BETTER Lives is the official charity of Bradford District Care NHS Foundation Trust (BDCFT), a provider of high quality mental health, community and learning disability services across the Bradford, Airedale, Wharfedale and Craven communities.
Our purpose is to enhance the care the trust provide, supporting initiatives that improve the lives of patients, service users, carers, volunteers and staff, which cannot be funded through core NHS budgets.
We provide award-winning mental health, learning disability, community physical health and children’s services to support our communities throughout their lives.
We work with individuals, their carers and our partners to ensure that people get the right care, in the right place, with the right support.
Our health care services cover all ages, so if you live in Bradford, Airedale, Wharfedale or Craven, you may come into contact with one of our team at some point in your life.
The President of Bradford Rotary Club has chosen Better Lives Bradford NHS Trust as his charity to receive a special donation from our projects this year. As President Martin Mumford approached the end of his year in office he presented a cheque for £2000 at our meeting on May 24 to Jackie Dawson, trusts corporate and finance manager with Bradford District Care NHS Foundation Trust. The money was raised by events organised by the club to match a grant from the Rotary District Foundation committee. The Rotary Foundation is Rotary’s own charity funded by donations from members across the world.
An occupational therapist approached the charity to fund a vocational rehabilitation programme in the form of a pop-up coffee shop. The pilot project is due to run for a 12 week period and then be subject to a review.
Open now, it will run twice a week and the occupational therapists will monitor patients’ engagement and outcomes. This will provide evidence to expand and innovate the programme.
The vocational rehabilitation programme aims to provide users with many skills that are transferable to everyday life when discharged including money management and budgeting, social interactions, forming a routine, time management and responsibilities.
*Last week Bradford District Care NHS Foundation Trust staged LYNFEST, its award-winning annual festival of music and arts for in-patients experiencing mental health conditions and the staff at Lynfield Mount Hospital.
There were individual performances from patients as well as local acts, a ‘Big Sing’, a photo booth and craft activities. The Care Trust’s food services provided ‘Street Food’ and the hospital café was open to all patients and staff, with fresh baking available
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