Hi #LiftedFamily
What a busy few weeks it has already been at Lifted. We hope you all have a wonderful Christmas and we wish you all the best for 2025.
Now that we are coming to the end of January it made me look back and reflect on the last two weeks we had at Lifted before we closed for the festive holidays.
What a crazy and busy two weeks we had at Lifted.
As busy as it has been, we have all loved every single day of it.
Between the Lifted Core team, we have been able to offer a wide range of support to our carers;
- Carers weekend away trip to Leeds and York
- Appointments for carers, covering guidance and advice to form completions
- SEND drop in events across Manchester
- Networking across Manchester with other charities and organisations to fight for change within the SEND community especially for carers.
- Lifted end of year Christmas party
Now let me tell you about each one. Take this as your five minute me time, grab a cuppa and get cozy and enjoy hearing everything we do to lift up our carers.
Carers away trip
Lifted have been very fortunate to have been awarded funding by Wythenshawe Housing Community Group, with the focus to give back to our carers. WHCG see the work we do at Lifted and want to help support us with strengthening our community links with those that use the Lifted services.
Sue, our amazing family support officer thought about how best to give back to our carers and has have chosen to do two carers trips and also to extend the Uplift meal that we host every Monday.
I was speaking with Sue and about the trip she was planning to Leeds and York in December and she was explaining that this is our first overnight trip for Lifted since Covid and for most of the carers who would be attending, this would also be their first trip away for just themselves since before then, if not their first solo trip since becoming a parent carer.
The more and more Sue spoke about the trip, the more I was getting excited for her and the carers. Sue waited till I was bursting with excitement, that is when Sue said “you know you’re coming along to help me Kate!” It’s something all the core team and volunteer team have taken part in over the years and this year it was my turn to go along.
The trip was booked up within hours of us advertising the trip, showing just how much of a demand there is for parent carers to have a rest.
The day of the trip arrived and so did the storm that was hitting the UK. Did that put a dampener on the trip? Not at all. We are carers and are made of something strong. The wind and the rain would not stop us.
We were the last group to be picked up in the morning and Lifted did their usual magic trick, where everyone else on the coach was also part of the group and included in all the laughter and chatter.
We arrived at Leeds and we split the carers into two groups with Sue and I as the leaders so we could visit even more places. We said we would meet up at Wetherspoons for lunch after shopping on this road. Who know there was two Wetherspoons on the same road? Both Sue and I where texting each other where are you? We have a table set up. We ended up catching up back at the coach.
We arrived at the hotel and the hotel was hosting two work parties as well as Lifted carers trip.
Both works invited the carers to join them. Some of us went dancing, others went for a swim but we all sat down and took over two of the larger tables and had a meal together and chatted the night away.
By the end of the night, I found myself chatting with a dad and his daughter who was also on our coach who were going to York to see the markets, I asked the daughter what about the Harry Potter shops? Both of them were like we can do the markets after we have been the harry potter stores. I loved that when we bumped into each other walking around York the daughter came running over to us to show us what she has got for Christmas. It reminded me that special skill all carers have to relate with others and show love and empathy no matter where we are or who we interact with, it’s our super power!
After a day spent looking in the shops around York, we made the journey home. It was so much fun and I don’t think I have laughed so much before, I kept getting a stitch from laughing, which then made everyone laugh even more, which set it off again.
When we were leaving the coach, our driver thanked us for making the coach trip a lively place to be. Keep an eye out for the next dates in the new year.
Appointments
This month the team has grown with Shekila joining us and we are now taking on even more appointments than ever before.
Every appointment we have, is truly meaningful to everyone at Lifted.
Its during these appointments where parent carers can come to Lifted and feel safe and welcomed to share what is going on at home. Something that a lot of carers struggle with sharing with the outside world.
We appreciate everyone of you who comes to Lifted and trusts Lifted to support you and your family.
We always say that when you come to Lifted you are apart of the #LiftedFamily and it’s true. You open your family and life to us, which make us family now.
SEND drop in events
Every month Lifted is invited to attend the Local Offer Drop in events around Manchester to help reach out to parent carers who might not have heard of the services we provide.
We also get contacted directly via schools to see if we can also attend their drop in events to help reach out to their parents of children who attend their schools, who could use a little extra help.
When we attend these events, we don’t only go representing Lifted but also as Carers Manchester. We are one of the main charities that makes up Carers Manchester and these events allow us to help carers at every stage of their journey.
During these events when carers come to our table we listen with an open heart as sometime this is the first time a carer is reaching out for help for those that they look after.
