Scottish Children's Lottery Trust’s Post

Do you consider yourself an unpaid carer? Out of the current 10.58 million unpaid carers in the UK, over 54% took over a year to recognise themselves as a carer with 24% taking over 5 years. If you are caring for a loved one, the term unpaid caregiver isn’t even thought of because you simply refer to yourselves in terms of your relationship, daughter, wife, husband, partner etc. People just get on with what is needed for their loved one. Yet the role, expectations and personal impact of being an unpaid carer can be huge. You haven't applied or trained for this role yet here you are! When someone is living with a long term health condition, the impact on the wider family can be huge. As a charity we are here to support not only those who use our therapies and services, but also to create a community for their loved ones. We have recently introduced a wonderful social activities programme which is open to both clients and carers. Come and learn a new hobby, meet new people or simply have some time for yourself. https://lnkd.in/eD8rpqEt #CarersWeek

As part of #internationalwheelchairday, we're really pleased to share this post from our Business and Charity Manager, Stephen Frew - "Last Friday was international wheelchair day, and for those of us who use wheels instead of our legs to get around, our wheelchairs can mean different things. Please remember, we are not all the same and we are not defined by our wheelchair. And the only restrictions our wheelchairs place on us are those that are designed, presented and not removed by society and non-wheelchair users. - Just because we are in wheelchairs doesn't mean that we're not happy. Even though we deal with challenging circumstances, we live a very happy and fulfilling life. - Some people think that everybody in a wheelchair can walk and just don't want to walk. Many of us have lost the ability to walk due to an injury or an illness. - Some of us have never had the ability to walk, because of the way we were wonderfully made. - We enjoy being included in the conversation. I know for me personally when I'm with my wife or children, everyone talks to them and not me, it's as though I don't exist. - We are not inspirational just because we are living our lives to the maximum and most potential we can. - We also don’t know every other wheelchair user on the planet. - Wheelchair users don’t all go to the toilet in the same way, so please do not jump to assumptions. Most of all, no matter what disability you live with, no matter how old we are, we do not have special needs, we have human needs." Stephen If you would like to find out more about our charity or interested in the training and workshops we can offer, please get in touch with us at enquiries@footprintscec.org. #eastmidlandscharity #conductiveeducation #internationalwheelchairday

🌟  Support Invisible Army! 🌟 We're on a mission to make a real difference in the lives of those who need it most. We aim to raise donations to support our work at Invisible Army - a grassroots organisation that uses the arts to reach out to carers (unpaid) and pressure policymakers. We are determined to reach more carers (unpaid) with our exhibitions to let carers know that a community of people and support are available. To do this, we are asking people for help. We only need to raise £2,500 to put on our next exhibition this summer and have set up a Crowdfunder to help. The donations have started, but we need to keep going! Every penny raised will directly impact the lives of carers (unpaid) by raising awareness, and with your help, we can make a real difference. Your donation, regardless of size, will help us reach our goal. 💁 Support Invisible Army today, and let's make an impact together! 💙 Donate now at https://lnkd.in/ebrf5Ssr 🌏Visit our website to learn more about what we do and how we help support the carers' community. #InvisibleArmyUK #Fundraising #MakeADifference #CommunitySupport #CaregiverSupport #justgiving #UnpaidCarers #SupportingCarers #CaringCommunity #EmpowerCarers #CarerAdvocacy #GivingBack #CommunityCare #InvisibleHeroes

