Case Study – Gibbon Family

The Gibbon family is comprised of Alex, in his early twenties, and his father Tony, in his sixties. Alex studied drama at University before being diagnosed with Functional Neurological Disorder, which has resulted in loss of mobility and strength throughout his body, and the loss of his voice. Alex can walk a little, and use his hands, but uses an electric wheelchair to go out of the house, and his mobile phone to communicate. He’s creative and outgoing, and is moving on with his life, despite the restrictions he now lives with.

Tony has been Alex’s carer, but has recently been diagnosed with cancer himself, so the roles are now more balanced, with Alex taking care of Tony as well. While Alex has big ambitions, he’s been choosing to stay at home and minimise external contacts to protect his dad, during his chemotherapy and other treatments.

One the first things that Village Works was able to achieve for Tony and Alex was ramp to the back door, which enables Alex to get outside in his wheelchair. There is a wet-room bathroom being installed in the summer of 2021, which will make a huge difference, as well.

Adele, Village Works Specialist Disability Support Worker (hosted by disAbility Cornwall), has been key in ensuring that Alex claims all the benefits and support that he is entitled to, and more recently, encouraging Tony to begin the process of claiming Personal Independence Payments in his own right.

The pair live in Bude, where GCHQ have been carrying out volunteering activities with their local staff, so they arranged a day with VW to come and tidy up the Gibbons’ garden, which had become un-useable, so that Alex and Tony could sit outside. Adele liaised with the local garden waste disposal site to allow GCHQ’s van to drop off the resulting waste, outside their normal rules.

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Alex has been able to undertake several courses, signposted through VW, including Citizens Advice Cornwall’s ‘Living on a budget’ training, and Adele is working to get him on a course through IDEA, including modules on IT and citizenship.

A local charity in Bude, the Pearl Exchange, operates activities for young people locally, and Alex has become very involved there, after it was suggested by Adele, and this has given him the confidence to get involved with Bude Pride. He helped to set up the event this year, including health and safety, risk assessments and more, then thoroughly enjoyed himself, debuting his stand-up comedy as well!