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NEWLIFE YOU
SPRING/SUMMER 2021
PROVIDING MORE EMERGENCY EQUIPMENT THAN EVER BEFORE P3
OLIVIA
CAN NOW SIT WITHOUT THE FEAR OF CHOKING THANKS TO YOU P2
NEW PA R T N E R S H I P WITH BBC CHILDREN IN NEED P6
O L I V I A’ S S T O R Y Five-year-old Olivia Butler, from Lincolnshire, was born with a rare genetic mutation which caused her brain to stop growing at seven months old.. Olivia is blind and has daily epileptic seizures, a loss of neurons and connections in the brain, and a smaller size head. She has a floppy airway and is dependent on oxygen - she can choke easily and needs to be in the right position to maintain her airway. Olivia has Cerebral Palsy, floppy muscles, scoliosis and dislocated shoulders and hips. She has Sandifer syndrome which means she twists and arches her back and she cannot move by herself or hold up her head. Olivia is under the care of a hospice and her care is all about keeping her comfortable so she has the best quality of life. Olivia had outgrown her P Pod chair and was therefore only able to lay in bed. An assessment for a new seat could not be done due to shielding due to the pandemic. Her family turned to Newlife who provided Olivia with an emergency loan of a P Pod to keep her
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comfortable.The P Pod is a beanbag style seat which offers the correct support to help manage Olivia’s respiratory function, preventing chest infections. The chair can be moved into different rooms for Olivia to be included with her family to make cherished memories. Olivia’s mum, Stacey, said: “The P Pod from Newlife has made a massive difference, Olivia sits in it for hours a day as she is so comfortable. She can take in her surroundings much better than being laid flat and is able to engage with the world around her. She can be included with everyone as we use the chair in all different rooms of the house and out in the garden.“
N E W L I F E C H A R I T Y. C O. U K
PROVIDING EMERGENCY EQUIPMENT IN 2020 For so many of us 2020 has been extremely challenging in so many ways. Disabled children and their families have been particularly hard hit; many of the children we support have serious underlying health conditions so had to shield due to coronavirus. Our Emergency Equipment Loan service has played a vital role in our response to the Covid-19 pandemic. For families in crisis situations, who urgently need specialist equipment to keep their child safe or prevent their condition from rapidly deteriorating, this unique service is a lifeline. Children like Olivia. Whether it is a bed, buggy, hoist or seating that is needed, we aim to deliver the In fact, the tremendous response we have equipment to the family wherever they are in received has meant that we have been able the UK within just 72 hours. to reach more children than ever before. Over the past 12 months, each week Newlife This unique approach is the only service of its provided a record 60 children with disabilities kind in the UK and we urgently need to add to with essential equipment that helped to keep our current suite of 470 loan items so that we them safe, improved their quality of life or can reach even more children like Olivia over the coming months. helped them cope during the pandemic. As restrictions were gradually eased, the reduction in services and difficulty accessing support networks left families struggling to cope. Despite the temporary closure of our retail stores, thanks to you - our wonderful supporters, we have continued offering our vital services throughout the pandemic.
T h a n k yo u f o r yo u r c o n t i n u e d g e n e r o s i t y a n d f o r h e l p i n g u s t o ke e p c h i l d r e n i n e m e r g e n c y s i t u at i o n s s a f e.
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OUR FUNDR AISING HEROES Fundraising heroes continue to help us change children’s lives. Whether you have made a one-off donation in recent times, make a regular gift, have taken on an epic challenge or have nominated Newlife to benefit from the support of a company or group.
THANK YOU!
When Newlife provided Lucie with the equipment she needed, dad Greg Morris wanted to raise vital funds so we could reach even more children. Over 48 hours in March he ran 4 miles every 4 hours, covering an incredible 48 miles in total and raising £1,442 in the process.
