People
The people you’ll see each week at the Music Gym are:
Tom Smurthwaite
An acclaimed blues singer-songwriter, Tom brings a wealth of experience from the fields of music, sound engineering and technology.
In 2000 Tom was a founder member of ‘Count Me In’ – the organisation that preceded Decoda – which took musicians of all genres into day services and residential homes. Becoming increasingly aware of those people on the edge of the group, he began investigating equipment that would enable them to participate fully. Eventually his research led him to the development of the Music Gym.
Tom is the inspirational force behind the Music Gym. His passion for finding ways to connect with people who are difficult to reach is obvious to anyone who sees him there. For him the dividing line between work and “leisure” is very thin, as he invariably spends time away from the workshop trying out new ideas. The only thing that will tear him away from that is a good football match.
Gary Mills
Gary is the glue that holds Decoda together, as our chief administrator and the Music Gym’s members’ co-ordinator.
Having spent many years travelling and working abroad, Gary returned to England to set up a successful IT company specialising in training, websites and databases, all valuable skills that he’s brought to his current role. Although he was a non-executive director since the beginning of Decoda, he never imagined he’d end up working here. Being involved with the Music Gym has been a new and fulfilling experience: he particularly enjoys working with the volunteers and the employees who themselves have learning disabilities.
When Gary’s not working you can find him crafting pots, painting, gardening, or training for the local half-marathon.
Julia and Michaela
Julia (right) and Michaela are employed as assistants at the Music Gym. Julia, whose main job is running the desk, came to us from Working Wonders at the Conquest Centre in St. Leonards. Michaela, who’s in charge of the Dancing Squares, came from the Parchment Trust Co-op in Hastings.
Here’s what Julia says about herself:
I am 43 years old and have been going to the Conquest Day Centre since 1988. I live with my mum at Pett. My dad died two years ago.
My favourite activities are art and drama. I attend a course on Thursdays and perform in their show every year. I like using computers. I also work in the kitchen at the Conquest Centre every Wednesday and help in the café in Malvern Way every Monday.
At home I like making greetings cards, listening to CDs and watching TV and videos and DVDs. I help my mum with the housework.
This is what Michaela says:
I live in Hastings in a family placement in supported accommodation. My hobbies are: singing, music, watching tv, discoing, clubs, pubs, gyming, swimming, night clubs.
Volunteers (Sue)
Sue is our volunteer receptionist in the afternoon who came to us from Working Wonders at the Conquest Centre in Hastings. Over the years we’ve had a succession of volunteer facilitators who come to us for a variety of reasons: between jobs, wanting to get back into work after illness or having children, needing experience of the care sector. Sadly (well, sadly for us) they have all moved on to employment.