A Busy Summer at LHM
As we reflect on the third quarter of 2024, LHM has once again experienced a busy and impactful few months. The poor summer impacted us too with less opportunities for seasonal activities like picnics.
July: Record Numbers and Challenges
July was our busiest month since reopening, with 3,341 meals provided, a significant increase of 669 from June’s total. The busiest week saw 74 clients for breakfast and 112 for lunch—an impressive contrast to July 2021 when our busiest breakfast served just 24. These increases have put a strain on our team and food expenses, but the Day Centre remains a welcoming and positive environment for all.
We have been fortunate to continue building relationships with corporate partners, including Entegra and Greggs, both of which have sent volunteers to assist us in the kitchen and beyond.
The value of July’s volunteer hours was calculated at £7,757, with 558 hours contributed by front-of-house volunteers alone. This value does not include corporate volunteers.
Activities were in full swing this month, with clients enjoying trips to Millport, Stirling Castle, and West Coast cycling. The use of free admission to National Trust venues has helped stretch our budget while providing enriching experiences for everyone who went.
David shares the impact that activities has on him.
On the intervention front, emotional support remained the most common type of support provided, with 32 instances recorded. Additionally, benefits support continued to be significant, particularly for those whose forms and applications are lengthy and complex.
August: Growing Numbers and New Initiatives
August continued the busy trend, with 3,546 meals provided, making it the busiest month since reopening in 2021. The busiest breakfast saw 85 meals served, and the team felt the pressure as numbers continued to rise. Despite this, our environment remained supportive and welcoming, with Barbara, our new kitchen volunteer, making a significant impact.
The month also saw the start of NHS nurse-prescriber clinics, which ran fortnightly and were well attended, providing vital medical support to clients. This service is set to continue for the coming months. We have benefited previously from their input with initiatives like the COVID clinic, providing vaccinations to those who wanted it.
Our corporate volunteer programme continued strongly, with Greggs providing volunteers weekly and a new partnership with Employee Volunteering, who will return in September to help with office updates and other tasks. There are several companies that give their time to us, which I will update on at the end of the year. This month our regular volunteer contribution was valued at £7,376, thanks to over 644 hours contributed across the kitchen and front-of-house.
Activities were plentiful in August, with highlights including Go-Karting, Millport cycling, and a trip to Edinburgh Castle. As you can imagine, these outings and experiences are very well received and enjoyed by all who attend.
On the intervention side, emotional support remained high with 27 instances, and energy help also saw a spike, with 29 interventions. We also attended the funerals of two members of the LHM community and made hospital visits, bringing along essentials like pyjamas and a few treats to brighten their day. Additionally, we regularly visit individuals in prison to remind them that they are not forgotten. This is an ongoing service we provide throughout the year. While we would love to expand this support, our capacity is limited due to the size of our team.
September: Supporting the Community and Preparing for Harvest
September continued to be busy, with 3,509 meals served despite having one fewer working day than August. Had September been a 22-day month, we would have surpassed August’s total. Our team received tremendous support once again from corporate volunteers, who helped prepare for Harvest month, paint offices and assisted in the kitchen.
The value of September’s volunteer hours came to £7,056, thanks to dedicated support from our regular volunteers who come in when they can.
We also saw continued participation in activities, with clients enjoying trips to the Japanese Gardens, Linlithgow Palace, and local cinema outings. Karaoke is still very popular as are the swim and sauna, pool, bingo and the quiz!
On the intervention front, emotional support was matched by energy help, with 33 interventions for each, highlighting the growing need for assistance with energy costs. Benefits support remained steady, reflecting the complexity and time-consuming nature of Adult Disability Payment (ADP) claims.
Conclusion: Looking Ahead
This quarter has been incredibly busy for LHM, with record-breaking numbers of meals served, strong volunteer support, and a wide range of enriching activities. As we approach Harvest month and Autumn/Winter, we remain focused on supporting the growing needs of our community. Thank you to everyone who continues to contribute to our work!
We look forward to the final quarter for 2024 and thank you for your continued support!
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