BizzyBox Lending Project

The year has continued apace for Carers Network's BizzyBox Lending Project!

There are now over 130 carers registered on the lending library, with more than 220 product loans to date.

The library activity products are now taken on request to coffee mornings in the City of Westminster, The London Borough of Hammersmith & Fulham and the Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea, so that carers in each borough have the opportunity to borrow/return items.

As well as being an opportunity to borrow products, these coffee mornings enable carers to get together, socialise, provide each other with peer support, and speak to members of Carers Network’s staff team for help and advice.

Our BizzyBox coffee morning in Earl’s Court is run in partnerships with Turning Point’s Drug and Alcohol Wellbeing Service, giving carers an opportunity to engage with their services as well.

At the last meeting of group, we hosted a fun general knowledge quiz with small prizes!

Opportunities to meet at such coffee mornings can help reduce the social isolation that carers often face due to their demanding day-to-day caring roles, as well as providing them with a very well-earned break and some time for themselves.

Your continued generosity has helped us to expand this project so that more carers can enjoy activities such as these, with carers attending also having the opportunity to borrow products from the library to enjoy with their loved ones at home.

Thank you!

It's been a busy start to 2024 for Carers Network's BizzyBox Lending Project, with 130 carers registered on the BizzyBox lending library, and 210 product loans to date.

The items are now taken on request to coffee mornings, so carers in each borough have the opportunity to borrow/return items.

These are carers such as new referral Bruce who cares for his partner who lives with Alzheimer’s.

When he was assessed recently, his caseworker mentioned the BizzyBox project.

Bruce expressed an interest as he had been unsuccessfully trying to find activity products for his partner.

He then came to his first coffee morning where he met and socialised with fellow carers, and borrowed a reminiscence book.

He enjoyed the morning and will be coming to the next coffee morning later in April to swap the product for another one!

Over the winter, at the Church Street Library BizzyBox coffee morning, carer Elena knitted and crochet group with fellow carers.

Here the carers enjoy catching up together while knitting toys, scarves, and socks. 

So far, they have raised £45 towards the project selling these!

Your continued generosity has helped us to expand this project so that even more carers like Bruce can take advantage of the products and enjoy them with their loved ones at home – while also being able to meet, socialise and have fun with fellow carers at the project coffee mornings and events.

Thank you!