameos in videos, to inviting someone who draws on local support to contribute a quiz section within the newsletter, there is never a sense of this being a closed team: the more the merrier and people's unique talents are recognised and celebrated.
This has provided a real uplift and sense of community in Leicester. Thank you Scott and Max - whatever you do next will bring light and joy to us all.
Newsletter delivery - gentleman style
Enjoy Max's video, a true joint production:
