Tag: support

Royal seal of approval for Edinburgh’s support for Ukrainian refugees

The Duke and Duchess of Edinburgh attended a reception at the City Chambers yesterday to recognise and celebrate the city of Edinburgh’s work in supporting Ukrainians.

Their Royal Highnesses Edward and Sophie were also attending to thank the diverse range of volunteers who are supporting them across the Capital.

During the reception Their Royal Highnesses met the Lord Lieutenant of the City of Edinburgh, Robert Aldridge, Council Leader Cammy Day, Consul of Ukraine Andrii Kuslii, Hannah Beaton Hawryluk, Chair of the AUGB (Association of Ukrainians in Great Britain) Edinburgh Branch, Paul Wilson, Chief Officer for Volunteer Edinburgh, alongside senior Council officers involved in the Ukraine effort. 

Friday marked exactly one year to the day since the City of Edinburgh’s formal response to the war against Ukraine began.  

In that time over 10,000 Ukrainians have passed through our Welcome Hub as the primary entry point to Scotland, with over 3000 Ukrainians making their new lives here in the Capital. Over 500 Ukrainian children are in education across the city and receiving the full support of our services.

Last month, the city marked the one-year anniversary of Russia’s illegal invasion of Ukraine with a programme of events across the Capital.

The Lord Lieutenant of the City of Edinburgh, Robert Aldridge said: “I am hugely proud of the efforts by colleagues, partners, residents, and businesses in welcoming Ukrainians making their new home here in Edinburgh over the past year. Whilst this past year has brought significant challenges, the city of Edinburgh has shown its resilience, compassion, and character.  

“On this momentous day when the Dukedom of Edinburgh has been conferred on Their Royal Highnesses, it is fantastic to have The Duke and Duchess in attendance to meet some of these individuals and groups. This visit is testament to the selfless and dedicated work that has gone on across the city since the start of Russia’s illegal war against Ukraine.

“We must continue to recognise the extraordinary sacrifice made by the Ukrainian people over the past year and reiterate our continuing solidarity with all Ukrainians.  

“I would also like to make it clear to the Ukrainians who are building their new lives in Edinburgh that this is your home, and we are incredibly proud to support you.

“We are grateful for the enormous contribution our new Ukrainian community to making Edinburgh the modern, diverse and vibrant capital city it is today.”

Hannah Beaton-Hawryluk, Branch Chair of the Association of Ukrainians in Great Britain (AUGB) Edinburgh, said: “It was a privilege to meet with the newly titled Duke and Duchess of Edinburgh, and on the occasion of the Duke’s 59th birthday, today to showcase the contribution of AUGB Edinburgh and the wider partnership to Edinburgh’s response to supporting newly arrived Ukrainians in the city. 

“The city’s response has only been possible by partners working together and supporting each other, thank you in particular to the City of Edinburgh Council and third sector partners who we have worked closely with over the last year. We hope the Duke and Duchesses visit today has demonstrated the continuing work across the city and the work of the Association here in Edinburgh.”

Paul Wilson, Chief Officer at Volunteer Edinburgh said: “Since the start of the war against Ukraine, volunteers in Edinburgh have been giving their time to help. Edinburgh has been at the forefront of Scotland’s response to the Ukraine crisis and volunteers too have been there from the start.

“Whether it be collecting, sorting and dispatching much needed aid, supporting the community activities of the AUGB, providing cultural and welcome activities, supporting English’s language learning or the nearly 7000 hours of volunteering done by Welcome Volunteers at the Airport, it is these volunteers that have enabled our city to give such an amazing welcome and their kindness and generosity has shown the very best of Edinburgh.”

AUGB pics courtesy of Getty Images

Izzy Judd is swept off her feet by charity Mary’s Meals

The celebrity mum is supporting the international aid charity this Mother’s Day 

Musician and celebrity mum Izzy Judd says she has been swept off her feet by international aid charity Mary’s Meals.

The mother-of-three – who is married to McFly star Harry – is encouraging families across the UK to support the charity by giving a Mother’s Day gift that will help to feed children living in the world’s poorest countries.

She says: “As a mother to Lola, Kit and Lockie, I know how important it is for children to be happy, healthy, and well-educated. And that’s what Mary’s Meals is all about. Its life-changing school meals attract little ones into the classroom, where they can learn their way to a better future.

“I have been swept off my feet by this incredible charity – and you should be too!”

Mary’s Meals serves nutritious school meals to children living in some of the world’s poorest countries. The promise of a good meal attracts hungry children into the classroom, where they can gain an education that that can be their ladder out of poverty.

