Thank You!

Hello Everyone!

In August last year, I set up this blog in order to encourage myself and others to give more frequently, and essentially, raise awareness to as many charities and organisations as possible. Throughout this year and '12 Months of Giving', this blog has seen participation in charity events to facilitating educational workshops in schools, and has achieved not only a 'Making a Difference' award, but an overall spreading of support and kindness to sometimes, complete strangers.

Throughout the last 12 months, this blog has covered ALOT of ground:

1. September - Memory Walk for 'The Alzheimer's Society'

2. October - 'A Night of Hope' for 'World Vision'

3. November - Creative Workshops for 'Anti-Bullying Week'

4. December - Donating to 'Crisis' Charity for the Homeless

5. January - Donating to 'Multiple System Atrophy Trust'

6. February - Donating to 'The Ben Kinsella Trust'

7. March - Celebrating 'International Women's Day'

8. April - Donating to 'Mind' Mental Health Charity

9. May - Giving to Yourself

10. June - A Gift to Celebrate 'Carers Week'

11. July - Volunteering at 'Cancer Research UK Race for Life'

12. August - Raising Awareness to 'Certitude' Charity

Typing out each month's deed one after the other makes me feel so proud of just how much this blog has achieved, and so thankful for all of the encouragement I have achieved throughout the last year. Therefore, I'd like to finish up this post by thanking everyone who has shown this blog support, and for making this project feel so worthwhile, your support has been so motivating and incredibly inspiring.

Be good!

Kizzy :)

August - Raising Awareness to Certitude

Hello Everyone!

As some of you may know, last month I was awarded the 'Making a Difference 2015' award by London-based charity 'Certitude'. I am sure that '12 Months of Giving' had a big part to play in this incredible honour, therefore, I would like to thank you all for the continued support. As we come to the last 'official' month of the '12 Months of Giving' blog, it is so humbling to have this massive 'Pat-on-the-Back'!

When I received this award, I knew I wanted to thank Certitude in some way, and after spending some time thinking of a 'deed' for my last month, I decided that the best way to thank them was to use this platform that they so generously acknowledged, to raise awareness to their charity and the amazing work they do, as my way of giving back to them, and thanking them for all of their support.

Therefore, this month I am raising awareness to Certitude, a charity that works on the ethos of 'everyone has the right to a good life'.

You can visit Certitude's website here: http://www.certitude.org.uk

Certitude offers support to individuals with learning disabilities and mental health needs, as well as their carers and families, such as confidence building, independent living, and finding employment. They also provide their own opportunities through apprenticeships, work placements, and volunteering roles. Certitude encourage people to find new interests, make new friends, and have fun, as well as offering respite care and short breaks for carers and families. They also work closely with local authorities, communities, and others involved in delivering support to individuals and their families.

In my experience and close relationship with learning disability and mental illness, there has been several occasions where I have felt frustrated with the way in which individuals who need support have been 'dealt' with. I think it is important to acknowledge that many authorities and managing bodies  work to a strict and specific procedure, putting it down to the high volume of individuals and not enough resources. However, I am sure we can all agree that everyone is unique. Each individual's needs, abilities, and progression is specific to them. Therefore, I am extremely thankful to Certitude for priding themselves in not working to a formula, and for treating each individual in a way that suits and is beneficial to them, in order to support, guide, and give aid to them in the best way that they can.

If you have not already, I strongly encourage you to spend some time on Certitude's website and educate yourself about the amazing work that they do, as personally I believe it to be so encouraging and without a doubt, incredibly inspiring.

Lastly, I would just like to thank everyone at Certitude again for this amazing acknowledgement, and more importantly, making it their aim to work alongside individuals, their carers, and their families, in order to help them by carrying out the amazing work that they do, and enriching the lives of many.

Be good!

Kizzy :)

July - Volunteering at Cancer Research UK 'Race for Life'

Hello Everyone!

Last Sunday, I spent my morning volunteering at Cancer Research UK's annual event 'Race for Life.' This fundraising event is held all over the country, and is an amazing opportunity for people to show their support for the work Cancer Research UK does, in order to not only find a cure, but develop ways to manage the harsh reality of living and dealing with cancer. You can find out more about the work Cancer Research UK do, and how this benefits the fight against cancer by visiting their website: http://www.cancerresearchuk.org/

You can register to volunteer at your local 'Race for Life' each year in the months leading up to the event, although you do also have the option to sign up on the day. A few weeks before the event, you receive emails with all the relevant information outlining how your dedication and valuable work will benefit the event, and ensure it is an effective and enjoyable fundraiser. 

After signing in or registering on the day, you are well instructed of what your role and responsibility is for the event. Roles can vary from marshalling to setting off pink-coloured smoke canons at the start of the event. My role this year was to assist on the 'Start' and 'Finish' line. This meant that my role was to help manage the 'runners', 'joggers', and 'walkers' into their designated areas, making sure they were lined up ready to make their way to the 'Start' line and begin the race. After all of the participants had crossed the ribbon, we were told to promptly make our way to the 'Finish' line as the first runner could be sprinting through the 'Finish' in just 18 minutes. 

