Inclusion, connection and community are at the heart of our fundraising work. What difference do our partners make to the people with disabilities we support?
If you visit a Shaftesbury service, chances are you’ll spot one of the people we support using a piece of kit for communication, therapy, entertainment or some other benefit. Very often, these items are paid for by the generosity of our supporters, who have joined Team Shaftesbury through the work of our community fundraising team. We asked the team about their work and some of their recent highlights.
‘We’re delighted to have community partners from business, churches, golf clubs, clubs, groups and individuals who want to help,’ says Sue Davison, head of philanthropy. ‘So one example of how community partners directly help people we support is the ‘gripping glove’ which came from our relationship with Mid Suffolk Rotary, active near Shaftesbury Icanho. This is our rehabilitation centre for acquired brain injury and the club wanted to donate an item to support our work.’
How community donations support stroke recovery at Shaftesbury
Shaftesbury Icanho’s lead physiotherapist Alex Elmon explains the benefits of this device: ‘Very often after stroke or a brain injury, people lose the ability to grip and hold on to things with their affected side. They then find it very, very hard because they drop things. So the gripping glove, or “active hand”, straps around the wrist, with an outer glove that goes around the outside of the hand and loops back on itself. It shuts your hand around things and forms a firm hold.’
This allows a wide range of items, handles and grips to be placed in the glove, which can enable the person to enjoy playing sports again, outdoor pursuits and everyday activities such as cooking and gardening, sometimes using attachments for specific tasks. ‘So it might be that it helps someone carry a shopping bag home, which can make a big difference in life,’ says Alex.
Rotary’s donation meant Shaftesbury Icanho could buy several left- and right-handed gloves in different sizes , at a cost of around £60 per glove. ‘This means that we let people trial them here so they can see if it helps them,’ says Alex. ‘Then when they’re discharged, they can choose to buy their own, certain that it’s going to be a useful aid.’
Life-enhancing equipment for our care homes
Accessible sensory garden areas, funding for days out, sensory rooms and disability equipment are some of the added-value benefits that this team’s work makes possible for the people we support. ‘We have a fantastic residential service in Hereford called Shaftesbury Wall Street,’ says community partnerships manager Salma Pandor. ‘When we reached out to Herefordshire Freemasons, we were absolutely delighted when they said they’d like to raise money for a mobile hoist for Shaftesbury Wall Street.’ This hoist provides safe and comfortable transfers into baths, chairs and beds, and it also makes transfers ergonomically safer for staff. ‘This hoist is invaluable,’ says Shaftesbury Wall Street manager Georgia Lloyd. ‘It improves inclusion and leads to a fulfilling and high-quality life for the people we support.’
‘As community fundraisers, we’re here to bring in funds and to spread the word about Shaftesbury’s work,’ say Sue Davison. ‘We work closely with the wider fundraising team, and together we run challenge experiences, a free will service, seasonal events and much more. Both the people we support and the partners benefit from the opportunity to connect more with their community, and we love to invite our partners and volunteers to events at their local service, such as when our patron The Princess Royal visits.’
Bringing accessible arts and music to people we support
For someone we support who has challenges with communication or dexterity, finding a way to express yourself through art and music-making is a thrilling opportunity that community fundraising can open doors to. Last year accessible music programme OrchLab worked with two Shaftesbury services and they return this year to Shaftesbury Brookside, in north London. Run by the London Philharmonic Orchestra, OrchLab aims to improve individuals’ wellbeing, creating music with accessible instruments and digital technology with a series of workshops, to be held at Shaftesbury Brookside. Staff and people we support also receive web training so they can carry on using OrchLab’s online resources when the in-person programme finishes. The music created is filmed and celebrated at an autumn event at the Royal Festival Hall, London, home to the London Philharmonic – and of course everyone from Shaftesbury Brookside is invited. Last year’s OrchLab sessions were a highlight for participants at Shaftesbury Bradbury Court: ‘You could see the excitement and joy people felt in taking part,’ says service manager Margaret Khaka.
Join the Shaftesbury Big Lunch to celebrate community and inclusion
Next on the community fundraising calendar is the Shaftesbury Big Lunch, 7-8 June. Trialled last year with our services, the 2025 event is being rolled out nationally: ‘The people we support enjoyed it so much last year that we’re opening it up to everyone,’ says Salma. ‘You can host a simple lunch at home or in the office, or go large with a street party or barbeque – it’s whatever you want to do. We’d love to see dozens of lunches where friends, neighbours, and family can come together to celebrate community, inclusion, and connection. And the gifts raised will go directly to projects that help the people we support to flourish.’
Get involved now – get your free resource pack with tips, tricks and ideas for running a fun lunch.
The real-life impact of fundraising on people with disabilities
Seeing the joy and fulfilment events like this bring to the people we support means a lot to Salma: ‘I’ve visited several services and actually seeing the end product and the impact it has on people with disabilities is great and roots my job in something very tangible.’ Sue agrees: ‘I find it worthwhile because I can see the direct benefit of my work. At Shaftesbury particularly, we have very good relationships with the staff who work in our services. We get a lot of opportunities to visit and hold events at services and see fundraising’s effect on the ground.’
See the difference community partners make, with the OrchLab programme and garden revamps