Different Strokes Charity

Following a number of comments and queries we have had in recent months about the difficulty stroke survivors have in accessing appropriate travel insurance, Different Strokes has partnered with Medical Travel Compared to help stroke survivors find the right insurance. For more information about this and to get a personalised quote, please click the link below.
For every travel insurance policy bought via this page, Different Strokes will receive a charitable donation. This will not affect the price you pay, so benefits stroke survivors through accessing appropriate travel insurance while earning important funds for Different Strokes.

"Nobody told me of the emotional side of stroke." Read more of Phil's story here

HOODIES RE-STOCKED!! ЁЯОЙЁЯОЙ
Our little shop had sold out of medium & XXL on over the head style hoodies and small in the zip style- we are now fully stocked in these sizes!!!
It looks like perfect weather for them too! ЁЯМзЁЯМз
... Thank you all again for your support with our little shop- every penny goes back in to help us run our helpline and send information to families affected by stroke.
Buy yours at...
ЁЯСЙЁЯСЙ https://different-strokes.onlineweb.shop/
We are currently working on some exciting new products- stay tuned! ЁЯТЪ
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Greg, younger stroke survivor and DS Communications Extraordinaire has just signed up for our abseil on... September 14th! ЁЯШВЁЯШВ

On September 14th, thirty brave & inspiring fundraisers will abseil down the tallest sculpture in the UK!
Join us at Londons Olympic Park to take on the challenge!
You will be raising vital funds for younger stroke survivors.
... Message us for more info ЁЯТЩЁЯТЪ
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We recently met Debbie at Living Well After Stroke Event which we hosted with our great friends Chest Heart Stroke Scotland. Today Debbie shares her inspiring Survivor Story and how CHSS has helped her.
"I am getting stronger every day, but I must stay focused тАУ not only for me but for my family. ItтАЩs a long-term thing recovering from a stroke and recovery is challenging on many levels, and it takes time. IтАЩm still recovering 3 years on. I have good days and I have bad day...s and some days IтАЩm more tired than others. My memory is still tricky, and I need to write everything down or it doesnтАЩt happen. I struggle with reading and retaining information but thatтАЩs getting better. My words can get mixed up and sometimes I say the wrong things. (which makes my family & friends laugh). My leg gets tired and my arm is weaker and I have right-sided muscle and joint pain. It can be very emotional recovering from a stroke and the hidden things that people rarely see is the fatigue (rest doesnтАЩt help), the emotions (one minute IтАЩm laughing the next IтАЩm crying for no clear reason), depression and how low you can feel. IтАЩm good at putting my happy face on and no one knows how down I really am, but IтАЩm getting better at telling people how I really feel. "
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The National Institue for Health and Care Excellence have recently released a report that highlights progress made by the health and care system in implementing NICE guidance.
The report focuses on stroke prevention in atrial rehabilitation, acute care, rehabilitation including returning to work and thrombectomy.
The report is really interesting reading and we feel that a lot of the improvements recommended totally align with what we hear every day from stroke survivors a...nd their families.
Click on the link to take a look at the full report. ЁЯТЪЁЯТЩ
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Are you a rugby fan? ЁЯПИ
An incredibly generous person has donated an England Rugby Shirt Season 2018/2019 Fully Signed!!
Bidding starts at just ┬г10!!! ЁЯШоЁЯШоЁЯШо
... ЁЯТЩ All proceeds raised will support younger stroke survivors across the UK.
_________________________
тЭЧя╕ПтЭЧя╕ПтЭЧя╕П BIDDING STARTS NOW тЭЧя╕ПтЭЧя╕ПтЭЧя╕П __________________________
ЁЯТЪ We would be super grateful if you could tag any rugby fans you know or share the link.
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We are proud to be a partner at the #WSDForum19 and working with UCL Wellcome Centre for Neuroimaging.
More information to follow in the coming weeks - stay tuned! ЁЯТЪЁЯТЩ

