Dignity Action Day

Dear Friends and Colleagues

For Dignity Action Day on 1st February 2011 the Department of Health is asking all health and social care workers to take action in their place of work to promote dignity. It also asks members of the public to do what they can to take action on this day to promote dignity for people in their communities. In the words of the Dignity Ambassador, Sir Michael Parkinson: "It might well be that the difference people make individually is a mere ripple on the surface of our care system, but each of those ripples added together create a wave, a social movement, and if this makes life better for some -then it has to be worthwhile."

Dignity Action Day was a huge success last year and in 2010, with many hundreds of people giving their time to provide an extra special day for the more vulnerable people in our communities. So the standard has been set and hopefully we can make 1st February 2012 even more successful.

If you would like to get involved, you can do almost anything! You could for example:

·         Dedicate some time to read to someone who has difficulty

·         Help your local meals on wheels service

·         Join a homecare worker on their rounds for the day

·         Run a local activities session in a communal building (bingo, crafts, dancing, bowling, etc.)

·         Contribute to a pamper day and share your skills in doing nails or make-up, giving massages etc

·         Organise a day trip or help on an already organised trip

·         Sit and talk, go through life/family photos, give the opportunity to communicate

·         Spend time in hospital with someone who rarely gets visitors

·         Offer your time to a neighbour (change a light bulb, do some light house work or spring cleaning, help out with gardening work, etc.)

·         Join the LINk and act as a voice for people in your local community

If you want to support Dignity Action Day but are unable to volunteer then there are still many things you can do such as:

·       Wearing a dignity badge or something green for the day (a hair ribbon, hat, scarf, top, trousers etc)

·       Telling your friends, family and colleagues about Dignity Action Day.  If you use online social networking tools such as MySpace, Facebook , Twitter, Bebo etc or have your own online blog or organisational website, newsletter, or email network, use these to help spread the word

·       Signing up to become a dignity champion

·       Share your views on local care services or get more actively involved in holding services to account through the LINk

If you would like more information about the day including more suggestions for things you could do, please get in touch. Please also let us know what you are planning to do on the day if you'd like us to promote your activity. It would be fantastic if we could make Dignity Action Day a success in Manchester and we’re counting on you to help us achieve this!

For more information, please visit: www.dignityincare.org.uk

Or contact the Manchester LINK team, who can signpost you locally:

Valeska Matziol

Community Engagement Officer

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Manchester LINk Support Team

tel:08454504247 direct: 01618742190  fax: 08454503247 web: www.theBHA.org.uk

BHA, Democracy House, 609 Stretford Road, Old Trafford, Manchester, M16 0QA