WHEN DEVON LUMINARY Dame Georgiana Buller fell from her horse in 1914 and suffered a severe spinal injury, she realised how difficult life was for people with disabilities, and how hard it must be for them to work and support themselves. In 1937, she established St Loye's Foundation in Exeter, which provides training and finds employment opportunities for anyone with disabilities or long-term ill health, physical or mental. The high-profile charity — whose patron is the Queen — also has satellite offices in Warrington in Cheshire, Cardiff and north Devon. Staff adopt a “person-centred” approach to helping clients and provide a range of interventions, including vocational training, personal development, emotional support and financial grants tailored to the needs of the individual. Clients come from all walks of life, and St Loye's Foundation offers specialised services for veterans, people on the autistic spectrum, those with learning disabilities and female ex-offenders with mental health conditions. In its 77-year history, this small institution has had many success stories. Gary, a former builder and roofer, broke his back in an accident. He found himself confined to a wheelchair for four months and walking on sticks for a further five, and he was unlikely to return to his former job. He also went through a divorce. He says, “I was unemployed and trying to find work or training. I was introduced to St Loye's and took a course in computer and integrated skills. My aim was to get a role in energy assessment. I have now started with the Energy Reports Company in Paignton.” St Loye's Foundation has a social conscience (90% positive — just four small organisations did better), and profit is not its only driving force (81%). It encourages charitable activities (94%) and is run on strong principles (88%) — all top-10 results. It also works with volunteers, saying: “Where would we be without them — for instance, John has raised over £900 since April.” Staff give the highest positive score in the survey for never having had a bad day at work (49%), and say they love St Loye's (85%) and would not leave for another job (79%) — placing it eighth on these measures. Chief executive Christopher Knee meets new joiners and leaves his office door open. He runs the foundation on sound principles (90%, fourth) and his workforce has faith in him (85%). www.stloyes.org.uk
