The National Emergencies Trust has provided £5,761 of match funding
Warm bank lunch &sport for our cherished community
Lichfield, England, United Kingdom
Aim
Our ‘warm bank’ will help people stay warm and fed this winter and sporting activities will address isolation/promote fitness for all
We are Cherishers 811
Cherishers provides care, companionship and communication to the vulnerable in Staffordshire as a free community service.
Cherishers understands the impact of the cost-of-living crisis and is looking at ways to help people cope with soaring bills and prices. Warm banks are one way for opening up heated community buildings so that people can come in during the day, rather than have to heat their own homes.
With the price cap for energy bills know known to be a phenomenal rise to 3,549 this October, we know "something has to be done".
We know that we have so many vulnerable people locally. That's why we want to set up this cost-of-living support facility. it's a big worry that food banks are already struggling as fewer people can afford to donate to them now warm banks are needed. Martin Lewis has been saying we need to start planning for the autumn. He suggested warm banks and using community buildings and this is what we want to provide. We were looking at how do we meet our ambition of net zero (on climate change). It'll be a warm place, there'll be support, befriending services, crafts and wellbeing facilities, a free lunch and financial advice as well as healthcare support.
It is not just warmth and food - people also need help to stay mobile and maintain fitness levels, no matter their level of disability. We are seeing increasing demand for our sports therapies to keep people from isolation as well as maintain their mobility. Our space from a previous crowdfund is amazing but we need more room for this increasing community demand - we need to convert a separate yard area and add a new changing room and disabled toilet to allow more of our community to access the space.
Food, Warm and Mobility are all essential attributes we are looking to support.
What we do...
Cherishers provides care, companionship and communication to the elderly and vulnerable in Staffordshire as a free community service.
Our adaptive sport activities and befriending overcome social isolation and those in who attend our wellbeing room come together to participate in arts and sports therapies. We have been inspired by the Commonwealth games and we want to show you all "How our project will be United by Birmingham 2022"
Our yard can host people for adaptive art/sports activities band we host events to combat loneliness and build sustainability awareness. But we need more room!
We successfully crowd funded last year to improve our yard space and create a new disabled friendly wet room/changing room - but we need more space so have another area we want to adapt to create more exercise friendly yard space and importantly an additional toilet /changing facility.
We are starting a campaign in September to promote the sports therapy availability - this will be included on our Facebook page and newsletter as well as leaflets being created to pick up when you visit us.
Thank you to all the amazing people who donated last time - but we now know we still have more to do!
Before the renovation...
After thanks to our previous amazing crowdfund...
In the summer we had our fabulous Jubilee Street Party and celebrated the amazing Commonwealth Games - we were inspired and celebrated together as a community, but winter is looking bleak with the cost-of-living crisis, we now need your support us to deliver the same smiles as we did in the summer.
What we can do with your help
In summary - Our "warm bank" will help people stay warm and fed this winter and sporting activities will address isolation/promote fitness for all.
We will create a "warm bank" to deliver support in our local area experiencing social and economic deprivation, as a rural community. We will support lower socio-economic groups as well as culturally diverse communities. Cherishers support the vulnerable-many aged 60-80+. We keep them active, engaged and connected! The funding will expand our work, providing a place to go within a safe environment which is warm and where you can have a nice meal with great company. We additionally provide adapted arts classes and sports therapies to keep people active - the Commonwealth Games really has inspired us - and so many more of our cherished community want to join us and participate in our sport that we need more room!
The economic situation means that people are not able to afford to keep their homes warm all day heating, they are also not able to afford additional therapies that can improve their mobility and wellbeing. Warmth, health and financial poverty are closely related issues, which all lead to worsened health outcomes as well as isolation and mental health issues. The economic issues from the energy cost of living crisis mean more people need free yet compassionate care and companionship alongside a warm place to be that can also provide a decent meal, and even a food parcel to take away.
We help build community resilience and assist those desperate for support, isolated, mentally vulnerable and often elderly or with caring demands of young families who will be struggling this winter with keeping warm and being fed.