Once a carer have spoken with the team at these events, it gives the team a chance to help create them an action plan on what we can do to help at home but most importantly what we can do for the carer themselves.
Carers will always put others first, which is why when they are asked what can we do for you. They take a second to think about it. It’s why Lifted not only have our appointment services but also our social groups and clubs that work hand in hand with our office-based services.
This month Kate went to all our event and took with her our fabulous trustee and volunteer Sam to the South Manchester events and our network partner Hannah from Carers Manchester North.
Kate always says that these events are the most important part of her job as she can the carers struggling and are reaching out for help, which is so brave of them and by the time they have been to Lifted and seen the team, you can feel the energy change in them and they are happy and know that they are not alone. We have them now and they are part of the #LiftedFamily.
Networking for change
Many of you know Emma our superstar of a boss and founder of Lifted though our appointments and drop-in days, but Emma’s biggest job is making an impactful change in Manchester for parent carers.
Everyday Emma is on the phone, emailing or attending network events across Manchester, on how Manchester can become even stronger than we are when it comes to protecting its carers.
Emma has been at Lifted since the very start, which means Emma has a fountain of knowledge that can be shared, and it’s that very knowledge that people across other charities, organisation and also the city council reach out to Emma for her support and knowledge and wisdom she holds for parent carers.
It’s through these meetings that Lifted have made strong and lasting professional connections, which Lifted use on a day-to-day bases when we need to offer additional support to our Lifted families.
It’s a wonderful feeling knowing that we can reach out to other services and say we are from Lifted and they ask how Emma and the team are doing. It shows how hard Emma works to develop and maintain these working relationships and this can be measured by the amount of other services who reach out to Lifted to see if we have anyone knew in our network files that we can share with them.
Our chairman Robbie, said to Kate the other day. Lifted is about building stronger links within our SEND community and empowering everyone. This is truly what Lifted is all about.
It’s Emma’s passion and loving nature that fills the Lifted staff, volunteers with the passion to strive for change and to follow Emma leadership and guidance and it will only grow and we get bigger. Watch this space
Christmas @Lifted
Through out the year Lifted hold a range of parties for our #LiftedFamily, but our Christmas party is always the highlight of all our parties.
It’s a full on all hands-on deck type of party.
Our wonderful and vibrant parent cares who attend every Monday come along to help cook and set up alongside our committee members, volunteers and core staff.
It’s the time of year were we all get dressed up in our best Christmas party jumpers or outfits (Even Mr C our treasure can be seen in a Christmas jumper, I’m sure if you asked him, he would deny it but we have photo evidence he wore a Christmas jumper).
Nina was on hand to welcome all our new carers who had not attended a Lifted party before and make sure that were introduced to everyone, Nina has a way with making people just feel welcomed and removing any worry they might have.
The Lifted team are all about being inclusive to all our families and we set up two party rooms, one for those who want to be in the center of the party and dance along with DJ Dec, who stepped up to be our party DJ, when our regular DJ Malcolm was ill (Wishing you a speedy recovery DJ Malcom)
We also have a quieter room for those that need a less busy room, where you can find a range of festive arts and crafts available, this year Emma Moo hosted the smaller room and could be seen colouring in with everyone who used the room.
We also were in the middle of playing Bingo, when all of a sudden you could hear bells ringing from the church hall and I’m sure you could hear the sounds of hoofs on the roof. Next minute we heard “HO HO HO”, that could only mean one thing, Santa came to visit Lifted again this year.
Santa was a massive hit, and he even let us give him a peck on the cheek. Santa gave out gifts to all our parent carers and all the children and staff and he even said we are allowed to open them before Christmas day as we have all been very good this year!
Santa also asked our chairman Robbie if he could be his elf this year, as his elf must have gotten lost on the way. Next year I think we need to have an elf outfit ready for Robbie should he need to help Santa again.
The only down side, was our very own DJ Dec missed Santa yet again for another year! Hopefully next year DJ Dec will be able to get catch up with Santa as I’m sure they would get along like a house on fire.
After Santa left, we then went back to playing bingo with our resident bingo callers Steve and Dec. Who are the best bingo callers ever!! I’m not just saying that because they are our bingo callers, but because they have so many jokes to tell between the numbers that are called. Steve has some of the best dad jokes ever.
We always end the party by doing the Lifted raffle, my favourite part is when anyone has the winning ticket the whole room shouts and cheers for them.
Lifted would love to thank everyone who has donated a prize for the raffle, it really does make a difference to everyone on the day.
We hope that you and your families have a wonderful Christmas and a happy new year and we look forward to seeing you all when we open again on Monday 6th January
