People Potential

People Potential is an organization with a special emphasis on people as the most valuable resource in developing solutions on a sustainable basis. The aim is to assist individuals and organizations to develop and use their potential in practical work through research, knowledge and training. The specialist areas of work are in appropriate disability design, particularly in assistive furniture and every-day living devices, making educational aids and toys and training in creative crafts, encouraging people's confidence and creativity. This is done in the context of the situation using materials available and affordable to the people involved.

Aims

The aim is to run practical training in conjunction with individuals or organizations concerned with development of designing and manufacturing abilities at individual and community level. Research into the effectiveness of designs, local materials and training, preparation of publications and working for short periods alongside community members and professionals is included in this aim.

Objectives and Activities

The aims are achieved by

Responding to requests for workshop/training sessions in designing and making equipment worldwide.
Preparing and running short courses in the UK
Doing related research to encourage the participation of local people and help build up a body of evidence and therefore knowledge in practical equipment design and provision, particularly in low-income situations.
Prepare teaching materials and publications
Training on practical facilitation of child development
Encouraging creative crafts especially with people who have had an illness or little opportunity for 'hands on' creative work.
Encouraging income generation where applicable to People Potential skill areas e.g. Appropriate Paper-based Technology.

Short courses in UK

Practical training can be tailored to the needs of the individual and other short courses can be arranged.

Accommodation is available in local Hampshire Bed and Breakfast, Ł23-25/night, evening meal extra.

Appropriate Disability Design - One week:
A one-week foundation in designing equipment with disabled people. There is time for practical training in making an assistive device for every-day living or small item of adapted furniture. Other related subjects such as workshops; sustainability and efficiency can be covered depending on emphasis of work of participants.
Designing for Active Learning and Play:
Designing and making games and toys to involve the motivation and active participation and development of children in cultural context.
Make a Toy Weekend:
A taster in designing toys with the opportunity to make one.
Appropriate Paper-based Technology - One week:
Learn how to make weight-bearing furniture, toys and household items from paper and cardboard.
APT Weekend Taster:
Just enough time to learn basic techniques and make small items to take home

Toy Making Days: - ongoing
You2Toys is a voluntary group making games and toys for children especially those in developing countries and low-income areas On Thursdays at Plum Cottage - People Potential address.
1:30 - 4:00pm. All welcome

IMPORTANT NOTE:

Very often people are visiting from other countries or going to work as set times - please contact People Potential to find out if we can arrange a time that suits you (no extra cost for this as People Potential is a small organization and can be flexible)

People Potential has a wealth of experience and knowledge in the practical matters of designing and manufacture of toys and equipment at community level. This can be effectively shared by working alongside staff in the field on a temporary basis.

(Note: - independent funding will be required for travel and fees. People Potential is not a funding agent)

Further information from:
J. Westmacott. People Potential, Plum Cottage Hattingley Road, Medstead, Alton, Hampshire GU34 5NQ, United Kingdom.

Tel/manual fax: 00 44 (0) 1420 563 741

E-mail: PeoplePotential@tiscali.co.uk

People Potential Background

People Potential comes out of the work started at HEARU by Dr Cynthia White and Don Caston. HEARU was a Unit at the London Guildhall University providing research and training in appropriate disability design but was closed with other university cuts in 1994. A body of knowledge and experience had been built up in appropriate disability design, adapting to low-cost, locally available materials and in working jointly with disabled people, their families and communities. Alongside this was the work in designing easy-to-make toys and play equipment for children. As it had been observed that many people can benefit from developing creative and practical abilities it was decided to continue the work but with the emphasis on including all people - hence People Potential.

People Potential works from a base in Hampshire. To sustain functioning Kennett Westmacott works as a Day Activities Manager for young adults with learning difficulties and challenging behaviour. He also teaches or makes support visits to other countries as part of the People Potential work. Jean Westmacott teaches and does the administration. Link people provide extra teaching support. Creative craft courses are run with local people and specialist courses are run for people coming from other countries or other are within the UK.

People Potential has a long track record of working in collaboration with training organizations such as the Centre of International Child Health, UCL, London proving a module for their masters in Community Disability Studies and for students on the diploma. It has provided input into training courses run by sending organizations such as Voluntary Service Overseas.

Courses run in the country where trainees are working have the advantage of being cost-effective as more people can be trained as well as being more relevant to the needs of the local organization and situation. Therefore People Potential can run short courses for group of people or spend some weeks giving targeted support to the rehab workshop or creative craft group at their place of work.

More recent Activities out of UK

RWANDA Visiting and supporting, street-children’s project CPAJ, TANZANIA Community Based Social Care Programme (CBSCP), Karagwe KENYA Visiting Community Disability Services Meru North and MOSS charity beneficiaries (2005).

CANADA ‘Paper Works’ - APT course in New Brunswick, arranged by Jocelyn Campbell OT (2004)

AFGHANISTAN running 10-day workshop for Special Educators on Assistive Technology Devices using Appropriate Paper-based Technology, UNOPS.

ZAMBIA Consultancy and updating workshop for APTers who are a Disabled People’s group who make a living from Appropriate Paper-based Technology production

A 10 day workshop for teachers involved in the Mpika inclusive Education Project on Assistive Technology and educational aid- with Child-to-Child.

UGANDA Curriculum Design and practical in-service updating of Assistive Technology and educational aids at Uganda National Institute for Special Education with DANIDA.

Visiting Assistive Devices Workshops and meeting people in Karamoja (2003)

GERMANY, ITALY, SWEDEN Working with EU Consortium of organisations for the Transfer of Innovative Methods (TIM) to social areas on the Threshold of Productivity, Social European Fund.

Past People Potential Activities out of UK

These include working in SYRIA, 1997-2000 various visits El Rajaa Society, Homs under Karim Rida Said Foundation(KRSF) toy design and APT, BANGLADESH, SCF

ETHIOPIA SCF and Cheshire CBR, also before Christian Relief and Development Organisation, RWANDA, CPAJ, Centre for the Youth Eglise Presbyterien Rwanda (EPR), LEBANON, Ghassan Kanafani Preschool, Beirut, INDIA, 3 hosting organisations, Spastic Society of Tamil Nadu, Mobility India and Christian Medical Centre, Vellore. DFID/CICH, BANGLADESH, Interlife, follow-up and Designing for active learning and play (course on child development, designing and making toys), CUBA 3 courses on designing for play and ALBANIA Oxfam Alabania – working with Disabled Woman’s group

J. Westmacott. People Potential, Plum Cottage, Hattingley Road, Medstead, Alton, Hampshire GU34 5NQ, United Kingdom.

Tel/manual fax: 00 44 (0) 1420 563 741

E-mail: PeoplePotential@tiscali.co.uk
Website:www.peoplepotential.org.uk