— Comments Off on Guest Blog – Alzheimer’s Society

Guest Blog – Alzheimer’s Society

We’ve asked Milton Keynes Alzheimer’s Society this World Alzheimer’s Day (21st September 2023) to write a guest blog to let us know how they can support those in Milton Keynes affected by and living with dementia. Read on to find out more.

Alzheimer’s Society is the UK’s leading dementia charity that offers help and hope to everyone affected by dementia, supporting people with a diagnosis and their loved ones.

What is Dementia?

Dementia is the biggest health and social care challenge we face. There are an estimated 900,000 people living with dementia in the UK, and 700,000 people caring for them. If you are worried about your memory, have a diagnosis or are caring for someone who does; Alzheimer’s Society are here for you. Alzheimer’s Society is a vital source of support and a powerful force for change for everyone affected by dementia. Too many face dementia alone. We want everyone affected by dementia to know that whoever you are, whatever you’re going through, you can turn to Alzheimer’s Society for expert support through practical advice, emotional support, and guidance for the best next step.

Caring for someone with dementia is the ultimate vow. Our video tells the story.

Click the image below to watch the video.


Diagnosis

Nationally, diagnosis rates are at a five-year low, meaning tens of thousands are living without the crucial treatment, care and support a dementia diagnosis brings.  Timely diagnosis is crucial to manage symptoms and avoid ending up in crisis . Some people are putting off a diagnosis because they think memory loss is a normal part of ageing, they don’t recognise the signs, or are just too afraid to visit their GP.  Diagnosis can be daunting but it’s better to know – 9 in 10 people with dementia said they benefitted from getting a diagnosis, allowing more time to plan for the future and unlocking the door to treatment, care and support.   If you are worried about your memory, please speak to your GP. Alzheimer’s Society has produced a symptoms checklist, endorsed by the Royal College of GPs, to support people to get a vital diagnosis. You can find it here.

Milton Keynes Branch Support

We understand that dementia affects everyone differently and we are here for you. In Milton Keynes, our Dementia Information and Support Service is here to support you. Our Dementia Advisers offer personalised face-to-face and phone support to help people with dementia have better access to health, community, and care services, as well as providing crucial emotional support so people with dementia can take control of their condition and live the life they choose. Alzheimer’s Society in Milton Keynes also offer an online carers group, an empowerment group for people living with dementia and our popular Singing For The Brain sessions.

If you want to talk to someone in confidence, our Dementia Advisors can be reached at Milton.keynes@alzheimers.org.uk or on 01908 669404/ 01908 232612

Volunteer!

We are currently looking for volunteers for our face to face Singing For the Brain sessions. If you are interested there is more information here.

Alzheimer's Society Logo. A blue flower above the words 'Alzheimer's Society. Together we are help & hope for everyone living with dementia'. This writing is also in blue.
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— Comments Off on Volunteering with Caudwell Youth

Volunteering with Caudwell Youth

Who are Caudwell Youth?

Caudwell Youth work with at-risk 11–24-year-olds delivering person centred support based on their individual needs. Most young people they see have one or more of the following challenges: mental health, care experienced, at risk of or involved in offending behaviour or at risk of exploitation.

The Volunteer Role

Volunteering your support means working with one young person for 1-2 hours a week, to support them in taking the next steps in their life. This will be a combination of support through messaging/ calling / video calling and meeting up in the community.

The Caudwell Youth team will support you to do this. Each Youth Support Coordinator is responsible for 25-30 volunteers and 25 young people. They also have a Volunteer Coordinator and an Operations Director, so there is always somebody available when you need them.

How can I find out more?

For next steps, more info and online application, click here.

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— Comments Off on MK Climate Action Network Event – 14th October

MK Climate Action Network Event – 14th October

  • Topic: MK Climate Action Network: Networking and Vision Planning Event
  • Date: Saturday 14th October: 2.30-5.30pm (doors 2.15pm)
  • Venue: The Summerlin Centre, Woburn Sands
  • Cost: we are asking for a donation of £5 to help cover the costs of the venue hire – pay on the door.

