-
Status
Received: 16 days late
-
Income
£6.5K
-
Spending
£4.8K
Public benefits
1. By bringing the group together each week for activities like Boccia we improve the members’ social skills and confidence. It also gives carers a chance to exchange information. The public benefit would lie in that we advertise these meetings on the internet and through physical signage on the day and invite members of the public to come along.
It also advertises the existence of the Cookstown Multiple Sclerosis Help and Support group. 2. Many studies have indicated that therapeutic practices like reflexology, physiotherapy and others have been beneficial to people with Multiple Sclerosis. Multiple Sclerosis attacks nerves all over the body, resulting in many, many different symptoms. For this reason, there is no one answer regarding therapies. Each therapy may have varying degrees of success with each individual member of the group. To this end the group are constantly on the look-out for new therapies and new treatments. The public benefit would lie in that the results of these therapies are communicated back by word of mouth to the MS consultants and MS nurses who can use that information appropriately. 3. As well as the weekly group meetings, which have been taking place for more than ten years, the Cookstown Multiple Sclerosis Help and Support group also organise outings like group meals and various other events. The benefits improve the members’ social skills and confidence, as well as being a very well appreciated departure from what can be a repetitious routine. The public benefit would be that a greater awareness of both the existence of the Cookstown Multiple Sclerosis Help and Support group. 4. The Cookstown Multiple Sclerosis Help and Support group organise various information and fund-raising events. The group’s website www.cookstownms.org.uk documents these events. In relation to information events, we have noticed progressively larger crowds attending. As our ability to advertise these events improves, we have seen a greater interest from the public. Our latest event in April 2017 was attended by upwards of 70 people. Our guest speaker, a consultant neurologist who is the pre-eminent authority on MS in Northern Ireland, spoke for an hour and then took questions for another ninety minutes. The response from those in attendance was greatly appreciative. Following the talk, many of those both with MS and those with an interest now follow us on social media, and are in contact on a regular basis. Because of our public awareness campaign, we believe are the foremost and most active Multiple Sclerosis group in the Mid Ulster area. We are certainly the largest.With regard to public fundraising events, we do not use third party collection services. The members prefer to do the collecting themselves. The members enjoy this as it gives them a chance to talk to the public and improve awareness of the complicated symptoms that come with Multiple Sclerosis. Another benefit is the monies raised. 5. The Cookstown Multiple Sclerosis Help and Support group weekly meetings also provide a regular information exchange centre for the members. They can discuss many aspect of aspects of their own experiences with Multiple Sclerosis. Topics include: symptoms, help with those symptoms, food and diet, personal therapies, carers and many other things. The benefits are obvious and many of the group regard the weekly meetings as an integral part of their lives now. As regards general imperial evidence, there many studies have been published regarding the symptoms of MS. The nature of Multiple Sclerosis means that some of these studies are contradictory, as the sheer variety of ailments can vary enormously from person to person.As regards demonstrable benefits for individual members of the Cookstown Multiple Sclerosis Help and Support group, the group has never undertaken any type of survey of documented feedback work because of its small membership. Verbal feedback has been sufficient.We can undertake these surveys, but it will take time to develop the questions, undertake the survey and collate and interpret the results. There is no harm arising from any of the purposes. The charity's beneficicaries are those with MS, their families and carers. There is no private benefit from any of the purposes.
... [more] [less]What your organisation does
Cookstown MS Help and Suport is a charitable organisation, independent of the larger MS charity institutions. We are a group of individuals with MS who come together to improve their lives. A registered charity, Cookstown MS was established to create a locally based support structure for people with MS, their families and their carers. The group
was only formed in November 2004. Members can meet with each other in a friendly and relaxed environment and have a chat and a cup of coffee and exchange views on their condition and general health. The group offers medical benefits such as physiotherapy and reflexology.
... [more] [less]The charity’s classifications
- The advancement of education
- The advancement of health or the saving of lives
- The relief of those in need by reason of youth, age, ill-health, disability, financial hardship or other disadvantage
Who the charity helps
- Carers
- Physical disabilities
- Sensory disabilities
- Voluntary and community sector
How the charity works
- Community development
- Counselling/support
- Disability
- Human rights/equality
- Medical/health/sickness
- Welfare/benevolent
