Issue 54 28.04.21
The weekly online newsletter for the care sector
Inspirational new book is a surprise hit A BOOK crammed full of inspirational true stories, quotes and anecdotes has become a surprise hit, particularly with care providers, during the Covid-19 pandemic. Thousands of copies of ‘A Pocketful of Kindness’ by author, dementia campaigner and motivational speaker ‘Big’ Ian Donaghy have been snapped up across the country and abroad. “I think it has just come at a moment to capture the mood of the nation,” he said. “A need for a little bit of positive motivation and appreciation at a time when we need it most.” More than 10,000 have been sold, without a publisher or Amazon to help, simply through word of mouth. The book has been a big hit with the social care sector with providers buying hundreds of copies to personalise and give to their staff as thank you gifts for their amazing work during the pandemic. “I wanted to show people how invaluable their acts of kindness are in the lives of others and how much they matter. Never has this been more important than during lockdown,” added Ian. He has drawn on his experiences working in
dementia care, working with young people with learning difficulties and his time working in crime reduction for the Home Office. There are also tales from his 30 years as a musician and from his earlier life in the North East and his home for the last 32 years, York, as well as travels further afield. It includes short stories, monologues and Ted Talksstyle chapters, all lasting the same as a cup of tea, championing the virtues and power of kindness. The key to its success is that batches of books can be branded bespoke with a company or organisation logo and there is room inside for the MD to add a ‘thank you’ message to their staff. The book has sold across the UK and in France, Italy, Denmark, USA, Canada, Australia and New Zealand. The book was put on sale on Ian’s website, bigian.co.uk, and proved popular from the off, selling 2,500 copies in its first two weeks, based only on word of mouth and LinkedIn. Many buyers bought a single copy and then returned to buy more with many buying enough for all of their staff. The book has been described as “A Haynes manual for kindness”.
Workers to receive a cash boost
Veterans celebrated St George’s Day at Royal Star & Garter’s Homes in Solihull, Surbiton and High Wycombe. They enjoyed music, crafts, quizzes and delicious food to celebrate the patron saint of England. The Home in Surbiton was decked with St George’s flag bunting. Residents there were treated to an outdoor St George’s Day concert, given by The ‘Lest We Forget’ Association. They then enjoyed a special menu for lunch. Staff also dressed for the day wearing red and white clothing. In High Wycombe, residents enjoyed a custom-made game of bingo featuring cultural icons such as black cabs, Houses of Parliament, Buckingham Palace and red phone boxes. The Solihull Home was also decorated for the special day. Residents living with dementia made St George’s flags from tissue paper. They also enjoyed a quiz – which featured rounds on English history, food and drink and monarchs.
A BIG THANK YOU
FROM ALL OF US TO ALL OF YOU FOR ALL YOU ARE DOING TO KEEP OUR MOST VULNERABLE SAFE AND HAPPY …
WE’RE IN AWE OF YOUR SELFLESS HARD WORK AND DEDICATION.
Caring UK is part of the Script Media companies
THE majority of care home staff across Barnsley are to be offered a boost to their pay following successful negotiations between the town’s care home association and the local authority. The positive outcome is as a result of an agreement on fee levels between Barnsley Independent Care Home Association and Barnsley Metropolitan Borough Council and will see direct care workers receiving a minimum of £1 extra per hour, above the national living wage. The increase will be backdated to April 1 and is seen as a way of recognising the hard work and dedication of care workers during the pandemic. The cost of this wage increase is borne roughly equally between the council and the local care businesses. Aditya Jain of Panaceon Healthcare and a founding member of BICHA, said: “Our members, who represent the majority of care homes in the Barnsley area, have faced the same challenges as everyone in our industry has during Covid 19. “We have a vibrant care sector in Barnsley supporting our families and friends, the sector makes a huge economic contribution to the town and it is morally right that employees are recognised appropriately with fair pay. “Staff have worked particularly hard and this has led to many of our member homes maintaining an excellent infection control record throughout this pandemic.”
CALLING ALL SUPPLIERS …
Your online presence has never been more important so that you can keep in touch with your clients! Do you need a website – and quick – to sell your services and products online? We can help with a five-page website, with or without payment facilities AT NO UPFRONT COST! And it will be ready within ONE WEEK of us receiving the necessary information. That’s the design and development of your own website within seven days! Includes domain name (.com or .co.uk), hosting in the UK and email forwarding We can also help with SEO, PPC, flyers or promotional material and affordable advertising in print and online! Contact us today: sally@scriptmedia.co.uk or 07939 324 781