As Volunteers Week draws to a close, we want to say a final HUGE THANK YOU to all of our fantastic volunteers- without you, we would not be us!
If you have found yourself inspired and would like to know more about how you can volunteer, we have a number of roles across the UK including:
ЁЭЧйЁЭЧ╝ЁЭЧ╣ЁЭШВЁЭЧ╗ЁЭШБЁЭЧ▓ЁЭЧ▓ЁЭЧ┐ ЁЭЧЪЁЭЧ┐ЁЭЧ╝ЁЭШВЁЭЧ╜ ЁЭЧЦЁЭЧ╝-ЁЭЧ╝ЁЭЧ┐ЁЭЧ▒ЁЭЧ╢ЁЭЧ╗ЁЭЧоЁЭШБЁЭЧ╝ ЁЭЧ┐ - Our co-ordinatorтАЩs work to establish and run local support and/or exercise group for younger stroke survivors in their local area.
... ЁЭРВЁЭРиЁЭРжЁЭРжЁЭРоЁЭРзЁЭРвЁЭРнЁЭР▓ ЁЭРЕЁЭРоЁЭРзЁЭРЭЁЭРлЁЭРЪЁЭРвЁЭРмЁЭРЮЁЭРл - Are you able to use your organisational and imaginative skills to raise funds for Different Strokes in your local area? You could approach local supermarkets to bag pack, auction donations, hold a coffee and cake morning тАУ the list goes on! Contributions big or small made by our community fundraisers each year really make a difference to younger stroke survivors.
ЁЭРУЁЭРЮЁЭРЮЁЭРз ЁЭРМЁЭРЮЁЭРзЁЭРнЁЭРиЁЭРл - We are in the early stages of launching a teen mentor service. We are looking to recruit young adults stroke survivors who want to use their experiences to support others.
ЁЭРИЁЭРЯ ЁЭР▓ЁЭРиЁЭРо ЁЭР░ЁЭРиЁЭРоЁЭРеЁЭРЭ ЁЭРеЁЭРвЁЭРдЁЭРЮ ЁЭРнЁЭРи ЁЭРдЁЭРзЁЭРиЁЭР░ ЁЭРжЁЭРиЁЭРлЁЭРЮ, ЁЭРйЁЭРеЁЭРЮЁЭРЪЁЭРмЁЭРЮ ЁЭРмЁЭРЮЁЭРзЁЭРЭ ЁЭРоЁЭРм ЁЭРЪЁЭРз ЁЭРЮЁЭРжЁЭРЪЁЭРвЁЭРе ЁЭРиЁЭРз ЁЭРвЁЭРзЁЭРЯЁЭРи@ЁЭРЭЁЭРвЁЭРЯЁЭРЯЁЭР ЮЁЭРлЁЭРЮЁЭРзЁЭРнЁЭРмЁЭРнЁЭРлЁЭРиЁЭРдЁЭР ЮЁЭРм.ЁЭРЬЁЭРи.ЁЭРоЁЭРд ЁЭРиЁЭРл ЁЭРЬЁЭРЪЁЭРеЁЭРе ЁЭРоЁЭРм ЁЭРиЁЭРз ЁЭЯОЁЭЯСЁЭЯТЁЭЯУ ЁЭЯПЁЭЯСЁЭЯО ЁЭЯХЁЭЯПЁЭЯХЁЭЯР.
ЁЭРЦЁЭРЮ ЁЭР░ЁЭРиЁЭРоЁЭРеЁЭРЭ ЁЭРеЁЭРиЁЭРпЁЭРЮ ЁЭРнЁЭРи ЁЭРбЁЭРЮЁЭРЪЁЭРл ЁЭРЯЁЭРлЁЭРиЁЭРж ЁЭР▓ЁЭРиЁЭРо!
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Today is the last of our announcements regarding the winners of our Volunteers Awards 2019.ЁЯПЖ
The Outstanding Contribution Award goes too...ЁЯеБЁЯеБ
ЁЯТЪJohn Murray, the Volunteer Coordinator of our North London group.ЁЯТЩ
... We asked John about how he felt winning The Outstanding Contribution Award and he said:
тАЬI was amazed to get this honour Austin (Different Strokes CEO) rang me and sent me an email and I was astonished and delighted! I am very proud to have won. I donтАЩt like to boast, and I find it difficult, but I told one of our tutors they told me that I must tell the whole group. I told them that on 19th June I will be taken out for lunch and given my award- the group were delighted for me. So now I am proud, and they are proud too.тАЭ
Austin Willett CEO of Different Strokes said:
тАЬJohn Murray has been volunteering for Different Strokes since 2003, and for many years has been the coordinator of the North London group. Thanks to the dedication of John, this group is thriving, with approximately 80 members, and activities taking place 4 days per week. Over the years John has looked after all aspects of this group тАУ greeting new members, securing funding тАУ including via a service level agreement with Haringey Council, and arranging venues for activities to take place. Most of all, he has made the North London group a very welcoming place to attend, and continually provided encouragement and support to stroke survivors in the local area.тАЭ
Click the link for the whole article.
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This week we are announcing the winners of this year's Volunteer Awards. This Year we have a new category for Peer Support Champion.ЁЯПЖ
Peer support is what Different Strokes is all about. Younger stroke survivors using their experiences to help others!
The winner of the Peer Support Champion 2019 is...ЁЯеБЁЯеБ
... ЁЯТЩ Olga Mathews!ЁЯТЪ
Olga has been providing peer support for stroke survivors on our online support group for 14 years. This year Olga stood down as admin of our Facebook group but is continuing to help raise awareness. Olga received nominations from group members past and present who credit Olga with supporting their recoveries.
Olga said:
"тАЬI love seeing scared, worried people grow and find their strength and confidence. Many go on to help others. Reading their success stories and feeling that IтАЩve been a small part of that is wonderful. I have made a lot of lovely friends.тАЭ
Gregory Hollingworth who is Admin for Different Strokes Facebook Group said:
тАЬOlga has given support, guidance, and love to thousands of stroke survivors over the years. Being an admin of such a thriving group is hard work and Olga has always gone above and beyond to ensure the group is a supportive and safe place. Peer support is so vital to so many stroke survivorsтАЩ recoveries, including mine. It is no surprise to me that Olga was nominated by so many of her peers and I am so glad that she has won! IтАЩm personally grateful to you for being a good friend over the years and a solid voice of reason with an opinion I can trust.тАЭ
Click the link below to read the full interview.
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Today we are proud to share the winner of our Fundraising Hero Award 2019.ЁЯПЖ
We don't receive any government funding which means we are only able to continue to support stroke survivors and their families through the kindness and bravery of our fundraisers. All fundraisers are heroes to us but each year we ask you to nominate someone who took fundraising to an extreme and went above and beyond to support us in the previous year.
