Physical Health United Kingdom Project #55329

BizzyBox Lending Project

by Carers Network

Project Report | Jan 9, 2023
Full Steam Ahead for the BizzyBox Lending Project!

By Mark Bradford | Project Leader

Carer exploring the library products!

Thanks to your support we’ve been able to expand our exciting BizzyBox Lending Project through the autumn and winter!

We now have over 100 carers registered on the lending library, and to date we have had 133 product loans, with carers able to borrow for free a fantastic range of activity products that they can enjoy from the comfort of their own home together with their loved one.

We have continued to run a very busy programme of coffee morning ‘Try-out’ events, with up to 6 events a month!

Through the project we were also able to run an event in December in conjunction with The Museum of Brands. Here carers could try out and borrow items from the library whilst also having the opportunity to test the Museum of Brands’ new ‘Memory Box’. This has items which carers looking after someone with dementia can reminisce over with their loved ones. The carers loved the opportunity to explore these all together and will also have the opportunity to visit the museum as a group in February!

“I just wanted to thank you for your visit this afternoon which I found very interesting and enjoyable, all the Carers were thoroughly absorbed and their reactions, made it an afternoon to be remembered.” Local Carer who attended the BizzyBox Lending Project and Museum of Brands event.

So far, we have had over 250 carer attendances at all the coffee mornings.

Recent carer feedback from the BizzyBox Lending Project has included:

“BizzyBox has been brilliant for my husband as he had a stroke and it's helped with his finger movement and the puzzles have been good because it's helped him use his brain as he has short term memory loss. Thank you so much.”

“The coffee morning gave me break and I could relax and meet friends and also gain helpful info. It felt like a safe and friendly space.”

“This is a very good project that has helped lots of elderly people with dementia. It has been a great comfort to them.”

“Excellent colouring book, my mother and I really enjoyed using different colours to fill in the pictures.”

“It helped my mum with concentration whilst also being active while sitting down”

Your continued generosity has helped us to excpand this project so that even more carers 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!

Carers at BizzyBox Session with Museum of Brands

Product Browsing at Coffee Morning

Carers at BizzyBox Session with Museum of Brands

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Sep 16, 2022
A bizzy summer for The BizzyBox Lending Library!

By Mark Bradford | Project Leader

Carer borrowing a comfort pet at try out event!

Thanks to your support, Carers Network’s exciting new BizzyBox Lending Project continues to grow from strength to strength!

We have 70 carers registered on the lending library, and to date we have had 81 product loans, with carers able to borrow for free a fantastic range of activity products that they can enjoy from the comfort of their own home together with their loved one.

Through the project, we have been able to host a series of monthly coffee morning ‘Try-out’ events.

At these social events, carers can get together to meet and try out the products. They can then sign up to the library and borrow a product, which they can return and swap for another the following month.

As well as providing an opportunity to find out about the library and borrow products, they are a way for carers to socilaise and get a well-earned break from their caring role.

Feedback from these events included:

“Thank you for such a lovely 2 hours of distraction from my complex life and sharing time with people”

So far, we have had 192 carer attendances at these events.

Carer feedback from the BizzyBox Lending Project has included:

“My mum loved the items. It’s such a brilliant idea. She was a little unsure of the beagle at first, so I put it on the table next to her. Every now and then she'd look over at it, within ten minutes she picked it up herself and was stroking it on her lap. And by the end she gave it a kiss.”

“Yes, I would use the library again. The opportunity to experiment and try different products is brilliant. I'm looking forward to borrowing the huggy one! And can't wait to see my mum's reaction (: "

“Thank you for such great thought and invention of Hug!! Huggie has become part of the family!”

Your continued generosity has helped us run this project so that carers can take advantage of the products and enjoy them with their loved ones at home – while also being able to meet and socialise with fellow carers at the project events.

Thank you!

Carer borrowing a jigsaw to enjoy with loved one

Another comfort pet finds a good home!

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May 23, 2022
Carers Network has launched its exciting new BizzyBox Lending Project!

By Mark Bradford | Project Leader

Carer with one of the Hug Buddies

Dear friend,

Your support has helped Carers Network launch our exciting new BizzyBox Lending Project!

By participating in our project, carers are able to borrow for free a fantastic range of activity products that they can enjoy from the comfort of their own home together with their loved one.

These products have been specially designed to help someone living with dementia, recovering from a stroke or heart attack or living with autism or a learning disability. They include puzzles, comfort pets, activity boards and hug buddies.

We now have a team of carer volunteers who will be helping us demonstrate these products to fellow carers at 'try out events'. These volunteers got to experience the products up-close at an 'Unboxing Event' in early March!

Watch a video from the event here.

A number of these products are specially designed for people from African and Afro-Caribbean communities living with dementia. These were exhibited and demonstrated at a Caribbean Social Event we hosted on 17 March thanks to the support of the A2dominion Black History Month 365 Fund.

The project was then officially launched at an event at the Beethoven Centre in Queen's Park on Wednesday 18 May where carers could see the products, sign up to the project and then borrow a product for two weeks. Currently there are 24 carers signed up and 20 products have been loaned out.

Carer feedback has included:

“We are both so pleased with the loan of ‘Betty' the Cavalier King Charles puppy from Carers Network’s BizzyBox Lending Project. She has found a lap to snuggle on and is providing comfort and companionship. Betty even breathes! Thank you for this lovely opportunity.” Local carer Hanna.

“A borrowing library is such a wonderful idea and there's a great choice of items. My mum, who has Alzheimer’s, loved the little beagle and was kept busy at the seaside, with the fidget blanket. Comfort and stimulation. Perfect. Thank you so much Carers Network for this thoughtful project. Local carer Jennie

Your generosity has helped us launch this project so that carers can take advantage of the products and enjoy them with their loved ones at home – while also being able to meet and socialise with fellow carers at the project events.

Thank you!

Carers with the Comfort Pets

Carer with one of the Activity Boards

Carer Richard demonstrating products at Launch.

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