Miles this week: 34
Still
to go: £973.00
This week I
thought I would take time out from blogging about my weekly antics to remind
you all why I am doing these four mammoth challenges:
It’s all to raise money and awareness for
Sense!
For anyone new
to my blogs, Sense is a national charity that support and campaign for children
and adults who are deafblind or multi-sensory impaired. They also work with
those who have a single-sensory impairment with additional needs.
A few helpful
points to help understand deafblindness:
- Deafblindness is a combination of sight and hearing loss that affects a person’s ability to communicate, to access information, and to get around.
- Deafblindness is not just a deaf person who cannot see, or a blind person who cannot hear. The two impairments together increase the effects of each.
- People of all ages can have a sight or hearing impairment. It may have been from birth (congenital), or due to deterioration later in life (acquired). But most deafblind people have some vision and hearing.
The guys at
Sense offer high-quality, flexible services across the UK, using skilled staff
and a dedicated network of volunteers. I had the pleasure of volunteering at a
magical family Christmas day last year, which I really enjoyed. When my training hits a quiet period after the Edinburgh marathon I am hoping to do
some more volunteering for them.
As a volunteer
I received a mail on what they have planned for this spring. If any of these
events catch your eye then please do get in contact with Sense Holiday team
at eventsteam@sense.org.uk!
If you’re not around the south east then you could ask if they have anything
near you!!
Saturday 1
March - Teenager Day (South London)
Swimming, lunch
and bowling with a group of deafblind teenagers - what better way to spend your
Saturday!
Each
Saturday from 8 March to 12 April - Create Sensory Music Project (London)
They have a
really exciting sensory sound and music workshop programme running every
Saturday for six weeks from 8 March delivered by a fantastic arts company
called Create and we are looking for volunteers to help support it. You will
have the opportunity to support deafblind participants to explore music, sound
and vibrations with professional sound and music facilitators. The workshops
will be fun and experimental, focused on exploring multi-sensory sound.
Saturday 22
March - Holidays Introduction Day (London)
The Sense
Holidays Introduction Day gives volunteers new to the holidays the opportunity
to meet the Holidays Team and learn more about Sense and deafblindness. The day
will be an excellent opportunity to meet fellow volunteers, some of our Sense
members and give you a feel as to what is in store for you in summer
2014!
Saturday 29
March - Branches Big Family event (London)
This day is a
much valued opportunity for members of Sense Groups to get together, share
ideas, discuss successes as well as difficulties from the past year with one
another and Sense professionals. We will be organising a small Leisure Club for
those who would prefer an active day to a meeting!
Friday 28 -
Sunday 30 March - Young Sense Weekend (Gloucestershire)
The annual Young
Sense Weekend is a great opportunity for young deafblind people to meet up,
socialise and try out new activities.
7, 8, 14, 15
& 18 April - Inside Out Theatre Project (London)
Support
deafblind children and young people aged 6-18 during the Easter holidays as
they learn new skills in drama and acting in workshops focused on exploring
multi-sensory drama skills. At the end of the process there will be a group
performance for friends, family and invited community members showcasing some
of the work.
Sunday 13
April - Marathon Cheering Support (London)
Join groups of
Sense members, staff, volunteers and friends at cheer points along the London
Marathon route - cheer on this year’s fantastic 500 Sense runners! (Guess that makes me fantastic then!).
April, May
and June - give just one day to support the Sense Big Bucket Collection!
Small change
really can make a BIG difference to our work and with around 150 collections
taking place around the UK we are appealing to individuals to volunteer just
ONE day during April, May and June to collect at one of our participating
venues nationwide.
British Sign
Language meet-up (London)
Are you
interested in practicing your sign language? Two of our volunteers, Philippa
and Victoria, organise a regular British Sign Language (BSL) get-together in
London for Sense volunteers to get to know each other and to practise and learn
more BSL.
Sponsoring
my marathon's will enable Sense to continue their amazing work with children,
young people, adults and older people who have progressive sight and hearing
loss. Donating money will help the charity to carry on offering a range of
housing, educational and leisure opportunities to those who need it. All I am
asking for is £1.00 (more if you can) to help them provide these fantastic
services and much needed respite for families.
Leigh
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