We have assembled a group of Direct Payment user experience stories. For further information on what Direct Payments can be used for or to share your own stories, please contact our Direct Payments Team at directpaymentsadviceteam@cornwall.gov.uk.
Kyle's Direct Payment Story
Kyle is a nonverbal autistic singer from Cornwall. Kyle receives a Direct Payment from Cornwall Council and through creative support planning uses this to pay for his music lessons.
Following the discovery that he could sing in 2011 after living most of his life in silence, Kyle recorded and released his debut album, 'Therefore I Am', a collection of his favourite songs, featuring one track written especially for him, entitled ' Just Listen'.
Since then, by request, Kyle has performed a number of small gigs throughout the Southwest UK. Kyle's confidence and communication skills continue to develop week on week, and he has built up a following the world over who have been inspired by his extraordinary talent and his music.
During 2013/14 Kyle has been working with vocal coaches and UK music producer, and an album of original material has been written especially for him.
His second album 'Beyond The Syntax' was released in April 2014.
R's Direct Payment Story
Our son has been in receipt of direct payment for 14 years which has enabled him to have a varied and fulfilled life which would not have been possible without the flexibility of direct payments. With this funding and the help of his parents he has created a week which he enjoys and give him purpose. With the direct of good PA's his week composes of a cardboard recycling service, voluntary work, time at the gym, all of which he does with friends and not forgetting the monthly pub night.
W's Direct Payment Story
Our son W, who is 27, has Noonan's Syndrome, Autism learning disabilities and other complex medical needs and cannot live independently.
One of his obsessions is trains and particularly, the Great Western Railway.
The GWR team at Truro has been very supportive of W and has provided him with a 'work experience' placement since he left Truro College 9 years ago.
He 'works' at Truro station, with PA support. on Mondays and Fridays, being out from 9 until 3, undertaking a range of duties including keeping the station clean, looking after the plants, and assisting passengers.
In 2020, GWR held an 'Excellence Awards' competition for staff across the region and the Truro station staff entry was 'Inclusion' base around their support for W and other young people.
They were the overall winners and W went along to Bristol for the weekend with his PA, the station manager, and Truro station staff to receive their awards.
W also has 5 hours of PA support at weekends which invariably involves a train trip on GWR.
W also enjoys cooking and gardening and has a placement at the Kehelland Trust near Camborne funded by his Direct Payments.
He goes there on Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Thursdays, travelling by train from Truro station.
W has a great relationship with Truro station staff with whom he has contact six days a week and Truro station provides a real 'safe space' for him.
When he is not out, W spends all his time, either on his computer, looking at train related websites and videos or checking his several 'live' train departure boards to check on the train services.
He would do this all the time if he didn't receive his Direct Payment to fund his 'supported lifestyle'.
