"A FEW WORD FROM OUR RESIDENT CHAIR:- CHRIS BLOOR.

We are a Voluntary Group run by local people who have made it their personal goal to raise funds for :-                                                                         (a) Further research into Diabetes,                          (b) To educate the general public as well as those with Diabetes.                                                         (c) To help local diabetics and to liaise with the local Hospitals, Diabetes Centres, Clinic’s and GPs.            (d) To raise public “AWARENESS” of Diabetes within the community.                  

The group consists entirely of volunteers with no paid officers. Who organise fund raising events such as Jumble Sales, Spring & Winter Fairs, Sponsored Walks, Coffee mornings, Fun Runs, Flag days, Fun Quiz Nights and of course our annual Grand Draw. We also attend local events such as Carnivals, Open Days, Community organised events. Besides raising funds we also have monthly meetings, social evenings and talks to raise the “AWARENESS” of  Diabetes within the Communities we reside. 

Our group is made up of individuals and their families who have been affected by Diabetes and also their supporters. Some of these individuals have taken up posts such as Chair Person, Vice Chair, Secretary, Treasurer, Public Relations Officer, etc all are unpaid positions just as are our army of volunteers. All have a common goal in mind, “TO RAISE FUNDS” to enable us to keep our aims and objective’s on course and so benefit all with diabetes. We also run a web site full of information as to our activities which can be found by typing :- diabetesuknorthstaffs.org, we also produce a “NEWSLETTER” which is free and printed 4x per year. 

Over the last few years besides our fund raising activities we have been involved in several issues concerning diabetes and care in North Staffordshire, this has meant we have had to organise petitions and campaigns to get our voices heard.

These have been very successfull and are producing pleasing results each week that goes by. Some have been small easy issues to deal with like the "Testing Strips should be issued free by GPs", the successful results came about due to the Letters pages in the Sentinel.

We also had the "Screening Campaign" this was to ensure each year a photograph was taken of a patients retina, which then revels previously undetected problems and allows them to be treated before it's to late.       Life time Treatment for a patient with Retinopathy being very expensive compared to discovering a problem early by having at least one photograph a year. This also gives the patient more confidence and less worry as they know that this simple activity will keep them up to date with the condition of their eyes.

Then we had the campaign about the closure of the "Nines Block" (Ward 60 / 61), due to the media involvement (Dave Blackhurst of The Sentinel) and the amount of signatures collected (over 1,000 in 5 weeks)in protest of the closure with out an alternative place being allocated, we were invited to meeting with the hospital senior management which resulted in the invite to have two representitives on the "Steering Group Panel" during the building of the new hospital.

Our campaigns meant that we were recognised by many of the NHS seniors and the local MPs, due to this we were invited to attend Westminister to put forward the views of the people of North Staffordshire. This was done very successfully by our Vice-Chair Mrs Chris Bloor & Sharon Sutton who stood as our spokes person.   Full reports of these meeting will follow soon..

So as you will see not only are we there to do our main task "Fundraising" but we are also there to represent all those affected by diabetes and their family's and carers. But to do this we do need your help so if you can spare any time to assist in one or more of our events you will be very welcome, or maybe you feel that can not really commit but would like to help with a donation, then please know that every little helps to reach our targets. Below is a statement that any voluntary group will tell you is TRUE!

                           VOLUNTEERS ARE PRICELESS!!!!
 As a voluntary group we are constantly seeking help to assist at our fund  raising events. We don’t expect your help at every event, just an hour or so where it’s convenient. We really do need help if we are to continue supporting people with diabetes.