Mickley Hall Cheshire Home is a care home with nursing that supports 40 adults with disabilities as well as providing services for respite and day care. The staff provides the necessary care and assistance to enable residents to live as independent and full a life as possible. However, it is the EVS volunteers who can give extra time and attention to the residents and encourage them to pursue interests and access facilities in and around Sheffield. The objective of our project is to empower and enable people with disabilities to access social, leisure and employment activities in Sheffield as well as encourage youth to rethink how they view people with disabilities. Our EVS volunteers support our staff teams in developing and delivering an interesting, diverse and stimulating activity programme and environment for our residents and day care users. The EVS volunteers ensure that Mickley Hall residents are able to participate in a wider range of local activities and social opportunities outside the home which improves their confidence, independence and freedom of choice. Through supporting the residents, the EVS volunteers will develop meaningful relationships with residents and staff while gaining an insight into disability care and campaigns in the UK. Working in an environment that differs from what the EVS volunteers are used to will challenge them, and allow for personal growth. They will develop a deeper understanding of the challenges people with disabilities face and overcome on a daily basis, which is likely to make them rethink how they view social equality and equal opportunities. EVS volunteers have a genuine interest and passion for working with people with disabilities. As we work with vulnerable adults, we need to ensure volunteers have a good command of English and are kind, patient and compassionate. The project is for 12 months and there is the opportunity for two volunteers to be placed. Hours of work are flexible and some weekend/evening work is often required. The EVS volunteers at Mickley Hall are welcomed into and work within a driven and enabling team. The volunteers receive support, training and guidance from the Volunteer Coordinator as well as the daily support and mentoring from the activity staff. The enthusiasm and additional support the volunteers bring into the activity room and the daily lives of the residents are invaluable and have a positive and long-lasting effect on the residents. The ideas and skills that they share with our staff will continue to enhance the activities long after they leave. The placement will allow the volunteers to gain experience and understanding of working within a disability setting as well as explore English customs, culture, language, nature and places of interest. They will also gain valuable skills such as event management and team work which often lead to future employment and study opportunities. Leonard Cheshire Disability is a huge supporter of the EVS programme due to the massive flow on effects this programme has for our residents, our volunteers, our staff and the local communities we work in. We have witnessed improved confidence of our residents, extended and varied activities programmes, increased leadership skills among staff members as well as strong connections and friendships between our care homes and youth all over Europe. In addition, EVS opens a dialogue between young people from different countries about how different societies and cultures view people with disabilities and work towards LCD's goal of challenging perceptions of disability internationally.