The Big Give Christmas Challenge 2020
GIVE THE GIFT OF ADVENTURE
Help us to raise £10,000 during the 2020 Big Give Christmas Challenge! By donating, you’ll enable more people with disabilities to access adventure and make memories that last a lifetime.
WHAT IS THE BIG GIVE CHRISTMAS CHALLENGE?
The challenge starts at midday on Tuesday 1st December and ends at midday on Tuesday 8th of December 2020 – so we have just 7 days to raise our ambitious target of £10,000. The special thing about the challenge is that all donations given during the time frame & via the big give website, are matched, meaning your donation is DOUBLED and so is the IMPACT for our beneficiaries.
HOW WILL MY DONATION MAKE AN IMPACT?
All funds raised throughout the challenge will go towards The Bendrigg Subsidy Fund. This fund enables socially and economically underprivileged people with disabilities to benefit from the ‘Bendrigg Experience’. Without this financial aid, our participants would simply not be able to experience these life-changing adventures.
This video was created for the Bendrigg Trust free of charge by the wonderful team at Amphigean
THIS YEAR, THE SUBSIDY FUND IS EVEN MORE IMPORTANT… HERE’S WHY
This year, the subsidy fund is perhaps even more important than ever before, with so many disabled people having to shield for months on end, time spent outdoors with family is even more important. We know this because of the demand and feedback we’ve had from services provided during the pandemic.
How Have We Adapted Our Services During The Pandemic?
Whilst we have not been able to offer our regular residential services, we worked hard behind the scenes because we knew, once it was safe, our visitors would need us more than ever. Once restrictions started to ease we adapted our services in order to give disabled people a safe place away from busy public places.
With minimal staff on site, we opened our accessible grounds for families and adults with disabilities. We were overwhelmed by the demand, with some families travelling over 50 miles just so they could access a safe outdoor space at Bendrigg. Many of these people had not dared to leave the house since shielding first began in March.
Since lockdown the only safe access space we have had as a family has been the Bendrigg Trust grounds access. We have not accessed public outdoor spaces as family members are vulnerable and we have seen photos of public areas very crowded and totally unsafe.
– The Oldfield Family
Once restrictions eased further we were able to use funding to offer day activities for families and adults with a disability. Many of the families who accessed our grounds were able to access day activities with their children, at a time where they were still cautious about venturing out into public spaces.
We’ve only accessed outdoor space once, that was yesterday afternoon at Bendrigg. My son has been very reluctant to take walks, even though we live in the countryside. He has feared people passing us on the lane, he has noticed the increase of people walking by our house. This is the first time I’d seen my son have fun, smile & laugh, be at ease for several months! He felt totally safe & reassured at Bendrigg – the staff were awesome & the grounds are amazing – my son comes alive in the grounds of Bendrigg.
– The Whittingham Family
Covid has undoubtedly had a huge impact on many peoples the mental health and wellbeing, but it has also impacted people financially, and this is also why the subsidy fund is so important.
We loved the canoeing, archery, cycling and tubing as we were able to do all the activities with Grace and this is a first for us as a family. We would love to access more but finance would be a problem, though we are not on income support our wages have been affected by pandemic so we don’t have any spare money at the end of the month.
– The Meager Family
The subsidy fund will help to give disabled people and their families a place to feel safe again, to smile again…. that’s what your donation can achieve.
By donating in the Big Give Christmas Challenge where your donation will be DOUBLED – you’ll be enabling even more people to access adventure.
HOW & WHEN CAN I DONATE?
You must donate via this link http://bit.ly/BigGiveCC2020 between midday on Tuesday 1st December and midday on Tuesday 8th of December via our Big Give link in order for your donation to be doubled.
Please donate and give people the gift of adventure!
GET INVOLVED DURING THE WEEK?
Campfire Vibes
Throughout the week of the Big Give, we’ll be posting several videos from the team to bring the Bendrigg Campfire to you. Keep an eye on our social media pages (Facebook Instagram Twitter) during the week for some fab songs and stories from our team.
Sign Out Loud Zoom Concert
Sign Out Loud are hosting a very special fundraising zoom concert in aid of Bendrigg on Friday 4th of December! If you’d like to join the party, please send an email to kate@signoutloud.co.uk
The party starts on Friday 4th at 5.30pm for approximately 1 hour and the Sign Out Louders are asking for a minimum donation of £5 per camera to be made through our Big Give link here >>> http://bit.ly/BigGiveCC2020
Lake District Radio Host Sponsored Request Show
Beth Pipe from Lake District Radio is going to be hosting a special request show in aid of Bendrigg Trust on Friday 4th of December. Beth will be taking requests from Saturday 28th November via email : Live@LakeDistrictRadio.org or via social media @CumbrianRambler on Twitter & Instagram ready to play on her show on the Friday. Then when you hear your request head over to our Big Give page to donate http://bit.ly/BigGiveCC2020
Want to know more about the impact of your donation? Click here to read our 2019 impact report.