The charity feeds more than 2.4 million children every school day – and it says this simply wouldn’t be possible without the love and dedication of mothers all around the world.

Dan McNally, head of grassroots engagement at Mary’s Meals, explains: “Here in the UK, we are lucky to be supported by amazing women, like Izzy, who fundraise and volunteer so that we can feed desperately hungry children.

“And in the countries where we work, it is most often mothers who volunteer to prepare, cook, and serve the food. They do this so that their children, and the children in their communities, can have the chance of a better life.”

To mark Mother’s Day [Sunday, 19 March], Mary’s Meals is offering a range of beautiful gift cards. Priced from just £19.15, each of these special cards will feed a hungry child with Mary’s Meals every day for a school year.

Izzy continues: “I will be dropping some hints to my children for a Mary’s Meals gift, and I will also be giving one of these lovely cards to my own mum, Gill.

“I think she will be thrilled to know that, together, we are ensuring that a child is in school, with a full belly, ready to learn.”

It costs just £19.15 to feed a child with Mary’s Meals for a full school year.

To find out more and to purchase a Mother’s Day gift card, please visit:

marysmeals.org.uk/shop

National Lottery funding boost for community groups in Edinburgh 

CYRENIANS at the double!

Community groups in Edinburgh will be able to provide vital services and support for thousands of local people thanks to National Lottery funding announced today (THURSDAY 9 MARCH). 

The latest round of funding from The National Lottery Community Fund is shared amongst 324 projects across Scotland, sharing in £10,909,040.

A full list of projects is below. 

Among the big winners are Corstorphine Community Centre, who receive £98,550 to provide a range of activities for all ages that will be developed and led by local residents in Corstorphine and the surrounding neighbourhoods.

They will also provide a variety of different volunteering opportunities for community members.

Scotland Yard Adventure Centre will use their £120,000 grant to provide family play sessions at their Edinburgh base for disabled young people and their families.

These sessions will support whole families to play together, and to meet other similar families and young people.

Cyrenians hit the jackpot with two awards totalling over £230,000.

The charity will use funding of over £70,000 to recruit an Income Maximisation Worker who will work across work across all services to support people impacted by cost-of-living crisis.

The Worker will provide one to one support and train 50 key workers at the organisation to also provide financial support. Cyernians estimate 1,800 people will benefit from the project over 12 months.

Cyrenians was also awarded a further £160,000 to continue its “Golden Years” service which is formed from a variety of support and activities for people over 60 years of age living in Edinburgh.

This is led by a befriending service, which has now evolved to offer additional support to meet the needs of participants. Over two years of funding there will be 460 participants and 65 volunteers.

Thanks to an award of £100,000, Aberlour Child Care Trust will provide a befriending service to people in Edinburgh and the Lothians experiencing perinatal mental health issues.  

Liz Nolan, Deputy Director said: “Thanks to The National Lottery Community Fund we can offer vital emotional and befriending support to parents of babies living in the Lothians who have received care through the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit in the Royal Infirmary of Edinburgh.  

“Working in parallel with our NHS partners, the service will offer in person support from a Perinatal Coordinator, a one-to-one match with a Perinatal Befriender and our bespoke digital support all of which connects parents, improves emotional wellbeing, reduces isolation and supports positive relationships between parents and babies.” 

An award of £58,844 to Space @The Broomhouse Hub means the group can provide free early evening meals for local people four nights a week for the next 12 months. Working with local partners their will also be an advisor on hand at each session to offer support and signposting for those who need it.  

Neil Hay, CEO, said: “Space @ The Broomhouse Hub is literally and metaphorically at the heart of our community. Our events allow us to listen to local people and shape future support locally.

“We pride ourselves on being dynamic and innovative, so it is refreshing that funders like The National Lottery are supporting our work helping people through the cost-of-living crisis.” 

Thanks to an award of £9,953, The Association of Ukrainians in Great Britain (AUGB) – Edinburgh Branch – will be able to offer a cost-of-living response to Ukranian families who have been displaced by conflict.

This will come in the form of regular community meals and drop-in sessions for those in need. 

Hannah Beaton-Hawryluk, AUGB Edinburgh Chairperson, said: “Over the last year, as an organisation we’ve had to work through a great deal of change.

“Prior to the start of the war in February 2022, our main activity was to provide social and cultural activities for a small community however since February we’ve welcomed over 6,000 Ukrainians to Edinburgh who have been displaced by the war with Russia. 