Over at the 'Finish' line, we organised ourselves into medal, snack, and water distributers at either side of the line, and soon after the first person sprinted through the pink ribbon. Thanks to the supporters on the side line, the participants making their way through the 'Finish' line, and the enthusiastic attitude of the volunteers; the atmosphere was amazing, so supportive, and most of all passionately positive about curing cancer sooner. From current sufferers, survivors, dedicating relatives, and empathetic supporters, the participants of the event, all varying in athletic and medical abilities, demonstrated just how effective the fight against cancer can be when we all come together, and work towards something that affects so many people. 

If you happen to find a free weekend in your diary next year around May, June, or July, I highly recommend you experience the atmosphere of this worthwhile event yourself. Whether you are running, cheering, or handing out water, I can assure you that you will be convinced cancer is a battle we CAN win!

June - A Gift to Celebrate 'Carers Week'

Hello Everyone!

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 :)

May - Giving to Yourself

Hi Everyone!

This month, I wanted to talk about giving to yourself.

Although this blog was set up with the intention to inspire and motivate myself and others to give to individuals or charities as an act of giving, otherwise known as a 'good deed.' Recently I have been thinking about the need to continually give to others, as well as yourself. Now, I haven't invested in this idea so much to the extent of buying myself lavish items every couple of days and refusing to share anything that I class as 'mine.' But I am starting to realise that acknowledgement for your own needs, is definitely as important as acknowledgement for others.

When it comes to yourself, I think it is important to realise that there is a huge difference between being selfish, and being fair. Every once in a while, I think it is important to remember to give to yourself. Whether it be space, time, attention, focus, compliments, honesty. Whatever problem or issue you may be experiencing, someone else in your life will more than likely experience that same thing in the future. So take the time to give yourself all of these things, in order to be able to 'give better' in the future. Allowing yourself to be as honest with yourself as possible allows you to realise just how much knowledge and understanding you can offer someone else.

'It is important to be there, but not to be left waiting.' Giving someone your time and attention, and offering yourself to them as someone they can count on or talk to is incredible. But remember to set boundaries for yourself as a 'giver' to that person, not on their countability on you. Giving too much of yourself to someone can leave you feeling as if they have robbed you of everything that you were, when really you just gave them all of yourself, and left none for you. Knowing how to give is something I have always struggled with, but is something that keeps you balanced. By doing this, you are not 'limiting your kindness', you are being responsible as a 'giver' to someone who may be dealing with something that does not allow them to think about this factor in the situation.

Whenever I experience something that makes me feel 'less-capable' than my 'normal' self, I tend to doubt myself. I think " Because I feel like this, I can't possibly help someone who feels the same, I don't even know how to deal with it myself."But I have come to realise that sometimes just giving someone the knowledge that you are 'in the same boat' is enough to bring them some comfort. You will not know how to deal with everything that happens in your life, nor do you have to put pressure on yourself to deal with everything that happens in your life.

I realise that when creating this post, I may have written each paragraph with some type of 'knowledgable aura.' Things that others will read assuming I have it 'all worked out.' I don't. I am learning about how to become a better 'giver' too, starting with giving to myself.

Kizzy :)

Donating to Mind - April

Hi Everyone!

This month, I donated to 'Mind' mental health charity, which supports and offers guidance to individuals to with mental illnesses, and provides them with information about treatment and help with their condition. By following this link: http://www.mind.org.uk/about-us/what-we-do/ you will be able to learn exactly what 'Mind' can do for individuals with mental illnesses, as well as the work they do and campaigns they run in order to challenge and change the stigma of mental health in society today.

One of their campaigns is the 'General Election 2015', which can be found here: http://www.mind.org.uk/news-campaigns/campaigns/general-election-2015/ which focuses on ensuring our new government considers and acts on the needs of individuals with mental illnesses. Another of their campaigns is the 'Access to talking therapies', which can be found here: http://www.mind.org.uk/news-campaigns/campaigns/access-to-talking-therapies/ which focuses on making sure that individuals who are referred to therapies are given aid within 28 days of this recognition.

The charity's 'A-Z Mental Health' feature on their website is useful in educating people about the different aspects of mental illness from symptoms to treatments, in order to provide sufferers and non-sufferers about mental health as a whole, and the current stigma of mental health by educating people on the facts and opinions of mental health, making it clear to determine the symptoms of mental illness sufferers.

I definitely encourage you to take a look at the 'Mind' website, which can be found here: http://www.mind.org.uk/ to explore the different sections in order to learn more about mental health, and help change the stigma of mental health in the future.

Thank you for your continued support of '12 Months of Giving', and I will see you in early April for a post all about my deed for the month.

Be Good!

Kizzy :)

April - Donating to 'Mind' Mental Health Charity

Hi Everyone!

