Residents of the recently established Afford Bligh Park Group Home are embracing independent living and enjoy the responsibilities of maintaining their new home.
Paul is one of three housemates in the Afford Group Home who moved into the Bligh Park home just before Christmas.
Paul takes part in many activities around his new home, but especially enjoys activities that involve water. He is eager and ready to water the plants in the beautiful backyard garden and tends to the many variety of flowers and the small pond within the garden area.
Afford Lifestyle Assistants have noticed Paul's love of the outdoors and gardening and discussed, with the three housemates, the option to introduce other plants and vegetables into the garden.
The addition of vegetables in the garden will see residents planting seeds, nurturing seedlings and eventually harvesting their crop to cook with in the kitchen.
Paul also takes great pleasure in cooking at his home, so establishing a vegetables garden will not only satisfy his love in the garden, but also in the kitchen; making healthy meals and maintaining a healthy diet.
Steven Herald, Afford CEO, says Afford Group Homes provide safe and supportive environments for people to enjoy their interests with the choice to receive support when and how they need it.
"The new Afford Group Home in Bligh Park has been such an important addition for locals who require just a little extra support for everyday activities," Mr Herald said.
"With the renewed focus on individualised supports through the NDIS, the Group Homes are a way in which Afford Lifestyle Assistants can help residents with household tasks, grocery shopping or access to wider community when needed, while still giving them the choice and control to live their lives how they want to.
"Gardening and cooking programs established for residents in Afford Group Homes foster a sense of ownership for the care and growth of the garden and create immense satisfaction and pleasure when the plants that have grown in the garden can be used in cooking healthy meals."
Afford is a leading not-for-profit disability organisation that supports people living with disability across Sydney.
It is one of Australia's longest serving not-for-profit disability organisations and continuously goes beyond traditional service offerings to deliver new life experiences, work opportunities and lifelong friendships.
Afford is a registered charity and has been operating in NSW for 65 years, providing a range of disability supports to thousands of people across Sydney every day.
For more information about Afford, visit www.afford.com.au or call 1300 233 673.