“As a community, we’ve focussed our energies on providing a range of social and integration activities such as coffee mornings, information sessions, English language lessons and cultural events.

“The support of The National Lottery Community Fund will enable us to further support our community to integrate into communities across Edinburgh, reduce social isolation and decrease longer term mental health issues that may be experienced.” 

Announcing the funding, Kate Still, Scotland Chair, The National Lottery Community Fund said: “This latest round of National Lottery funding will be distributed to important groups and organisations who are providing essential services, drop-in points, and community centres around the country – making a real, tangible difference to everyday life.   

“With the rising cost-of-living being at the front of everyone’s minds, groups like these are more vital than ever, offering people across Scotland a place to turn to in times of need. This amazing support is only possible because of National Lottery players.” 

The National Lottery Community Fund distributes funding on behalf of National Lottery players who raise more than £30 million each week for good causes throughout the UK.

The National Lottery Community Fund – list of grants – March 2023.pdf 

Letters: Scottish Apprenticeship Week

Dear Editor

This week marks Scottish Apprenticeship Week (6th-10th March), a fantastic opportunity to shine a light on the vital role apprenticeships play in supporting people, employers and the economy.

Modern Apprenticeships allow people from diverse backgrounds, no matter their background and abilities, to gain and develop skills for every business no matter its size or sector.

The rewards of getting young people who are disabled or care experienced into work are well worth it. They bring passion, skills, dedication and drive to the workplace.

Recruiting a Modern Apprentice enables employers to fill the skills gaps that exist within their current workforce, as apprentices begin to learn sector-specific skills from day one, developing specialist knowledge that will positively affect the bottom line.

However, as always, we can do more and support for businesses and other employers is key as it is they who clearly make the vital difference.

As we mark Scottish Apprenticeship Week, we would urge Scotland’s employers to look beyond the label and take on a Modern Apprentice who may have an additional need, taking advantage of the excellent skills offered by many of these young people.

Yours faithfully 

The Scottish Children’s Services Coalition:

Kenny Graham, Falkland House School

Lynn Bell, LOVE Learning

Stephen McGhee, Spark of Genius

Niall Kelly, Young Foundations

42 Charlotte Square

Edinburgh EH2 4HQ

Tel: 0131 603 8996

£500,000 to support humanitarian efforts in East Africa

£500,000 funding is to be shared amongst four charities to support projects affected by the extreme drought in South Sudan, Kenya and Ethiopia.

Christian Aid, Mercy Corps, SCIAF and Tearfund will each receive £125,000 from the Scottish Government’s Humanitarian Emergency Fund. The support is targeted at projects that will alleviate the most urgent concerns relating to the food crisis including:

  • distributing food packages
  • enhancing access to water supplies
  • training hygiene promoters
  • providing cash transfers to households

East Africa is facing one of its most severe episodes of drought in decades, with the driest conditions seen in 40 years. The fifth consecutive rainy season is lower than expected and the forecast for the March-May 2023 season indicates below-average precipitation, further exacerbating the situation.

International Development Minister Neil Gray said: “The drought affecting countries in East Africa is one of the worst in decades and the situation is becoming ever more desperate.

“This funding will support four essential projects in South Sudan, Ethiopia and Kenya, ensuring people suffering from the drought receive necessary food supplies and enhanced access to clean water – a vital measure in preventing water borne diseases.

“The Scottish Government is committed to fulfilling its role as a responsible and compassionate global citizen and this aid from our Humanitarian Emergency Fund will provide essential help to those in desperate need.”

Christian Aid will target funding at communities in South Sudan to provide emergency food access and sanitation to over 4,000 people in Kodok, Upper Nile State. 681 households will receive cash transfers to meet their immediate food needs, in addition to sanitation facilities and hygiene promotion.

Mercy Corps will support vulnerable communities in north-eastern Kenya. 420 households will be supported with cash transfers for three months as part of a longer-term focused intervention.

The SCIAF project in Ethiopia will provide food supplies and access to safe water in Dasenech Woreda, South Omo Zone. 315 households will receive cash transfers for four months while the rehabilitation of shallow wells and water points, and the provision of water purification materials, will improve access to safe water for 7,000 households.

Tearfund’s proposed project in Ethiopia will deliver emergency food assistance in Moyale District, Oromia Region. Three packages of food supplies will be provided to 334 households over a three-month period. In addition, supplementary blended food will be distributed to 70 individuals.