I came across a quote recently that spoke absolute volumes, and became the inspiration for this month's deed. The quote read: "That's the stigma, because, unfortunately, we live in a world where if you break your arm, everyone runs over to sign your cast, but if you tell people you're depressed, everyone runs the other way. That's the stigma. We are so, so, so accepting of any body part breaking down, other than our brains. And that's ignorance. That's pure ignorance. And that ignorance has created a world that doesn't understand depression, that doesn't understand mental health." To who created this 'genius-ly' put together paragraph, I have no idea, but one thing is for sure...it is so, so true. These few lines are written in such a way, and analyses mental health in such a way that makes it somehow make sense, even though mental health itself, doesn't. As silly as it sounds, this paragraph actually made me realise that my brain is a body part just as much as my heart is. 'What you think, you become.' I think it is so easy for us to go through life with a voice and being located in our heads, when in fact our bodies are a shell to all our body parts, including our brains. I realise now that someone having a mental illness simply means that their brain needs help, just as when you break your arm you need a cast to make it better. It is clear to me now that mental health has the stigma it has, simply because it is not understood. Just as so many things in the world, mental health needs awareness, exposure, and education, until it is understood for what it truly, so simply, is.

With this in mind, this month I have donated to 'Mind' a mental health charity, working towards supporting and giving respect to anyone experiencing a mental health illness. 'Mind' offers support, advice, and information to individuals experiencing a mental health illness, as well as running campaign in order to support sufferers of mental health, and raise awareness to the many mental health conditions that there are.

'Mind' has an amazing website which you can find here: http://www.mind.org.uk/ which is able to offer advice to family members and friends trying to help someone with a mental illness, define symptoms of mental illnesses, and shares stories of other individuals with mental illnesses and their experiences. There are a number of 'local Minds' located all over the UK, where individuals experiencing mental health difficulty can find help and support. 'Mind' is able to provide information about drugs, treatments, and emotional support which individuals experiencing mental health difficulty are able to consider in order to allow them to cope with their illness.

It is important to realise that although there will be periods where an individual with a mental illness is coping with their illness, as well as times when their illness is fairly mild, mental illness is something that is very much part of an individual and their life. Therefore, by donating to 'Mind' via their website, or simply educating ourselves about mental health, we are supporting the 1 in 4 of us that mental illness affects, as a way to challenge, and hopefully change the current stigma of mental health.

Although your donations to 'Mind' would be greatly appreciate, even if you were to simply take a look at the website and learn about mental health and charity for yourself, and maybe share this knowledge with another would be one more step to changing the face and negative stigma of mental health.

Thank you for your continued support of '12 Months of Giving', and I will see you later this month with a post explaining just what amazing work 'Mind' is able to do with our support.

Be Good!

Kizzy :)

Celebrating 'International Women's Day'! - March

Hello Everyone!

Welcome back to '12 Months of Giving'!

Until around 11 hours ago, today's post was a ready-to-upload informative piece about another worthwhile charity. But after waking up this morning, checking social media, and stepping into my waterfall of thought, my cave of cleanliness, my palace of inner-peace (my shower!) I realised I had a lot more to say on the subject of today than the trending hashtag and a dancing girl emoji I posted on social media.

Today is 'International Women's Day', and today I offer my congratulations to both the men and women who have made and have taken, and are making and taking choices and actions working towards the equality of genders each and every day. The fact that 'International Women's Day', a day dedicated to honouring females, exists is incredible. The fact we have come so far in the process of gender equality is definitely something to celebrate. However, there is still such a long way to go. Some women, in many places, do not have the freedom to truly be them, the environment to express themselves, the ability to speak out. So this month, I just wanted to use this space to express my freedom, to express my voice, in hope to raise awareness to the importance of this day and to highlight how amazing it is that this day exists!

In my opinion, 'International Women's Day' should not only be a day to celebrate the progression of gender equality, but be used as a fundamental reminder. Just as 'Valentine's Day' acts as a reminder to appreciate loved ones, 'Mother's Day' reminds us to thank our Mothers, and 'Father's Day' is a reminder to fist pump our Fathers' 'International Women's Day' should be a reminder to women everywhere to celebrate each other. We have so many strengths; we can bear children, work the heels, endure the pain of waxing, and make a house a home, but whilst trying to do all of these things to the best of our ability, we forget to celebrate each other.

Some of us, thankfully, have the freedom to use our voices to say anything, so why not use the small extent of it to compliment one another. We use this day to celebrate our progression as a unit, so why not celebrate our progression as individuals. We are evolving, marking our place, creating our space in society, so surely that space can be however big we want it to be, a space that is big enough to celebrate females in all their forms; height, weight, needs, personalities, ambitions, dreams. 

Today has reminded me to use my energy to support and celebrate the strengths and weaknesses, perfections and flaws of all the women in my life. My great grandmothers, my grandmothers, my mother, my sisters, my aunts, my cousins, my godmothers, my friends, my past friends, my family's friends, my teachers, my neighbours, my hairdresser, my optician, women in the news, women who pass by me each day, women who I am yet to meet: I celebrate you, and I offer my first compliment of many on this personal challenge; you are amazing, and you do not need to find flaws in others to make yourself perfect.

