Moments4Seniors

Hi, my name’s Yvette McDonald and I run a women’s organisation called JustBe and we provide essential social, emotional and wellbeing support services to those most isolated in our community.

A few years ago I organised a GoFundMe Page for our seniors and the funds raised helped to subsidise two separate coach trips to the seaside, both very successful!

But I now want to do more than just a coach trip to the seaside, I want to engage our seniors with something much more exciting!

 Following on from this year’s annual coach trip JustBe would like to launch a project that will enable our senior citizens to achieve social inclusion living in London.  The launch will be a fun community event with the main event being a Fashion Show with the seniors as catwalk models! 

 This GoFundMe page will crucial in establishing this Moments 4 Seniors project specifically for those over 65 in the community – they are our young people who have just grown up! 

I have a love of older members of the community that range between the ages of 65 and 88: I befriend some of them and take them out periodically for ‘tea and a talk’. I keep in touch with phone calls, home visits (as and when I can) many of whom say “they can go for days without talking to anybody, families have become too "busy" and neighbours don't have time to "check in" leaving them feeling down, undervalued leading to a decline in physical, emotional and mental health.

We will be partnering with Gitas Portals who will design and provide the clothing as well as Make Up Artist, Love Rebekah.  We wish to engage the elderly in the community by giving them the opportunity to be part of the planning, delivery and evaluation of this event – as well as giving them a platform to see themselves or their friends as stars for a day, centre of attention and feel they are still valued and have a place and purpose in society today. 

The funds raised will go towards: venue hire, stylist fees, marketing & promotion, volunteer expenses and food & refreshments for this event. The remainder of the funds collected will go towards a trip to the seaside in 2019.

Your donation will be contributing to:

·         a project that values and celebrates our elders
·         providing an alternative to loneliness and isolation
·         give an opportunity for intergenerational work in the community
·         create a social community and culture of active citizenship for participants

Later in the year we will fundraise separately for a schedule of ‘Moments 4 Seniors’ events (we’ve carried out surveys to find out what participants want) including:

·         Arm chair exercises
·         Pampering / Games afternoons
·         Quadrille dancing
·         Reminiscence sessions – going back to our roots
·         Afternoon tea
·         Outings: coach trips two times next year instead of one

 Can you support us?

This dream I have can only happen through the support of people like you, who really care, who really want to make a difference. All donations will help, large or small, it will be equally as appreciated. Let’s make magic happen in the hearts and lives of our elders, who are the reason many of us are here today!

Testimony

“JustBe has been a transforming experience for me, enabling me to join with other women and is a tremendous asset to those who would otherwise stay at home alone; and lasting friendships have been formed.  They cater for people of all backgrounds and I hope they are successful in gaining funding to support the fantastic work they are doing at present and the new ventures they would like to step into.”   Selina Sharpe


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