Over the next few months I plan to
share photos of a selection of the iconic buildings that will line the
route of Norwich’s 10km run in July and to highlight a few of the uplifting
stories from Norwich Community Sports Foundation, the charity I am running to
raise funds for.
Today, it’s Lauren’s Story
Our online dance sessions have kept
teenager with Down's syndrome connected and active despite the lockdown.
The last few months have been
difficult for 17-year-old Lauren Elvin. She has Down’s syndrome and, because of
the coronavirus pandemic, has not been able to attend her regular activities
run by the Foundation.
Lauren is a member of the CSF
Allstars, a disability dance troupe who are part-funded by the Premier League
and have performed to the crowds at Carrow Road.
But without her beloved Monday
sessions the loss of routine and social interaction was hard for her.
“To start with, she wasn’t happy at
all,” Lauren’s mum, Claire, explains. “She obviously couldn’t go to school and
kept saying she wanted to go back.
“If we’d have been stuck at home with
nothing this whole time it would have been awful and I’d have been really
worried for Lauren.”
The Foundation’s disability team
responded quickly to make the sessions available online, so it wasn’t long
before Lauren was back in front of her dance coaches Lisa Chapman and Georgia
Skipper and the rest of the gang.
“It was really lovely for these guys
to be able to see each other and have a chat,” says Claire. “She really missed
her friends.
“Georgia and Lisa do such a great job
and these guys love it so much. The routines are so good for everyone to follow
and enjoy.”
Lisa can see the benefit Lauren gets
from the online sessions.
“Not only has her technique improved
but her memory of the moves and routines is getting better as well,” she says.
“She can always remember what we learned the previous week.”
Claire Elvin
Mother of Lauren
The Bigger picture
Lauren and Claire are among around
180 families who have been receiving support from the CSF’s disability team
during the crisis.
At the start of the pandemic,
immediate help came in the form of emergency care packets, including food for
those most in need.
Since, the usual schedule featuring
14 weekly sessions has been replaced by a series of online catch-ups, quizzes
and bingo sessions.
Darren Hunter, the Foundation’s
Disability Development Manager, stresses the importance the Foundation
maintains contact with its participants and become part of a new routine for
them.
“Mentally, it’s really important they
maintain their social connections, and a lot of them have friends at sessions
they have been unable to see,” he adds.
“It also allows us to offer some
important respite time to parents or carers at home.”
Norwich City Community
Sports Foundation
(CSF) the official charity partner of Norwich City Football
Club.
“The Community Sports Foundation is
Norwich City FC's official charity
We use the power of sport to support
and inspire our community. Our charitable objectives are driving inclusion for
people with disabilities, boosting mental health and wellbeing, and supporting
disadvantaged people to raise their aspirations.
Without vital fundraising, our work
would not be possible, and many across Norfolk would be deprived of our
support.”
A HUGE thank you to….
L. White
Pauline?
Who have already donated to my Just
Giving Page
As always, thank you for taking
the time to call by and I hope the sun is shining on your face and in your
heart.
Hugs
Pauline
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