50 Voices
WILMER 50 Voices captures the authentic voice of the people that use our services and our staff as Turning Point celebrates its 50th anniversary
50 Voices
Wilmer Fuller
50 Voices
Wilmer Fuller
Wilmer Fuller has been supported by the staff at Downfield Way for the last 3 years. Downfield Way is a Turning Point service in Bedfordshire which supports individuals with learning disabilities.
My name is Wilmer Fuller and I live at Downfield Way. I first came here when I was 18 years old and I’m 21 now, so it’s been about 3 years. I came to Downfield Way because I had been in foster care, but I was 18 and when you’re 18 you have to leave. There were other services that I could have gone to, but I preferred Downfield Way especially as in one of the other services I wouldn’t have been allowed to cook for myself, and cooking is really important to me.
Before I came to Turning Point my life was miserable. I had been in foster care since I was little and I didn’t like that I couldn’t do a lot of things that I really enjoyed. For example, I wasn’t allowed to cook in foster care, but I love cooking! I really like preparing Asian food, especially Indonesian food. I like to put in a lot of spices, chilli and garlic. I usually make noodles and chicken and at Downfield Way I get to cook two days a week; Fridays and Saturdays. I get to cook for everyone, and everyone really likes my cooking; they say my food is very adventurous!
I was happy about coming to Downfield Way. I hoped Turning Point would be able to help me with certain things like how to use my money, how to budget and how to just manage money. I think I wanted them to support me to become more independent. I wanted to learn how to go out on my own.
50 Voices
Wilmer Fuller
At Downfield Way I really like sharing the food that I’ve cooked with everyone else. My key worker is Dylan Mazhindu and the best thing about him is that he is a really cool guy. We enjoy ourselves when we hang out together and we both really like football.
I also like going to college, and generally going out and having fun. I’m the type of person who really likes going out! Normally I go to the cinema, bowling or to restaurants. My key worker is Dylan Mazhindu and the best thing about him is that he is a really cool guy. We enjoy ourselves when we hang out together and we both really like football. He’s a really nice guy and we respect each other because we are really friends. Next year we’re going to Manchester to watch Manchester United play at Old Trafford. I’m a big football fan but Manchester United is the only team in England that I like. FC Bayern Munich and FC Schalke are two of my favourites.
Life at Downfield Way is nice. There are lots of group activities going on, but sometimes I prefer just going into town. Sometimes I go to the pub with a member of staff for a drink and something to eat. I normally get some Asian or Mexican food. Quesadillas are my favourite! But I also like fajitas and nachos and I’ve made them for everyone at Downfield Way. Everyone thought my nachos were really nice. I like trying foreign, exotic foods. I get my ideas for the stuff I cook from some recipe books that I have and I might get some more!
I think my life now is very different to how it was before I came to Downfield Way. Before I would say I was a right scruff bag, I wasn’t happy and I was fed up. But now I am happy, cheerful and I feel young so I do like to do some partying now and then! I go to college and am in my last year now. The course I do teaches steps to independence. We’re learning how to be sensible, show that we can represent the college, and learning how to behave in town. You can’t be silly; you also have to know how to be nice to your friends like talking to them if they’re upset and giving them a cuddle.
50 Voices
Wilmer Fuller
Without Turning Point my life would be hell, it would be rubbish.
To me, Turning Point has helped me to meet new friends and have fun
I hated being fostered. I think I felt like I couldn’t do things I wanted like cooking or going out with friends. To me, Turning Point has helped me to meet new friends and have fun. We usually have parties for people’s birthdays too. It was one of my friend’s birthdays recently so we went to Milton Keynes for the day. We had lunch at Red Hot Buffet which has so much different food from countries all around the world; for dessert we had chocolate tiramisu. Then we went to Hollywood Bowls which is American bowling; it was a really fun day!
In 5 years I see myself leaving Downfield Way and being able to live by myself. My dream would be to work for the United Nations. I’d like to be a part of every country so I could stop the wars, fighting and the poverty then I could protect everyone
I’d also like to go on holiday and help poorer people, especially children. I’d like to try to help them to study. My dream would be to work for the United Nations. I’d like to be a part of every country so I could stop the wars, fighting and the poverty then I could protect everyone. I want to get a job and live happy. I was interested in sharing my story because telling people about my experiences makes me feel happy because I am so happy now. Life at Downfield Way has been good and now I’m just concentrating on enjoying my life!
50 Voices
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