At SeeAbility, we believe in empowering people with learning disabilities, autism and sight loss to live the life they choose. One of the most important ways we do this is through Active Support - a way of working that helps people gain confidence and independence. Tapiwa, a support worker at Dorset Supported Living, shares how Active Support makes a real difference to the people he supports.

My name is Tapiwa, and I’ve been a support worker at SeeAbility for several years. Every day, I’m proud to be part of a charity that makes a difference in the lives of people with learning disabilities, sight loss and autism. When I’m not working, you’ll usually find me cheering on Liverpool FC, my favourite football team.

I joined SeeAbility because I wanted to make a real difference. I have a passion for supporting people to build confidence and gain the skills they need to live independent lives. There’s nothing more rewarding than seeing someone achieve something they never thought possible - whether it’s making their own meal or learning a new skill.

What is active support?

Active support is about helping the person we support take part in their day-to-day life. This means supporting them to do things for themselves, rather than doing things for them. It might be helping someone make a choice about what to wear or encouraging them to prepare a meal. We believe everyone should be able to do as much as possible for themselves, and we are there to guide and encourage them along the way.
In my role, I support people with everyday tasks like cooking, getting dressed, or managing their daily routine. But active support is more than just helping with these tasks, it’s about giving people the chance to grow in confidence and independence. It’s amazing to see how people become more confident in themselves as they try new things, even if they’ve never done it before.

Why is active support so important?

The best part of my role is seeing people grow in confidence. At the start, many people I support needed help with everything. But I see them trying things on their own and feeling proud of what they can do. For example, one person I support struggled with cooking at first, but over time, they’ve started preparing meals for themselves. The look on their face when they finish a meal is priceless.

Every little step is a reason to celebrate. Whether it’s trying a new task or making a choice, every moment is an achievement when you’re helping people live the life they choose, at their own pace.

Making a real difference through active support

Being a support worker at SeeAbility is incredibly rewarding, especially when you empower people to take charge of their own lives, giving people the skills, confidence and independence they need to live life to the fullest. Watching the people I support reach their goals and take control of their lives is what makes this role so special.

Giving people the tools and confidence to do things for themselves, one step at a time is a big reason why I’m so passionate about what I do every day.