MK Climate Action Network, an emerging collaborative initiative of local groups, organisations and volunteers, dedicated to positive action on climate change in Milton Keynes would like to invite you to our first Networking and Vision Planning Event.

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— Comments Off on Support Us on Givto

Support Us on Givto

We’re delighted to announce that we’ll be featuring on Givto in September 2023!

Givto is a new way to donate to charity that allows users to give to a different cause each month with one simple Direct Debit. The service was developed by volunteers in Leeds who wanted to support local charities during the pandemic. Following a successful pilot in Yorkshire, Givto is now being rolled out to people nationwide. Givto offers users the chance to support local charities and discover new causes – like ours. 

Read more: Support Us on Givto

Each month, Givto users are given three causes to choose from. We’ve been selected to feature in September, and we’re so excited to share our cause with a new audience and hopefully raise funds for Community Action: MK to support our work with the voluntary groups and communities across Milton Keynes.

Givto also feature us in a Directory of all the worthy causes they’ve helped where you can search by cause and location, and you can check our page here.

If you’d like to support us this September, sign up to donate with Givto today.

Sign up to donate with Givto here: https://givto.org/app/donate 

Find out more about Givto here: https://givto.org.

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— Comments Off on The NSPCC is seeking new volunteers in Milton Keynes to help keep children safe

The NSPCC is seeking new volunteers in Milton Keynes to help keep children safe

Today’s guest blog comes from the NSPCC, read on for how you can help protect MK school children:

Volunteer support is needed for the charity’s Speak out Stay safe (SOSS) safeguarding programme, which is for children aged 5 to 11 years old and available to all primary schools across the county.


It helps children, in an age-appropriate way, to understand:
- abuse in all its forms and how to recognise signs of abuse
- that abuse is never a child’s fault and that they have the right to be safe
- where to get help and the sources of help available to them, including the NSPCC’s Childline service.

Last year, the NSPCC delivered SOSS online programmes to 20,125 children in more than 80 schools in Buckinghamshire, and is looking for volunteers to train to deliver sessions in person when school starts again in September.


Through assemblies and workshops, children can learn about the different types of abuse in a child-friendly way, so they can get help if or when they need it.

NSPCC staff and volunteers help them identify a safe adult they can talk to if they’re ever worried about themselves or a friend. With the help of mascot Buddy, SOSS covers topics like bullying, neglect and abuse – without using any scary words or adult language.


Sarah Smith a SOSS volunteer from the East of England, said: “I would say that my main enjoyment comes from the interaction with the children. I love their earnest responses and fresh ways of looking at the issues we present.”


Laura Franklin, NSPCC Schools Area Coordinator for Buckinghamshire and Milton Keynes, said: “Over the past year counsellors at the NSPCC service Childline delivered almost 200,000 counselling sessions to children, with 23,600 of these sessions estimated to have taken place with young people in the East of England. With the help of the SOSS programme many children may speak out sooner.

SOSS is an effective way to support a school’s safeguarding duties and link directly to the curriculum as well as helping reinforce key messages about abuse and neglect as part of a school’s teaching on relationships.”

For further information about how your school can take part please contact
laura.franklin@nspcc.org.uk

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— Comments Off on Community Action: MK AGM 2023

Community Action: MK AGM 2023

We would be delighted to welcome you to join us at our 2023 AGM. 

When: Thursday 19th October 2023 |  930am – 12pm

Where: The Ridgeway Centre, Wolverton Mill, Wolverton, MK12 5TH

This year our theme is ‘Navigating Change – Working Together’. We will look back at how collaboration has impacted the VCSE (Voluntary, Community and Social Enterprise) sector in Milton Keynes, and how this has informed our work over the past year and how we plan and navigate through the constant changes and bigger events happening around us. 

Our Keynote speakers will reflect on these challenges and provide some insight from their experience. We are delighted to be hosting Laura Crandley, the Chief Operating Officer from NCVO, as one of our speakers.

There will be networking opportunities and refreshments will be provided.

BSL (British Sign Language) Interpreters will be present at this event. 

You can register for this event here.

If you require any further assistance to register for this event, please contact one of our team at support@communityactionmk.org.

We look forward to seeing you there!

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