Devizes Lions donate £6,850 to good causes - read what they plan to do with the cash

Instead of the usual Presentation Evening with the Town Mayor giving out the money in person it was donated via bank transfer.

Lions Welfare Chairman Peter Blockley commented: “ The Coronavirus pandemic is having a very significant impact on all Lions activities and will do so for some months to come, so these donations will go to those that we believe will make an immediate beneficial impact locally.

“However, we are deferring making decisions on many groups and organisations that we normally support but who are currently inactive. We will review the situation when life returns to some form of normality and the effects of the lock down on these groups can be seen.

“One of the important aspects of past presentation evenings has been to hear what different groups are doing in and around Devizes. As recipients were there in person to tell us about their work, we asked them to write in and tell us about what they do and how the donation will help.

Here are some of the replies the Lions received.

Alzheimer's Support Devizes

With the closure of our frontline services, Alzheimer’s Support Devizes is working hard to support our clients for whom these are especially uncertain and bewildering times. We are particularly concerned for family carers; caring for someone with dementia is challenging at the best of times and we are fully aware of how difficult it will be during this period of isolation. We are in regular telephone contact with all our families offering practical help where needed and continuing with some home visits to the most vulnerable and isolated.

Across the county we are making more than 800 phone calls each week. They take as long as they need to, and we know that for many they are a lifeline. Meanwhile, our community of staff, volunteers and clients is being innovative, finding ways to keep in touch through online get-togethers and streaming activities, such as our Movement for the Mind, Music for the Mind classes and virtual quizzes. We are helping people to get to grips with unfamiliar technology and recent virtual sessions have attracted in excess of 90 participants.

Devizes Budo Club

Devizes Budo Club has been part of the fabric of Devizes since 1957, teaching all ages a variety of Martial Arts at a recreational and competitive level. The Club is open to all including special needs, visually and hearing impaired. The grant will be used to pay for training courses for our younger members to become UKCC (United Kingdom Coaching Certificate) Level 2 Judo coaches.

Carer Support Wiltshire

Carer Support Wiltshire supports all unpaid carers in Wiltshire with a vision to create more carer-friendly communities, where carers are recognised, valued and supported. A carer is someone of any age who provides unpaid support to family or friends who could not manage without this help, which could be caring for a relative, partner or friend who is ill, frail, disabled or has mental health or substance misuse problems.

We provide a range of free services including counselling, benefits advice, information, training, support groups and respite breaks. Our support workers also provide an independent ear that will not judge carers for the frustrations they express and will help them through their most difficult times.

Cookery classes for older male carers is a group running aims to help those, who have had limited cooking experience prior to their caring role and struggle to prepare healthy, nutritious meals on a daily basis. Cooking is also therapeutic and has been proven to improve mindfulness, reduce stress and improve mental and physical health as well as connecting communities - food is something we all need and have in common.

We piloted an older male carer’s cookery class in January 2020, which was a great success receiving some helpful coverage on BBC Radio Wiltshire, the Gazette & Herald and Community Matters. Given the current situation, the cookery class may need to be ‘virtual’ rather than face-to-face. Either way, this activity would be hugely beneficial to give older male carers in Devizes a break from their caring role and a chance to learn vital skills.

Devizes & District PHAB

The Lions have supported PHAB for several years by funding our Annual Outing to the seaside, last year we hired a large coach so that our own drivers could have a break alongside the members and everyone had a great day out. We would like to do the same again this year.

Devizes Hospital and Community Radio

Devizes Hospital and Community Radio (DHCR) is the sister operation of The Devizes and District Talking Newspaper, which has been publishing and circulating a recorded newspaper every week for well over 35 years, giving local news and information to the registered blind of the area. Currently there are about 75+ recipients each week. Using the DHCR studio every Thursday morning to produce, and record at least a 30-minute programme of local news. This is recorded onto memory sticks and posted to recipients via Royal Mail, which provides free postage service for the delivery and return of “items for the registered blind”.

There is a team of 12 volunteers available to edit, produce, monitor and circulate the production each week.Funding will be used for a volunteer recruitment drive for presenter, readers and backroom staff. The last three months as been a difficult time as many of our volunteers are over seventy which has restricted the service.

