Transcript: A Day In The Life: Laura

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Laura - My name is Laura Taylor and my job role is a Personal Assistant.

I've known Joseph since I was about 11 years of age. Me and Joe used to go to primary school together. Joe's sister and my sister are best friends, so I then got back to know Joe once we was in high school.

I volunteered with him to do his bronze Duke of Edinburgh. I was 15 years of age then. Then, when I turned 16, Caroline asked me would I like to start working with Joseph, taking him out at weekends to the pub, just doing every normal day activities, really.

Most walks are Joe's favourite cos he just loves being outdoors, especially when the weather is like this. But this is one of his local walks since he's moved to Atley Bridge. In places like this, he can be more free. We don't have to constantly be by his side. Whereas on a main road, we need to be at the side of him cos of cars and stuff.

I get a buzz looking after Joe. Just being able to see how happy he is, cos I'm taking him outdoors. If I weren't here, then Joe would just be cooped up inside. Joe needs that two-to-one support to help him walk upstairs, be outdoors, mind the traffic.

When they diagnosed that he had meningitis, his mum was determined that he was gonna walk. Then she got a load of volunteers who went in an hour a day to help him with weights and stuff, and at the age of four he took his first steps. Ever since then, he's never sat down.

If it's in winter, when it's raining all the time, you can't go on many walks, long walks, so the gym is an ideal opportunity for Joe to let off steam.

(speaks with service user)
- Five, four, three, two, one.
(Cheering)
- Come on, then. Come on, give us a smile.

Odd Socks is a charity enterprise where Joseph delivers leaflets and then a week later collects the bags what people have left out, which contain old clothes, bedding, bric-a-brac. All that gets put into a container and weighed, and any money he makes out of it goes to the charity to help families who have got children with disabilities or people what are struggling.

(speaks with service user) - That's it. Well done. Let's close this door. Push the door to. Here. Push the door to.

I get satisfaction and I always go home feeling happy, knowing that Joe's happy from what we've helped him do during everyday day-to-day activities. I don't think I'd get the same satisfaction working in a shop.

I do probably see myself progressing in this job role. But I see myself being with Joe for a very long time, just cos we have a good bond, a good friendship.