0:00:07 > 0:00:11I've spent nearly 15 years on DIY SOS
0:00:11 > 0:00:15working to transform houses across Britain,
0:00:15 > 0:00:19taking run-down properties and creating dream homes.
0:00:19 > 0:00:22But I know that a house is not just bricks and mortar.
0:00:22 > 0:00:26It has to be a place with love and security, a home.
0:00:26 > 0:00:30Around a million adults in the UK have a learning disability.
0:00:30 > 0:00:33For these people, creating a place they can call home
0:00:33 > 0:00:35can be incredibly difficult.
0:00:36 > 0:00:41This is Andrew. He was born with a learning disability.
0:00:41 > 0:00:46He's 27 years old, and he struggles to do many everyday things.
0:00:46 > 0:00:48I make my mistakes.
0:00:48 > 0:00:49When I'm...
0:00:49 > 0:00:54Sometimes I get a little bit in trouble,
0:00:54 > 0:00:57because I don't know what it means.
0:00:58 > 0:01:02Mo is Andrew's support worker and has known him for over ten years.
0:01:02 > 0:01:07Andrew is a very caring person, very sensitive.
0:01:07 > 0:01:08He's a very, very loyal friend.
0:01:08 > 0:01:13Wow, this is a nice cup of coffee.
0:01:13 > 0:01:15But Andrew isn't able to live independently at the moment
0:01:15 > 0:01:19because simple things like preparing simple meals and things,
0:01:19 > 0:01:20he would struggle with.
0:01:20 > 0:01:23All Andrew wants is an opportunity to learn the skills that will
0:01:23 > 0:01:27help him to have a place of his own, but to do that, he needs help.
0:01:28 > 0:01:35I live with my mum, and I dream about to live in a house
0:01:35 > 0:01:37because I want to be independent.
0:01:39 > 0:01:42Those with a learning disability can need specialist help
0:01:42 > 0:01:44to achieve their potential.
0:01:44 > 0:01:46That's why I'm supporting FitzRoy,
0:01:46 > 0:01:50a charity dedicated to empowering those with learning disabilities,
0:01:50 > 0:01:52even those with complex needs.
0:01:54 > 0:01:56Like Nathan.
0:01:56 > 0:01:59Nathan was born a normal, healthy child,
0:01:59 > 0:02:06but at the age of about three months one night time, he went into a coma
0:02:06 > 0:02:09and it was impossible to wake him.
0:02:09 > 0:02:14A rare condition, which left Nathan unable to break down proteins,
0:02:14 > 0:02:16put him in a coma for a week,
0:02:16 > 0:02:18causing severe and lasting brain damage.
0:02:19 > 0:02:25Nathan is now 40 years old, but has a mental age and abilities
0:02:25 > 0:02:28of around about a three or four-month-old child.
0:02:30 > 0:02:33Parents are not around for ever,
0:02:33 > 0:02:38and the thought that continually came into my mind was,
0:02:38 > 0:02:42"What will happen with Nathan as I grew older,
0:02:42 > 0:02:45"and become unable, physically,
0:02:45 > 0:02:47"probably, to be able to care for him?"
0:02:49 > 0:02:5320 years ago, Nathan's parents started to look for a place
0:02:53 > 0:02:56that could provide the round-the-clock specialist care
0:02:56 > 0:02:59that Nathan needed, and that's where FitzRoy came in.
0:03:02 > 0:03:05Sometimes people with learning disabilities can need a high level
0:03:05 > 0:03:09of support, whilst others simply need help gaining independence.
0:03:11 > 0:03:14FitzRoy believe that everyone should be given the power
0:03:14 > 0:03:18to gain as much control as possible over their own lives.
0:03:19 > 0:03:22The charity runs 13 full time residential care homes
0:03:22 > 0:03:27as well as 39 centres that provide supported living.
0:03:27 > 0:03:30I've come to visit one of these in Hampshire.
0:03:30 > 0:03:31Hello, Nicky.
0:03:31 > 0:03:34Nicky has been looked after by the charity
0:03:34 > 0:03:37since he was five years old. He's now 50.
0:03:37 > 0:03:39So we're here to see the whole place.
0:03:39 > 0:03:40Where do you want to show me first?
0:03:40 > 0:03:42My room.
0:03:42 > 0:03:46This year, he moved out of one of their large residential care homes
0:03:46 > 0:03:50into a smaller home that still offers 24-hour support,
0:03:50 > 0:03:52but allows Nicky much greater independence.
0:03:52 > 0:03:56Oh, that's good, you've got little key fobs to get in and out.
0:03:56 > 0:03:58- Yes.- That's very handy.- All the time.
0:03:58 > 0:04:01Where do you put your clothes for washing and things like that?
0:04:01 > 0:04:04- In the basket. - And who does your washing?
0:04:04 > 0:04:06- I do it myself. - Oh, do you? Do you?- Yeah.
0:04:06 > 0:04:10He shares a living room and kitchen with four housemates.
0:04:10 > 0:04:14Do you take it in turns or is there one person who cooks all the time?
0:04:14 > 0:04:15We all take it in turns.
0:04:17 > 0:04:20The house is equipped with assistive tools such as a lift
0:04:20 > 0:04:24for residents with mobility problems and even a talking microwave.
0:04:24 > 0:04:28'Start. High power, one minute.'
0:04:28 > 0:04:31There are also support workers on hand
0:04:31 > 0:04:34to help the residents do what they want to do.
0:04:34 > 0:04:36All this means Nicky has more control of his life
0:04:36 > 0:04:38than he ever did before.