Please accept this challenge that I have set not only for you, but myself also: appreciate your rare, free voice and use it to define your worth, by highlighting each other's.

Kizzy x 

Donating to The Ben Kinsella Trust - February

Hello Everyone!

So as you may know from my last post, this month I donated to The Ben Kinsella Trust which works which you raise awareness for knife crime, and holds events of exhibitions in order to educate young individuals about the effects of street violence.

By donating to The Ben Kinsella Trust, events such as exhibitions and community days are able to take place in order for the effects of knife crime, and the consequences of street violence to be conveyed to young people, hopefully deterring them to be involved in any of these situations. Within the exhibitions held by the trust, young people are able to hear Ben Kinsella's story, as well as hearing from his family, and the experiences of other people in their position. They are also able to equate themselves on the facts and figures of street violence, as well as hear the realities of the law. Through the exhibitions, young people are able to learn how to make the right decisions and choices which allows them to steer clear of knife crime and street violence, and therefore helping to prevent individual's lives being put in danger. By the end of the exhibition, individuals are educated in where they can turn to for help around this subject, and what to do if they every feel that the experiences shared within the exhibition are relevant to themselves.

The trust also holds Community Open Days delivering tours to groups of young people within half terms and school holidays, in order to educate them about these very real subjects. The trust also advertises for local young people to take part as actors within their exhibitions, promoting young people to use their time to act on their talents, putting their energy into positive, and valuable use.

From the research I have done, The Ben Kinsella Trust is a positive organisation that educates young people on the realities of street violence such as knife crime, ensuring that the lives of young people being put in danger is avoided due to the work they carry out, and the people they work with. If you wish to donate to the trust, you can find the information to do this in my previous post!

Thank you all for your continuous support, and I will see you all again in early March to let you know my 'good deed' of the month!

Be Good!

Kizzy :)

February - Donating to The Ben Kinsella Trust

Hello Everyone! 

I hope that 2015 has been treating you all well so far, and that the last of the winter isn't taking too much of a toll!

I think it is safe to say for many of us a new year comes with a new lease of hope and determination, to make this year better than any, the want to challenge yourself and reach new goals, and feeling safe and stable to do so. However, I think we take for granted just how lucky we are to feel so determined and comfortable by maybe our family or home situation, or the area in which we live, and forget that for some a stable family and home situation isn't granted, and the lack of security and safety you feel is just normality. I was touched by a real life story shared with me a couple of weeks ago about someone who had never had a comfortable and secure family lifestyle, and was simply left to make their own way in life, something that when I envisage for myself, absolutely terrifies me. Due to their circumstance, the route that this individual had taken was not always positive, and the decisions they had made failed to leave them behind, even if they had decided to leave them.

In respect of this 'story', and in memory of this individual, this month I will be donating to 'The Ben Kinsella Trust.'

This charity was created by an individual whose brother died due to knife crime carried out by a gang that was unknown to the victim prior to his attack. The charity aims to raise awareness of the effects of knife crime, and stop the amount of crime on our streets. By 10th January this year, there had been 19 counts of death due to violent attacks on our streets, which to anyone is shocking just days into a new year. The trust works to educate young people and teenagers of the consequences of knife crime and the effects it has on victim's families. Eventually, the family behind the trust hope to open youth centres in order to deter people from street and knife crime. The charity also puts on exhibitions across London, within which people can learn about their story, and the facts, figures, effects, consequences of knife crime.

By showing your support to 'The Ben Kinsella Trust', they will be able to continue their education of knife crime, and change the future of our streets. You can donate to the trust through their website: http://www.benkinsella.org.uk/get-involved or by texting 'benk27' with your desired donation amount to '70070' and of course by sharing this post and raising as much awareness as possible for the charity. Trusts such as these are so important in changing the place in which we live for the better, and in turn improving many individual's lives.

Once again, thank you all so much for your continued support of '12 Months of Giving', and I will see you again at the end of the month to let you know how donations from people such as yourselves benfefits the 'The Ben Kinsella Trust' and the work to raise awareness of there effects of knife crime.

Be Good! 

Kizzy :)

Donating to Multiple System Atrophy Trust!

Hello Everyone!

As you may know from my last post, I donated to Multiple System Atrophy Trust  as my January 'deed' to begin the new year. Donating to this charity, and using my blog to promote the disease and the work of the charity is extremely important to me, and is something I feel should be done more often, whichever the disease or supporting charity for many reasons.

With the money that we donate to Multiple System Atrophy Trust, they are able to employ a small team of staff and specialist nurses who provide a range of services to Multiple System Atrophy sufferers and carers across the UK.

