Creating More Accessible Communities: Our Visit to Thomas Vaughan
At Legacy in the Community, we are always keen to connect with organisations that are not simply talking about inclusion, but actively putting it into practice.
That is exactly what we saw during our recent visit to Thomas Vaughan, a Welsh family-run business whose work is helping people live more independently by creating accessible kitchens, bathrooms and living spaces designed around individual needs.
Our Business Community Liaison, Verity, and ALN Co Emily had the opportunity to visit the team, see some of their accessible solutions first-hand and learn more about the approach they take to removing barriers within the home.
Accessibility that makes a real difference
For many people, everyday spaces can create unnecessary challenges.
Something as simple as the height of a worktop, the layout of a bathroom or the positioning of cupboards can have a significant impact on how independently someone is able to live.
What stood out during our visit was the amount of thought that goes into making these spaces genuinely usable for the people who need them.
Accessible design should never be viewed as an afterthought. When it is built around the individual from the beginning, it can support independence, confidence and quality of life.
The work being carried out by Thomas Vaughan is a great example of how businesses can make inclusion practical, visible and meaningful.
Inclusion goes beyond the service you provide
Our conversations also went beyond the physical adaptations Thomas Vaughan delivers.
The organisation is working towards Disability Confident Level 3, Leader status, demonstrating a wider commitment to disability inclusion within the workplace itself.
The Disability Confident scheme encourages employers to think differently about disability and to take practical steps towards recruiting, retaining and developing disabled people.
For us, this is particularly encouraging.
When an organisation combines accessible products and services with a genuine commitment to becoming a more inclusive employer, it sends a strong message about the culture they are trying to create.
We were pleased to discuss their Disability Confident journey and how Legacy in the Community may be able to support them as they continue working towards Level 3.
We need more organisations willing to lead
Visits like this reinforce something we feel strongly about at Legacy in the Community: inclusion works best when organisations are willing to learn, adapt and take action.
It does not always require huge changes.
Sometimes it begins with asking better questions, listening to lived experience, reviewing recruitment practices or thinking differently about how a service or workplace is designed.
We want to see more organisations taking those steps.
Businesses have an important role to play in creating communities where disabled people can live, work and participate with fewer barriers. When employers, charities, community organisations and service providers work together, the impact can reach far beyond one workplace or one individual.
Building partnerships for the future
A huge thank you to the Thomas Vaughan team for welcoming us and giving us an insight into the work they are doing.
We came away from the visit with plenty to think about, some really positive conversations and a shared interest in how we can work together in the future.
At Legacy in the Community, we support individuals through projects such as Working on Wellbeing and our ALN provision, while also working with employers and organisations to build disability confidence and create more inclusive workplaces.
If your organisation would like to learn more about becoming Disability Confident, improving inclusion or working in partnership with Legacy in the Community, we would love to hear from you.
Email: [email protected]
Visit: www.litc.uk
