0:00:07 > 0:00:11Isolation, the feeling as if you have no-one to talk to,
0:00:11 > 0:00:14no friends to meet, can be hard enough for most of us, but when you
0:00:14 > 0:00:19have a disability, it can make life even more difficult to deal with.
0:00:19 > 0:00:22This is where Phab comes in,
0:00:22 > 0:00:25a UK-wide charity that supports regular
0:00:25 > 0:00:30activity clubs like this one and has been doing so for over 60 years.
0:00:30 > 0:00:33They're open to everyone of all ages and abilities
0:00:33 > 0:00:36to do what most of us take for granted, have an
0:00:36 > 0:00:40opportunity to play games, talk and make friends.
0:00:40 > 0:00:41- Hiya.- Hiya.
0:00:43 > 0:00:47The charity's clubs are special, like this one in Epping Forest.
0:00:47 > 0:00:49Adults, as well as children like Keana,
0:00:49 > 0:00:52can come to interact with like-minded friends,
0:00:52 > 0:00:55which can help with their social interaction and confidence.
0:00:57 > 0:01:01So what is the best thing about coming to Phab?
0:01:01 > 0:01:05Like, I get to have fun there and there are all these
0:01:05 > 0:01:09- people in wheelchairs like me, and things.- And do you make friends?
0:01:09 > 0:01:13Yeah. I've made quite a few.
0:01:13 > 0:01:18- Today, we made, like, things out of pipe cleaners and stuff.- Ooh!
0:01:18 > 0:01:22And about this wheelchair dancing, do you think it's possible
0:01:22 > 0:01:27- I might get to see some of your moves?- Sure.- Fantastic.
0:01:27 > 0:01:29Give me a high five. Yes!
0:01:29 > 0:01:31# Don't blame it on the sunshine
0:01:31 > 0:01:33# Don't blame it on the moonlight
0:01:33 > 0:01:35# Don't blame it on the good times
0:01:35 > 0:01:37# Blame it on the boogie
0:01:37 > 0:01:39# Don't you blame it on the sunshine... #
0:01:39 > 0:01:43Hi, Sandy, I've just been having the most wonderful chat
0:01:43 > 0:01:45with your little granddaughter, Keana.
0:01:45 > 0:01:46I'll bet you have!
0:01:46 > 0:01:51She's just adorable! Tell me a little bit about her.
0:01:51 > 0:01:55She has cerebral palsy. She was born three months premature.
0:01:55 > 0:01:57It wasn't until she was about a year
0:01:57 > 0:02:01and a half that we really found out what was really wrong with her.
0:02:01 > 0:02:07With Keana, she is always very wary of people that she don't know.
0:02:07 > 0:02:09But she's actually got on so well.
0:02:09 > 0:02:13She was chatting to other people in there and that, it was lovely.
0:02:13 > 0:02:16So, would you say it has benefited Keana coming here to Phab?
0:02:16 > 0:02:18Leaps and bounds, Anita.
0:02:18 > 0:02:23Confidence like, you know, generally at ease and quite happy.
0:02:23 > 0:02:26All the children in there seem very happy.
0:02:26 > 0:02:29You know, Phab isn't just for children or those with
0:02:29 > 0:02:32disabilities, everyone is welcomed into the Phab family,
0:02:32 > 0:02:36from seven-year-olds to 70-year-olds, and beyond.
0:02:37 > 0:02:41Natalie's story really shows what's possible being a part of Phab.
0:02:43 > 0:02:47At the age of 25, Natalie was working, walking
0:02:47 > 0:02:50- and having adventures. - But, then, tragedy struck.
0:02:51 > 0:02:54Life kind of stopped, as I knew it.
0:02:54 > 0:02:58I went into hospital as a working, able-bodied person
0:02:58 > 0:03:04to coming home as somebody completely different that kind of...
0:03:05 > 0:03:07..had gone back to babyhood, in a way,
0:03:07 > 0:03:10and being dependent on my parents for everything.
0:03:10 > 0:03:14You kind of think, well, how do you start again?
0:03:14 > 0:03:17Natalie was severely affected by Guillain-Barre syndrome,
0:03:17 > 0:03:20a very rare and serious condition that affects the nerves,
0:03:20 > 0:03:23and is now paralysed from the neck down.
0:03:26 > 0:03:30Before I was ill, I was always busy, always doing everything.
0:03:30 > 0:03:32I also did a lot for other people, and all of a sudden,
0:03:32 > 0:03:34that all stopped,
0:03:34 > 0:03:37and I'm completely dependent.
0:03:37 > 0:03:39I lost a lot. I lost a lot of confidence.
0:03:39 > 0:03:43I just felt, "Who needs me now? Where do I fit in?"
0:03:45 > 0:03:48I kept my really, really good friends, and they stuck by me,
0:03:48 > 0:03:50but I also lost quite a lot of friends.
0:03:50 > 0:03:53So, I did start to become quite isolated,
0:03:53 > 0:03:58and I didn't want that, I wanted to be the person that I was before.
0:04:00 > 0:04:03I found out about Phab through a friend who had also
0:04:03 > 0:04:04been in hospital with me.
0:04:04 > 0:04:08Everybody was really friendly and nobody asked me questions,
0:04:08 > 0:04:11nobody really wanted to know what had happened,
0:04:11 > 0:04:15where I had come from, and I instantly felt really at ease.
