Carers to benefit from unexpected windfall
Our charity members are set for a super surprise following a donation of £2,000 from the Yorkshire Building Society Charitable Foundation, after being nominated by Vincents Solicitors.
The windfall came as a complete shock to Headway community network manager Samantha Ashcroft, who delightedly accepted the cheque alongside some of the group’s members. The money will be spent on a special project to provide respite care and activities for members, and allow the charity to support a rare treat for their carers.
Sam said: “We are absolutely over the moon with this £2,000 donation, it’s truly amazing. We can’t thank Vincents Solicitors and the Yorkshire Building Society Charitable Foundation enough for this generosity.
“We rely on donations to provide practical support for local people living with brain injuries, and have a wonderful group of volunteers who help us put on weekly group activities, but there’s never anything spare to do everything on our wish list.
“Thanks to this donation we can do something we’ve wanted to do for a very long time and provide respite care and a wellbeing activity for our carer members who selflessly look after their loved ones 24/7.”
Sam explained that carers often won’t leave their loved one alone for even a few minutes due to the severity of the brain injury, causing them to give up work, socialising, and even things like going to the hairdresser or just popping to the shops.
“All of the family carers who attend our sessions are wives and fiancées of men who have suffered an illness or injury leaving them unable to care for themselves. They do it willingly out of love of course, but the sacrifices they make are incredible and there’s very little support for them. They give up a lot of the simple things we take for granted and rarely put themselves first, all of which takes both a physical and mental toll.
“With this money we can ensure their loved one is being properly looked after and having a really good time, providing peace of mind while they enjoy a few hours of relaxation at a local spa to recharge a little,” added Sam.
Vincents Solicitors has a long association with Yorkshire Building Society (YBS) and houses an agency branch at its Garstang office, providing access to the mutual’s services for the local community. Vincents has successfully bid for cash from the Charitable Foundation for numerous local causes including Blackpool’s Trinity Hospice, Derian House Children’s Hospice in Chorley, and Lancashire’s End Youth Homelessness Project.
Lisa Nickson, Garstang YBS lead, joined Vincents’ Amy Whiteside to hand over the money while volunteering at one of Headway’s weekly drop in activity sessions, which are held every Tuesday from 1.30pm to 3.30pm at the Freedom Centre in Langdale Road, Mereside, Blackpool.
Amy said: “The Yorkshire Building Society Charitable Foundation provides a fantastic opportunity to funnel cash into really worthwhile grassroots projects like this and make an immediate difference in people’s lives. While volunteering at Headway we’ve seen just how special the carers are and how hard they work for their loved ones. Together with our friends at YBS we’re delighted this money will allow the charity to make a wish come true and do something lovely for these wonderfully selfless people.”
Vincents has partnered with Headway as part of the firm’s Queen’s Jubilee year celebrations to provide financial, practical and professional support for the Blackpool, Fylde and Wyre branch of the organisation throughout 2022. The charity supports more than 70 local people thanks to the dedication of volunteers and one part-time member of staff.
In addition to the weekly activity sessions, Vincents and Headway are planning parties for Halloween and Christmas, plus a legal clinic for carers to learn about managing legal matters like deputyships, lasting power of attorney and launching a compensation claim.
Members of the group are predominantly victims of brain injuries suffered in adulthood though accident, assault or illness. Around a fifth of members are close carers such as partners, parents and children of victims.
Headway Blackpool, Fylde and Wyre meets every Tuesday from 1.30pm to 3.30pm at the Freedom Centre, 8 Langdale Road, Mereside, Blackpool FY4 4RT.
Anyone interested in joining the group, either for themselves or someone they care for, should contact Sam for an introductory chat by emailing sam@headwayblackpool.co.uk
