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FUNDING SUCCESS FOR LOCAL AMPUTEE CHARITY
A local charity that supports amputees and their families has secured a funding boost from the National Lottery Community Fund.
Steel Bones, which was founded by amputee Leigh Joy-Staines and wife Emma, will receive a total of £49,200.
The grant will enable Steel Bones to employ a Development Manager to guide the charity, ensuring all systems and procedures are professionalised and efficient. To apply for the role please click here: https://jobs.spiderrecruit.co.uk/jobs/relationship-and-development-manager-bury-st-edmunds-suffolk/164-1/
The charity also hopes to use the funding to refine its current model of volunteer peer support for amputees and their families as well as financing much needed equipment and training programmes. The charity has existed on voluntary support and the funding enables Steel Bones to fully recognise this and provide a much stronger opportunity for its invaluable volunteers – all of whom are amputees or amputee family members.
Steel Bones was established soon after Leigh lost his own leg following a botched operation when he was 25. Following his discharge from hospital, Leigh found it very confusing and complicated to access support or information regarding what had happened to him and the family felt very isolated. It was fatherhood that inspired Leigh and Emma to start Steel Bones as a support group, which quickly snowballed into a registered charity due to demand.
On the funding news, Leigh said: “We can’t thank the National Lottery players enough for making this possible. This funding will make a huge difference to Steel Bones and all the amputees and families we support. There’s still a huge amount of unfamiliarity surrounding those with disabilities. Many of us still struggle to be independent as there are so many obstacles to overcome every day. We are thrilled to be sharing this news with everyone and we are excited for Steel Bones’ next steps.”
Steel Bones recently appeared on BBC programme Eggheads with team ‘Out on a Limb’ to raise funds for the charity.
It will also be hosting a launch on 24th October in Cambridge of a children’s book series aimed at teaching children about those with disabilities.
To find out more about Steel Bones, visit the website: https://steelbonesuk.co.uk
Photographer: Paul Clark
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