The Exeter Daily - charity

It's World Alzheimer’s Month - Have you Heard of Young Onset Dementia?

Gina Awad - Exeter Dementia Action Alliance Lead — Tue, 03 Sep 2024 11:11:41 +0000

When most hear the word dementia it’s often Alzheimer’s disease and older people they think about. In fact there are over 100 types of dementia.

However for this piece I want to raise awareness and touch upon one of the more rare types - Young Onset Dementia (YOD) which means the person diagnosed is under 65.

This presents many challenges such as the person may have a young family, be working and also struggle to get a definitive diagnosis.

It is estimated there are over 70,800 people living with Young Onset Dementia in the UK.

Raising awareness is key.

"Dementia is described as ‘young onset’ when symptoms develop before the age of 65, usually between 30 to 65 years of age. It is also referred to as ‘early onset’ or ‘working age’ dementia, but these terms can cause confusion.

‘Early onset’ can be interpreted as the early stages of dementia and ‘working age’ is now less defined as retirement age is more flexible.

As dementia is frequently and wrongly, thought of as a condition that is just associated with old age, the early symptoms of young onset dementia are not always recognised and may be attributed to other causes including depression, stress, menopause, physical health problems and relationship issues.

This can lead to a significant delay (on average four years) in getting an accurate diagnosis and access to appropriate support and can have a negative impact on not just the person with dementia’s life but also the whole family.

Over the past few years I have met a number of people who waited between two and five years to obtain a definitive diagnosis of Young Onset Dementia and were initially misdiagnosed. This is partly due to lack of knowledge, and the person presenting in more unusual ways making it more difficult for loved ones and GPs to recognise what is causing the symptoms".

Three years ago Sarah approached me concerned about her mum Joy, who was 58-years-old. We chatted and she relayed to me a few situations which were beginning to worry her more and more.

Dementia didn’t enter Sarah’s mind, why would it, her mum was 58. It was a disease she knew little about but always assumed “only older people lived with it”. Joy was presenting with symptoms such as confusion, forgetting work meetings and events she would always remember, as well as difficulty following conversations.

I gently suggested a visit to her GP would be worthwhile. Broaching the issue with her mum was tough but eventually she agreed. After nine months of monitoring and a referral to the Memory Clinic Joy was diagnosed with Young Onset Dementia.

Fortunately her employer was understanding and with reasonable adjustments in place she has continued to work.

Dementia is the biggest health and social care challenge of the century and there is currently no cure, therefore information is vital and knowledge is power.

From over a decade learning about dementia and working with families, I understand the fear around the prospect of a diagnosis, but please know there is support available. In the meantime our hope is to one day find a cure.

Do check out the links below as they are extremely informative and offer a wealth of resources…

https://www.dementiauk.org/information-and-support/young-onset-dementia/what-is-young-onset-dementia/

https://www.raredementiasupport.org/

I am a dementia consultant for the Exeter Dementia Action Alliance and an advocate for families affected by dementia supporting them to navigate the complex health and social care system.

Local environmental charity launches Defend Devon campaign

Sharon Goble — Fri, 30 Aug 2024 14:18:00 +0000

Devon CPRE, the local branch of the countryside charity CPRE, has taken to the road this summer, encouraging people who care about the future of Devon’s countryside to get involved in its latest campaign and become Devon Defenders.

The charity has taken its rallying cry to three agricultural shows in different parts of the county- Dartmoor’s Chagford Show, the Yealmpton Show in the South Hams and the North Devon show at Umberleigh.

Defend Devon is an overarching campaign by the local charity to protect our county’s unique landscapes from greedy developers and bad planning. It will run alongside Devon CPRE’s long-standing Grass not Glass campaign against solar farms on agricultural land, and the charity’s ongoing fight to combat the Rural Housing Crisis by campaigning for the right kind of homes in the right places at prices our children and grandchildren can genuinely afford.

Devon CPRE Chair Steve Crowther says, “We’ve taken our Defend Devon campaign out to county shows this summer because the kind of people who will back us flock to events like these. It’s very clear from the hundreds of people we have talked to on our stand in recent weeks, and the new members we have recruited, that there’s widespread agreement that Devon needs protecting.

“Every year Devon CPRE fights more than 100 unsuitable planning applications to preserve our precious landscapes and farmland. Why? For several reasons. We want our county’s world-leading pasture land used to produce food. It makes sense to put solar panels on rooftops and brownfield sites rather than on productive farmland.

“We also know there’s a need for new homes in Devon, but not just any new builds. What Devon needs are homes our young people can afford to live in, not more luxury boltholes and Airbnbs that put real communities further and further out of the reach of the younger generation.

“If you care about these issues, love Devon’s incredible landscapes and want to protect them from inappropriate development of one kind or another, join Devon CPRE and become a Devon Defender. We need you alongside us to defend Devon and everything that makes it a wonderful place to live.”

Devon CPRE made sure it stood out from the crowd with a bright new branded gazebo and eye-catching pull-up banners to encourage people to become Devon Defenders.

