Health (physical, mental) including social isolation, addiction issues
Arthritis Support funded by Bill & Jean Richmond Foundation
Projects funded in Leicester, Leicestershire and Rutland
Live Cancer Free
The John Salmon Fund provided Live Cancer Free with vital funds to host seven, free virtual afternoon tea parties for cancer patients and their families over three months, providing tea boxes delivered to participants’ doorsteps and facilitating Zoom gatherings for connection and support. A health professional was on hand for a wellbeing discussion.
This grant has made a significant difference in the lives of beneficiaries and the wider community by reducing loneliness and social isolation among cancer patients and their carers, helping them to overcome stress, anxiety and depression and providing a safe and supportive virtual environment.
Shepshed Toy Library
Shepshed Toy Library received a grant from the John Salmon Fund contributing towards costs for their Healthy Living project. The grant helped cover manager and play leader wages, utensils & food, office costs, and publicity costs to spread the word. Many parents have said that they have found out about the workshops through social media marketing.
The children took part in paint printing using vegetables, colouring, food tasting/pizza making, food stories, cutting veggies, and tooth brushing. These activities have taught the children the value of eating healthy foods with a twist of fun and gave them an opportunity to try things that they may not have tried at home. Many children who attend are from families who are struggling financially amidst the cost-of-living crisis.
Arthritis Support
A vital grant from the Bill & Jean Richmond Foundation enabled Arthritis Support to fund a Wellbeing Activities Co-ordinator. The Co-ordinator oversees the hydrotherapy and Pilates projects as well as organising member meet ups, enabling this small and busy organisation to work with more people suffering with chronic joint issues.
Arthritis Support Leicestershire are a registered charity based in Leicestershire, helping adults and children living with arthritis to lead fuller lives.
PASIC Leicester
A grant from the John Salmon Fund has helped PASIC to work with families in Leicester who are struggling with the impact of a cancer diagnosis for their child. When a child has cancer, family life is significantly affected. Caring for the unwell child becomes the priority, to the detriment of other aspects of family life.
This grant enabled PASIC to hire a Charity Support Administrator (CSA) to work closely with the Oncology Ward Family Support Workers and Leicester Royal Infirmary to help families cope. The CSA helps families financially and practically by resourcing supermarket vouchers and equipment. Outings are also organised for families to spend quality time together away from the chaos of everyday life, without the stress on the family to organise this themselves. Support is provided to create special memories for families whose child has just a short time to live.
Home-Start South Leicestershire
Home-Start
South Leicestershire has been able to continue running their
six-week ‘Understanding Post-natal Illness’ Course because of a grant from
the Leicestershire Fund. The grant covered the cost of a course
Co-ordinator and Assistant Co-ordinator’s salaries to run two free six-week
courses. Both courses covered aspects of understanding post-natal illness,
as well as learning strategies to cope better and aid faster recovery.
One
family was referred to Home-Start due to the anxiety experienced by the mother.
The mother had lost twins in a miscarriage. She had a child through IVF
treatment and experienced PNI (Post-natal Illness). When she had her
youngest child, she noticed signs of PNI coming back. She also lost her
father during the pandemic, her mother was diagnosed with cancer and her
family was experiencing housing issues. This course has been invaluable to her
in learning about herself and sharing experiences with other mums going
through the same thing. She has focused on strategies in the course to
help manage her mental health and has received continued support.