Hello LinkedIn Connections!!! I have a small but important favour to ask of you, as you scroll through the myriad of posts here, can i ask for 30 seconds of your time to consider the following, from the newest member of the Unity IT Team, Mark Alexander, and if you are able to, any donation would be gratefully received! Many thanks Trevor =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=- From Mark: On Saturday, June 1st, I'll be taking on the challenge of the Mourne Way Ultra, a grueling 52-mile mountain run through some of Northern Ireland's most breathtaking landscapes in the Mourne Mountains. While this is undoubtedly a physical challenge, it's also a deeply personal one for me. I'm running this ultra-marathon in support of Cause, a mental health charity that is close to my heart. Cause is dedicated to advocating for carers as they support their loved ones with mental health issues. As someone who has been a full-time carer for years, I've seen firsthand the toll that caring for loved ones with mental health challenges can take on individuals and families. You might wonder what running a mountain ultra has to do with mental health caregiving. Well, in many ways, the two experiences are remarkably similar: 1. Endurance and Persistence: Just as running an ultra requires physical endurance and mental toughness, so does caring for a loved one. It's an ultra-marathon, not a sprint, and requires incredible strength to keep going even when things get tough. 2. Navigating Challenges: Like navigating rugged terrain during a mountain run, caring for someone with mental health issues often involves navigating through challenges and obstacles. It requires adaptability, problem-solving skills, and resilience. 3. Support and Teamwork: Just as runners in an ultra-marathon rely on crew and fellow runners for encouragement and assistance, mental health carers rely on support networks and resources to help them through their journey. By supporting me in this run, you're not only cheering me on as I tackle this challenge, but you're also helping to raise awareness and funds for Cause. Your contribution will directly support mental health carers, providing them with the resources and support they need. If you'd like to contribute to this important cause, you can do so by donating directly to Cause through the link below, or contact Cause directly at verity@cause.org.uk and mark the e-mail subject "Ultra run": https://lnkd.in/eHY_jUMU #fundraising #ultramarathon #goodcause #itsforcharity

Anyone running a charity knows these are bleak times. The funding environment is tough yet demand continues to hugely increase. We are not magicians, but we are agile and continue to deliver a high quality service with big impact. A huge thank you and well done to the entire team at Swindon Carers Centre, who continue to focus all efforts on effective carer support. Some stats from our Q4 and end of year monitoring: 289 new carers registered with Swindon Carers Centre in Q4. Overall, our services now support 5524 carers.   1328 individual carers were supported through our services in Q4 with Adult Carer Groups, Registrations, One to One Support and Carer Support Line being accessed the most. 83 Adult and Parent carer events/activities provided, with 100% of carers attending saying they benefited from the event. 271 Parent Carers accessed support work throughout the year including assessments, 1:1 Support, and funding. 100% of young carers attending group sessions felt they'd had a break from their caring role. 100% of young carers attending group sessions felt they had made new friends or had been able to spend time with friends made through our Young Carer service. 229 Emergency Card Scheme Plans created or reviewed across the year. Carer feedback: "No words can say how grateful I am for your support in helping S with have a break from her caring role.” Carer feedback: "Meeting you has changed our lives, I'm using the money you got us (from Attendance Allowance) to pay for a cleaner and a gardener and take some of the stress away, I don't know how to thank you enough." Young Carer feedback: "I was very happy. It made a change to sitting at home with mum whilst unwell." #carers #Swindon #Charity #community

It's more than just a home...it's creating space and independence!🏡 The step change from #homelessness, to a hostel, to a flat (assuming that's available) is too much for many people and therefore our Partners are able to stand in the gap and provide fully independent living but with floating support.  Here are some of the many things they do: ➡️ Prevent isolation ➡️ Encourage social interaction ➡️ Provide a residential address - this helps massively with finding work ➡️ Introduce the resident to other agencies who can help i.e. counselling, trauma support, qualifications etc. ➡️ Take them to medical appointments ➡️ Help them with their benefit applications ➡️ Encourage residents to engage in meaningful activities such as volunteering, training, education or employment ➡️ Provide reassuring support on a daily basis ➡️ Keep people safe ➡️ Help restore family and personal relationships.  Each person is unique and has different needs, with different reasons for being #homeless. So partners will always personalise everything and create individual support plans , with the ultimate goal of creating independence and space to grow and transform. 🙏💚 #HomeForGood #HomelessnessAwareness #HousingCrisis #HomelessLives #HomelessPeople #HomelessShelter #Shelter #Crisis #Charity #UKHousingCrisis