0:04:15 > 0:04:19Nobody knew me before and that was really nice,
0:04:19 > 0:04:22to be able to just be me from the start.
0:04:22 > 0:04:26I found who I was again, really.
0:04:26 > 0:04:29You make friends, you talk to different people
0:04:29 > 0:04:30and you share experiences,
0:04:30 > 0:04:34so it really has given me my social life back in every way, really.
0:04:36 > 0:04:39Since I have been going to Phab, I've actually, as myself,
0:04:39 > 0:04:43I've got a lot more confident, I've done some things at Phab that
0:04:43 > 0:04:48I never, ever thought I would do. It doesn't have to be that your life is
0:04:48 > 0:04:52finished, that's it. You can still go out and do all these things.
0:04:52 > 0:04:56And it really has given that back to me.
0:04:58 > 0:05:01If you were looking for a role model for somebody who copes with
0:05:01 > 0:05:05a serious disability, then I would point you in the direction of Nat.
0:05:05 > 0:05:08Her disability doesn't define her, it's just part of who she is.
0:05:08 > 0:05:10If you watch, during the course of the evening,
0:05:10 > 0:05:13most of the members of Phab will speak to her.
0:05:13 > 0:05:16She has a smile and a good word for everybody.
0:05:16 > 0:05:18We are about enjoying ourselves, we are a social club, we are
0:05:18 > 0:05:21about having a good time. There isn't the support out
0:05:21 > 0:05:23there for disabled adults,
0:05:23 > 0:05:27and Phab, to some extent, fills that hole.
0:05:27 > 0:05:29Without the help of volunteers,
0:05:29 > 0:05:32Phab clubs just wouldn't be able to exist.
0:05:32 > 0:05:36And donations can help fund life-enhancing activities
0:05:36 > 0:05:39like games, arts and crafts, and musical workshops.
0:05:42 > 0:05:43Yes!
0:05:43 > 0:05:46You know, one of the most life-affirming experiences
0:05:46 > 0:05:49that Phab run are residential summer trips,
0:05:49 > 0:05:52often an opportunity for young people with special needs to
0:05:52 > 0:05:56get away from home for the first time without their parents.
0:05:56 > 0:06:00Caitlin, who has cerebral palsy, and her brother Cameron, spent
0:06:00 > 0:06:04a week at an outdoor residential centre in the New Forest,
0:06:04 > 0:06:05away from Mum and Dad.
0:06:05 > 0:06:10It was different. I got to do stuff that I don't normally do.
0:06:10 > 0:06:14It just gave me the independence that I know I needed.
0:06:14 > 0:06:17Knowing that I can do different activities gives me
0:06:17 > 0:06:23that confidence that maybe I don't get in school or at home.
0:06:23 > 0:06:26Often, people don't see her for what she knows that she is,
0:06:26 > 0:06:29so she is proud of what she has been able to do.
0:06:29 > 0:06:32And a lot of it is people of a similar age
0:06:32 > 0:06:35so she has got that peer support.
0:06:35 > 0:06:38So it gives her friends that are similar to her.
0:06:38 > 0:06:41It's that sense of belonging, it gives them a big sense of belonging.
0:06:41 > 0:06:43It has inspired me to go out and meet new friends
0:06:43 > 0:06:46and it's inspired me to...erm...
0:06:48 > 0:06:51..go to different clubs and try new things.
0:06:51 > 0:06:55In terms of brother/sister going together,
0:06:55 > 0:06:58it is quite important because, Cameron being that bit younger,
0:06:58 > 0:07:01it gives him the opportunity to feel independent.
0:07:01 > 0:07:03It gives Caitlin responsibility as well.
0:07:03 > 0:07:06That's it, we try, where we can, to say, "You are the big sister."
0:07:06 > 0:07:10So, for her, she's got an important job there.
0:07:10 > 0:07:16Since 1957, the charity has inspired and supported disabled children
0:07:16 > 0:07:19and adults to make more of life together.
0:07:19 > 0:07:23This can be key in improving their quality of life and wellbeing.
0:07:23 > 0:07:24Now, with your money,
0:07:24 > 0:07:28Phab will be able to offer more residential projects
0:07:28 > 0:07:33and open up new clubs where the demand is greatest, across the UK.
0:07:33 > 0:07:36Think about how important these clubs are to those who
0:07:36 > 0:07:40don't have the opportunity to leave their home with ease.
0:07:40 > 0:07:43With your generosity, Phab will be able to provide safe
0:07:43 > 0:07:47and fun places for people to feel independent,
0:07:47 > 0:07:51meet new friends and gain confidence, together.
0:07:52 > 0:07:54So, please do give what you can.
0:07:55 > 0:07:57To give by phone, call:
0:08:01 > 0:08:04Calls are free from mobiles and landlines.
0:08:18 > 0:08:23Texts cost your donation, plus your standard network message charge,
0:08:23 > 0:08:26and 100% of your donation will go to Phab.
0:08:26 > 0:08:30For full terms and conditions, or to make a donation online,
0:08:30 > 0:08:32visit the Lifeline website at:
0:08:37 > 0:08:39Or if you would like to post a donation,
0:08:39 > 0:08:43please make your cheque payable to Phab and send it to:
0:08:45 > 0:08:48Write Phab on the back of the envelope.
0:08:48 > 0:08:50ALL: Thank you!