The Humanitarian Emergency Fund Panel is made up of eight leading humanitarian aid organisations in Scotland who advise and access the fund: Mercy Corps; Oxfam; British Red Cross; Islamic Relief; SCIAF; Christian Aid; Tearfund; and Save the Children.

Twinkl and Voices of Children partner up to support Ukrainian children’s mental health during the war

The war in Ukraine started over a year ago in February 2022, causing 17.4 million individuals to seek refuge in neighbouring countries. Twinkl Educational Publishing continues to help Ukrainian children and has now teamed up with the Ukraine-based charity fund Voices of Children to provide FREE mental health and art therapy resources for families affected by the war and for anyone in need.

As highlighted in an article published in the European Child & Adolescent Psychiatry journal in March 2022: The effects of war on refugee children are vast, encompassing everything from immediate stress responses to a higher likelihood of developing mental health issues like PTSD, depression, and anxiety. Additionally, being separated from parents and losing a sense of safety during war can have long-term negative impacts on a child’s development. These experiences stand in stark contrast to children’s fundamental needs and rights to grow up in a safe, secure, and predictable environment.

Psychologists from the Voices of Children Foundation explained how the preservation of mental health can be influenced by the people who surround us, showing that resilience is important, and it is resilience which enables an individual to maintain faith in their own strength to overcome difficulties.

Psychologists from the Voices of Children Foundation said: “One of the difficulties in the work of a psychologist or psychotherapist, which we now encounter quite often, is the misuse of the term “trauma”. The psyche of a person, in particular a small child, has a number of protective mechanisms that are activated in conditions of increased stress. The preservation of mental health is also influenced by the people who surround us, who support and care for us and help us cope with the most severe stress.”

To conclude they mentioned that studies linked to mass disasters showed that post-traumatic stress disorder is one of the most severe forms of stress reaction, and it develops in 25-30% of people who have been in emergency situations.

Twinkl’s partnership with Voices of Children wants to contribute to the delivery of trauma-informed care by providing a selection of mental health and art therapy resources that have been reviewed and recommended by the Foundation’s psychologists.

These mental health materials are now easily accessible for FREE and grouped in bundles to help parents, carers and mental health professionals support Toddlers and young learners, children aged 7-11, and Teenagers express and manage their emotions, develop coping strategies, and reduce anxiety.

Besides storytelling, art therapy activities such as the ones included in this pack are part of the methodology used by the Foundation’s psychologists in their Art Therapy Programme which focuses on understanding children’s emotions and supporting their wellbeing while also helping parents deal with child anxiety.

All resources are available from 24th  February 2023 onwards in both Ukrainian and English, to aid speakers of both languages in accessing them. Some materials curated in partnership with Voices of Children are also published in German, French and Polish, and all resource packs created from this collaboration can be found in the Voices of Children page at Twinkl’s platform.

Apart from the Dual Language materials, these resources are also available in Ukrainian only and can be accessed for FREE by Ukrainian families and educators anywhere in the world!

Find out more about the resources created in collaboration with Voices of Children by visiting Twinkl’s Blog.

Reading is Caring: New support for people living with dementia

Scottish Book Trust, the national charity working to change lives with reading and writing, has launched a series of free workshops, available online and in local libraries, designed to help those who support and care for people living with dementia.

The charity runs Reading is Caring, a programme which provides personalised training on creating shared, sensory reading experiences to those caring for someone living with dementia – whether that’s a partner, relative, friend or professional carer. Reading is Caring is designed to ease daily challenges by creating special moments of connection, sparking positive memories and relieving stress.

A Reading is Caring participant, caring for her mother who lives with dementia, said: ‘Reading is Caring was fantastic. The stories bring mum into the here and now. She laughs, she’s interested and engaged. I get a glimpse of her personality again, which is lovely for both of us.’

Now in its third year, Reading is Caring has been proven to provide a consistent, connective activity for family, friends, and professional carers to use at every stage of the dementia journey.

People in Edinburgh and the Lothians who support someone living with dementia can attend a two-part workshop series online, or head along to one of the drop-in sessions at Craigmillar Library and Musselburgh Library.

These free workshops provide the knowledge and tools needed to share reading with someone living with dementia. Scottish Book Trust provide personal support throughout and after the training to help tailor the experience to the unique needs of each person, removing barriers to participation at every stage of their dementia journey.