Steve Crowther adds, “An annual subscription to Devon CPRE costs the price of a monthly pint for individuals. 17 pence a day, surely a small price to pay to Defend Devon? We need all the support we can get right now from individuals and from town and parish councils so that we can Defend Devon.”

Former market manager completes first leg of UK charity tour

News Desk — Tue, 27 Aug 2024 22:13:39 +0000

A Tiverton man has completed the first leg of his charity tour of the UK coast.

Jim Bray is taking on the mammoth road trip – entitled Exploring Britain’s Coast and Seaside Pubs – to raise money for Hospiscare.

The cash-strapped local charity cared for his sister, Emma Ansley, before she died of cancer aged 48.

Jim started from Tenby in South West Wales at the end of July and, travelling anti-clockwise, has reached the Exe estuary.

It’s the closest he will be to home and Hospiscare’s base in Exeter.

Following a brief spell at home to do some pre-planned dog-sitting, tomorrow (Wednesday) he will continue the tour from Exmouth and head east towards Dorset.

He has been on the road for 21 days so far, taking thousands of photos of iconic coastal views, landmarks and seaside pubs.

His highlights include Pembrokeshire, the impressive cliffs of North Devon and North Cornwall, Bedruthan Steps near Newquay, the large golden sandy beaches around St Ives Bay, the mines around Botallack, the Roseland Peninsula and the coastline around Salcombe.

The Cornish ‘mizzle’ affected visibility and progress on several days.

Jim said: “I’ve been progressing slower than I intended so far, mainly because I’ve been keen to see as many of the lovely coves, bays, beaches and coastal features as possible and have been taking so many photos and videos for Facebook.

“I’m familiar with the Devon and Cornwall coastline already, having walked the entire South West Coast Path in 2016, so I know the many viewpoints and features to look out for.

“While this has benefits, it has slowed me down somewhat! At the current speed, the tour would probably take many months to finish.

“I plan to try a different approach from here on – concentrating more on miles travelled than photos taken.

“I still plan to drive on the same coastal roads, see all the main resorts and features and visit the most interesting pubs with the best sea views.

“I’m looking forward to reaching Hampshire and from then on visiting places I’ve never seen before, apart from a few.”

The trip, covering the British Isles mainland and bigger islands, is expected to total several thousand miles.

A funding shortfall and higher costs mean Hospiscare is facing a £2.5million deficit this year.

Earlier this summer, the much-loved charity issued an urgent appeal for fair funding to safeguard its long-term future, as it weighs up difficult decisions around staffing and services.

The charity has highlighted Jim in its latest “Hospiscare Heroes” feature.

After three exciting years as manager of Tiverton Pannier Market, Jim decided to leave last month in order to take a rest, recharge the batteries and seek a new challenge.

People can follow his daily updates and journey on Facebook and make a donation to Hospiscare via JustGiving.

City’s new MP becomes Exeter homelessness charity’s patron

Exeter News Blog — Tue, 27 Aug 2024 15:13:50 +0000

Exeter’s new MP, Steve Race, has become a formal supporter of Exeter’s main homelessness charity, by becoming its patron.

St Petrock’s delivers breakfasts and lunches to rough sleepers and people who are vulnerably housed, five days a week, as well as providing a range of services, including survival gear, clothing and footwear, showers, laundry, benefits advice and clinical psychology and emotional support for people who are often understandably very distressed at their extremely difficult circumstances. The charity also provides supported accommodation for people who are homeless or at risk of homelessness.

Mr Race, who has been the city’s MP since 5 July, attended a homelessness and hardship hustings event jointly hosted by St Petrock’s and Citizens Advice in June, where he demonstrated genuine concern and compassion for people who are homeless and those struggling to make ends meet.

Welcoming the news of Mr Race’s formal link to the charity, Peter Stephenson, St Petrock’s Chief Executive, said: “In his first week of being a new MP, Steve popped in to say hello at our new house for people who have been homeless while I was there building a shed in the garden. He kindly helped me move some newly-delivered beds upstairs! I really appreciated him taking time to call in (and help!) during what must have been an absurdly busy week as a new MP.

“Steve has already demonstrated with his words and his actions that he is a true friend of St Petrock’s and our life-saving work, and I feel sure that he will be an excellent ambassador for us at what is an incredibly difficult time for people who are homeless, or at risk of eviction.

“Rough sleeping has climbed in recent years so that on a typical night between 25 and 35 people are on the streets in our city. Of course, many many more are homeless but unseen, sleeping on floors, in sheds, cars, and empty buildings, or in Council-funded temporary accommodation for example. This is the worst I have known it in over 20 years.”

Mr Stephenson added: “I’d also like to take this opportunity to thank Ben Bradshaw, our previous patron, for all his support for the work we do since his election as Exeter’s MP in 1997 up to his retirement this year, and we wish him a long and happy retirement. We are really looking forward to working with Steve, as his successor.”

Steve Race commented: "I'm really very honoured to be a patron of St Petrock's, which is one of Exeter's most important, active, and well-loved charities. Every day the St Petrock's team supports people who have found themselves in a time of crisis, homeless, and with few other places to turn.

