Chatting Independently was set up in April 2003 by Anthony Robertson, David Morris and Derek Robertson. Our first establishment was registered in 2003 by the National Care Standards Commission while our second establishment was registered by its successor the Commission of Social Care Inspection in December 2008.

Its primary aim is to train and support young people with a physical disability in the age range of 18-45 years in the use of various forms of Augmentative, Alternative Communication (AAC) and giving them the opportunity to learn to direct their own lives and become self-assertive and independent.

Our definition of being independent is to have the freedom of thought to be able to direct others to help a person to fulfil tasks which may otherwise be impossible for that person.

Starting with The Bungalow at 3 Rectory Drive. In May 2007, we bought a new property at 42A Wimblington Road because we had six residents living at The Bungalow.

Since our new property had an upstairs we had to instal a through-ceiling lift and converted two very large bedrooms into four bedrooms which gave us capacity to take another six residents.

Our new property, which was considered by the Care Quality Commission as a new establishment, was registered in December 2008 and became known as Orchard View.

At present, there are seven residents at Chatting Independently three live in The Bungalow while the other four live in Orchard View.

We have started work on the next stage of our plans for Chatting Independently which include finding smaller three bedroom properties for Supported Living so that those who have completed  their 3-5 years in The Bungalow of Orchard View can move into these under the umbrella of Chatting Independently and still receive the therapy they require. There will be no time limit for how long they can live under our Supported Living scheme.

We are also looking to opening a general Rehabilitation Assessment Centre perhaps away from March for people of all ages who have various neurological conditions who require assessment form our therapy team to which we hope to add soon an Occupational Therapist.

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