An Update From The Bendrigg Team

Bendrigg Trust Update 04/01/2021

Bendrigg is currently closed to the public as of 04/01/2021 & is not accepting volunteers. Our office remains open with limited office staff working on essential tasks such as planning for the future, communications and fundraising. If you would like to talk to us about a future trip or if you have a query please call us during normal office hours on 01539723766 and we will do our best to help.

We were so proud of our ability to adapt during 2020 and although we weren’t able to offer our normal residential services as of March 2020, we still made a huge impact on the lives of disabled people and their families through our grounds access days, adventures activities for families and adults and our Winter Wonderland event.

Feedback from the Whittingham Family

“Bendrigg rose to the challenge facing Covid 19. They created worthwhile outdoor experiences through creative problem solving and were able to provide opportunities that were satisfying in meeting our needs whilst also being great fun!

My son has ADHD and Autism, being locked down has negatively impacted his overall happiness, motivation and self-esteem. Being autistic he finds social integration & communication very difficult, all of the services & activities to help him with these skills stopped because of the pandemic.  He was isolated and no longer able to develop & improve these key skills.

The activities at Bendrigg seemed to have an immediate positive effect! My son’s confidence was brimming, he was being more independent through being able to make choices.  The day gave him and us a huge sense of achievement.”

The need for accessible outdoor adventures for disabled people is growing and even more essential than before. Bendrigg are working hard to do all we can to be there for families like the Whittingham’s once it is safe for us to re-open.

How Can You Support Bendrigg Trusts Work in 2021?

We’ve been asked how people can support Bendrigg throughout 2021 and we’ve put together some ways that you can get involved in supporting us below.

💚 Fundraise for Bendrigg

Even though our doors are closed right now, we still have vital work going on behind the scenes with fundraising, planning and building/grounds maintenance, this is so that when we’re allowed, we are ready to provide safe outdoor space and adventure activities for disabled people and their families. It is the unavoidable and necessary costs like heating, hot water, staff time and maintenance that are essential and enable things like our free grounds access days and the Winter Wonderland to take place as they take considerable planning and staff time – every little really does help and we are always extremely grateful for your support.

You could take on a fitness challenge, host a special zoom party or organise a front room family quiz in aid of Bendrigg… whatever takes your fancy! For fundraising help and advice please call or email Martha – martha@bendrigg.org.uk

💚 Help to raise awareness

You can help to raise awareness by sharing your experience with friends, family or anyone you know who may benefit from our services in future. Although we aren’t open now, as soon as we can, we will be offering services for disabled people and their families and the more people who know about us, the better! So follow our social media pages by clicking the links below, share a post, tag a friend and share your experience with others to help spread the word.

Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, LinkedIn

💚 Leave a review

When we are able to open again we expect that people may be worried about Covid safety measures and hearing from people who have already been to Bendrigg and experienced our services can make all the difference. You can leave reviews here on our Facebook page, Google and on Euan’s Guide.

 

💚 Take care of yourselves

In the meantime, we will be trying to keep in touch with you all as much as possible through social media and our E-newsletter spreading the Bendrigg Buzz with helpful information and positive vibes to you at home. We know this is such a difficult time for many of our visitors and we want to let you all know that you are all in our hearts. We can’t wait to welcome you back soon for some more adventures.

With love, from the Bendrigg Family x