CARITAS was founded by three local people, Alan Bradford, Patricia
Graham and Gordon Balmforth, all of who have had some experience in dealing with
such situations. In order to promote the foundation and to help raise funds for
its work, a CD has been produced of a song called “Peace And Harmony”.
Alan Bradford: a local singer and songwriter. He is the driving force behind
CARITAS and the CDs, and writer of “Peace And Harmony”.
Gordon Balmforth: Composer, arranger and MD. Has written the arrangement of
Peace & Harmony and coached the singers. Also composed songs for the new CD
Pat Graham: Background in musical theatre. She has co-ordinated the singers
required, especially the children’s choir.
In 2006 Elaine Cockram joined us, bringing with her a wealth of experience as a
healthcare professional who specialises in long-term medical conditions
All the people singing on the CD “Peace And Harmony” (released November 2005)
are local people who have given of their time and energy to help the project.
For Christmas 2006 a 15-track CD called “A Christmas Selection Box From Caritas”
has been produced featuring local artistes. All profits from the CDs will go to
CARITAS.
Wherever possible, CARITAS aims to raise funds by doing what its founders know
best: music. As well as recording CDs, a series of live concerts is planned, all
using local talent whenever possible.
Caritas is an organisation dedicated to helping individuals with long-term
medical needs or helping their carers. Its aim is to cover those areas of life
and daily living where statutory bodies cannot assist, no matter how deserving
the case, because of their own rules and regulations.
We all know someone who needs our help: they may benefit from help with painting
exterior woodwork at home; complementary therapy not available from the NHS, an
extra –loud doorbell; or a respite break, and so on.
Caritas will aim to fill that need either financially or by supplying the right
person for the job.
Requests for help may come from individuals with medical problems or directly
from carers. Where requests are made for alternative or complementary therapies,
value-judgements or medical evaluation will not normally be made: if it seems as
though an individual believes that something like that can help, then that is
the starting point from which Caritas will operate.
Although some supporting evidence for requests will be required, intrusion into
private and personal matters will be kept to a minimum and the Data Protection
Act will be adhered to at all times.
1. The essence of the scheme is to provide relief and assistance
(financial or otherwise) for either or both the individual (see para 2 below)
and the carer (see para 3 below), which is not otherwise available. Either the
individual or the care may instigate the request.
2. The term individual refers to a person with long-term medical (clinical
or surgical) needs. The individual should be receiving all available statutory
help (from National and Local Government benefits and services). The medical
condition should be verified by a suitably qualified health professional with
knowledge of the individual. Entitlement to statutory benefits and services (or
non-entitlement) should be verified by
i. a statement from the individual
ii. basic (non-detailed) documentary evidence.
3. A carer is a person (not necessarily a relative or resident with the
individual) who has substantial involvement in the care of the individual. There
is no definitive description of the time involved in such care.
4. A grant will usually be a one-off payment of, or contribution towards
the capital cost of goods or services relevant to the individual or carer. Some
idea of the cost, supported by documentary evidence, will be required with the
request for goods or services.
5. In the case of alternative or complementary therapy, no medical
evaluation or judgement ought to be applied.
6. In the event of a request being made for continuous, on-going
assistance, consideration may be given to regular, specified payments for an
agreed, finite period.
7. In all cases, payment will be made, where practical, to the suppliers
of goods and services.