We both live at Lisieux Trust, and being here has helped us grow in confidence and independence.

There are lots of things we can do for ourselves. In the mornings, we get up, choose our own breakfast, get washed and dressed, and get ready for the day. We like making our own choices and being in control of our routines.

Staff are there to support us with the things we find more difficult. They help with medication, shopping, cooking, cleaning and sometimes banking. We don’t always feel confident going out on our own, so staff support us when travelling and crossing roads. That helps us feel safe.

We both have different health needs. One of us has epilepsy, and the other has Down syndrome, diabetes, depression and anxiety. When things feel overwhelming, staff help calm us down. They listen to us and make sure we’re okay. They support us to attend appointments and encourage us to stay healthy, including going to programmes like Slimming World.

We have busy weeks and lots to look forward to. We go swimming, drama, arts and crafts and activity groups like Stepping Up. We enjoy going out to the pub and local cafés, and taking part in Special Olympics, where staff come along and cheer us on. Swimming is one of our favourite activities.

But it’s not just staff supporting us — we support them too.

We build good relationships with staff and help them understand what works best for us. We tell them when we’re feeling worried or when something isn’t right. We also share our achievements with them and include them in our successes. We make each other laugh, and we work together as a team. It’s a two-way process built on trust and respect.

Before we came to Lisieux Trust, some things felt harder. Meeting new people, managing our health, and feeling confident weren’t always easy. Now we’ve made loads of friends and feel much happier.

The best thing is that staff don’t just do things for us — they support us to do things ourselves. And we support them by communicating, cooperating and working together. That’s what makes it work.

Living here makes us feel safe, supported, and proud of what we can achieve — together.