Hi

I’m excited to promote and fundraise for a small, but mighty Not-For-Profit Community Interest Company that’s making a significant impact to my life, and many others, in Slaithwaite and beyond.

Experience Community CIO is an incredible organization dedicated to helping people with disabilities explore the beauty of the countryside, ensuring that everyone can enjoy fresh air and adventure. They also address social isolation for all , through activities such as rambles, residentials, a games afternoons and book club—because who doesn’t love a good game of Connect Four?!

My personal journey with this charity has been transformative. I first experienced problems with my mobility after being hospitalised with Sepsis in 2015. I was bed bound and then house bound for a large chunk of my 40’s with extreme exhaustion, muscle pain, brain fog and a constant stream of new infections. I was eventually diagnosed with Post-Sepsis Syndrome and M.E. When I was occasionally able to get out of the house I used a manual NHS wheelchair, pushed by someone else. Whilst grateful to get out and about once in a while, it was a far cry from the independent lifestyle I was used to.

Having fought hard to recover some of my health over the last few years, I was crushed to be hospitalised again, with Pneumonia and Sepsis, after a family holiday abroad in 2023. Since then, I have faced several new health challenges and have been unable to work or leave the house for significant periods of time. It can be really isolating, especially when on most days I don’t have a lot of energy to spare.

Now for the good bit!

A few months ago, I came across The Experience Community on Social Media. After getting in contact with them, I soon found myself at a drop-in, right in the village of Slaithwaite, where I live, They were very welcoming, friendly and knowledgeable. It was particularly reassuring seeing other people with mobility issues working there and I felt in safe hands. They worked with me over several weeks, testing out alternatives to my manual wheelchair that would allow me to be more independent on my good days, particularly as I’m currently unable to drive (anyone want to buy a Peugeot 107?!). Anyone who knows Slaithwaite will appreciate that whatever I ended up with, it needed to have some proper welly to get me safely down the valley side to the village and back, as well as some additional features bespoke to my particular issues.

After several trials and a few run over toes later, we finally found the chair for me. The E Tech Mobilty Power Chair (etechmobiity.co.uk). I'm giving them a specific mention because they have also gone over and beyond to help me (even jumping in a car and driving from Birmingham to deliver a chair to me-a story for another time, but very much appreciated). Their chair is also considerably more affordable than all of the other unsuitable options I tried-even better!

Since getting the chair, Experience Community has gone on to help me with route planning, considering things like dropped pavements, safe crossing points and how best to tackle the steep valley incline. It’s truly been a game changer. Recently, I took the chair for a spin to Marsden and back on the canal, which was exhilarating and gave me back a sense of independence, freedom and adventure. I’ve also been to the theatre, a lantern making workshop for the fabulous Slaithwaite Moon Raking Festival (www.slaithwaitemoonraking.org.uk) and to my first Huddersfield Town match of the season (the less said about that, the better).

O.K- Here's the ask.

I'm on a mission to raise £1,000 to support the activities of The Experience Community.

As a small not-for-profit, it's a constant pressure to raise funds, yet a small donation from a few lovely people, could really make a difference, specifically with the running of activities for people who are socially isolated, many without family and friends.

For just the cost of a cuppa, your donation could be the difference between someone having a heart-warming day or a sad and lonely one, so please donate anything you can spare, no matter how small.

''Alone we can do so little; together we can do so much''.

The Thank You gift!

If anyone would like a very active and delicious Sourdough Starter which will last you a life time, in exchange for their donation, please contact me via Facebook Messenger.