Reasons to Care Episode 11: Legacy of Love - Celebrating 70 Years of Diverse Abilities

Shownotes - Episode 11

Legacy of Love: Celebrating 70 Years of Diverse Abilities with Wendy Barfoot - E11

Diverse Abilities this year celebrates its remarkable 70th anniversary, and so it’s a joy to look back at how Dorset’s disability charity has grown with the daughter of our Founder!

Diverse Abilities was set up to support Wendy Barfoot’s sister, Marilyn, and Wendy joins us to share the evolution of Diverse Abilities, her growing role in its history, and how our impact has grown from such humble beginnings.

This episode covers:

  • The heartwarming origin story behind Diverse Abilities

  • How Marilyn inspired a movement that’s grown into a lasting legacy

  • Care through the decades, and how it’s changed with the times

  • The power of community, and building something incredible together


Our highlights from this episode…

“My sister had to go into care. Mum kept thinking what she could do, so she put an advert in the newspaper, and nine people answered - that was the start of it all.” - 1:30 - Wendy Barfoot

“It becomes an extended family, you get to know people, and you rely on people, and they rely on you. You build that together.” - 9:35 - Wendy Barfoot

“We wouldn’t have what we have now if it wasn’t for Marilyn - she’s one lady with a massive legacy.” - 26:00 - Wendy Barfoot

“When I came into the care profession around 25 years ago, it was so different back then. But actually what was being done back then felt revolutionary.” - 41:20 - Clare Rochford

Links & references

Clare Rochford 

https://www.linkedin.com/in/clare-rochford-65b9501b7/

Join the Diverse Abilities Team

https://diverseabilities.org.uk/careers

Diverse Abilities

https://diverseabilities.org.uk/

https://www.linkedin.com/company/diverse-abilities-plus/

https://www.instagram.com/diverseabilities/

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