Devizes Men's Shed

Our current primary aim is to find our much needed larger premises which will enable us to provide for more members at any one time, as we have outgrown our current location.

In the meantime, thanks to your donation, we can now look at obtaining a small woodturning lathe that we can use at our existing site.

Devizes Opendoors

Devizes Opendoors supports homeless and other vulnerable adults in the Devizes area. Last year 180 different people came through our doors, some were regular guests whilst others just came once or twice. In an average week in January 2020 we had 30 different people come to one or more of our sessions: four were rough sleepers, four were sofa surfers, three were sleeping in vans, old caravans or boats, three were in local hostels whilst the remainder had accommodation. Guests come for the cooked meals, food parcels, laundry tickets, showers, clothing items and bedding. Trained volunteers and staff help many of the guests with social and practical issues, with regular visits from professionals from various agencies.

During the Coronavirus pandemic we have been taking cooked meals three times a week to a distribution point in town. Five or six rough sleepers have come along each time. As well as a hot takeaway meal, these guests have been able to access some other support, particularly in their attempts to secure better accommodation.

DOCA

Devizes Outdoor Celebratory Arts has no funding for the Lantern Parade and no opportunity to apply for any due to the Arts Council funds being closed and diverted for emergency support and so will put any donation towards the cost of the event. We run workshops in community settings and in schools enabling families and friends to come together to make lanterns for the event, which may sound like a frivolous activity but can be a bonding exercise for many families. It's often a rare time when fathers come along and make something with their children; it's free so families that are struggling, and this year there will be many, can join in and feel they are an equal part of the community. With the likelihood of some very lean Christmas times this year, the chance to come together as a community will be welcome for many who have been isolated for a long time, lost family members and will need a hand entering the season of Good Will, which can be so difficult and make social isolation feel particularly hard.

We would use the funding to buy materials to make these workshops happen and host this valuable community event which also helps bring visitors to the Town and in turn helps local businesses to thrive.

Dorothy House

Dorothy House Hospice Care is finding ways to keep on providing at-home care to those patients and families who cannot safely visit us. Our care has been, and will always be, predominantly in our community. We’re now offering remote care to those patients who are so vulnerable they need to self-isolate using the phone and video technology to maintain vital contact.

In an unprecedented move to stand side-by-side with local hospitals and with the support of the NHS, we have opened eight new inpatient beds at our Winsley base. By caring for patients who would otherwise be in hospital, we’re helping take some pressure off other healthcare providers already doing so much to protect us and those we love.

The pandemic means we’ve shut all our shops and had to stop many fundraising activities. At a time when we need to do more of what we do best, our funds from the local community, which support over 70% of our care, are fast drying up and the impact could be devastating. Therefor this money you have generously given to us will help us keep going, to more and more people when they need it the most- thank you.

Home-Start Kennet

Home-Start Kennet gives free emotional and practical support to families with children under five who are going through tough times. Our fantastic team of trained volunteers visit families once a week to help them cope with challenges such as: isolation, mental health issues, multiple birth, loneliness, illness, bereavement and financial difficulties.

Support is as individual as the families we work with. Often, just listening can make all the difference.

In response to the coronavirus crisis, we have had to rapidly adapt our service. Phone and video call support has been successfully introduced for families who, at the best of times, struggle to cope. This regular contact is proving invaluable for many parents who, in these challenging times, often feel overwhelmed and unsure of what way to turn.

At the end of an extremely difficult year, we are hoping our Christmas “do” will be an extra special event and one for everyone at Home-Start to remember.

KFR

Kennet Furniture Refurbiz (KFR) is a registered charity that strives to save items of furniture and white goods that would otherwise end up as “waste”. We collect furniture from households throughout Wiltshire and our two onsite engineers refurbish white goods to make them useful once more. In doing so we make quality items available to all to purchase and if you are on a means tested benefit then you receive a further discount. We have a wide range of volunteering opportunities to help people gain confidence and return to the work place or for those just looking for a new purpose.

Naomi House

Naomi House & Jacksplace hospices provide expert care to more than 525 life limited and life threatened children, young adults and their extended families from the south of England.Our nursing, care, play and family support teams are experts in delivering the crucial emotional, spiritual and developmental aspects of care that families need.