0:04:38 > 0:04:40- Nice to see you. - Nice to see you too.
0:04:40 > 0:04:42To see you, nice.
0:04:42 > 0:04:45THEY BOTH LAUGH
0:04:45 > 0:04:48FitzRoy makes a real difference to people's lives.
0:04:48 > 0:04:49They believe the right technology,
0:04:49 > 0:04:51together with the correct staff support,
0:04:51 > 0:04:54means people with any degree of learning disability
0:04:54 > 0:04:56can achieve a fulfilling life.
0:04:57 > 0:05:0120 years ago, Nathan's parents discovered FitzRoy.
0:05:01 > 0:05:05The atmosphere that we picked up when we arrived here
0:05:05 > 0:05:10was a very, very pleasant, happy type of atmosphere.
0:05:10 > 0:05:12At their residential home in Malvern,
0:05:12 > 0:05:17Nathan gets 24-hour dedicated personal care.
0:05:17 > 0:05:23Nathan gets music therapy and aromatherapy and even physiotherapy.
0:05:23 > 0:05:26Yeah. Is that nice?
0:05:26 > 0:05:29They make great efforts to get to know Nathan
0:05:29 > 0:05:34and to get to know the detail of what activities he enjoys.
0:05:36 > 0:05:39Nathan regularly spends time in a sensory room that gives him
0:05:39 > 0:05:42the freedom of being out of his wheelchair
0:05:42 > 0:05:44in a stimulating environment.
0:05:44 > 0:05:47I know that FitzRoy have given him
0:05:47 > 0:05:53the best quality of life that he could ever have dreamed.
0:05:56 > 0:05:59For those with less complex needs, living at home is an option,
0:05:59 > 0:06:01and FitzRoy works to help them
0:06:01 > 0:06:03live more independently in the community.
0:06:05 > 0:06:08The charity are teaching Andrew the skills
0:06:08 > 0:06:10he will need to become more independent.
0:06:10 > 0:06:11Right, come on.
0:06:11 > 0:06:15- Um, have you onions? - A couple of onions, please.
0:06:15 > 0:06:18Every weekday, he spends time with his support workers,
0:06:18 > 0:06:20learning fundamental skills.
0:06:20 > 0:06:22Is it clear to cross?
0:06:22 > 0:06:25- Yes.- Right, over we go, then. - Thank you.
0:06:25 > 0:06:28'Andrew's doing really well with this. He's so confident on the roads,
0:06:28 > 0:06:32'and he's pretty much there with crossing roads on his own.
0:06:32 > 0:06:38We've also been working on some courses lately about life skills,
0:06:38 > 0:06:42food hygiene, health and safety, sort of basic living skills.
0:06:43 > 0:06:47The charity also places a lot of importance on making friends,
0:06:47 > 0:06:49realising that people with learning disabilities
0:06:49 > 0:06:52can all too easily become isolated.
0:06:52 > 0:06:57I've done bowling, swimming, gym.
0:06:58 > 0:07:01He's grown so much in the time, sort of the last few years
0:07:01 > 0:07:03since I've known him and he's been coming here.
0:07:03 > 0:07:05His confidence has just blossomed.
0:07:07 > 0:07:08THEY CHEER
0:07:08 > 0:07:14I'm happy now because this is part of to be independent.
0:07:14 > 0:07:17- £3.31, please.- There you go.- Lovely.
0:07:17 > 0:07:21He is desperate to be a normal young man in a house of his own,
0:07:21 > 0:07:23doing his own thing.
0:07:23 > 0:07:24And I think with the right help
0:07:24 > 0:07:27and with us continuing to help him along
0:07:27 > 0:07:30and empowering him to do things for himself,
0:07:30 > 0:07:34then, yeah, he's got a good chance of achieving that dream.
0:07:34 > 0:07:39Thanks a lot, cheers, bye, thank you!
0:07:39 > 0:07:42FitzRoy want to be able to give people the ability
0:07:42 > 0:07:45to make choices in their lives.
0:07:45 > 0:07:48They believe having a learning disability shouldn't exclude
0:07:48 > 0:07:51or hold people back from doing the things they want to do.
0:07:51 > 0:07:53With your help, it won't.
0:07:53 > 0:08:00Please go to the website, where you can donate.
0:08:00 > 0:08:05If you don't have access to the internet, then call.
0:08:05 > 0:08:10And if you can't get through, please, please keep trying.
0:08:10 > 0:08:13Also, you can donate £10 by texting...
0:08:17 > 0:08:21Texts cost £10, plus your standard network message charge
0:08:21 > 0:08:24and the whole £10 goes to FitzRoy.
0:08:24 > 0:08:28Full terms and conditions can be found at bbc.co.uk/lifeline.
0:08:29 > 0:08:32Telephone calls are free from most landlines.
0:08:32 > 0:08:36Some networks and mobile operators will charge for these calls.
0:08:36 > 0:08:38Or if you'd like to post a donation,
0:08:38 > 0:08:42please make your cheque payable to FITZROY SUPPORT and send it to...
0:08:44 > 0:08:47..writing "FitzRoy" on the back of the envelope.
0:08:47 > 0:08:49Remember, if you're a UK taxpayer,
0:08:49 > 0:08:52the charity can collect Gift Aid on your donation,
0:08:52 > 0:08:54worth another 25%. Just send in a note
0:08:54 > 0:08:58to say you want your donation to be subject to Gift Aid
0:08:58 > 0:09:02and include the date, your full name and address.
0:09:02 > 0:09:04Thank you.