Welcome back to the '12 Months of Giving' blog!
This month I am focusing on a campaign which takes place annually titled 'Carers Week'! This campaign aims to raise awareness for caring, and the challenges carers experience, as well as recognising their contribution to not only their families, but the community!
You can find out more about the annual campaign 'Carers Week' here: http://www.carersweek.org/about-us
This year the focus for the campaign is on building and maintaining 'Carer Friendly Communities.' This enables carers to look after the individual that they care for to the best of their ability, whilst also encouraging them, and others to recognise their own needs too!
Wanting to contribute to this year's focus of the campaign, I had the idea to contact a local day centre within my area which I had heard of, and ask for permission to donate a gift for their garden. By doing this, I felt the staff and visitors of the centre would be able to enjoy the gift, and it would be a reminder within their garden that the work they are doing is so important, and simply amazing!
In order to support this year's 'Carers Week', I have donated a lavender garden plant to 'The Elms Day Centre'!
'The Elms Day Centre' provides support to the carers of individuals, as well as the individuals themselves. Attendees who use the centre may be elderly, have a mental health condition, have a physical disability, or care for these individuals. the centre is run by volunteers who can provide support and guidance to carers on subjects such as dementia, in order for them to care for an individual the best they can, as well as feeling supported in doing so. The centre also acts as a day rest-bite scheme, where individuals can take part in activities, which supports socialising and communicating with others in a similar situation, which I feel is extremely important as the challenges carers face can sometimes cause them to experience loneliness, and the feeling that they have none to care for and support them.
By donating this gift to the staff and attendees of 'The Elms Day Centre', I hope that they can feel constantly supported in the selfless work they do in order to improve the lives of others, and feel encouraged to recognise their own needs, in order to keep themselves happy and healthy also! Ultimately, I hope that every time they see the gift in the centre's garden, they are reminded of just how amazing they are, and how deserving they are of the praise given to them for all that they do.
Maybe after reading this month's post, you will feel encouraged to let someone you know who cares for either you or someone else, whether it be the simplest daily task, how amazing they are and how thankful you are for them and the things that they do!
Thank you for reading this month's post, and I will see you again in July for another month of giving!
Be Good!
Kizzy :)