The services that the trust are able to offer free-of-charge as a result of the public's support are as follows; 

• Telephone and email advice service offering support and information for people with MSA, carers, health and social care professionals
• Guides and fact sheets on a variety of aspects of living with MSA
• Regular magazine
• Regional and online support groups
• Comprehensive website
• Education sessions for healthcare professionals
• Latest MSA research updates
• Contact scheme for people with MSA and carers
• Campaigning and advocating on behalf of people affected by MSA
• Advice on organising or becoming involved in a fundraising event

Information on the trust can be found on their website, which you can access here: http://www.msatrust.org.uk/the-trust/

"Multiple System Atrophy Trust is the UK’s main support and information service for people who have multiple system atrophy (MSA) – a rare neurological disease with no known cause or cure.  As well as helping people who have MSA, we are also there to support families whose lives are affected by MSA as well as carers and health and care professionals who look after and treat people with the disease.

Our vision is a World Free of MSA. We are committed to making this happen by funding research to find the cause of, and one day a cure for, MSA."

By donating and promoting this charity as much as possible, we are able to help the trust achieve their ethos and aims, and show support to sufferers of MSA and their carers throughout their experience of the disease.

Once again, thank you for your continued support of '12 Months of Giving', and I will see you in early February to tell you all about my 'good deed' for the month! 

Be Good!

Kizzy :)

January - Donating to Multiple System Atrophy Trust

Hello Everyone!

Welcome back to '12 Months of Giving.' I hope you all had a lovely christmas, and an amazing new year! 2015 will be filled with more 'good deeds', and more ways to do good!

When reflecting over the last year, I realised that for me, 2014 should be summed up with a positive perspective. I would like to think that 2014 for me, could be summed up with the optimistic phrase; "When life gives you lemons, make lemonade!" The idea that after experiencing trials and tribulations, you can use the experiences to improve someone else's life and situation has always suggested some sort of strength to me. The opportunity to become stronger after an experience that should (could) make you feel weaker has always brought me comfort and some understanding in tough experiences. By taking this experience, and using it to better yourself you are refusing to be defeated by a situation, and although you sometimes need to have a 'meltdown moment' (...we all do), you can pack your suitcase back up, checkout out of 'head-mess hotel', and use your experiences to learn and take on new challenges.

With this in mind, this month I wanted to continue to donate to another charity that could provide support to individuals who find themselves experiencing challenges that have once been relevant to me, or to people within my life. In memory of a late family friend, for my January 'good deed' I have donated to the 'Multiple System Atrophy Trust.'

This charity works with Multiple System Atrophy sufferers in order to provide them with information about their diagnosis, teach them how to living with MSA, and how to spot signs for the early development of the disease. Multiple System Atrophy is a progressive disease, and therefore the symptoms that sufferers experience are likely to worsen over time. Therefore, the Multiple System Atrophy Trust is vital in informing sufferers and carers of how to live with the disease, and to cope with the progression of the disease's symptoms.

The Multiple System Atrophy Trust website, which you can find here: http://www.msatrust.org.uk/, is able to inform individuals of what MSA exactly is: "Multiple system atrophy (MSA) is a progressive neurological disorder that affects adult men and women. It is caused by degeneration or atrophy of nerve cells in several (or multiple) areas of the brain which can result in problems with movement, balance and automatic functions of the body such as bladder and blood pressure control."

By using the trust's website to research the symptoms of the disease further, I have learnt that there are three groups of symptoms that reflect the three regions of the brain that may be involved in the disease: The Basal Ganglia causing problems with movement (Parkinsonism); The Cerebellum causing poor balance and co-ordination; and The Brain Stem causing autonomic problems such as poor bladder and blood pressure control.

Examples of symptoms with these three different groups are as follows;

Parkinsonism

• Feeling slow and stiff when moving
• Difficulty in starting to move
• Writing becoming small and spidery
• Difficulty turning in bed

Cerebellar

• Feeling clumsy, dropping things
• Finding it difficult to fasten buttons
• Feeling unsteady in crowds
• Unable to balance without support
• Difficulty writing
• Slurred speech

Autonomic

• For men, difficulty with erection
• Bladder problems
• Feeling dizzy or fainting (blood pressure problems)
• Pain around neck and shoulders (known as ‘coat hanger pain’)
• Constipation
• Cold hands and feet
• Problems with sweating control

Other problems

• Weakness of arms and legs
• Poorly controlled emotional response, laughing or crying
• Restless sleep
• Nightmares
• Noisy breathing during the day, snoring at night
• Unintentional sighing
• Weak, quiet voice
• Swallowing problems, difficulty chewing, choking episodes
• Eye muscle weakness which may cause blurred vision

By donating to this charity, you are helping to fund the work being carried out to give support to sufferers and carers experiencing this disease, allowing individuals diagnosed with the disease to be educated about how their disease may progress, and how to cope with the progression of Multiple System Atrophy.

Once again, thank you for your continued support of '12 Months of Giving.' I will see you again later this month to share with you the details of how the Multi System Atrophy Trust supports individuals experiencing the realities of this disease, and the resources they can access through this charity.

Be Good!

Kizzy :)

Donating to Crisis! - Donating to Crisis Charity for the Homeless!