We cannot turn away people requesting help and we know the financial struggle will get worse as more need help.
We also want to be a beacon for our community - not just to shelter them from hardship but to also bring enjoyment - that is why the wellbeing element of sport is so important - keeping people mobile also alleviates existing conditions and reduces dependency on local healthcare provision.
Our new area will provide additional space so more of our community can cherish the Commonwealth spirit and embrace sport with us.
Our Target
We will create a warm bank for local residents open 3 days per week for 26 weeks. Whilst visitors will be able to keep warm as priority, we will also provide a lunch and tea/coffee during the day and provide support activities.
We will host people for adaptive art/sports activities on certain days of the week - we will deliver events to combat loneliness and build sustainability awareness. Our adaptive sport activities and befriending overcome social isolation and those in who attend our wellbeing room come together to participate in arts and sports therapies. We can host sports therapy, green therapy, Pilates, mental wellbeing and outdoor recreation focused on the disabled and elderly who want to feel in a 'safe space' whilst exercising.
Monies raised will be used as follows:
We will provide a warm bank and refreshments for 20 people 3 days per week from Oct to March inclusive for 26 weeks.
Lunch club at the warm bank, 20 people 3 days per week for 26 weeks, allowance 22 per person to include carers, pick up and drop off, Chef, cleaning and all dining provisions. Total 34320
Food parcels for collection, 15 parcels each week at 40 each for 26 weeks Total; 15600
This funding will allow us to increase the number of spaces available for people to keep warm and to have a nourishing meal as well as access to arts and sports therapy classes and wellbeing clubs and events - Help us to make our dreams a reality!
How our project will be United by Birmingham 2022?
Whilst we recognise that warmth and food are the essential priorities, we also want to help with mobility issues and social interaction.
We know that sport and leisure activities are often the first sacrificed in a cost-of-living crisis and we are delivering activity in an area experiencing social and economic deprivation, especially as a rural community.
We are close to the location of the Amazing 2022 Commonwealth Games in Birmingham, and we know from our community how inspiring the games were.
We want to increase our investment in community sport and physical activity and as a community company we are additionally applying to Sport England Places and Spaces to enable matched crowdfunding for works that will enhance places and spaces within our local community area. The aim is to unite communities as part of the Birmingham 2022 Commonwealth Games legacy.
Our past success
We have been thrilled with your support on our recent crowdfunds.
In the last year we have provided a new yard space that can welcome 20 vulnerable members at any time for adaptive sports activities, increasing capacity by 150% and a wet room / disabled toilet so they can partake in the sports facilities, as well as a befriending helpline, salaries for 2 carers and support workers, emergency food parcels, support with financial wellbeing and adoption of digital technology and the hosting of anti-loneliness events that provide companionship and reduce isolation.
This support has helped over 600 people access support through sport, therapy, lunch clubs, crafting and attend events that were free to them and meant the world to them.
We could not have done this without you and the generous fund match grants we have received.
A thank you prize draw
We have some amazing artwork that has been donated to us - we are running a prize draw for all donors no matter what the value. They are photos/prints of iconic British scenes from a Portobello Gallery - PPR 50- 75 each and we have 3 as prizes to be fulfilled after the Crowdfund closes
Why support us - A word from our cherished community:
"Cherishers what a kind-hearted, selfless and compassionate team! My mother and I both contacted COVID and was rushed into hospital (intensive care). Sadly, my mother died, and I survived however I was left physically disabled from the disease. After surviving Covid and coming home following 3 months in hospital you provided me with the support to rebuild my life! Yet nothing has been too much for you? from Hospital appointments, doctor trips, cleaning my home, picking up my prescriptions and doing my shopping! I can honestly say that without your friendship and services I don?t think I would have wanted to face the world anymore! I am able to move on from the loss of my Mother knowing that I have a new family with the team at Cherishers who genuinely care THANK YOU"
On behalf of Cherishers for all of your support - it means so much!
Below -
LOOK who won a silver medal in the special Olympics!! ????????????
We are very proud of Luke (one of our ironing team) Well done ??????????
This project successfully funded on 29th September 2022