West Leeds charity Armley Helping Hands is applying for funding to support its Winter Warmth Campaign. Project manager DAWN NEWSOME says the charity needs your votes to make it happen – here’s her report:
If our application is successful we would establish a Galaxy Discretionary Fund which would support our Winter Warmth Campaign for socially isolated older people.
The charity’s key aim is early intervention and interaction. Over the winter period we aim to deliver social and outreach work in the district of Armley and Wortley district of Leeds 12.
These sessions will have a social interaction concept where we will be delivering activities like exercise, belly dancing, free soup and rolls to attract individuals to participate but the main objective will be engagement and identify social isolated older people who are not accessing service and activities with in their community.
Within our winter warmth project we are particularly keen to address social isolation, increase resilience and help reduce the levels of illness (and deaths) due to vulnerable people living in cold housing.
The Galaxy Discretionary Fund would enable Armley Helping Hands frontline staff and volunteers to support individuals over the winter period.
If we identify individuals who are at crisis point, the funds could help us us in offering the following services:-
- Small Contribution toward the individual heating bill (especially on particular cold nights)
- Support in purchasing additional heating ie a portable heater
- Purchase duvet, clothing to keep individuals warm
- Purchase food