Our Story
  

SILC Ltd was established in 1991, at this time it was known as Supported Living (BOP) Ltd and Peter James was looking to develop a small boutique organisation which would support no more than 21 people.  At the time SILC sub-contracted to Community Living Trust, a Waikato based provider until the Health Funding Agency (Now the Ministry of Health) contracted directly with SILC a few years later.

Supported Living (BOP) Ltd was re-branded to Supported Living when SILC began being of service to people in Taupo and Auckland and then was re-branded to Supported Individualised Lifestyle Choices when the term Supported Living began being used by The Ministry of Health for a contract to support people.

 

Originally the company was owned by two directors, Peter James and Terese Germon but discussions about sustainability began in 2001 and after looking at many models and offers to be purchased by larger organisations the decision was made to develop The SILC Charitable Trust.  The purpose of this Trust was to have a Board of Trustees who would form a strong back bone for the disability organisation SILC Ltd and perpetuate the philosophy established by Peter.

The SILC Charitable Trust was established in 2004 with it’s original Trustees being Peter, Terese and Matthew Gordon.  However it took some time before the Board really started to function at a level Peter and Terese had originally envisaged. In 2010, Terese and Matthew resigned from the Trust Board and Jeni Donaldson and Richard Buchanan joined it.  The purpose of this was to begin to move the Board into a phase of action.  The vision was to establish a Board that had a broader perspective than just that of supporting a disability organisation but to be a Board which could provide a range of services to many disadvantaged groups which could be self-funding from the ownership of philosophically or values aligned profitable businesses and which could return these surplus to the community to support a community where everyone belongs.

Peter James and Richard Coad
Peter James and Richard Coad

 

Since 2012 the Board has focussed on becoming a strong backbone for SILC Ltd and SwitchedOn.  2013 has been an exciting year with lots of progress being made by The SILC Charitable Trust.

SILC Ltd is a well recognised and respected provider of support to people who have intellectual, physical, sensory or acquired disability.  The SILC Charitable Trust believes the services SILC is well known for, can be of benefit for any person who has experienced a life changing event, illness, injury or disability and requires support.  Whether it's a few or many hours a week, anyone can now purchase professionally trained and qualified support services.

SwitchedOn was launched by The SILC Charitable Trust in July 2013 as a stand alone company.  This is great for the community as any person or organisation who wants quality training for their support staff or support network can now access SwitchedOn's services.  Whether its customised training or national qualifications SwitchedOn can provide quality training services that meet your needs.  It is also able to provide one on one advice, advocacy and support for people to get mobility equipment that will enhance their lives and to provide Health and Well-being Services to people through their Well-being Coordinator.

The SILC Charitable Trust continues to look for opportunities to foster collaboration and inclusion and celebrate diversity in our local community.