A consortium of abuse charities have released some incredibly useful sources of advice and information on domestic abuse, sexual violence and other forms of gender based abuse which can be downloaded from our website: Information and resources
Claire Kerkham is a volunteer Buddy for the Bridgend Centre, providing one-to-one befriending to a person in our community who was feeling rather isolated and lacking in confidence to get out of the house on their own.
Claire has decided to walk this years ‘Bollington Nostalgia Virtual Race’ to raise funds for the Centre. Here she tells us why.
Running was my thing. Kept me fit, cleared my head and got me out exploring new places. The last time I ran a 10k was over a decade ago, I was happy with my time of 49 minutes.
My running deteriorated quite rapidly after this and I soon wasn’t able to run round Bollington rec for more than a few minutes without feeling as though I would pass out. I was told that I was perfectly healthy and likely just a bit unfit.
Fast forward to 2017, I collapsed on the beach surfing. Not long after that incident I wasn’t able to climb the stairs at home without collapsing on the bed, I was deteriorating rapidly. December 2018 I was rushed into Papworth hospital and finally diagnosed with a rare lung disease – Idiopathic Pulmonary Arterial Hypertension (IPAH). A progressive disease with no known cause or cure. I was classed as severe, my lungs at the final, end stage. I am lucky to be alive, but, told that I would never run or surf again.
Fast forward to now and under the care of the amazing team at Papworth and new pioneering medication I have been able to slow the progression down and, well, been given a new chance at life for which I am eternally grateful. So walking this 10k for runners is a privilege and hopefully the start of more to come. I like to focus on what I can do, rather than what I can’t, and push myself every day if I am able. I find new versions of my old challenges. I feel grateful that I can be part of this brilliant virtual event and raise funds for a vital inclusive charity supporting all aspects at the heart of the local community. Everyone wherever you are can get on board and do your version.
Please support the incredible Bridgend charity by signing up & getting out into the great outdoors or by kindly sponsoring us. If you would like to sponsor us, please go to my Just Giving page: https://www.justgiving.com/fundraising/claire-kerkham1
Claire Kerkham
Non essential shops will be permitted to open from Monday 15th June. We at the Bridgend Centre are currently looking at how we might be able to open our charity shop safely over the next few weeks, so keep your eye out on social media and our website for updates. Unfortunately initially this won’t include any of our ‘in-person’ activities, drinks or walks.
This may take a bit of time as we consider the best way to do things, so thank you for your patience.
In the meantime, if you can keep hold of your quality donations for us that would be fabulous. Or there will be other many other very worthwhile charity shops in Macclesfield opening over the next few weeks as well.
We can’t wait to see you all again.
The second edition of ‘Bridging Social Isolation’ is now available to download from our website: https://bridgendcentre.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2020/04/Bridging-social-isolation-No-2.pdf
We will be producing this newsletter every week during this time of Social Distancing to hopefully brighten spirits, entertain you, keep you informed and most important of all to help everyone feel that even though we have to put physical distance between ourselves none of us are alone.
We will be looking for contributions from our readers, so if you have an idea, recipe, story, book suggestion, drawing or activity you think others would love, please send it to info@bridgendcentre.org.uk for us to include.
Please note that we have a new phone number for the period of the Coronavirus crisis. It is 01625 813173. If there is no-one available to take your call when you ring, please leave a message and someone will get back to you as soon as they can.
After careful consideration we feel that it is our responsibility to take action to minimise the risk to our visitors against the serious illness COVID-19 (caused by the Coronavirus).
All Bridgend activities, groups, walks plus the community kitchen will be suspended. The Bridgend Buddies service will continue over the telephone in order to minimise loneliness of those we support as much as possible.
We are currently reviewing the situation regarding the Charity Shop but it will not be open on Wednesday 18th March. Any updates on this will be on our website and Facebook page. We apologise for the uncertainty around this but this situation is very unique.
We feel that it is our responsibility to encourage all visitors to follow government guidelines and not to visit the Centre if they are vulnerable or unwell. We would also remind them to regularly wash their hands.
We have every intention to continue supporting the community as much as we can, while we can. While the shop is open Community Workers will be available at the Centre for support or to provide signposting information over the telephone.
A lot of our volunteers are over 70 or choosing to self-isolate so our services could become more stretched going forward so please bear with us as we handle this unprecedented situation.
Our Project Worker Avril and all our volunteers had a great time working on this project.
