Latest news with #RoseRoadAssociation
BBC News
6 days ago
- Business
- BBC News
Hants and Dorset charities use social media to boost fundraising
Charities say they are increasingly using social media video campaigns to plug the gap caused by a drop in donations from the say using pictures and videos of clients has the most impact on their Rose Road Association in Southampton and Julia's House which has children's hospices in Dorset and Wiltshire both use videos across their social Charities Aid Foundation's UK Giving 2025 Report reveals that charities are now relying on donations from only 50% of people, down from 58% in 2019 — equivalent to approximately four million fewer donors. Mike Bartlett, deputy CEO at Julia's House says it is constantly working on its social media presence: "A lot of the best work that we produce on social media is really storytelling. "It's helping to demonstrate the impact of our work. So children's stories, children playing at the hospice, children having fun with our nurses and carers. That's what's most impactful, either to reach new people or to tell people about the work we're doing."Social media is quite a cost effective way to reach new audiences, and also to communicate with existing supporters".He says it's important that its social media videos focus on the children at the hospice and the care they are receiving."In a way, people aren't supporting Julia's House as an organisation, they're supporting the children and the families we care for", he said. The Rose Road Association is a Southampton based charity, specifically for young people with manager Beth Rogers says social media posts are very important: "It's essential, because every piece of fundraising we do, we're competing against other causes. "So the more touch-points we have with someone, the more likely they are to say 'that cause, that's the one for me'. "So yes, we have to keep doing it, we have to be fast and we have to do it regularly, otherwise we will just get left behind in the current market."We have to work a lot harder to attract each new person to us as a cause. It's not all doom and gloom in the sector, but it is harder than it's ever been, the cost of living, it's really difficult." You can follow BBC Dorset on Facebook, X (Twitter), or Instagram.
Yahoo
06-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Council offloads respite centre with move branded 'positive'
Council leaders have approved a new model for overnight residential respite care for adults with learning disabilities in Southampton. The plans will see the city council continue to run Kentish Road and an external provider will be contracted to operate Weston Court. Changes to the existing arrangements involve increasing the size of Kentish Road from four core beds and one emergency bed to six core beds and one emergency bed. The news has been welcomed by relatives of those using the services, with Pat Larmond telling the Echo: "Stability is most important." The mixed economy model will mean the majority of respite is provided at the two sites, with the local authority reducing its use of Rose Road, which is run by a charity. The council said it would continue to commission services for adults with more complex needs where they could not be supported at Kentish Road or Weston Court. READ MORE: Care home celebrates St George's Day with quiz and traditional lunch Cllr Marie Finn, cabinet member for adults and health, told cabinet on Tuesday, April 29, that the adult respite care service was 'crucial' in giving carers the break they needed to be able to continue with their caring role. The contract for Weston Court with current provider Way Ahead Leisure Pursuits and the existing commissioned services from Rose Road Association are due to expire at the end of September. Cllr Finn said the council needs to make financial savings alongside ensuring it can meet the future demand for respite. She said a second consultation on the proposals showed people did not want the services to change. 'We have arrived at a compromise proposal that will not please everyone but has shown we have at least tried to listen to carers,' Cllr Finn said. Pat Larmond, the mother of a service user at Weston Court said "everyone was pushing" for the site to be kept under the same agency. She said: "I know the contract is coming to an end but the news should mean that Weston Court won't be under control of the council and that the current agency will have the chance of being involved in the tendering process. "The last few months have been really uncertain but I hope the tendering process is fair. "I think everyone is really happy with the current agency. "Stability for service users at Weston Court is most welcome." READ NEXT: Plans for 155 homes in new estate Individual assessments will be carried out before any transfer decisions are made. The new model for the service will deliver cost savings of £238,000 a year. This is around £70,000 less than if the council had pressed ahead with plans to run the two sites itself, which was the recommended option earlier in the year. Cllr Finn added: 'This will still make savings but not as much as having the service with one provider but it meets carers' preferences as Kentish Road carers mostly want to stay with the council and Weston Court carers want to stay with the private sector.'