Hello Everyone!

Firstly, I hope you all had a wonderful Christmas, and that you created amazing memories with your loved ones! 

As many of you know, my 'good deed' for this month was donating to Crisis charity for the homeless, ensuring a homeless individual recieved this charity's amazing support this Christmas! 

Within my last post, I listed the services that are offered to individuals who attend Crisis at Christmas time, and will hopefully continue to use it throughout 2015. 

On this note, I thought I would share with you this link of an Art student from Preston who raised money for a homeless individual this month: http://www.theguardian.com/education/2014/dec/17/student-raises-thousands-of-pounds-for-homeless-man-who-offered-her-money

This story is something you have probably already seen, but something I feel cannot be shared and talked about enough. When reading this article, I was not only touched by the amount of money people had donated to this cause, but more by the intial act that triggered this fundraising. What I find amazing and so heart-warming about this story is the fact an individual who recieves so much prejudice and judgement offered money to another individual. Now the amount of my amazement may be considered shallow or judgemental of such a character, but nevertheless I love and respect the fact that this individuals situation had not succeeded in willing him to become bitter, something I think we would all somewhat expect and forgive him for. It is acts like these that speak volumes to society, and I respect this man for simply being gorgeously human. Learning about his kind character within this article, I am so thankful that he will now receive the support he deserves, along with a chance to rebuild his life.

Thank you all for your amazing support this year, and I plan to continue '12 Months of Giving' in 2015 with even more 'good deeds.' I hope your plans and goals for this new year are ambitious, and I will see you again in early January to let you know my 'good deed' for the month.

Be Good!

Kizzy :) 

December - Donating to Crisis Charity for the Homeless

Hello Everyone!

It is finally December, my favourite time of year!

Christmas for me, and I am sure many others, has always been about family and this year more than ever, I feel so grateful for the amazing support system that I am able to call my family. Since I was young, Christmas has been a day for showing appreciation for each other, creating memories, and sharing stories of "Do you remember when?"

However, at this time of year, it is also important to remember the individuals that do not have such luxuries this Christmas, and do not have people that they consider loved ones to share the day with. I aim to fully appreciate the presence of family this Christmas, and therefore wanted to help individuals who may not have theirs.

Therefore, for my 'good deed' for December, I have donated to the charity 'Crisis', reserving a place for a homeless individual to benefit from this charity's amazing work this Christmas.

Donating to Crisis in order to reserve a place for a homeless individual this Christmas not only means that they will receive a hot meal this Christmas, but also the offering of companionship, a full health check, specialist services (e.g. dental treatment), specialist advice (e.g. advice on detox services), and housing, as well as the chance to learn new skills through participating in workshops, and new hope for their future, through the help and support Crisis provides at Christmas, and aims to maintain throughout the year.

According to the information provided by Crisis, The number of people living on the streets across the country has risen by 37% in three years, with 77% more rough sleepers in London. Crisis aims to open 13 centres between 22nd and 30th December, offering homeless people companionship, care, hot food and warm clothing at a time of year that can be particularly lonely for those without a home or family.
Last year 4,191 people settled down to Christmas dinner at Crisis at Christmas. For many of them their lives had been shattered. They may have been the victim of domestic violence, been though a divorce, been made redundant or suffered ill health - something that could happen to any of us.

In order to reserve a place for a homeless individual to receive this support at a Crisis centre this Christmas, you can visit: www.crisis.org.uk/menu where you can donate different amounts in order to reserve one or more places for homeless individuals over this Christmas period. Alternatively, it would be great if you could visit the Crisis website: www.crisis.org.uk and learn more about the incredible work they do, in order to help those less fortune than us not just over Christmas, but all through the year.

Once again, thank you for all of your continued support of '12 Months of Giving', and I hope you all have a lovely Christmas. I will see you again before the new year to let you know what a difference the support that is given to Crisis makes this Christmas.

Be Good!

Kizzy :)

Promoting Anti-Bullying Week! - Creative Workshops for Anti-Bullying Week!

Hello Everyone!

So as you know from my last post, this month I delivered 3 workshops to different age groups at a local primary school, all subjected around Anti-Bullying Week! 

Within the workshops I delivered, the children I worked with were able to learn about all aspects of bullying, some of those being; what bullying is, the different types of bullying, the consequences of bullying, and the right thing to do if you experience bullying of any kind. In order to educate and promote the ideas of Anti-Bullying Week effectively to the children I worked with, I used my skills within Community Arts so that they could access the ideas of the workshop creatively, using role play, still images, and 'true or false' games. 

