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How the Tesco partnership helped communities
| The money raised through the Tesco Charity of the Year partnership is being spent locally on first aid training, emergency equipment and care in the home services right across the UK.
First aid – Lucy's story | Top |
When 17-year-old Lucy* attended a Red Cross first aid course designed specially to help young offenders, she couldn’t have guessed what a major impact it would have on her young life. | |
| Lucy, who cared for her two younger brothers, attended the course because she was desperate to make something of her life and also because she was determined to keep her young family unit together. The course would provide her with a qualification that would help her to find a job and provide for her brothers. | | |  | |
| First aid trainer Debbie Brooks, who runs regular sessions for young people with behavioural problems, remembers the young first aider was immediately enthusiastic. She said: “Lucy did very well – she was a quick learner and really took to the session, learning all the techniques and procedures.
“She even skipped her lunch break and stayed on after the session to speak to the first aid trainer and learn more about the Red Cross. She had been really motivated by the course and wanted to get involved.”
*Name changed to protect identity
First aid – helping young excluded people | Top |
Young people with behavioural problems have been reaping the benefits of a Red Cross first aid course designed specially to meet their needs.
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| Debbie Brooks, first aid trainer, runs regular sessions with young people who have either dropped out or been excluded from schools. She said: “Some of our young students have been in all kinds of trouble but I never have any trouble with them. | | |  | |
| “They definitely see it as a genuinely useful life skill. Sadly, a lot of these kids do regularly come across dangerous situations; some of their stories are incredible. With so many drug and alcohol related problems, fight injuries and motorcycle accidents, first aid is directly relevant to their everyday lives. As soon as they learn the skills, they are actually out there treating injuries.
“A lot of the young people come in with nothing – some can hardly read or write. By attending the first aid sessions, they grow in confidence, learn useful new skills and gain qualifications that they can then use to actually get a job or go to college. Employers are always looking for staff with first aid experience and these students – young as they are – really do have hands-on experience of helping people in real emergencies.”
Medical equipment – Alexandra's story | Top |
When six-year-old Alexandra Haigh badly broke her leg falling over on holiday, her local hospital was unable to provide her with a children’s wheelchair.
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| However, the Red Cross stepped in and provided her with a custom-sized wheelchair, which meant Alexandra was able to continue to go to school and see her friends.
The young casualty was so grateful that she asked her grandma to bake some cakes, which she then sold at school as a way of raising money for the Red Cross medical equipment service. | | |  | |
| Alan Ryder, service manager, said: “As many hospitals in Yorkshire are no longer providing smaller wheelchairs for children, requests to our local service have grown considerably.
“Money raised by Tesco has enabled us to buy more of these much-needed specialist wheelchairs so that we are able to help more young people and families across Yorkshire."
Care in the home – Mr and Mrs Brown | Top |
When health issues started to cause them real problems, couple Mr and Mrs Brown both turned to the Red Cross’ care in the home service for support – and found their lives transformed.
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| When Mrs Brown went through a long hospital stay, her prolonged absence eroded her husband’s confidence and independence. So when she was finally discharged, the Red Cross stepped in to help. | | |  | |
| Margaret, their volunteer, helped Mrs Brown at home and took her husband to collect the weekly shopping for both himself and his ailing wife. Jean Laughlin, service co-ordinator, remembers: “Initially, Margaret started off by helping Mr Brown in his role as a carer for his wife. And, because he was doing such a good job, no one realised at first that he also was suffering from painful bedsores.
“However, as soon as we knew about his condition, we worked quickly with his district nurse to secure a special mattress, which has made a big difference.”
“The service has made a huge difference to their lives. As a volunteer and friend, Margaret has been absolutely brilliant. She has a lovely rapport with the couple and they both really look forward to her visits.
“Importantly, there has not only been an emotional uplift – their health has also improved because they have got their lives back. They are happier, eating well and getting out and about more. Everything’s much better for them now – it’s a positive circle. It’s hard to overstate just how grateful they are.”
Care in the home – Jean's story | Top |
Following a spell in hospital that left her with mobility problems, pensioner Jean Bailey was finding it difficult to cope on her own. Luckily, the hospital suggested she contact her local Red Cross Branch for help on her return home.
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| Volunteer Aled Roberts made weekly visits to see Jean. He drove her to the supermarket, helped by reaching things from the high shelves and then unpacked the shopping bags for her. “There was nothing that was too much trouble for him,” said Jean. | | |  | |
| Aled also took Jean to hospital appointments and stayed with her before taking her home again for a cup of tea. “Having the company makes all the difference to my day. It’s like getting support from a member of the family – there’s a lot of trust there,” she said.
She added: “Part of my recovery process was due to the assistance of the Red Cross. I wouldn’t be feeling as good as I do today without them.”
Jean’s volunteer, Aled, said: “What I do helps people get their confidence back and I get real job satisfaction from it.” | |
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