Our emphasis on innovation, clinical excellence and holistic care means we can care for children and young people with some of the most complex medical needs. When diagnosed with a life limiting condition, Naomi House & Jacksplace becomes their home from home.

Our teams take the time to really get to know the family and fully understand their wishes. We offer them vital respite support, giving them the chance to recharge their batteries and regroup in a calm, fun and welcoming environment.

In times of emergency Naomi House & Jacksplace is there, giving families the help they need through difficult times. And at the end of a child or young adult's life, we pull out all the stops to give them a peaceful and dignified end, surrounded by family members.

Tuesday Club

The Tuesday Club is a lifeline for many - and for some it is the only time they meet with others. A typical day includes the opportunity to enjoy a friendly welcome, play board games or dominoes, read or just chat.

At lunchtime we serve a hot two course meal, followed by coffee and a raffle and the afternoon’s varied programme includes entertainment, music, exercise or speakers.

Everyone enjoys coming to Tuesday Club as do the volunteers. We will put the grant towards our annual Christmas lunch, whenever that maybe and will send you some photographs.

Victim Support Wiltshire

Your invaluable support will be used to offset the cost of support packs and security items for our clients, which include specific courses to assist with their well-being, and in turn help them cope and recover from their ordeal.

The dedication of our staff and volunteers allows us to provide support to victims of the Wiltshire community in a host of different ways, including telephone support and face-to-face visits (when normal ‘service’ resumes), with the aim of empowering victims to find the strength in overcoming the huge impacts of crime. Our aim is to create the best service we can, to ensure the voices of victims and witnesses are not silenced in vulnerability and we want to contribute to the longer term recovery of victims by doing what we feel is right for them.

Waiblingen Way Residents' Association

The Residents’ Association provides residents with two subsidised coach trips, a community garden, garden produce, garden parties, open shed days where residents can drop in to our garden shed for tea, coffee and a chat. We appreciate the support that we have given by Lions and this year we intend to use the money to replace our 26 year old pergola.

West Lavington Youth Club

The youth club is grateful to Lions for thinking of us, especially at the difficult times brought on by the Covid19 virus.At the moment the club’s own custom built home - The George Baker Centre - is closed, however regular costs continue to be incurred.

The club is open to youngsters between the ages of 11 and 17, and when we resume will be open three times a week. The centre is supervised by both trained and paid part time staff, most of whom are themselves relatively young, but very keen. We provide a safe and secure environment for youngsters to meet, with various activities, including outside trips and development courses where relevant.

Wiltshire Portage Service

Wiltshire Portage Service is a small independent Charity based in Chippenham working across Wiltshire with children, from birth to school entry, with Special Educational Needs and Disabilities, offering a home visiting educational service, with an allocated Portage Home Visitor visiting weekly for 1-1.5 hours during term time to help their child reach their potential. Each visit includes 1:1 intensive learning through play with the child and parent together. Individual learning goals are set for each child and activities tailored to individual learning styles to help support and maximise their potential. Currently all our work is taking place online via Skype/Zoom - alongside phone calls, texts and emails. It has been a very challenging time for our families and our Portage Home Visitors.

Youth for Christ

Wiltshire Youth for Christ has been running Summer Pop-Up Youth Cafes in areas round Trowbridge, Devizes and Calne, engaging with over 100 teenagers each year during the summer break.

A Pop-Up Youth Cafe is a temporary space created to be standalone or support other community events in rural or urban areas. We believe in a Holistic approach to youth work, to inspire and equip young people to make positive choices that affect their personal, social, educational and spiritual development, to enable them to develop their voice, influence and place in society.

Thanks for your donation towards the t-shirts and jackets as it is really appreciated.

Youth Action Wiltshire

Youth Action Wiltshire supports young carers and whilst physical face to face contact and group activities have not been possible since the restrictions have been in place, we have introduced virtual support for them, via online platforms and on the phone.

Recognising that we must adopt a fast, effective response to ensure young carers remained safe and supported throughout the challenging 'lockdown' period, we identified the most vulnerable young carers within our overall cohort; sent text and email messages to let young carers and their families know that we are here to help.

We know as society seeks to rebuild itself, the need for our work with Wiltshire’s young carers will be greater than ever and we thank you for your fantastic continued support of our work.