Delivering workshops subjected on a specific subject which a group feels needs discussing is always so rewarding and enriching. Throughout each of the three workshops I delivered, the answers and opinions the children were giving surrounding the subject of bullying were so satisfying to hear, and the results of the workshops were shown by the many smiling faces of the children leaving the school hall! However, two children in particular approached me at the end of my workshops, one expressing how she had been bullied and wondered whether she had handled the situation correctly, and the other thanking me personally for the workshop I had delivered as he felt his class needed to hear the information presented to them within the time I spent with them. It goes without saying that any praise or thanks I receive from delivering a workshop I appreciate and cherish, however these two individuals particular triggered the reinforcement of my love for Community Arts, and delivering creative workshops to individuals who both love and 'tolerate' theatre, in order to use one of my life-long passions for a good purpose, and to achieve a result that could change others lives indirectly as the participants of my workshops apply the knowledge they have received from the three workshops I have delivered. 

Educating children on the importance of Anti-Bullying, not just for a week within a month, but throughout their whole lives is so important, and I feel so lucky to have been given the opportunity to promote such a positive change using the skills I have for one of my passions.

Thank you all again for your amazing support, and I will see you soon for my post about my 'good deed' for December! 

Be good!

Kizzy :)

November - Creative Workshops for Anti-Bullying Week

Hello Everyone! 

So we have reached November now, and  I thought I would write a quick post on here, letting you all know my 'good deed' for November. I have been trailing the internet searching for fundraising events happening in November,  and came across a few options 'Movember' was a potential winner considering the amazing cause it is in aid of, until I decided a challenge is a challenge and I was really making it hard for myself! So I opted for one which is just as amazing and worthwhile, but slightly more realistic! 

This month I will be running 3 Creative Workshops in a local primary school, in aid of this year's 'Anti-Bullying Week'!

'Anti-Bullying Week' is an annual event that focuses on raising awareness of, educating people on, and ultimately ending bullying. The 'Anti-Bullying Week' event is particularly focused on within schools, and the event is used to educate their students on the effects and consequences of bullying, whether this be through literary work, or creative work. 

Throughout November, I will be delivering 3 Creative Workshops at a local primary school, which will use drama techniques: such as roleplay and forum theatre, aswell as group discussion and reflection, in order to educate students from 5-11 years old, on what bullying is, the effects bullying can have, and how to deal with bullying. 

I am so excited to have been given the opportunity to teach the different aspects of bullying through theatre, as I am able to use my skills, in order to give people options on the way they act, and allow them to realise the choices they have the potential to make towards others, which is what I love to do, and what makes me very happy. Of course we all make mistakes and we learn from them, but I have always believed that the pettiest, most random comment can have such an effect on someone else, and this is something that can be so easily avoided. Bullying isn't just a comment or an action you make, it's a look you give, or what you don't say, even though you have the potential to make someone happier, bullying is when you choose to not take that opportunity. Throughout all of my creative projects with people in the community, I have always wanted to make it clear that I am not offering an hour of preaching disguised as theatre, but an hour to open your mind, and to realise that you have choices, whether you are 80 or 8, you have a choice to do the right thing, even to do the 'better' thing. Even though bullying undoubtably happens in all stages of life, I am excited to educate these primary schools students within their childhood about the choices, they can choose to take with them and consider within adulthood. 

Once again, I just wanted to thank all of you for your amazing support with this project, and I will upload a new post at the end of November, letting you all know how the creative workshops for 'Anti-Bullying Week' went! 

Be good! 

Kizzy :)

A Hopeful Night! - 'A Night of Hope' with World Vision

Hi Everyone! 

So this weekend brought Halloween, and I spent mine carving a heart carved pumpkin in support of World Vision's 'A Night of Hope' campaign, in order to raise money and awareness for the children of Syria. After carving my pumpkin, sharing it on social media, and donating by text, I had a scroll through the 'A Night of Hope' hashtag, and had a look at other's posts supporting the campaign. The support World Vision, and therefore the children of Syria has received through this idea has been incredible, and it is so inspiring to see that many people promoting change for the better.

Here are some pictures from my participation in the campaign on friday! 

Once again, thank you all for the amazing support with this project, and I will see you in a few days to announce my 'good deed' for November!

Be Good! 

Kizzy :)

October - 'A Night Of Hope' for World Vision

Hello Everyone! 

Welcome back to the 2nd month of the '12 Months of Giving' project!

Now, I realise at the end of my last post I said I would see you again in early October, and that now it is only a week and a couple of days until October is no more (Where did the time go?!) But I promise I have been doing the behind the scenes bits for further months, as well as juggling school assignments and assessments as we approached the half term holiday!! Despite these everyday, normal person excuses, I must admit I had a bit of a idea block this month! I knew I only had two weeks within this month where I could potentially clear my days, and was determined to find a charity idea that meant you all could help the cause first hand too, without having to visit another Just Giving page with my face on!! Anyway, there I was on my commute to school, devising weekly plans of how I would get everything I needed to do done, listing, emailing, texting, and calling everyone I knew, racking my brain for a monthly good deed, when I glanced at the screen to check what stop my train had reached and saw a poster for this month's cause. So after all of the thinking and debating, mind mapping and list making, I realised that I better crawl out from behind my rock of hiding and dish out the goods! 

This month I am raising awareness and donating to World Vision, as part of their 'A Night of Hope' campaign for October. 

