Welcome to our December OTR Friends News! ⛄

Welcome to our December newsletter!

It's difficult to look back at 2020 without a sense of discomfort, however, for us here at OTR Bristol, we have adjusted fast and learned from the process too. As we start to reflect on this challenging year, I would like to use this opportunity to thank all our supporters for continuing to fundraise and donate to support us.

I have spent many hours talking to you on Zoom, emailing you and discussing your fantastic campaigns on social media. I have shared all your brilliant support with our staff and our young people. We all remain humbled and deeply moved by the fact that you are here for us.

I would also like to say a huge thank you to those of you who have mentioned and donated to our 55th Birthday. It is so lovely to hear all your stories of our impact from the last few decades. Thank you for all your kind support!

We are entering 2021 with exciting news. You might remember that during the first lockdown, back in April, we have distributed over 1,000 of free seed kits to support young people at home. We are very proud to hear that our Nature Works project is now shortlisted in the Children and Young People Now Awards 2020.

Thank you for being with us this year!

Our thanks go to...

This month we would like to say a huge thank you to Gabriella and Sallie for their fantastic swimming challenge over on Instagram and JustGiving. Thank you so much!

Here is their story:

Gabriella says "I suffered from a breakdown coming up to three years in January and OTR significantly influenced my mental health recovery. with their CBT Therapies. Without their services my quality of life would not be an ounce of what it is now. OTR is an extremely important service and I hope this will advance other young peoples recoveries. Also, cold water swimming is a huge beneficiary for my mental health. Aside from the physiological benefits, pushing past my anxiety that comes with entering cold, vast, open water gives me confidence and pushes past a barrier each time I swim. Completing this challenge will be a huge achievement. It will contribute to my continuing mental health recovery and contribute to empower other young people with funding OTR services!"

Sallie says "Doing this challenge together, mother and daughter will be very special if we can achieve it. I have arthritis in most of my joints and the cold water really helps with reducing inflammation but will be a huge challenge for but I think we can achieve it together! The important services OTR provided Gabriella was crucial in her recovery, without them I do not know how she would have continued. I truly believe they saved her life."

Thank you for your continuous support and for helping us help young people's mental health.

Stay safe. Stay well. Stay connected.

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Please note: if you made a donation to us via JustGiving and indicated that you would like to stay in touch, that's why you are receiving this newsletter. However, if you would rather not receive these monthly updates or would prefer to read updates in the browser, please save this link and unsubscribe.

This month we welcome Alice to our Marketing and Fundraising Team - you will see her on our central channels (@otrbristol), so please say hi to her there.

"Hi, I'm Alice, the new Digital Champion here at OTR. I'll be heading up the central social media channels, websites and newsletters and look forward to connecting with you!"

Welcome, Alice, so nice to have you on our team!

Here is a reminder of some useful links:
How to support OTR Bristol throughout the pandemic

JustGiving webinar on virtual events
Fundraising Pack and support pages
Impact Report

Easy ways to support us:
Our JustGiving (direct donations, monthly giving, fundraising)
OTR Bristol fundraisers on Facebook
OTR Bristol Strava group
OTR online shopping list
Amazon Smile

You can very easily donate to OTR by text.
Just send “OTRBRISTOL 5” to 70085 to donate £5 to us
(you can choose donations between £1 and £20 by changing the ‘5’ accordingly).

We hope you have enjoyed our Newsletter and found it useful - let us know your feedback and share it with your friends! Please let us know if there is anything you need from OTR to support you.

Follow us on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram for more supporter news.

Stay safe, stay connected, stay involved!

Sylwia, Community Champion at OTR Bristol

Get social with OTR

OTR HQ

OTR

8-10 West Street

Old Market

Bristol, United Kingdom (UK) BS2 0BH

United Kingdom

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