Footprints in the Community continues series of events to mark their 10 year anniversary

Local charity Footprints in the Community had a busy month in March, continuing with a series of events to mark their significant milestone of 10 years as a registered charity.

Footprints in the Community supports people living in Redcar and Cleveland to help reduce poverty and isolation and improve health and wellbeing. 2023 is their tenth-anniversary year. During the last decade demand for the charity’s projects, and the number of clients and members it supports, has grown each year. With many people worrying about the increased cost of living, this demand is expected to continue to grow.

At the beginning of the month, staff and volunteers from Footprints were honoured to be invited to meet the Mayor of Redcar & Cleveland, to acknowledge their past decade of supporting the local community. Later in the month, Footprints were delighted to hold a successful Information and Networking Event at the Grangetown United Community Hub. The event was attended by over 60 individuals, representing approximately 40 different local organisations. The event brought together agencies, charities and other organisations who all work within Redcar and Cleveland, to explore ways in which they can work together to improve people’s lives.

Staff and volunteers from Footprints in the Community gave a number of short presentations throughout the morning about the impact of Footprints’ projects within the community. There were also opportunities for all attendees to share information with each other about their own role and the work of their organisation. The event was a great success, with attendees giving very positive feedback.

Charity launches support for Dementia Carers

Footprints in the Community CEO Ruth Fox said, “Footprints in the Community has been dedicated to reducing poverty and isolation in Redcar and the surrounding area for over ten years. We were delighted to be recognised by the Mayor for our contribution to the local community during this time.” She continued, “It was our pleasure to be able to share the story of our first ten years with a wider audience by hosting another successful networking event, with representatives from so many local organisations. We hope it will enhance the way we work together to support clients during 2023 and beyond, as we continue to find new ways to support people in the Redcar area.”

You can find out more about the work of Footprints in the Community at www. footprintsinthecommunity.co.uk or visit @ FootprintsRedcar on Facebook.

Local carers who support family members living with dementia, attended a new service recently provided by Redcar & Cleveland Mind.

The new parallel support sessions offer a safe and supportive place where both the cared for person and the carer can take part in separate activities.

The charity hopes to give carers an opportunity to connect with peers and share their stories, learn from each other, and build up a support network.

Mike Ruiter, Redcar & Cleveland Mind, Interim Operations Director said: “Dementia Carers deliver vital support for their loved ones, but they have little time to themselves and opportunities to connect with others, which is something we want to address because time for yourself and a feeling of connection to others are really important to our mental health”. He added:” Listening to feedback from carers we were aware of the need for a service to support them, but they said they weren’t able to leave their family member on their own, so that was something we needed to resolve”.

The charity has solved that problem by teaming up with Meadowvale Homecare and provide parallel activities for the persons with dementia and their carers, leaving the carers free to engage with their peers in the knowledge that their loved ones are being looked after and enjoying a group activity.

The first event proved that there is a need in the community for activities like this.

Redcar & Cleveland Mind will provide a session each week. The locations will rotate between Skelton, Redcar and Grangetown, to offer the service nearer to where people live.

More details can be found by contacting Redcar & Cleveland Mind on 01642 296052.

This initiative is supported through funding by NHS North of England Commissioning Group, distributed by AgeUK Teesside.