The winner of our Fundraising Hero Award 2019 is......ЁЯеБЁЯеБ
ЁЯТЪ Helen White ЁЯТЩ
Helen self-funded a trip to Nepal where she took on the challenge of a lifetime a trek to Everest Base Camp. She raised ┬г8,000 and battled extreme conditions to make a difference, here she shares why:
тАЬMy partner Gavin had a couple of strokes eight years ago. His life changed forever in the space of 24 hours. Different Strokes changed things again. His fellow survivors picked him up, supported him, understood him, and helped him reclaim his life. Without Different Strokes, he would not be the person he is today. My challenge was nothing compared to what these amazing survivors put themselves through every day to make sure their stroke doesnтАЩt beat them.тАЭ
Our Fundraising Manager Jo Said:
тАЬHelen is very modest about her epic fundraising event to Everest base camp, but the trek pushed her to the limits of endurance. I know it was a personal discovery of friendship, support, love and an understanding of her own strength but throughout it, all Helen was thinking about Different Strokes. Leading up to the trek and throughout her continuous drive to raise more raised nearly ┬г8,000 all of which came to the charity as she paid for the trip herself. Helen has continued to support us with fundraising into 2019 and IтАЩm so pleased she has won this award which I hope shows our gratitude for her amazing support.тАЭ
Click the link below to read our interview with Helen.
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At the end of February, we asked you to nominate Different Strokes Volunteers who have made a difference to you or your family. We had so many amazing nominations and every Different Strokes volunteer is so very worthy. We are excited that our annual awards will allow us to celebrate individual contributions. ЁЯТЪЁЯТЩ
Today we are pleased to announce this year's winner of The Peter Shave Volunteer of The Year Award 2019ЁЯПЖ.
This award is for an unsung hero, someone who demonstrates ...reliability, determination, enthusiasm, professionalism, kindness and integrity. Most of all the winner makes a huge difference to younger stroke survivors and their families.
This year's winner is...ЁЯеБ
Diane Summers-Long
Diane has been volunteering as coordinator of our Portsmouth group for 15 years, she has worked tirelessly to support younger stroke survivors and their families, inspired by her own experience supporting her husband Andy through a stroke aged 53.
We sat down to speak with Diane, and here is just a little excerpt of the interview which perfectly demonstrates why Diane is our Peter Shave Volunteer of The Year 2019:
тАЬIn my role, I am the secretary of the group, so I wear a lot of hats! Andy (my husband) and I visit stroke wards to talk about what is possible тАУ he has surpassed what we were told in those early days!
My passion is supporting families тАУ the whole family is my focus; it is a tremendous upheaval and itтАЩs hard to know who to reach out to. When I talk with the families, they know we have been there. I know the highs and the lows because I have done it too!
I also meet with survivors and their families who are not yet confident about going to the group and have found that meeting with them is really beneficial. I tell them that when they are ready to go that I will go with them and we will do it together тАУ there hasnтАЩt been many who havenтАЩt then integrated into the wider group when we do it together!"
Congratulations and THANK YOU, Diane. ЁЯТЪЁЯТЩ
Please click the link to read the whole interview.
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"After a long while we were told to go straight to A&E, as the ambulance hadnтАЩt arrived тАУ and with an envelope marked тАШStroke co-ordinatorтАЩ!!" Read more of this week's survivor's story here https://buff.ly/2HK8qbP

VolunteersтАЩ week starts today and it is a time to celebrate everything volunteering and say тАШthank youтАЩ for the fantastic contribution volunteers make. People volunteer for many different reasons, it could be to gain new skills, build confidence or provide support to a charity close to their heart. Whatever the reason, without the army of Different Strokes volunteers we would not be able to provide the support network we do to stroke survivors, and their families, up and do...wn the country. Thank you to each and every one of our volunteers. Whether you run an Exercise & Support Group, monitor our Facebook group, stuff envelopes or make the tea you are all important and you are all amazing тАУ THANK YOU. ЁЯТЩЁЯТЪ
Here is our Group Network Manager the lovely Caroline posting Thank You cards which will be making their way to our 100+ volunteers this week.
Monday to Thursday we will be announcing the winners of this year's Volunteer Awards.
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Just one day left to buy our fantastic polo-shirts which currently have 20% off and are just ┬г16!
https://different-strokes.onlineweb.shop/
All profits go towards running our services for younger stroke survivors and their families.