The Live At Home charity, which helps older people on the Island to live independently, has appointed Jackie Bridson as Communications and Funding Co-ordinator. Jackie’s role involves managing communication throughout the organisation and its many external and internal stakeholders, and exploring funding streams. She has over 20 years’ experience in local government in the north-west of England, protecting consumers and legitimate businesses in her work as a Trading Standards Officer. Since moving to the Island 12 years ago she has done voluntary work that fitted in with being a new mum – and also co-founded the Laxey Views village newsletter, a publication to which she still contributes as a writer and editor, along with her fellow co-founders.
Jackie said: “Live At Home has been very close to my heart ever since I began working for the charity in 2015, initially as an Assistant Manager. I have seen the real difference that our schemes are making to the lives of older people across the Island, and I am enjoying my new role which enables me to contribute towards securing a sustainable financial future for the charity.”
Commenting on Jackie’s appointment, Jo Dixon, Chief Executive of Live At Home, said: “On behalf of our board of trustees, our staff team, myself and all at Live at Home, I am delighted to welcome Jackie to this new role. She joins at a very exciting time as we work on creating our ‘Campaign to End Loneliness’ which will be launched in 2018. I know she will play an important part in this campaign which will aim to encourage everyone on the Island to work together to help older people whose physical and emotional well-being is being adversely affected by loneliness and isolation.”
Live At Home is an independent Manx-registered charity which runs four Live At Home schemes on the Island – Western, Northern, Eastern and Douglas. The Northern scheme also runs the Northern Men In Sheds group from premises in the grounds of Ramsey Cottage Hospital. All of the Live At Home schemes offer a range of services, including regular social groups, lunch clubs, film clubs, and shopping clubs, all with transport provided. The charity also offers guidance on how older people can access other support services, and runs befriending initiatives in which volunteers make regular visits to an older person to have a chat and a cup of tea, providing friendship and company.
For more information please email enquiries@liveathome.im or phone the head office on 616571. You can also find the charity on Facebook by searching for ‘Isle of Man Live at Home’.
Photo - Jackie Bridson, Communications and Funding Co-ordinator at the Live At Home charity.
