Please note: This site is currently under review. We are aware that some content may be a little out of date and does not fully reflect all the services we now offer. Updates will be made very soon.
Tel: 0115 9003188
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Because your choice and control matters
About Us
Break Barriers started in 2009, by Andrene Lewis-Longwe. Andrene got frustrated with the way how traditional services were delivered and saw a gap for more creative services that puts customers in control of what they are receiving. Andrene now has over 13 years of work experience in health and Social care services.
Since Break Barriers delivered it first service in 2010, we have continued to support customers to remain at home and access personal care services that is suited to their individual needs; we have supported customers to access and participate in wide range of recreational activities that once seemed impossible; we have supported families to have respite break while their loved ones were being cared for at their chosen destinations; we have supported young adults to leave home for the first time without their parents and we have supported customers to realize their dream holiday at locations they never imagined.
Break Barriers has now added another service; Support with Transport. This service allows you to be picked up from your door and taken to your destination of choice with the support of a staff. See our services page.
Break Barriers will work with our customers to support their rights to design services and to access opportunities that people living without a disability or ill health take for granted. Because of our very size we can assure you of a personalized, creative, individually tailored and flexible approach.
See our customer feedback page for testimonies and view our link below.
Our Mission
Break Barriers will deliver high quality designed services to enable disabled customers to participate in activities that non-disabled people take for granted.
At Break Barriers we will support your choice while you stay in control.
You can find our full Mission Statement here
Community Based Organization
Because of the popularity for our services, we have grown from a Micro service to a small family run organization within the last 5 years. Within the last 2 years we have focused on building a solid foundation before we opened the doors to more customers.
We have not market our services within the last 4 years but yet we have doubled our customers and staff intake. This is all down to the positive experiences people have had while either using our working for Break Barriers.
At Break Barrier we acknowledged that the right balance between staff support and respecting customer’s choices is vital. At Break Barriers, we believe that good Staff recruitment and management and good Rota planning has been one of the key to our success.
Break Barriers services delivery is still founded upon the same principles that customer's choice and control matters. Our customer's satisfaction is paramount to what we do and we want to continue making a difference to the lives of the people we support.
While working on the right balance, this has helped us to grow our business at a steady and controlled paced to ensure the service quality is not compromised.
Our most recent Care Quality Commission (CQC) continues to speak for itself and it's our aim to sustain such positive feedback from each inspection and customer reviews done. If we get it wrong we will do everything to try and make it right.
Break Barriers has recognized that with growth comes more responsibility and that is why we continue to recruit staff to match with customers demand. Our current Management structure allows us to continue investing in staff and customers satisfaction. We have started to promote our staff members who have been with us from the beginning to more senior roles to ensure the quality is not lost.
The two Directors continue to be actively involved in not only the day to day running of the office but the care that our customers receive in their homes.
We remain focus and continue to have a personal interest in how the service is delivered on a day to day basis. You will still see managers, directors out and about with our customers doing the care and support; and while conducting regular reviews with all areas of service delivery with the customer group.
At Break Barriers we are proud to be a family run business.
Our last CQC inspection rated our services as:
- Good for Caring
- Good for Effective
- Good for Responsive
- Good for Safety
- Good for Well-Led
The Staff
There are now over 20 members of staff at Break Barriers and all staff working for Break Barriers have been DBS checked and fully compliant with regulatory bodies. Most of our staff members have been with us since we opened our doors in 2010. Break Barriers is interested in staff development and so all our staff have either completed up to Level 2 in an apprentice or undergoing the qualification.
This year we have promoted 1 member of staff to a junior management position and we continue to look at the skills our team possess to use them to the benefits of our customers. In doing so staff remains motivated to take on the challenges of the work they are doing in a positive way.
The staff team reflects a wide range cultural and diversity and brings a lot of flavor to the support delivery based on their experiences and back ground.
Andrene who is the Managing Director has over 15 years’ experience working in Health and Social Care.
Andrene started in care as a care support worker, and have worked with a variety of citizens with different needs. Andrene spend time in an assistant manager's role before starting Break Barriers in 2009.
Andrene believes even with such years of experience, there is still more to learn as each person is an individual in their own way and should be treated as such.
In our last CQC report the staff team was very positive about their place of work.
The service was rated Good for wel-led.
Awards
- 2014 Care Quality Commission overall rating for service: Good
- Winner of Nottingham City Council Start up Social Enterprise of the year 2011 awards.
What our customers are saying about us

