Jo's Hope
Milton Keynes, UK
Jo’s Hope mission is to provide ‘light, inspiration and hope’. We are unlike any other organisation in terms of our remit and practise. We supply Post-Surgery Bras to breast cancer patients Yoga classes for all cancer patients and their companions Musical Theatre sessions for disadvantaged youths Music Lessons for disadvantaged youths Mentor Scheme Parent Advocacy Restart Programme: rehabilitating offender programme Food For All Scheme: Provides low income, Mid income, Disabled, Elderly and people suffering from or affected by illness access to good quality food at a fraction of price. Mama Jo’s Kitchen: Sell west Indian food and the profits go towards providing the homeless with a hot meal. All our programmes are delivered free of charge and fuss. We aim to help and support as many people as possible without the major intrusion of private life and non-judgementally. Did you know you can only access a food bank 6 times in one 12 month period. What are these families supposed to do for the other 46 weeks of the year. Additionally, you need to be referred. When you are suffering from sickness these referrals are not always open to you. We need a regular income from companies, we need food/ product donations and support with events, we welcome investors. We welcome questions, we welcome meetings. We keep our running costs low to maximise output to the community. We have been piloting the above within Milton Keynes and so far we have had a lot of positive feedback. Examining breast cancer within the Milton Keynes breast care remit there are a number of crucial provisions not available to those diagnosed due to funding cutbacks. They are as follows: - a) Breast Cancer patients requiring surgery, you will not be provided with the 'Crucial' post surgery bra required to help wounds heal. b) Limited supply of Psychological Assistance needed for cancer patients, and none that are known to me at present for the families of non bereaved members. c) There are NO none medical therapeutic provisions available to cancer patients that don’t involve a waiting list of up to 6 months. Cancer affects many people in many ways. My aim is to give someone who has been diagnosed with cancer or has suffered from cancer one ounce of his or her pre cancer self back. For clarity I need to define what I mean by the following; Pre Cancer Self: Everyone acted normal around you. You received a text message once a week from family and friends if you were lucky. Work colleagues expected you to be able to move heaven and earth in a day. No one cared if you needed a cup of tea or coffee and travel insurance was £19.99 for an annual subscription. Post Cancer Self: Bandanas and head wraps are your new best friends (because you lost all your hair through the horrid chemo). Family and friends you had forgotten about call and ask how you are, so much so that taking a nap and leaving the phone on silent can prompt a love one to call the police, ambulance and fire brigade to
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