This campaign has now closed

We aim to establish and co-ordinate a national network of Deafblind Self-Help Groups across England – a total of 80 Clubs in 10 regions. Over the last year we have successfully established self help groups in North and South Wales and in Greater Manchester, as well as developed an existing network in Essex. These are proving a great benefit to deafblind people and their community, and as a charity we are looking to replicate their success in other regions. Over the next 5 years we aim to replicate their success in other regions, for example, the West Midlands.

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Categories

  • Community Support & Development Community Support & Development
  • Health/Wellbeing Health/​Wellbeing
  • Beneficiaries

    • Older People Older People
    • Women & Girls Women & Girls
    • Other Other

    Situation

    Deafblind people often feel trapped by barriers to communication and mobility. As their condition progresses, they can lose confidence, often becoming withdrawn, isolated and at times, heavily dependent upon others, in particular their close families. Recent consultations with a small number of existing deafblind clubs scattered across the country has confirmed that this is a very popular and effective means of supporting and empowering deafblind people as well as their families and carers. This will be the first network of its kind for deafblind people within their local communities, run by deafblind people, to meet their own individual needs, under the guidance and support of Deafblind UK. Through Self-Help Clubs, we will increase opportunities for deafblind people to meet people outside of their home environment and reduce feelings of isolation; have greater access to information; increase confidence so often lost with the onset of Deafblindness; make independent choices and have fun! The majority of our members are over the age of 65 so this will be a rare chance to make new friends and share their experiences. We need approximately £60,000 to enable us to fully fund the first year set up and running costs for a cluster of deafblind clubs.

    Solution

    100%
    Categories

  • Community Support & Development Community Support & Development
  • Health/Wellbeing Health/​Wellbeing
  • Beneficiaries

    • Older People Older People
    • Women & Girls Women & Girls
    • Other Other