Charity Needs Your Help To Create Quiet Time, UK

Main Category: Multiple Sclerosis
Article Date: 08 Nov 2007 - 4:00 PDT

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A Bournemouth charity needs your help to secure a grant of nearly £100,000 from the Big Lottery Fund in order to extend services to people with multiple sclerosis (MS) across the region.

The Osborne Centre - operated by the Bournemouth branch of the MS Society - sees around 50 people affected by MS, who use its facilities three days a week. Now there is a need to build a quiet room for people to move away from activities when fatigue strikes.

In order to build the extension, the centre needs an injection of cash from the Big Lottery Fund and the decision will be made by the general public in a head to head telephone vote, organised by ITV Meridian South regional news.

Branch chair Rod Slip said: "We are appealing to all our friends, supporters and the Bournemouth Echo readers to get behind the centre and spread the word. We need people to pick up the phones and vote for our project, which will build on the quality of the service we offer."

The Osborne Centre and Isle of Wight charity the Bembridge Friendship Circle will feature on the ITV regional news programme on 27 November and viewers will then have the chance to vote for their favourite project.

If successful, the centre will receive a grant for £94,000.

Already popular with people with MS across Dorset and parts of Hampshire, the centre offers physiotherapy, art and crafts, a shop, hairdressing salon and a welfare support office for everyone affected by MS including family and friends.

A survey carried out among the 300 members of the Bournemouth branch and health care professionals across the area highlighted a number of changes and improvements that could be made to further enhance the facilities offered.

It was felt that an extension that would allow people to move away from the main rooms, especially during sudden attacks of fatigue - a common symptom in people with MS - would be beneficial.

The centre also wants to increase the number of users from around 50 people each day to more than 60 by opening up the facility to people with other neurological conditions.

Rod added: "We want to give people chance to re-charge their energy levels and relax. Although coming to the centre gives people with MS the chance to socialise and enjoy activities, this can often be tiring for them. Being able to offer somewhere quiet for our service users to take time out is essential.

"So please tell your friends about our project and get ready to vote on 27 November when the phone number will be made available."

http://www.mssociety.org.uk