We are Shaftesbury Our rename journey
Celebrating 180 years of heritage
In 2024, Shaftesbury was chosen as the new name for disability charity Livability, in honour of our renowned Victorian founder, the seventh Earl of Shaftesbury. We’re excited about how our new name can give impetus to the charity’s mission: to make more lives add up, for people with disabilities.
Renaming ourselves as Shaftesbury is part of the charity’s far-reaching transformation plan. Working on growth and development drew our attention more closely to Livability’s valuable heritage. In our 180th year, the history and stories of one of our founding organisations – The Shaftesbury Society – revealed a huge potential for growing and engaging our audiences, always motivated by doing better for the people we support. As Shaftesbury, telling the stories of our work over the centuries, in relation to disability and disadvantage, will power our future.
We are Shaftesbury
Lord Shaftesbury remains one of history’s most significant agents for social change. The seventh Earl of Shaftesbury pushed through nineteenthcentury legislation to make life fairer and safer for tens of thousands of vulnerable children and adults.
In 1844, he became president of the Ragged School Union, a body which offered free education and support to poor or disabled children. The Union was built on practical Christian faith and this remains foundational to our work today.
Over the decades, the Union shifted its focus to children and adults with disabilities. The organisation was renamed The Shaftesbury Society in 1944 and, later, became Livability.
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Will I recognise the new charity’s brand?
You’ll recognise Shaftesbury straight away because our branding – the ‘look’ of the charity – remains the same, only our name changes. We kept our brand because it continues to depict so well what the charity does. Our ‘life sum’ graphic shows how our work enables the people we support to live lives that add up for them.
Our heritage powering our future
We’re stepping into our Shaftesbury history in a more intentional way because it helps us explain our work, today and for the future. We believe it has the presence, public awareness and stand-out features that we need to grow our brand and the number of people we can serve.
We’ll continue to use the histories and contributions from our composite charities – The Shaftesbury Society, John Grooms, Prospects for People with Disabilities and At Home in the Community – as part of this rich tapestry. And the Shaftesbury family continues to actively support our work: Nick Ashley-Cooper, the twelfth Earl of Shaftesbury, is our current vice-patron.
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‘As Vice-Patron of Livability, am proud of what the charity continues to achieve for people with disabilities. The ethos of ensuring that lives are flourishing and pushing for the very best in care and education for the people we support continues to forge the path and principles of my great- (times many!) grandfather.
‘I am grateful to remain very connected to the work that Livability delivers around the clock. As Livability turns to this exciting new chapter, with a new name of Shaftesbury, I look forward to what’s to come, connecting to our heritage in a new way and ultimately increasing support for the people who need it the most.’
Nick Ashley-Cooper, 12th Earl of Shaftesbury
1944
2007 - 2010
2016 - 2024
Anthony AshleyCooper dies in October
Anthony Ashley-Cooper, 7th Earl of Shaftesbury, is born. He was to become known as the ‘Poor Man’s Earl’.
Lord Shaftesbury becomes a member of Parliament.
Aged just 25, he campaigns for legislation on better working conditions, mental health and
Lord Shaftesbury becomes president of the Ragged Schools Union. The Union replaces child labour with basic education, clothing, and food.
1870
The Education Act is passed and reduces the demand for ragged schools.
The Shaftesbury Memorial, Anteros, is unveiled in Piccadilly Circus, London.
The Ragged School Union becomes The Shaftesbury Society.
The Shaftesbury Society joins with John Grooms to become Grooms-Shaftesbury. In 2010 Livability came into existence.
In 2016 we were joined by Prospects, helping more people with disabilities create lives that add up for them. We are still improving the quality of life for people with disabilities and helping them create a life that adds up.
Shaftesbury is the disability charity that enables each child, young person and adult to live a life that adds up for them.
What makes life add up is different for everyone. It’s the sum of many things and many people – from friendship to fun; from companionship to community; from a great chat to a challenge overcome.
‘All together better for disability’ means working with the people we support, promoting inclusion, independence and opportunity.
All together we are better; it’s why we work to see people take part, contribute and be valued. We do this through our wide range of disability care, special education and rehabilitation services across England, Wales and Northern Ireland.
Read more here: www.shaftesburygroup.org/rename
Email: info@shaftesburygroup.org
www.shaftesburygroup.org Shaftesbury.Group
Shaftesbury is the operating name of Livability which is a registered charity and company limited by guarantee in England and Wales. Charity No: 1116530 and Company No: 5967087.
2024/Shaftesbury:ourpastandourfuture/01/Brochure