Community Matters
NFU Mutual in Bourne Supports Don’t Lose Hope to Help Local Relief Efforts
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FU Mutual Agents and their staff at the local Bourne, Boston and Sleaford agency are delighted to have nominated local charity, Don’t Lose Hope, to receive a donation of more than £3,000 from a national £1m ‘Agency Giving Fund’, launched by NFU Mutual’s Head Office. In light of the national emergency this country is facing, NFU Mutual, the UK’s leading rural insurer, has allocated £1m to help local frontline charities at this difficult time. During Lockdown, Don’t Lose Hope converted their mini-bus into a ‘not for profit’ mobile shop. They visited over 120 households in Bourne and surrounding villages each week, delivering essential food and household supplies and a few treats. The service enabled them to identify those who needed a little extra support, who then received a phone call each week from their counselling support team. Run alongside their helpline, this service allowed people a call to hear a friendly voice in times when they most needed it. Alternate weeks saw the charity’s mascot, Eddy, out delivering cakes and treats to people who were alone on their birthdays or needed cheering up. Many families contacted Don’t Lose Hope about the service, which delivered over fifty cakes and surprise visits during the fourteen-week period. Alister Green, Agent at NFU Mutual, said: “Don’t’ Lose Hope is making a wonderful difference to our community in these challenging times, and we are proud to have been able to nominate this local
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charity to benefit from NFU Mutual’s national fund.” Nicola Brister, founder of Don’t Lose Hope and Young Persons’ Counsellor, said: “We’re extremely thankful to NFU Mutual Bourne, Boston and Sleaford agency for nominating our charity. The money will go a long way to helping us as we are head back to our ‘normal’ day job. The Don’t Lose Hope café re-opened on July 20th, and we have also secured the lease on 3 South Street, which will soon be home to our new therapeutic arts studio and gift shop. The studio, along with art therapy, will be a venue for many of our groups such as knit and natter, ceramics and many more creative workshops. “Construction of the ‘Man Shed’ is now also in full swing. This will be used to provide a space for the community to share and learn new skills, repair and fix broken or damaged items, and build and create items to take away or sell in the gift shop. We will be running workshops, repair shops and educational events to encourage cross generational sharing and learning. “In the community garden space, we will have a potting shed, as well as a mud kitchen area for the youngsters to get creative in the outdoors, and a ‘bushcraft’ area with a fire pit for even more workshop options. We are very excited to see these projects progress.” For further information on Don’t Lose Hope, visit: www.dontlosehope.co.uk or the charity’s Facebook page. For more information about your local NFU Mutual Agent in Bourne, visit: www.nfumutual.co.uk/bourne. OCT OBE R 2 0 2 0