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Last July, Herman Muller and his colleagues at Forest of Arden Marriott Hotel & Country Club nominated Newlife to benefit from a £15,000 donation from the European PGA Tour who held an event at their club. Contemporary fashion brand Whistles, nominated Newlife as their charity to support for their first online book club live event of 2021. Abi Daré, who read from her book “ The Girl with the Louding Voice” and Whistles asked all invitees to donate to Newlife instead of a charging fee to attend the Zoom event, raising a fantastic £467. Fairhurst Buckley Ltd, who are Chartered Surveyors and Commercial Property experts based in Stockport, are currently halfway towards their target of raising £10,000 for Newlife, through fundraising events and by donating a percentage of the costs of all surveys that they conduct. Matthew Eddisford, from Lancashire, completed a double marathon over 48 hours in order to raise funds for Newlife. Matthew, who is based in Lancashire, raised £1530 with a further £1,000 donated by the Care Housing Association, where Matthew is Chief Executive. N E W L I F E C H A R I T Y. C O. U K
A GOLF CAPTAIN’S REMARK ABLE YEAR! Inspirational fundraiser Divya Wilson distanced events, including a raffle and decided to support Newlife during auction in August on Lady Captain’s Day – her time as Northampton Golf Club’s a highlight in the Club’s calendar. Ladies Captain in 2020. Throughout the year Divya and the Launching the partnership with a charity members of Northampton Golf Club raised curry night at the end of 2019, which was an incredible £10,000, which has been attended by over 100 members, Divya match-funded so will have even more of an pulled out all of the stops to raise as much impact! Not content to leave it there, Divya money as possible to support disabled is determined to continue fundraising for children in her region. Undeterred by the Newlife, and is now planning a sponsored Covid-19 pandemic, Divya amended her swimming challenge with her family, plans and organised a number of socially when restrictions allow. “It was wonderful to work with Newlife during my time as Ladies Captain – the support I received from the charity was fantastic and the golf club members really got behind all of the events and gave so generously. To top it all off it was amazing to hear how our support had made such a difference to so many children locally.” Divya Wilson (right) with Ladies Section Treasurer Mary Morris
O U R N E W PA R T N E R S H I P WITH BBC CHILDREN IN NEED Recognising the importance of our life-changing Equipment Services, BBC Children in Need has teamed up with Newlife to ensure that throughout the pandemic we could continue to provide disabled children with the equipment they need to improve their quality of life. Following The Big Night In appeal in April 2020, BBC Children in Need launched a number of dedicated COVID-19 response programmes to support organisations across the UK who are providing essential help to children and young people during the current crisis and Newlife were awarded £200,000 for our Equipment Services. This funding has meant that 92 children across all four nations of the UK have received the equipment they urgently needed.
difference to the lives of children at risk of disadvantage in communities right across the UK. It has been great to see how our grant has funded so many vital pieces of equipment and made such an impact on children’s lives enabling them to be the best they can be and to spend more quality time together with their family and friends.” BBC Children in Need are keen to feature the stories of some of the children who have been supported in the build up to their 2021 Appeal Night so keep a look out later in the year!
Simon Antrobus, CEO of Children in Need said “Simon Antrobus, Chief Executive of BBC Children in Need said: “We are delighted to be supporting Newlife in making a positive
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N E W L I F E C H A R I T Y. C O. U K
WORKING TOGETHER TO CHANGE CHILDREN’S LIVES A picture says a thousand words… just look at those smiles! Every penny Newlife receives from our supporters just like you, goes straight to helping children in desperate need. We love hearing back from our families and being able to share their stories with you.
LOGAN
“The bed from Newlife has transformed our lives now that we are able to get a full night’s sleep and don’t have to worry about his safety. Logan is secure, he sleeps better, and is not hurting himself. It only took him two nights before he got used to it and was happy in it. If he wakes up in the night he is content and secure in there.”
AMELIA
“We are so grateful to Newlife for providing us with an emergency loan of a bed for Amelia. We could not be more thankful to have her home for the first time, to be able to care for her and give us all a sense of normality, and to have her safe away from infection and at home with us during such an uncertain time. It means the world to us.”
C ALLUM
“The buggy from Newlife has made such a huge difference to us. Callum used to cry even just popping to the shops in his old buggy as he was so uncomfortable. I don’t know what we would have done without the loan as we couldn’t use that buggy for the next year until he was old enough to apply for one, it would have become impossible to leave the house.”
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