After an array of demeaning and undignified experiences with the statutory services during a decade of undergoing various orthopedic procedures in which because of impenetrable barriers existing in modern administration effectively denying many in my position appropriate emotional, psychological or practical support it is a massive relief to have engaged recently with Barrier Breakers a highly sensible-and sensitive person centred initiative.
From the initial point of contact to the completion of the valued assistance Barrier Breakers gave me, it is clear that their Service is formed in and founded upon a different spirit. This is combined with a deep understanding of the pragmatic buoying up that people in my position need and a confidence that recovery can be joyful and quick when such assistance and support is appropriate, personal and undogmatic.
Bob Campbell-Lamerton
Nottingham
May 2010

I have used Andrene for P.A support on weekends in the past. I really looked forward to these weekends because of the support I received that allowed me to be spontaneous and take part in whatever activities I wanted. I have visited so many attractions over the years that I can't begin to mention each one.
Now Andrene has started Break Barriers, I have booked my holiday for a mediterranean cruise, my first cruise and my first holiday in 15 years, I can't wait.
I would definitely recommend Break Barriers services to anyone.
Emma
St. Anns, Nottingham
September 2010

I used Break Barriers services to do my shopping and went for afternoon tea. The service was delivered with patience, kind, and personalised to what and how I wanted things to be done. Trying a new service was not an easy choice to make but I am happy I did.
Definitely recommended.
Ina
Nottingham
September 2010

Andrene joined our Time Bank, the Skills Exchange, in January 2008. This is a volunteering project where members earn Time Credits helping others and can then swap them to get help themselves. When she joined she was very clear that she particularly wanted to help older people, either by befriending or with practical tasks.
Recently I asked Andrene if she could help out Mick, one of our older members at 82, with his shopping. He has recently been unwell and needed support getting to the supermarket and also help once in the shop with loading the conveyor belt and packing the shopping. Mick has been delighted with the help that he has received from Andrene.
I can't fault Andrene, she very friendly and helpful. It's been great actually, we've had a good laugh. Mick also commented that Andrene was always punctual and reliable and that she had gone the extra mile for him by going back into the shop and finding a measuring jug that he needed. She had worked this out by chatting with Mick about his needs. As the co-ordinator of the Skills Exchange I have always found that Andrene takes a very responsible attitude to the tasks she undertakes and has kept in regular contact with me regarding Mick's needs.
Helen - Time Bank Officer
Nottingham
November 2010

I came into contact with Break Barries at Disability event in Nottinghamshire and though the service would benefit my daughter Jessie. When I contacted Break Barriers, my inquiries were met with quick responses by the Managing Director.
Since February, we have been using BB and overall I am very satisfied with the services that Jessie have been receiving from Break Barries. The service delivery allows Jessie to make choices and remains in the centre at all times. The staff is very enthusiastic in responding to Jessie and meets Jessie's needs well.
Both Jessie and I are very pleased with the services we have been receiving from Break Barriers, the service is flexible and very personalised to Jessie's needs and Jessie has enjoyed her time working with you. I look forward to our continued working relationship with Break Barriers.
Jessie And Jill
Bramcote, Nottingham
March 2011

I have used and changed so many different agencies for years and was so unhappy with the services I was receiving. My last agency staff lasted 2 days; with Agencies you never know who is coming, if they are coming and when they would arrive.
I was referred to Break Barriers services by DIPSU and since April of this year. Since my encounter, the services I received has been great, I cannot fault the services, I have choice, always in control of the services I receive, the PA is always on time, I have had the same PA ever since, she is respectful and courteous.
I am no longer interested in recruiting my own Personal Assistant, I am pretty satisfied with the services I am receiving from Break Barriers and I could not have ask for a better Personal Assistant and I don't want to change.
David
West Bridgeford, Nottingham
June 2011

I was introduced to Break Barriers when my daughter found traditional service not working for her. Since our working relationship began in 2011, we have not looked back. We only access 1 day a week support and it's a support that is worth it. My daughter is able to leave home independently to do things I never thought she would. She loves it, and have gone on holiday with Break Barriers and still talks about it.
I would definitely recommend it.
Julie/Samantha
Stapleford, Nottingham
January 2013

