CHARITY FOUNDED 1980 -1989
1989
Help & Care became an independent charity.
120 people attended Carers Voices & Choices Forum to highlight the needs of carers.
1988
Our approach going to where older people were…
Help & Care launched “The Van”, a mobile service run by volunteers in an adapted mini bus, which provided advice about welfare benefits to older people. Related to this new service, a concert was organised with a fleet of social services mini buses for 150 isolated older people.
A second forum of older people and local workers was held - “Bridging the Gap” - to look at issues around hospital discharge. This brought to light two main themes that needed to be addressed, the lack of information for older people and the need for a multi-disciplinary approach.
Our Roots gardening service was launched.
1987
1987 was a memorable year for Help & Care. The organisation carried out significant campaigns that helped promoting our good work, such as the Carnival Float of fairies, gnomes and pixies, which attracted celebrities and the media attention. In winter, we launched Coldline, a warmth campaign in partnership with the Bournemouth Echo newspaper and 2CR radio.
Help & Care also held “Way-In”, a forum of older people and local workers, which looked at the need for more comprehensive information for older people.
Additionally, Help & Care raised £5,000 by holding a Charity Auction at the Carlton Hotel and Mark Sharman was made full-time.
1986
The BACE extended the funding for Mark Sharman’s contract, at the time that Dorset Social Services agreed a small grant of £325.
1985
On the 22nd of March, Bournemouth Helping Services Council (now known as Bournemouth Council for Voluntary Service) convened a forum to look into the needs of older people in Bournemouth, which resulted in the formation of a Steering Group called Help & Care.
After a meeting between the Chairman of the Bournemouth Association for the Care of the Elderly (BACE) and the Chair of the Steering Group, Eileen Cook, BACE awarded funding to hire a part-time Research & Development worker for three months. Consequently, Mark Sharman commenced on 18th November, with a budget of 97p.
