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Hi,
As we move to the next phase of lockdown easing it is important that we do not forget all the good work, compassion and dignified care that has been given during the last few months.
It is so easy to get into enjoying our new freedoms and forget that for many the struggle continues, and they are working hard to ensure that colleagues, those they support and their loved ones do not get left behind in the rush towards returning to normal life.
Many have suffered in all sorts of ways during the pandemic and it has thrown up many areas where those living in residential care are treated differently by the system than those living in the wider community.
We know that many of the staff working in health and social care settings have been frustrated and torn by the conflicting demands placed upon them, those stresses are not going to disappear just because we are moving to the next stage of the road map.
Let us continue to value their contribution and celebrate the many ways they have found of ensuring those they support have an experience of life that is predicated by kindness, compassion and dignity.
Contents:
Web event success
Crowdfunding dignity postcards
Trustee Clare Coplestone elected as Mayor of Houghton Regis
National Day of Arts in Care Homes
Skills for Care - Learn from others
Grace Care Group fundraising
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Web event success
Our web event in April “Health and Well-being - Staying Safe and Sane during and after the Pandemic” was extremely successful with some 300 people booking a place and nearly 200 actually attending on the day. Our speakers, to whom we are very grateful, once again astounded us with their imagination, passion and sheer determination to make things right. The comments on the event were very positive and we are looking forward to planning the next event. If you were unable to attend the event, the recording is available on the website or can be viewed using the link below.
At the end of the webinar several people completed a survey which has given us several ideas for the next event, thank you to everyone who took the trouble to complete the survey.
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Crowdfunding dignity postcards
As many of you will be aware, the Council receives no funding for its work, other than that obtained through donation and some sponsorship. We are very grateful to those organisations who have supported us both in kind, and financially.
This year we have decided to try other sources of funding and have signed up for AVIVA’s crowd funding scheme. This is both a way of raising money and demonstrating the support that is there for the Dignity Campaign.
Our thinking was that with over 160,000 champions, even if only 5% of them gave £1 we could raise £8,000 which would make a real difference to the resources that we could make available. There is only limited time still available to donate using the link below. If you can, help please do. Initially this will mean that we can continue to provide our dignity postcards free of charge. Who knows what it will enable us to do in the future!
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Trustee Clare Coplestone elected as Mayor of Houghton Regis
One of our Trustees Clare Coplestone has been elected to the post of Mayor of Houghton Regis. Our congratulations go to Clare and her commitment to ensuring that Dignity is a key theme of her year in office can be seen from her statement below:
"It is both an honour and a privilege to accept this position as mayor and I very much look forward to this coming year, meeting and greeting members of the community, attending events and functions both locally and further afield as requested. It has been a challenging and difficult time as we all faced a global pandemic over the past year, but as we move forwards, towards better and brighter times, it is essential that we continue to work together, to stay safe and be kind to one another.
I have chosen a theme for my term which is, Dignity and Kindness and I hope to raise awareness over the coming year, through random acts of kindness and raising awareness of dignity by bringing it to the forefront of our mind, heart and actions."
- Clare Copleston, Mayor of Houghton Regis
Members of the Council continue to represent the Dignity Campaign on a number of forums, including, CQC Trade Body meetings, Quality Matters Board, Equality and Human Rights Commission, and Skills for Care.
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National Day of Arts in Care Homes
This year’s National Day of Arts in Care Homes #AICH2021 will take place on 24 September 2021.
Care providers can join in by organising an event on the day and/or sharing stories about activities they have developed and delivered over the last year. There has continued to be a wealth of creative activities taking place during lockdown and this provides an opportunity to share these positive stories involving residents, care provision and community partnerships.
Organisers are also inviting arts and cultural organisations to share how they have been working with care homes.
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Skills for Care - Learn from others
Skills for Care has been working with a diverse range of social care providers to create a new ‘learn from others’ area of their website around wellbeing, where you’ll find good practice stories, practical tips and ideas which you can implement with your own teams. Already in place are the following:
- using mindfulness to support mental wellbeing
- words of wisdom to encourage you to look after your wellbeing
- compassionate and human approach to leadership
- creating ‘staff bubbles’ to provide peer-to-peer support
- sharing different wellbeing initiatives.
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Grace Care Group fundraising
Grace Care Group recently held and event to celebrate dignity fundraising activities.
"On 14th May 2021 at Grace Care Group we held one of our annual Dignity events to celebrate our internal Going The Extra Mile awards, as always our residents were at the forefront of the event and every one was a winner when it comes to going the extra mile, especially during the challenging time we have had with lockdown.
We embraced some amazing examples of how the providers, residents and staff have all gone the extra mile including our annual funds raised for NDC where we have raised a total of £482.50 through a range of activities including a sponsored silence, selling our delicious home made cakes and let's not forget our outstanding performances in our 'Grace Care's Got Talent' competition, we recognise the crucial importance of the Dignity Campaign and take pride in supporting it through our internal events at every opportunity."
- Trish Jones, Regional Quality Manager, Grace Care Group
Jan Burns MBE chair of The National Dignity Council attended these awards and she commented that for a small care service to raise £480 is amazing and The National Dignity Council is extremely grateful for their hardwork, dedication and commitment in helping to support the campaign.
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