I have been using Break Barriers services since December, 2011, for Domiciliary care services. Prior to Break Barriers I used another agency that I had lots of concerns with and this made my life a misery in my own home. When Break Barriers was introduced to me, I can remember saying how will I know that you are going to be different. Andrene re-assured me that this can only be proven when I have used the service for myself. I started December 2011 and I have no regrets to this day.
I receive a rota 2 weekly that gives vital information and if there are any changes I am made aware of this in advance and I see the same members of staff all the time. I have never had a staff coming to my home that was not first introduced and had an induction. I am encouraged to remain independent and to do things at my own pace.
I get support to maintain my relationship with my daughter and with this support I am able to do activities with her in planned time.
Great, I would definitely recommend service.
Andrew
Carlton, Nottingham
March 2013

I used another agency for my day to day care and have used Break Barriers to support me to take a holiday abroad. I was made aware of Break Barriers by Day Centre that I attend. My thought of a holiday was to go to Blackpool because I was told that I could not travel abroad and I did not have a passport. When I met Andrene and told her I wanted a holiday in Blackpool she asked me what was my budget for the holiday. When I told her my budget she informed she could get me much more and further for that amount.
I explained that I could not travel on airplane because of my health and Andrene suggested I got the doctor to review this. Andrene discussed and explored all options until we talked about a cruise without flying. I was nervous but excited at the same time, but the support I received from Break Barriers made the process all too easy. In January 2011, I went away and had 14 nights of pure Magic, and would do it all over again.
I could not have done it on my own and would definitely recommend Break Barriers services.
Christine
Bilborough, Nottingham
March 2013

Break Barriers have supported me to remain independent in my home; I know who is coming and when they are coming. I am very satisfied with the service I receive and I have recommended it to others.
Lindsay
Kimberley, Nottingham
March 2013

I still remain a very happy customer of Break Barriers for the support I receive. Since I started with the service, I have not only had day activities but weekend away without my family and I am now looking forward to my 14 night's cruise of the Mediterranean with support. The supports I continue to receive are tailored to my needs and support my family to having the respite they need when they need it. The staff are really nice and friendly and very flexible - one of them even dressed up as a frog to support me in a public performance.
I am very pleased and would recommend service.
Jessie
Bramcote, Nottingham
March 2013

Very satisfied with my time schedule, excellent staff, respectful of my choices, adhere to professional standards, satisfied with the cost of care, I will continue to use service and would recommend to anyone.
Young Adults Kimberley
Kimberley
March 2016

Very satisfied since I started with service, my needs are supported and staff and management team remain professional and continues to respect my choices. I will continue to use Break Barriers as long as I have a need to. Of course I would recommend service to anyone
Andrew
Carlton, Nottingham
March 2016

Still going and still happy with my service, Break Barriers have maintained the standards they started with.
Lindsey
Kimberely Nottinghamshire
March 2016

Long term user of the service for over 5 years, very good service delivery, will continue to use service and would recommend to anyone
Emma
St. Anns, Nottingham
March 2016

Long term user for over 5 years, very satisfied, excellent staff team, consistency in service delivery, will continue use service and would recommend to anyone
Francine
Radford Nottingham
March 2016

Very satisfied, I access services with transport, and I am very satisfied, knowing I can be picked from my home and back.
Martin
Radford Nottingham
March 2016

I am so pleased to be working with Break Barriers and have been for the last 4yrs. We have recently team up with Break Barriers to provide Residential weekends for Jessie and her friends. The atmosphere that break barriers create is friendly and family orientated. The young adults and their parents all voiced what positive experience this was for them.
Jill Pulp Friction
Stapleford, Nottingham
March 2016

We have been working with break barriers for about 12 months and the team have supported my daughter on residential weekends and also during the day as a day service. Andrene and the team are wonderful. They provide a bespoke service built around our daughters individual needs. Nothing is ever a problem for them and they see no mountain as insurmountable ! This provides us as parents with incredible support and means that we feel supremely secure in trusting our daughters care to them. They are imaginative, adaptable, fun, loving and resilient . We can't recommend them highly enough.?