| The Norwich Businesswomen’s Network are proud to support three charities this year, they are:-
St Martins Housing Trust
Aims of the Society:
St Martins Housing Trust started life as the Norwich Night Shelter Project. The original Night Shelter at St James Church on Barrack Street opened in 1972 in response to the growing problem of homelessness in Norwich.
Homelessness is usually a symptom of a more fundamental problem. Many homeless people are either mentally ill, physically ill, heavy drinkers or drug users. People who sleep rough usually have had more difficult family backgrounds than most, which may lie at the root of many of these problems. Rough sleepers may find it difficult to sustain close ties with others, and the break-up of a relationship is the most common trigger for going on the street.
The trust includes:-
St Martins House A 33 bed Registered Care Home, began in 1991, providing residential care for people with mental health problems or with drug or alcohol dependency. Carrow Hill Home A 22 bed Registered Care Home, providing long term care for people with mental illness, or with drug or alcohol dependency.
Bishopbridge house A purpose built 10 bed direct access hostel with 20 en-suite rooms for single homeless people preparing for independent living.
Group Homes The Trust manages a number of shared houses, which act as a stepping stone towards independent accommodation as well as other temporary accommodation on behalf of Norwich City Council for single homeless people whose homelessness status is being investigated under the Homelessness Act.
To learn more about the work carried out by the trust see their website at :- http://www.stmartinshousing.org.uk.
The Stroke Association
Aims of the Society:
The Stroke Association is the only charity solely concerned with preventing stroke and ensuring that everyone touched by stroke across the UK gets the help they need.
Every year, an estimated 150,000 people in the UK have a stroke. That’s one person every five minutes. Stroke is the leading cause of severe disability and the third biggest killer in the UK, after cancer and heart disease. More than 250,000 people in the UK live with disabilities caused by a stroke.
Most people affected are over 65, but anyone can have a stroke, including children and even babies. Around 1,000 people under 30 have a stroke each year. Almost one in four men and one in five women aged 45 can expect to have a stroke if they live to 85. Around three times more women die from stroke than from breast cancer in the UK.
The Stroke Association can provide information about what causes strokes, the effects that they have and how they can be treated. The association promotes and supports research into Stroke prevention, treatment, rehabilitation and long term care. It works closely with a wide range of professionals, including physicians, allied health professionals, researchers, primary care and social care commissioners. To learn more see their website at http://www.stroke.org.uk.
MIND, (Norwich and Central Norfolk
Aims of the Society:
MIND, (Norwich and Central Norfolk), is a highly regarded provider of mental health services in the City of Norwich and in the Central area of Norfolk.
MIND’s services are innovative and easy to use and can be delivered to people in a place of their choosing. In addition to delivering high quality mental health services they also; promote Mental Health through a number of public events, media projects and publications, provide bespoke training to a range of organisations and campaign on a range of mental health issues.
Norwich Mind was founded in 1966. It was set up by a group of people who were very concerned at the lack of support and accommodation for people with psychiatric disability who had been discharged from hospital.
The founders of the organisation included Ms Cicely McCall M.B.E. who was the first female psychiatric social worker in Britain. Along with her colleagues, they established the first psychiatric half way houses in Britain and campaigned for proper recognition of the rights of people with mental health problems.
You can learn more at http://www.norwichmind.org.uk.
Representatives from all of the charities will be joining us for lunch this year to talk about their achievements and are invited to our special Christmas lunch on the 8th December 2010 to accept our donations.
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