“Homelessness has been on the increase in Exeter and across the country - I will do everything I can to support St Petrock's in Exeter, while in Westminster I'll be working to reverse the steady increase in homelessness and to eventually make sure that no one finds themselves at risk of homelessness in the first place."

Local charity launches ‘Every Step Counts’ challenge

Exeter News Blog — Tue, 13 Aug 2024 07:30:01 +0000

Leading Devon mental health charity, Step One, is excited to announce the launch of their new challenge, Every Step Counts. In honour of World Mental Health Day in October, this community initiative aims to raise awareness of mental health whilst raising vital funds for BeWell@StepOne, their free mental health support service which continues to be a lifeline for those in need.

Kicking off on 1st October 2024, the month-long steps challenge encourages individuals and businesses to get active and support this great cause. Participants have the option to choose from three ambitious step goals to complete throughout the month to earn their very own Every Step Counts medal.

The Explorer Challenge - 100,000 steps / 47 miles throughout October.
Approx. 3,000 steps a day.

The Adventurer Challenge: 300,000 steps / 142 miles throughout October.
Approx. 9,500 steps a day.

The Voyager Challenge: 500,000 steps / 236 miles throughout October.
Approx. 16,000 steps a day.

The charity encourages participants to ‘do it your way’, whether it’s walking, running or wheeling their way through the challenge.

"We understand the significant impact physical activity can have on mental wellbeing," says Victoria, Fundraising Manager at Step One. "The Every Step Counts challenge is a fun and engaging way to encourage people to get outside, move their bodies, and connect with their community, all while raising essential funds to support those struggling with mental health challenges in Devon."

Step One is offering rewards for participants who go the extra mile by choosing to fundraise alongside their challenge:

Pledge to raise £50: Participants will receive a Step One cap.

Pledge to raise £100: Participants will receive a cap and a Step One sports t-shirt.

Completion medal: All participants who reach their chosen step goal will receive a commemorative Every Step Counts medal.

Step One encourages businesses of all sizes to join the challenge and in doing so, promote employee wellbeing, engage in team building activities, and give back to the local community.

Here are some of the ways businesses can get involved:

Encourage employees to form teams and participate in the challenge together.

Organise fun walking or running events for employees and the community.

Double the impact by matching employee donations to Step One.

Organise your own dedicated World Mental Health Day team wellbeing walk on 10th October 2024. Encourage employees to participate and make a donation to Step One in conjunction with the walk.

Contact Step One to learn more about how your organisation can participate in the Every Step Counts challenge: fundraising@steponecharity.co.uk.

Registration for the Every Step Counts challenge is now open. Sign up via Eventbrite here. There’s a £10 entry fee which helps to pay forward to others across Devon who need vital mental health support. 

All money raised through Every Step Counts will go towards Step One’s BeWell@StepOneservice, in which the organisation addresses some of the common and contemporary problems behind mental health issues including physical health, social isolation, emotional wellbeing, digital inclusion, and economic independence. 
 
For more information and to sign up, visit www.steponecharity.co.uk/challenges/EveryStepCounts

Ready, Set... Bake Off for Take Off!

News Desk — Sat, 10 Aug 2024 09:19:42 +0000

Devon Air Ambulance (DAA) is encouraging supporters to host a baking event to support the charity this summer. Whether you're a seasoned baker or a kitchen novice, the charity wants you to organise a delicious fundraiser that makes a difference and indulge in some sweet treats to help save lives.

The charity is calling upon the people of Devon to gather friends, family, and colleagues to organise their very own Bake Off for Take off event. Be it a coffee morning, a bake sale at a workplace, hosting an afternoon tea – or any cake event you can cook up – the support to raise vital funds will help to keep DAA’s crew responding during the busy summer season.

A garden party or coffee morning could help save a life

With long sunny days, more people on the roads, plenty of outdoor adventures and an influx of tourists, Devon inevitably gets busier during the summer months, and with everyone out and about enjoying all that the county has to offer, the DAA crew are called upon to respond to even more road traffic collisions, medical incidents, sports and leisure incidents and accidental injuries.

Lottie Clark, Community and Events Manager for DAA said, ‘We are so excited to launch this year's Bake Off for Take Off event and to see what delectable treats and fun events the amazing people of Devon come up with! It’s always lovely to support our supporters in their fundraising activities and we have designed a fabulous fundraising pack, including bunting, cake toppers and invitations, to help ensure every event is a great success. We have even created a Pinterest page where we will share recipes and welcome recipes to be shared with us too!’

Everyone who registers their Bake Off for Take Off event in August will receive a free pack of edible cake toppers. Not only that, between 5th – 18thAugust, the charity are running a ‘Best Bakes’ competition where supporters can submit a picture of their delicious, show-stopping bakes and be in with the chance of winning a Devon Air Ambulance goody bag! Enter here: Submit your Bake off entry! | Devon Air Ambulance Trust (daat.org)

Check out DAA’s recipes and sign up to take part here: https://www.daat.org/Event/bake-off-for-take-off-2024