Musselburgh Library workshops:

  • Monday 27 February: 3–4pm
  • Monday 6 March: 3–4pm
  • Monday 13 March: 3–4pm
  • Monday 20 March: 3–4pm
  • Monday 27 March: 3–4pm
  • Monday 3 April: 3–4pm

Craigmillar Library workshops:

  • Thursday 2 March: 10.30–11.30am
  • Thursday 9 March: 10.30–11.30am
  • Thursday 16 March: 10.30–11.30am
  • Thursday 23 March: 10.30–11.30am
  • Thursday 30 March: 10.30–11.30am
  • Thursday 6 April: 10.30–11.30am

Online workshops take place regularly and can be found on Scottish Book Trust’s website.

NSPCC launches new campaign to support children and young people who feel lonely

  • In response Childline is launching ‘Day in the Lonely’ campaign
  • Funded by Lidl GB, the aim of the campaign is to remind children that support is available 

New data published today by Childline reveals that the service is contacted 15 times a day on average by children across the UK who are struggling with loneliness – often a catalyst for mental health problems.

Between April 2021 and March 2022, the counselling service run by the NSPCC delivered 5,564 counselling sessions with children across the UK on this issue. 

With the support of retailer Lidl GB – which has fundraised for Childline since 2020 – the charity has launched a campaign this week called ‘Day in the Lonely’ to let children struggling with loneliness know that these feelings do not need to last.

Amidst the long-lasting consequences of COVID-19 and the drastic increase in the cost of living, the charity is encouraging young people – with the support of their parents – to speak about their mental health issues early on, so it does not escalate to crisis point.

The charity’s concern comes as it finds a 71% increase in calls from under 11s seeking support for loneliness compared to 2017/2018 figures.

Recently, a Childline counsellor was told by a 10-year-old girl: “I am so lonely as I have no friends at school anymore. I often cry myself to sleep at night…so I called Childline.  I have not told my parents how I am feeling because I don’t think they will take it seriously.”

A Childline counsellor was told by a 17-year-old girl from Scotland: “I have been feeling extremely lonely recently as I feel like all of my friends secretly hate me and don’t want me around no matter how many times they tell me they do like me. This has been something that is making me quite sad and I feel like I don’t have anyone to talk to, so I was just wondering if you have any advice for dealing with this?”

‘Day In the Lonely’

The ‘Day in the Lonely’ campaign includes three videos showing a day in the life of three young people and the different ways they experience loneliness, all of them based on real Childline calls.

One of the videos features Rob – who is feeling lonely and misunderstood despite having lots of people around him – being in a football team and regularly socialising.

Childline insight

Childline’s trained counsellors hear from lonely children who feel that way due to being left out of friendship groups and social media chats, whereas others say their loneliness stems from feeling negatively about themselves or feeling like their friends or family don’t understand them.

Young people told Childline that the national lockdown, due to the coronavirus pandemic, compounded feelings of loneliness

Counselling sessions on loneliness peaked during the pandemic in April 2020 to March 2021 when the service remained a frontline service supporting more than 6,000 young people who were grappling with this issue whilst spending an increased amount of time at home.

Since moving out of the pandemic, although the service has seen a slight drop in counselling sessions on this issue, the number of children needing support remains high.

Adeniyi Alade, Childline Service Head, based in Aberdeen, said: “Sadly a high number of children and young people contact us because they are experiencing loneliness. At Childline, we know that this can have a profound impact on a child’s mental wellbeing and mental health.

“Many children tell us they feel alone, low and depressed, and that’s why we are encouraging children to talk to a trusted adult such as a parent, teacher or Childline counsellor so they can get the help they need quickly.

“There are many reasons why young people might feel lonely, but these feelings don’t have to last forever and getting support early can help to prevent the situation from getting worse.”

Mark Newbold, Lidl GB Senior CSR Manager, said: “It’s heartbreaking to see young people struggle with loneliness, and that is why at Lidl we are proud to have funded the NSPCC’s ‘Day in the Lonely’ campaign.

“We are committed to raising funds that mean more youngsters in need of emotional support can get the help they require as fast as possible.”

Children and young people can contact Childline for free, confidential support and advice 24 hours a day online at www.childline.org.uk or on the phone on 0800 1111

Charity calls for families with young disabled adults to seek support

Families caring for young disabled adults at home are being offered help by a forward-thinking national charity to improve quality of life. 

Faced with three times higher costs to bring up disabled children, the continuing cost-of-living crisis is placing families in financial jeopardy. It is therefore even  harder to afford the things that improve their disabled young adult’s day-to-day living.  

National charity Family Fund is now urging families with a disabled 18-24 year-old living at home to apply for wide-ranging grants through its Your Opportunity scheme. 