It's more than just a home...it's about creating space and independence!🏡 The step change from #homelessness, to a hostel, to a flat (assuming that's available) is too much for many people and therefore our Partners are able to stand in the gap and provide fully independent living but with floating support.  Here are some of the many things they do: ➡️ Prevent isolation ➡️ Encourage social interaction ➡️ Provide a residential address - this helps massively with finding work  ➡️ Introduce the resident to other agencies who can help i.e. counselling, trauma support, qualifications etc. ➡️ Take them to medical appointments  ➡️ Help them with their benefit applications ➡️ Encourage residents to engage in meaningful activities such as volunteering, training, education or employment ➡️ Provide reassuring support on a daily basis ➡️ Keep people safe ➡️ Help restore family and personal relationships.  Each person is unique and has different needs, with different reasons for being #homeless. So partners will always personalise everything and create individual support plans , with the ultimate goal of creating independence and space to grow and transform. 🙏💚 #HomeForGood #HomelessnessAwareness #HousingCrisis#HomelessLives #HomelessPeople #HomelessShelter#Shelter #Crisis #Charity #UKHousingCrisis

We're proud to feature Go Live Theatre Projects (GLTP) for this month's Story of Impact. GLTPuses the power of theatre to create inspiring experiences and unlock possibilities for disadvantaged families and young people with SEND. IICF’s 2024 grant has allowed GLTP to deliver a 12-week creative drama project at a Youth Organisation in Westminster for young people aged 11-25 with mild to moderate learning disabilities and often from economically deprived backgrounds. What did participants experience? - 1.     Greater confidence to contribute and try something new.  2.     Improved wellbeing by taking part in a fun, creative and group activity.  3.     Greater ability to express themselves creatively and develop their social skills. “A was so confident and excited to devise her own character from the sorting hat exercise. She had ideas right away and directed the group! We have never seen her do this before or be so quick to jump up and put herself in the spotlight to perform (…) We all found ourselves in awe and wonder at her taking centre stage and were really proud for her to have this moment to shine.” –  Lead practitioner To learn more about the charity, visit https://lnkd.in/den8B3s9 About IICF The UK has one of the poorest rates of social mobility in the developed world. We’re working to change this by uniting the industry in volunteering, leadership, and grants to social mobility charities. In the UK, we’ve raised nearly £2M to change the lives of more than 7,200 people in the communities in which we live and work.  Learn how you can get involved and make a difference: www.iicf.org.uk #IICFImpact #SocialMobility

Giving back to society is not just about making a difference in the world around us; it’s also essential for our own personal growth and development. When we give back, whether through volunteering, donating, or supporting community projects, we are actively contributing to social improvement and making a tangible impact on the lives of others. Here are 5 reasons why you should consider becoming a wheelchair volunteer for the British Red Cross, and doing your part to improve the lives of disabled people:   ✅You'll have fun - You’ll join a team of passionate, motivated people from all over the world, who often know a thing or two about pub quizzes and local restaurants. ✅You'll be helping by taking pressure off the NHS. ✅You'll be making a real difference in the lives of people who need it most so that they can access and experience mobility and freedom. ✅You'll meet lots of different and interesting people from all walks of life, in different cultures, and from different backgrounds. ✅You'll learn new skills - As well as practical skills, such as customer service and how to assemble a wheelchair in under 30 seconds, you’ll learn things that other roles just don’t teach, like emotional intelligence and resilience. If you are interested in donating some of your time to becoming a wheelchair volunteer, you can find out more through the British Red Cross website. #CustomMobility #GivingBack #WheelchairVolunteer #RedCrossVolunteering #HelpingOthers #MakeADifference #Volunteering #Mobility #GiveAPush #PushingToMakeADifference #BritishRedCross

Our take on the recent concerns and warnings raised about the #SupportedHousing sector 👇 https://lnkd.in/en7Je8vC #UKHousing #Housing #Charity