Sunday Care
It doesn’t sound like very much when you talk about it,” explains Mary Rumble, Co-ordinator of Sunday Care, “but it can be the difference between someone being able to live at home or having to go into residential care.”
Despite its name Sunday Care offers day care to older people, and people with disabilities in the Halifax area, on both days of the weekend. Most of their guests live on their own with support from family and neighbours.
“For example one of our regulars lives alone with support from her daughter who goes up to Mum’s every weekday. We take Mum on a Saturday so the daughter gets Saturday off, she’s able to spend time with her family and she knows Mum is safe and being looked after,” outlines Mary. Thanks to its volunteers Sunday Friend has been providing this service for almost 20 years.
The group’s first contact with WYCAS came after the sad death of their founder, well-known activist Jackie Stark. “Jackie did everything, including the finances, so all of a sudden I thought what do I do?” explains Mary. On the recommendation of the local Community Transport manager Mary rang WYCAS. “They were very calm and talked everything through with me, it’s a great service and when I got the bill I liked it even more.”
WYCAS is now a welcome part of the Sunday Care team, doing the annual accounts and helping out with advice when needed. Their support has changed Mary’s feelings about finance. “I think you just have it in your head about accountants, that they will come and find things wrong, but they’re so helpful. It means that now I don’t panic every December thinking have I got enough for wages?” WYCAS’s guidance has helped the organisation to plan more effectively and Mary says she feels more confident when she bids for money. “Before I would have just asked to cover current costs, but I know that costs can change and you’ve got to be able to cope with that.”
The team at Sunday Care are keen to provide a stimulating, but relaxed environment for their guests. An Awards for All grant means they can currently offer armchair tai chi alongside good food, company and door to door transport. It’s an impressive service, delivered every weekend to 48 guests, thanks to the efforts of a small band of volunteers, a skeleton staff and the approachable accountants at WYCAS.
(Photo: janet gibbs and jessie edwards on a steam train trip on the Haworth railway taken by Melanie-Jayne Rumble)