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Busy growth period for VASL
Welcome to our summer newsletter. VASL has been awarded new contracts, tenders and funding in all areas which will mean we will be able to increase our services to an even greater amount of people, not just in Harborough but county wide. We have had a crazy busy few months. Have a bit of a catch up with what has been going on.
This week is Carers Week and you will see links to our Carers News within the newsletter.
We hope you have a great summer.
Nickie Philbin
Communications and Funding Manager 01858 439264
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The VASL Carers Choir have quite literally been singing for their supper – writing and singing a song to explain why they should be funded by The Leicestershire County Council Your Shire Community Grant For Carers. We were successful! We also put in funding from our reserves so now our Carer's Choir will keep going for another year. They meet in Lutterworth once a fortnight and if you are a carer, why not give it a go? Give Support for Carers a call 0845 689 9510
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Meet Jo, our new Contract and Office Co-ordinator. Now VASL has grown to 24 staff members, we need to be kept in check!
Jo has set up a new HR and Personnel Management System for us - taking responsibility for ensuring contracts of employments and policies are kept up to date legal and she will also be providing administration support.
"When I’m not at work I love reliving my childhood with my two young children so it’s nice to know many of VASL’s projects benefit young people, as well as carers, older people and the wider community.”
Jo is the first point of call for any general enquires. 01858 433232 jpateman@vasl.org.uk
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Our good friends at Specsavers have continued to do a great job of supporting us. On June 6th they volunteered for VASL and joined us dressed as super heroes, getting passer-bys involved and collecting donations at the same time. Over the day they helped to raise over £621.00 which is terrific - even if it left some of us with a little chaffing...
It's great when you have the support of a company that knows our clients could be theirs, too. If your company could support us in any way, give Nickie a ring on 01858 439264
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The social transport project is always super busy with booking journeys and special outings. If you need to know more about what is on offer you can see it here
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We'd love to be able to have a few ipads for the use of our vulnerable people to have a go on to see if it is something they take to. If you can either donate or raise money for this, please email Nickie on nphilbin@vasl.org.uk
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Our community garden is being looked after by Master Gardeners and their volunteers. There are reams written on the therapeutic effect of allotments and working with nature. If you want to volunteer, let us know. It is situated in Little Bowden
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We are pleased to welcome six new members of staff to our new county wide Health and Wellbeing Project which started at the end of May. They will spend their time working with GP's Practices and their staff along with other agencies, identifying new carers that are currently under the radar. Read more about what they will be achieving here
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Date for your diary
On Thursday September 10th 5:00pm - 7:00pm we will be holding a special Volunteer Celebration Evening at The Methodist Church hosted by our Patron Maggie Philbin. "I've seen the terrific work that VASL volunteers do and the evening will celebrate that" said Maggie
"without all our volunteers our projects would not function. They are the engine of VASL.
If you are thinking about volunteering and want to know more, please do come along. If you know of one of our volunteers that is going the extra mile; let me know" Maggie.Philbin@vasl.org.uk
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We have appointed Beverley Brown as the new Support For Carers Team Leader who joined VASL on 8th June. Beverley brings with her a wealth of experience in managing and team leading following a 28 year career in banking.
"I'm really looking forward to working with VASL – I have a huge burning desire to share my business and personal experience, energy and enthusiasm to play a key role locally to achieve the on-going goals and vision of VASL.
Over the last 6 months I have volunteered with a number of local organisations (including VASL as a telephone befriender) and now wish to bring my two worlds together to fully support my local community. I’m also a keen gardener and am looking forward to getting fully involved with VASL's community garden"
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Does your hairdresser/local shop/butcher/ have one of these rather attractive collection tins? Do you know them well enough to ask if they would like one? You will see Specsavers have our collecting tins all over their shop and it is a great way of supporting us. Call Jo on 01858 433232 and pick one up along with leaflets explaining what we do.
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Thanks to funding from HDC New Homes Bonus grant we took our Good Companions Project into the more rural areas and we are now very busy introducing digital elements so that people can have new methods of keeping in touch. If you know someone over the age of 60 that may be lonely and welcome a regular chat with someone, get in touch with us. Have a think about how else they can be supported.
Our volunteers have now been trained by Silverline (pictured above) in using ipads, so they can use them with the people they visit. The whole new initiative is going really well.
Jenny manages the Market Harborough District Good Companions and you can contact her on 01858 439260.
Trish looks after the villages in more rural areas and her number is 01858 439263
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VASL is here to help support the vulnerable in Market Harborough and Leicestershire and if you have any ideas that you think should be listened to, come in and have a chat with us or send any of us an email.
Do you want to volunteer, support us by running a marathon, know someone that could benefit from any of our projects? Let us know.
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Our Carers Team have been successful again in being awarded the tender from Leicestershire County Council to deliver Support For Carers Leicestershire. At present we have over 4,500 carers registered and we are always looking for new ways to support them. This week is Carers Week and we have lots on
Take a look at what we do www.supportforcarers.org
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Our Young Carers project were thrilled to be chosen by the Leicestershire and Rutland Community Foundation's Women in Philanthropy as one of their three projects that they will support for the next year. We have delivered two talks explaining what Young Carers face and look forward to delivering a talk at The Curve at the end of the year at a sparkling event where funding will be awarded. It is great to have their support and to let more people know about the lives of young carers
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Our good news continues. We have successfully bid to Adult and Communities Prevention Services to run three new Carers Bereavement Groups in Lutterworth, Hinckley and Harborough. A high percentage of Carers reach crisis when their cared for dies. They are grieving for their loss but are also isolated, their role has changed and the focus of their life has gone. These new groups will be structured, well balanced and varied and start in July.
If you know of anyone that would like to join please call Support For Carers on 0845 689 9510
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This week is Carers Week and as we give support to over 4,500 carers it is good to have a week that puts a spotlight on their lives - but carers need support all the time and we continue to hold events and forums throughout the year.
On June 16th we are holding a special day that also features the Carers' Choir and alternative therapy sessions. If you'd like to come along, just give us a ring or drop us an email.
0845 689 9510 maureen@supportforcarers.org
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I think you'll agree we have been a tad busy! It's been worth all the hard work to be rewarded with so many new tenders and funding streams which will bring lots of support to the people of Market Harborough and Leicestershire.
A huge thank you to all our volunteers, long standing and new that are the cogs that are the heart of VASL. If you would like to volunteer for us - get in touch and if you can think of something we should be doing, do get in touch with me.
Maureen O'Malley Senior Manager 01858 439267 momalley@vasl.org.uk
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Whatever you end up doing this summer, we hope you enjoy yourself, relax and think good thoughts...
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