World Vision have launched their 'A Night of Hope' campaign this year throughout October, in order to raise funds to help the children of Syria who are constantly surrounded by fear and violence. The idea of this campaign is to turn this year's Halloween into 'A Night Of Hope' by spreading awareness for children in Syria who are experiencing consequences of the fourth year of the country's civil war, including deaths of family members, plus nights of bombings and fighting. 

World Vision's 'A Night Of Hope' campaign provides 3 easy steps to show how you can provide support and raise awareness for the children of Syria: 

1) Carve a heart within your pumpkin for Halloween

2) Take a photo of your carved heart pumpkin, and share your pumpkin on the World Vision Facebook or Twitter page, linking this '12 Months of Giving' blog, and using the hashtag '#ANightOfHope'

3) Text 'HEART' to 70060 to donate £5 to World Vision, and to help the children of Syria

To find out more about these steps, the 'A Night of Hope' campaign, or how you will support the work of World Vision, you can visit their website here: http://www.worldvision.org.uk/get-involved/night-hope/

The videos shared on this website, following one 8 year old boy Hani's story are so powerful, and are excellent for anyone learning about the charity, and the work that World Vision do for Syrian refugees like Hani. Upon seeing the poster for the campaign on my train, and visiting the website to learn more, I soon realised that although I had been stressing about assessments and school assignments for the past couple of weeks, carving a pumpkin, posting a photo to raise awareness, and donating by text message, was the least I could do as I watched a video of an 8 year old Syrian refugee within which he expressed "I love everything about school." The optimism and hopefulness shown within the promotion for the 'A Night Of Hope' campaign is so inspiring, and definitely something which I support not only in desperate circumstances such as current Syria, but across so many people's lives and situations. The way this cause stumbled into my regular daily commute shows just how easy it is to help another cause or individual, and I hope that you will take this opportunity with World Vision to change someone's life by following the 3 simple steps.

I will see you at the end of the month with pictures and evaluations of how I supported the 'A Night Of Hope' World Vision campaign, featuring my heart carved pumpkin, shared image, link to this blog, campaign hashtag, and donation text message! 

Be good!

Kizzy :) 

We did it! - Memory Walk for Alzheimer's Society

Hello Everyone!

So as many of you know, last weekend I participated in the annual 'Memory Walk' for the Alzheimer's Society in Oxford, as my 'good deed' for September. The fundraising event was a 10k walk around Oxford University Parks with a group of people, who just like you, wanted to support and raise awareness for Alzheimer's disease. Instead of describing how green the trees were, and how blue the lake was, I thought it would be much more interesting to share with you all some of my pictures of the day!

We started the day with a little 'warm up' walk to the University Parks, upon which we got very excited, and slightly hyper...not the best state to be in minutes before a 10k walk!

             
I took 'Stitch' with us in my rucksack as a lucky mascot for the challenge ahead. From participating in a charity run earlier this year, I knew that little things like a lucky mascot in someone's bag, or an 'I'm running for..' poster on someone's back could keep your spirits up, and make you continue with the challenge. Besides, it's nice to carry something with you that reminds you that although the day is for a heartbreaking cause, you are walking for positivity, strength, and to make a difference.

                 

When we arrived at the event, we approached the centre of the 'base', where there was a white tree, with white tags and pens. On this tree, people participating in the event could hang tags with dedications, memories, and sayings inspired by people close to them who are suffering, or have suffered from the disease. Although it was sad reading some of the things written on the tags hung on the tree, and realising just how many individuals were affected by Alzheimer's disease, it also gave so many people support and comfort knowing they were not alone, and determination for the challenge ahead.

             

The blue ribbon was cut, and we started the 10k walk with high spirits (thanks to Stitch!) and a feeling of determination and purpose after hearing some stories from people on the main stage who spoke about their experiences of Alzheimer's disease, and how the Alzheimer's Society had helped them.

The picture on the right here was taken seconds after she tripped over a rock...10 steps into the walk!   

                     


Half way through the walk, and we were definitely appreciating Stitch's ability to keep spirits high. We took comedic pictures, ate bananas, and gave piggy-backs in order to spur ourselves on, all of which were fuelled by our continual ability to make each other laugh instantly no matter the situation!

Overall, the day was definitely one I will never forget. It was so comforting to see so many people who had experienced or were experiencing the same as you, all coming together in order to embrace their situation, and using it to make a difference to others affected by Alzheimer's disease. Lastly, I would just like to thank everyone who donated money, in order to sponsor our participation in the Alzheimer's Society annual 'Memory Walk.' Throughout the event, you saw, experienced, or heard about so many ways in which the money raised would help those with Alzheimer's Disease, and anyone who contributes anything to this worthy cause should feel responsible for the amazing work the Alzheimer's Society is able to do because of your contributions.

I hope you enjoyed seeing how my 'good deed' for September went, and all of my memories of the day!
See you in early October to find out what my 'good deed' for the month will be.

Be good!

Kizzy