Why Belsoft sponsor a puppy through Guide
Dogs for the Blind
There are a lot of dog lovers among the team at Belsoft and when Lyn lost her dog to cancer in 2013, the demands of running the practice meant that getting another dog was not a viable option; so sponsoring a Guide Dog seemed the next best thing.
Meet Harley our guide dog puppy. Harley is now about 18 months old and doing very well with his training, in the spring he will be matched with a person with blindness or partial sight and is set to dramatically improve that person’s life and independence.
It costs £32,400 to train a guide dog partnership. This covers the first two years – from birth to graduation. After then, it costs £12,800 to support the working partnership. Furthermore, Guide Dogs for the Blind are committed to ensuring a quality retirement for all guide dogs once there working life has finished. This means that there is a long waiting list of blind and partial sighted people waiting for a Guide Dog and lives are immeasurably improved as a result.
You can follow Harley with us here http://www.guidedogs.org.uk/microsites/sponsor-a-puppy/gallery/gallery-harley and if you are interested in sponsoring your own guide dog puppy then you can do so here. http://www.guidedogs.org.uk/microsites/sponsor-a-puppy
The Miscarriage Association
Charity mission statement
Miscarriage can be a very unhappy, frightening and lonely experience.
The Miscarriage Association acknowledges the distress associated with pregnancy loss and strives to make a positive difference to those it affects.
Background and aims
The Miscarriage Association was founded in 1982 by a group of people who had experienced miscarriage. They felt strongly that someone needed to provide the support and information which they had found lacking in their medical care, and so they set up a new charity.
Nearly thirty years later, the Miscarriage Association has grown and developed in many ways, but we still pursue those founding aims:
- offering support and information to anyone affected by the loss of a baby in pregnancy
- raising awareness of miscarriage and promoting good practice in medical care.
Support
The Miscarriage Association’s head office responds to over 5,000 calls and e-mails per year from those who have suffered the loss of a baby in pregnancy. Hundreds more use our online support services and we note an average of 80,000 visits per month to our website.
They have a network of telephone volunteers across the UK who offer support and understanding from the perspective of having been through miscarriage themselves. Twenty local support groups provide a safe space where people can meet and share their experiences and feelings.
Information
The Miscarriage Association produces leaflets which answer the most commonly asked questions about pregnancy loss which are used in NHS Hospitals. Their website provides an additional source of information, with all leaflets available on-line, free to download.
Action for Young Carers (AYC)
Action for Young Carers (AYC) is a free and confidential service funded by Nottingham City Council and the Nottingham City Clinical Commissioning Group.
They offer support to young carers living within Nottingham City and provide young carers with the chance to get together, have fun and access the help they need.
AYC enables carers to:
- Meet other young carers
- Have a break from their caring role
- Get their voice heard
- One-to-one confidential support
- Have access to their own support worker
- Get information about the condition of the person they care for
- Have the opportunity to join in activities and fun days out
Achievements in 2012-2013:
- Delivered over 300 hours of one-to-one sessions for young carer families
- Provided over 13,000 hours of respite breaks for young carers
- Enabled over 263 young carers to enjoy young carers groups
Future Plans:
Action for Young Carers aim over the next three years is to be able to identify and offer as much support to young carers within the city as possible, through 1-1 support group work or activities. They hope to continue to link into local schools to ensure all professionals are aware of young carers and the support they require whilst undertaking tasks that can have a significant impact on their own day to day lives.
