Final NEWSLETTER _LR

Our Local Charities Update
Prostate Cancer (PC) is the biggest killer of men in the UK, sadly one man dies every hour from PC. We now
know that early diagnosis and treatment does gives men a better chance of beating this disease.
Parity run three day service centres in Camberley, Mytchett and Farnborough which support adults
living with multiple and complex medical conditions and disabilities.
This is an update from them on what we do to help them and what they are focusing on for 2017.
Thanks, in no small part to the support of the Lisa May Foundation and the fabulous additional support of STIHL
GB, Parity for Disability has been able to weather the storm and survive the difficult economic climate again this
year. The Foundation stepped in to save the day for some new Parity attendees who wanted to take part in our
activity week at Runway’s End Activity Centre in July, topping up funds so they could be included in the amazing
week of outdoor adventure. A wonderful film was made by the Lisa May Foundation’s volunteer film maker Nick
Ransom and Cheryl when they followed our week’s activities at Runway’s End. The film was made to air first at
our 25th Anniversary dinner and auction in September, which LMF took a table at in support. The video is now on
the LMF YouTube channel and our website too. Finally, a very generous donation of £3,000 from LMF has helped
fund Parity’s speech and communication programme. In 2017 LMF have already agreed to match fund our big give
project to the tune of another £3,000.
This small volunteer run charity has already made a great impact on the advancement of early diagnosis and treatment by
funding vital research and equipment. Over the last few years they have set their sights much higher and have agreed to
provide 50% of a £4m project to build a world class urology centre on the grounds of the Royal Surrey County Hospital. The
other 50% will be funded by the NHS Trust.
The Prostate Project team works closely with consultants, nurses, researchers and patients in order to understand their
needs and provide funds to achieve better results.
LMF have over the years donated funds, raised awareness and brainstormed with the charity for new ways to fund this
build. Our latest project is an undertaking to make a short crowd funding video to showcase the work they do and how the
new centre will benefit not just men and their families but anyone with a urological disorder.
LMF are proud add to our support to their network and making the video gave us some rare inside access to see the
consultants and researchers at work, even filmed in an operating theatre!
We have interviewed a cross section of people affected by PC as this disease does not just affect men, it sends waves of
worry through their families too. Please help us to raise more funds and awareness for this amazing charity.
More people with multiple disabilities (we call them students) are coming to Parity now that our third day service
centre in Mytchett is up and running. They’ve finished full-time education and are looking for services where they
can keep building or at least maintaining the skills they’ve learned. Communication is one of the most important.
Though most people don’t use speech, they can share thoughts, wants and needs through signs, symbols, eye
contact, body language and a range of low tech or high tech devices. Some students use a voice communicator
and our qualified speech therapist, Anna Kendall, is able to make sure they don’t fall through the cracks instead
becoming more and more skilled at using their devices.
This a case study of one of our students. “Patrick is a self-starter”. Patrick (not his real name) is 28 and has
used a voice communicator for six years.
“Communication devices are not built with people’s physical disabilities in mind,” says
Anna, our speech therapist. However, Patrick is able to use one finger on his left hand
to press the keys on his device.
Anna has been working with Patrick on tailoring and using his recently upgraded
communicator. She’s also training Parity staff to use it with him. Patrick’s language is
increasing and he’s starting to construct sentences spontaneously. Whereas once he’d
mainly refer to himself in the third person, he now usually uses ‘I’ much more.
Patrick is also using the future tense, a huge step forward, putting together sentences like “Rebecca will help
me paint”. He’s also beginning to spontaneously talk about others. For example, out of the blue, he used his
communicator to say that another student was not at Parity that day and told us where the person was instead.
Patrick is a self-starter and extremely sociable. He will be able to keep working with Anna and come ever closer to
fulfilling his potential over the coming year, thanks to the generous support of the community. Sadly, we do not
receive any local authority fees to fund our speech and communication work. Cheryl and members of STIHL GB
have put a lot of hard work and enthusiasm into their fundraising and truly shown an interest in what happens
at the charity and its services for people with multiple disabilities. On behalf of everyone at Parity, thank you for
taking the time and caring so much. We need more people like this to boost our funds and support our work.
Helene Abbiss, Parity Community Support Director
“We are amazed at the creativity and focus which the Lisa May Foundation brings to all it does. Many would want to
raise money for special good causes but John May in memory of Lisa set about actually doing it. We are delighted to
be associated with such an inspirational team.”
Dr Colin Stoke M.B.E Chairman of the Prostate Project
Surrey Young Carers (SYC) provides respite opportunities for the young people who look after someone at
home with a long- term illness or disability. Some look after parents or siblings with a physical disability, some
care for family members with mental health issues.
Over the last year we have maintained our support for SYC by funding activity days out and covering transport fees which
eat up the majority of their funds. We also step in from time to time and put on seasonal events when their budget pots are
dwindling.
We continue to raise awareness of the work of the amazing sessional workers, by taking supporters to see them in action.
It is far easier when you see firsthand what people do and at the same time you see just how important funds are to small
organisations such as this. LMF took STIHL GB along to an activity day and they came away humbled to see such deserving
children getting a rare day out to just be themselves. The children also enjoy the company of their peers who all share the
same kinds of worries and responsibilities back at home.
“In 2016 LMF have helped to support activities such as: trips to the cinema, meals out, a visit to Wisley and a bowling
trip. These activities give the young carers an opportunity to enjoy a life outside of their caring role. Thank you LMF
for all your support”
Trudi Waite - Young Carers Senior Support Coordinator