Supporting Our Communities

The CareTech Foundation runs three programmes to support local communities and the family and friends of CareTech employees.

This small grants programme provides support for issues affecting local communities and to family and friends of CareTech facing challenges. Over this period of this report, the Foundation has awarded funding of £54,915 to 45 charities (1,361 people supported, based on responses from 26 charities).

 

Norfolk Family Carers

The grant was used to fully fund a summer outing for 45 young carers to Thorpe Park.

 

Inter-Action

Creation of streamed TV show with and for learning-disabled adults based on culture and current affairs. The grant allowed them to create content, recruit and train reporters with additional needs, film, edit and stream a number of pilots, market test & launch.

 

COVID Heroes

Supported Social Care COVID Heroes House of Lords reception, hosted by Lord Palmer of Childs Hill, attended by 150 people in December 2021

The CareTech Foundation also match employee fundraising and this year that has reached £14,980 to 46 charities, from the local gymnastics club to national organisations, including six matched grants to Macmillan Cancer Support.

Staff and students at Hill House School walked 270km for Ukraine on 30 March 2022, raising £1,640 for the DEC- Ukraine campaign. This was a whole school effort, matched by a further £1,640 grant from the CareTech Foundation to Disasters Emergency Committee.

A young service user at Whitewebbs, Essex, organised a fundraising event for the Buddy Bag Foundation. The event consisted of a cake sale, a hair shave by one of the staff and a pyjama day. They raised £723 for the charity. The CareTech Foundation matched the total amount raised, bringing their total to £1,446.

Katherine Swannell at Cynthia Spencer Hospice participated in a Harley Bike Davidson Ride through Northants raising funds for the Hospice. A total of 225 bikes (Harleys) supported by the local council and police took part. They raised over £5000 by selling raffle tickets; bucket shakes with Cynthia Spencer charity staff and food, burgers drinks.

Rebecca Houfe raised funds for a young person she supports for the Young Minds charity. They hosted a fun day with a raffle, tombola and games and fun for all, and the Foundation matched £350.

Paige Kelly and her family completed the Race for Life challenge for Cancer Research UK and raised £315 in honour of her grandfather, which was matched by the Foundation.

344 grants were provided.

75% of applicants were struggling to keep up with the cost of living  (all 198 Summer Cost of living grant recipients, plus 40% of other hardship fund grantees).

48% of hardship grants supported staff off due to their own or a family member’s illness.  

12% of hardship grants were spent on specific items, especially car breakdown stopping employees working. 

 

One applicant (full-time CareTech employee) had fled domestic abuse with their child and is currently in a homeless shelter. £1,500 grant is going towards furnishing new housing now provided.

Another struggling with the cost of living, received £800 for one month’s rent & utility bills.