Tim Wood, initiator and manager of the Integr8 programme, tells how it all started…
In 2006 I had been at disability charity, London Sports Forum for Disabled People (LSF) for 11 years. I went for promotion but didn’t get it, so I asked God what He wanted me to do next. Looking through Christianity magazine I came across an interesting job with Through the Roof and got invited for interview.
After giving a good presentation on what I believed God wanted me to say, I completely messed up my interview questions. I thought ‘there’s no way I’ve got that job’. I was right!
The letter turning me down arrived in the post but offered the opportunity to contact the charity for feedback. I phoned and was surprised to hear that the Chairman wanted to speak to me. He explained that the person they had offered the post to didn’t feel God wanted her to take it up and so had done some re-structuring to the organisation. The Board wanted to create a new post for me to implement the vision I had presented about enabling young disabled people to get involved. I was humbled to know I wasn’t the best candidate but privileged to think that God wanted me in the job.
The first nine months in the job consisted of researching, planning and organising TTR’s new youth programme – Integr8 – which launched in June 2007 with a core number of about 12 – 15 committed people.
Since 2007:
- * Integr8 mentors have discipled and influenced young disabled people;
- * Integr8 teams have travelled internationally to India and Guatemala to train local people on inclusion;
- * Young adults with personal experience of disability have also attended these international mission trips as team-members and role models to share their life stories of success and challenges;
- * A youth zone website has been launched and developed – and now re-designed – to encourage and inspire young disabled people and resources church and group leaders to explore the issue of disability
- * A written resource – Intentional 1 – has been published; training workshops in autism and for young people have been developed and delivered
Tim’s story
Many, many years ago, when I was just 16, I volunteered to help out on the ‘Disabled Children’s Holiday’ based at our local church. I don’t even know what got me there but it kick-started my 20-years’ involvement with young disabled people.
In my first full-time job at Uxbridge College, I got involved with teaching sport to the disabled students and also attended residential holidays, then moved on to work for disability charity, London Sports Forum for Disabled People (LSF).
After 11 years at LSF I came to Through the Roof and initiated the Integr8 programme with its desire to see young disabled people being given opportunities to make a difference in their own life and to contribute positively to others.
A special meeting happened at a recent conference where a familiar-looking face came to the TTR exhibition stand I was manning. At first neither of us could quite remember where we recognised each other from but then I realised it was John, the leader of the disabled children’s holiday I had helped on 20 years previously. I was really pleased to encourage him with news that the holiday he organised had been the catalyst for my career path.
When not working I enjoy spending time with my wife and four young children and I am also involved on the leadership team at my church. If I had any spare time I would love to go running or play golf.
