Over two years ago, our charity applied to be one of small charities across the UK to receive funding support from Global's Make Some Noise.
Thanks to the incredible generosity of listeners across Global’s radio brands - Capital, Heart, LBC, Classic FM, Smooth, Radio X, Capital XTRA and Gold - Make Some Noise has raised millions of pounds for good causes.
The priority for Make Some Noise for 2022 was to bring people together to improve wellbeing and mental health. As soon as we looked at the funding criteria, we knew we had to apply.
We received the fantastic news that we were one of the hundred charities to be funded. We were awarded £35,637 over two years to deliver a range of activities at our lunch clubs and men's groups to encourage people to stay connected while improving confidence and wellbeing.
Our lunch clubs are held every Tuesday, Wednesday and Friday and our men's groups are held every Monday and Friday throughout the year. Up to 22 people aged 65 years and over attend our groups, and enjoy a freshly cooked two-course meal and companionship. Before and after our groups, our door-to-door minibus transport makes it really easy to attend for people in the area who would otherwise struggle to get to our centre.
Adding a range of activities to our groups makes for an even greater day out for those who attend. Thanks to Global's Make Some Noise, we've had daily arts and crafts, music and memory activities, bingo, quizzes, indoor sports, dominoes, card games and Wii console games. We have also held celebration and party days for Christmas, Halloween and Easter with seasonal activities leading up to each special occasion.
We received wonderful feedback from our men's group and lunch club attendees, with many telling us they feel less lonely as a result of attending our groups and taking part in meaningful activities that helped them to connect with others.
"I feel like I am part of something and I can still enjoy life. I'm no longer feeling as lonely." (Men's group attendee)
"It's given me my life back." (Lunch club attendee)
"Everyone is a friend. It has filled a void in my life." (Lunch club attendee)
Our groups not only benefit those who attend, it also supports loved ones and carers too by
providing reassurance that the older person they care for is enjoying spending the day with our charity in a safe, welcoming and inclusive environment, while giving carers a much needed break.
"From a carer's point of view, Teams and Bensham Community Care is an oasis in the desert." (Carer of Lunch Club Attendee)
When we first received the funding in 2022, we were still recovering from a 14-month closure during the pandemic. The funding helped our charity to recover, bringing new activities and a vibrant atmosphere back to our centre at a time when people (particularly older and vulnerable people) were still very nervous about resuming
any face to face activities.
The funding helped us to help our beneficiaries to recover. They had suffered greatly during the the pandemic, and their physical and mental health had markedly deteriorated as a result of being isolated. Many had also experienced bereavement during this time. The funding gave everyone something positive to look forward to, with a range of activities that helped bring people together, have fun or relax.
The funding support brought with it lots of other opportunities too. As a small charity, being able to speak on Heart Radio with Jamie Theakston and Amanda Holden was one of the highlights of the past two years. Having the opportunity to talk about our work on such a platform was wonderful.
“Our Grants Panel were originally impressed by the application for a great project, with strong outcomes, and recognised that the charity was delivering an important service for isolated and vulnerable older people. The charity has managed their grant exceptionally well and reported promptly, evidencing real impact and providing thorough data. The delivery of the project we funded came to a close in March this year (2024) and the evaluation feedback was in-depth and impressive. It’s been a pleasure to work with Teams and Bensham Community Care” (Global’s Make Some Noise)
We have been proud to be part of a community of small charities working across the country to make positive change. We were so grateful to be selected, and honoured to be one of charities being supported by Global's Make Some Noise.
If you or someone you know would like more information about the Teams and Bensham Community Care centre, we're always happy to answer any questions, arrange a home visit or to help in any other way we can. Call our team on 0191 4600297.
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