The Trust is named for
Judith Lawrence, sister of the current Chair, Annette Lawson and current Honorary Treasurer, Peter Lawrence
The Judith Trust was founded in
1997 by Judith's family and set up to ensure the concerns of the Trustees would closely follow the nature of Judith's
own problems, her background and personal characteristics.
It took the intervention of the head teachers of the
first kindergarten Judith attended during WWII in Somerset for the family to recognise that she might be "slow".
Much effort went into helping her to learn and handle her particular problems with number which she could not grasp at all
as well as working on her general education. However, she walked, talked, sang, played and was in every other way not a disabled
child.
Back in London though she could not cope in a normal school, was bullied and removed to a special, small,
private school that enabled her to learn to read and to gain some independence. Alas, the additional independence afforded
her (walking home from school for lunch) led to an episode of sexual abuse.
As she got older, it became increasingly
difficult for Judith to engage with the community of which she was a part, she developed additional problems, and eventually
her parents bought a cottage for her in the country and invited the family Nannie back to look after her. This ended in a
major breakdown for Judith and many subsequent ones which it seemed could not be prevented or cured with changes in her environment
nor with treatments then available. Rightly or wrongly, Judith has lived for many years in a hospital which she regards as
home and from which she does not want to move. She remains deeply anxious, but enjoys a number of things including colouring,
making pictures - collages and others, visiting her family, spending time with her principal visitor and carer, visiting places
of interest and shopping. She buys all her own clothes and chooses presents for people but is afraid of doing things on her
own and is slow to trust anyone.
It is because Judith has both learning and mental health problems that the Trust
explores how to improve the quality of life with and for people with both these issues. It is because Judith is a woman and
our background is Jewish that we take a particular interest in the needs and concerns of women and Jewish people. Born into
a different family at other times, her history of course would have been different but we have learned how much is also still
shared with people of all ages in varied backgrounds with these problems. And with their families, carers and friends.
To read more about some of the campaigns the Trust has been inspired to run, please click here.
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