St Anthony of Padua Community Association is a long-established social care charity supporting adults to live with dignity, respect and independence.

Under the leadership of CEO Helen Woods-Waters, the team had a bold vision: to create an Older Persons’ Life Map with the people they support that truly reflects what matters to them.

With funding from the Community Foundation, the project was able to work with older people from across the community using art and collage, facilitated by a local artist, to express their priorities, hopes, and challenges. These creative expressions were then translated into a new version of a SIGNAL Life Map — giving older people a clear, personal way to share their voices and shape the support they receive.

Helen explains:

“We started our Signal journey in 2023 as we were looking for a tool which would contribute to both improving people’s overall wellbeing as well as provide useful quantitative and qualitative data and reports to evidence impact and emerging themes across our community.  We had heard of how other local services were experiencing Signal and the way in which people could take control and identify changes they wanted to make to improve their lives.  We were developing an Improving Health and Wellbeing Plan and we could see how the use of Signal could empower the people we support and  both strengthen and expand the Listening strand of the plan.”

The results so far have been inspiring. When a committed organisation and skilled facilitator take the time to listen and build trust, small moments can spark big change. Stories like Liz’s — where a simple football top opened the door to renewed purpose — show how the methodology can unlock hope and aspiration.

Call to action: We’re keen to share this approach more widely. If you work with older people — whether in care, community, or health settings — and want to explore how SIGNAL Life Maps could transform conversations in your organisation, we’d love to connect.

Liz’ Story

Elizabeth Haddrick (Liz), age 78

At first glance, Liz’s Lifemap suggests a lonely and limited life. She struggles with her eyesight and dental care, feels disconnected from family and community, and has few hopes for the future. In many ways, her Lifemap reflects a person who hasn’t felt she has much of a say in her own life, with her money managed by appointees.

Liz has been supported by St Anthony’s home care service for two years. She rarely leaves her home due to poor mobility and her reluctance to use a wheelchair. Although encouraged to try an electric wheelchair, she has so far declined. This reluctance to participate in group activities is something both Liz and St Anthony’s are gently working on—navigating logistical and emotional barriers.

Despite these challenges, Liz’s Lifemap revealed a window of opportunity. When she mentioned clothing as a priority, joking about wanting a new Sunderland football top, Dionne, one of St Anthony’s Signal facilitators, sensed there was more behind the comment. She recognised it as a chance to connect Liz with something meaningful, reintroducing hope and aspiration.

The deeper story soon emerged: Liz is a passionate Sunderland supporter. Her connection to football runs through her family history, back to her father and grandfather. In the 1960s, she organised buses for away supporters and worked at the Black Cat pub at Roker Park. Her fondest memory is Wembley 1973, when Sunderland beat Leeds 1–0. Her favourite player remains Jimmy Montgomery, the legendary goalkeeper. Liz’s home is filled with Sunderland memorabilia—a true fan’s shrine.

Dionne arranged for Liz to receive a new Sunderland top, surprising her with it just in time for the new season. Liz’s response was full of joy:
“I never thought I would ever have a new top – and ready for the new season too! I’m so happy I completed my SIGNAL Lifemap!”

This small act opened doors to wider change. For example, Liz agreed to a home eye test, leading to new glasses and the chance to enjoy the football even more:

“I never knew you could get home eye tests until I did my Lifemap. I’ll now be able to see the football better!”

The Support Worker’s Perspective

Dionne Telford, the Referral and Assessment Officer at St Anthony’s, has worked in care for 22 years. She admits that when she first started using SIGNAL, some people appeared stoical, insisting they didn’t want to change anything. This initially left her disheartened. But Liz’s story shifted her view:

“Liz has helped me see that I’ve cracked it! SIGNAL opened up a deeper conversation and built on the rapport I already had. Yes, it was a nice thing to give her the Sunderland top, but more importantly it created purpose. That helped us work together on other areas of her life, like her eyesight. Seeing Liz’s happiness reminded me why this work matters.”

For Liz, a Lifemap and a football top have brought more than comfort—they’ve sparked connection, pride, and a renewed outlook on life.