Set up four years ago, to help young disabled adults lead more fulfilling lives and realise ambitions – the scheme offers grants to support the transition to adulthood and includes technology, training and leisure activities.

Your Opportunity has supported over 1,200 families across the UK in the last 12 months and immediate funds are now available to help many more.

Family Fund is the UK’s largest grant-making charity for families living on a low income, raising disabled and seriously ill children and young people. Last year, it provided over 170,919 grants and services worth over £37 million to families across the UK.  

The charity’s latest research, based on polls with the families it supports, shows that over four out of five families (82%) say they cannot replace worn out furniture and nearly four out of five (78%) say they cannot afford to repair or replace major electrical goods such as cookers, fridges or washing machines.

For nearly half of families with disabled children and young people, paying for a beneficial activity or hobby for their disabled child is out of the question.

Cheryl Ward, Family Fund’s Chief Executive Officer, said: “We continue to see families with disabled or seriously ill children and young people increasingly struggling to afford the most basic household essentials like food and heating as costs rise and many face mounting debts. 

“This means there is  very little room for the extras which improve a young person’s quality of life- yet when a child reaches 18, they lose an average of 57% of the support and benefits they had before they reached adulthood.

“Raising a disabled or seriously ill child is three times more expensive than raising other children and this financial cliff-edge at 18 can be very tough for parents and carers of young adults. With the cost of living continuing to increase, we’re urging families to apply to us for grants as soon as possible, through our Your Opportunity scheme.”

Your Opportunity grants include:

  • computers or tablets to support young people with further education, online hobbies and the overall building of independence;
  • transport costs for bus fares for appointments, or to support independent travel to clubs or hobbies;
  • help with the cost of membership fees, season tickets, computer games, and music systems to promote recreation and days out; 
  • help with the cost of buying a provisional driving licence, and other learning materials to support driving ambitions;
  • white goods to help with independence, or help make mealtimes easier for carers;
  • sports, or lightweight, wheelchairs to enable participation in sport activities, or access to activities that would not be possible with a day-to-day wheelchair. 

The Your Opportunity scheme was initially set up in 2019 by Family Fund,  with funding from Edward Gostling Foundation, Pears Foundation and funding raised by Family Fund.

Cheryl Ward added: “We are extremely grateful to The Edward Gostling Foundation and Pears Foundation for recognising the need to support our work in improving the lives of young people across the UK.” 

Families are eligible to apply if the young person lives at home with their parent or main carer. 

Families interested in making an application for a young person should go to: 

Your Opportunity: Help for 18-24 year-olds | Family Fund

George’s story:

George, 22, has Down’s Syndrome and autism. He lives in Derbyshire with mum, Jemma, step-father Shaun and brother Charlie, 19, has breathing problems and requires an oxygen machine when asleep.  

Jemma said: “The cost-of-living crisis has impacted our lives hugely. I worry about it a lot because when you have a child, like George, who requires the use of an oxygen machine overnight, your bills are horrendous. 

“After George turned 18, a lot of the support finished but life didn’t get any easier. Our lives didn’t change, and we still need support. 

“I’ve always been frugal with things but it’s getting to a point where I think I literally can’t cut back anymore. I shop in the cheaper supermarkets and buy the reduced items. I do everything that I can but it comes to a point where there’s nothing more that you can do. We don’t ever eat out or have takeaways. 

“We’ve not been on holiday, or go on day trips. Also, because I’m a carer, I can’t even do more hours at work because I don’t have anyone else to look after George. Everything is going up but we don’t have any more money.

 “The biggest worry for me is the cost of electricity and running George’s oxygen machine. I genuinely have no idea if I’m going to be able to run that at Christmas. If the cost goes up even more then I probably won’t be able to. 

“Furthermore, the cost of fuel is huge. It’s got to the point where I only drive to work and back. I used to take George on drives to visit places, but we can’t afford to do that anymore.”

George enjoys singing and performing arts at his specialist college and his family are anxious to be able to support activities that further improve his quality of life at home.  

Grants from the Your Opportunity scheme have helped the family purchase items  – a swinging garden chair and a computer – which they could not otherwise have afforded.

Jemma added: “George absolutely loves the chair. He never used to sit outside before, but now he spends hours on it rocking, so when the weather is fine he is able to sit out and enjoy time in the garden.

“George also uses the computer for his specialised programmes that help his conditions through education and entertainment. He loves technology.” 

Picture shows: George in his swinging garden chair