2016 and all that
Welcome to our winter newsletter. Our office will be closed after tomorrow, Thursday 22nd December and will re-open on January 3rd.
It's been a very busy and productive year. VASL moved to Torch House after 20 years in The Settling Rooms. We've also started new projects and welcomed new staff and volunteers.
The subject of loneliness has been much in the news over the last few months and Christmas also tends to spotlight it. VASL has been working hard to reduce it with our new Community Champions project.
We hope you have a restful break and look forward to seeing you in the New Year. You can see more information on our website but have a bit of a catch up now with a few of the things that we have been up to.
Nickie Philbin
Communications and Funding Manager 01858 439264 nphilbin@vasl.org.uk
|
|
|
|
|
This is our new home at Torch House,Torch Way, just past the Two Shires Surgery.
|
|
|
|
Volunteers are the cogs that keep VASL moving. At the age of 92, Kathleen Pearce, who has been one of our carer telephone befrienders for the last few years, finally decided in October she wanted to try her hand at other things. We can't thank Kathleen enough for the dedicated help she has given to people.
|
|
|
|
Our Carers Choir on December 18th, after their performance!
|
|
What can you say about our Carers Choir? They did a fantastic performance on December 18th and what made it extra special is that we were able to do a live link up to Greece, where one of the founding members of the choir had moved to!
We are trying to raise over £3000 to run the choir next year and if you would like to donate, please follow this link https://www.justgiving.com/campaigns/charity/vasl/choir Carers don't often get the chance to have "me" time in a supportive environment that is not health related. It's a chance for them to have fun and meet people that understand.
|
|
|
Yet another new project started this year has been Step By Step, a group for former carers. We understand that when the caring role comes to an end there is often a huge gap left as the carer has devoted so much of their life to their loved one or friend. We help to rebuild their lives. If you would be interested in coming along to one of our groups contact Gurjit or Jackie on 0845 6899510 or drop them an email on maureen@supportforcarers.org
|
|
|
|
|
Our brand new project, helping to change the lives of lonely or isolated people over 60
|
|
|
We're so proud of Community Champions. We spent the best part of a year doing research on how best to help the lonely and isolated in a way that helped to knit people back into their community. We started this pilot project, funded by ourselves and an HDC grant, back in May and we are applying for a five year Big Lottery grant to ensure the work continues. We have heard nothing but good feedback since we began. What does it do? Take a look here
|
|
|
|
Our new Carers Digital Inclusion Project gets down to training volunteer Digipals
|
|
|
In April we were successful in obtaining a £30,000 grant from LCC to provide a Digital Inclusion post for our carers project. We provide the tools,skills and support to ensure Carers are not left behind in the digital age. Do you want to be a Digipal? Have a look at www.supportforcarers.org to see more.
|
|
|
|
Outside our staff conference holding our Pride in Harborough 2016 Care in the Community Award
|
|
|
We dedicated a morning to looking at communications and listening to keynote speeches from Voluntary Action Leicestershire's CEO Kevan Lyles and also The Ideal Market Company's Alistair Campbell. Alistair got us to get together and took this shot of us with our recent award from Pride in Harborough.
|
|
|
|
|
