We’re now well into the New Year.

On 20th November Ginny and I went to the Lloyds dinner event at the Grand Hotel Snow Hill Birmingham.

Lloyds are one of our biggest funders. It was a lovely evening, and I was very impressed with the history of the building. I love looking at the history of buildings. I especially loved the disabled toilet. I had to take pictures as I’ve never seen a disabled toilet before, and it was so posh I loved it.

We had drinks at the reception meet and greet. There were canapes there, and then we were asked to take our seats.

There were different people doing talks. One of them was our new West Midlands Mayor. I couldn’t hear what was being said but Ginny said it was a very good talk. I saw him about to leave and I asked Ginny if I should go to him. I asked if I could talk to him about CASBA. I introduced myself as well. Ginny said she had never seen me move so fast. I am not meant to go too fast because of my balance and I may trip over my wheels.

I also caught Sir Robin Budenburg CBE the Chair of non-executive directors at Lloyds and told him all about CASBA. I hope one day he will come to visit CASBA.

There were steps up to the building, so I waved until somebody saw me. They found someone to take me to the disabled entrance which was like a secret entrance

As I was waiting for Ginny, I just sat there looking at all the architecture and thinking of how disabled people used to cope before lifts and ramps and accessible toilets.

The food was really delicious, and I really enjoyed it. I love going to work events with Ginny. It’s great to show my boss how great I can be with encouragement and Ginny gives me lots of encouragement.

CASBA also attended the Forward Carers event on 7th December. Myself, Ginny, and other colleagues were there including Rohan who is the manager for our carers project funded by Forward Carers.

It was the day of the storm.  It was very windy and difficult getting to the venue . I got there first and the person on the door wouldn’t let me in as I wasn’t on the list.  One of the staff from Forward Carers noticed me and said who I was.

It was great being able to attend this because the project is based on my lived experience and the lived experience of another carer with learning disabilities that I will call Andrew.

There are 2,000 carers with learning disabilities in Birmingham.  Before our project started there was no special support for them.   People with LD need special support and this is what the project does. The project is really helping and more than 30 people are being supported now. There was a professional photographer there and the 4 us had professional pictures taken.

I had a fun weird experience. There was a turntable where people stood on and had to make different poses, I was just concentrating on hanging on so I didn’t fall off!

There was someone coming round doing magic tricks.  He looked like the ghost person on the Polar Express.

They had entertainment as well and there were entertainers dancing on the chairs.

There was a certificate ceremony celebrating 10 years of Forward Carers and all those organisations partnered with them. I was going to go up and collect the CASBA certificate, but Ginny noticed the steps. We decided that Rohan should go and collect it.

t was a fantastic evening – great food and partying. It was just what I needed to escape my mental health issues.

It was lovely to spend time with the staff from Forward Carers as we only ever see them in passing in the office.

Here’s to many more events working with you.