BBC Lifeline appeal for FitzRoy
On Sunday 20 January 2013, FitzRoy featured as BBC Lifeline’s ‘charity of the month’. The work we do to transform lives was showcased in a film, presented by Nick Knowles (DIY SOS, City Hospital, National Lottery), which explained how, with the right kind of support and assistance, people with learning disabilities can live more independently at home and in the community.
So far, we have raised over £15,000 through generous public donations, so thank you to everyone who has supported us.
How can I watch it?
Lifeline was shown on BBC 1 on Sunday 20th January, and was shown again on BBC 2 on Wednesday 23rd January. The response we have had from supporters has been overwhelming. For your chance to watch the appeal again, simply click below.
Alternatively, you can watch a reduced 4 minute version on the BBC Lifeline web page –www.bbc.co.uk/lifeline.
About the film
Our film features three people we support, who each have very different needs – but ultimately, want the same basic things from life.
- Nathan lives in a residential care home in Worcestershire and needs a high level of care and support. He has complex learning and physical disabilities, with no verbal communication, but his dad, Trevor, is delighted by the way care and dedication the FitzRoy team provide
- Andrew lives with his family in Norfolk. He’s watched all his brothers leave home, and wants to enjoy an independent life himself. The FitzRoy team are supporting Andrew to learn a range of life skills to help him achieve his dream.
- Nicholas has lived in a residential home since the age of 5. He’s now 50, and although he still needs a lot of support, a change in environment has enabled him to be more independent and make more choices about his day to day life. His new-found confidence is evident in his recent achievements – not least being picked to show both Nick Knowles and our Royal Patron, HRH Princess Alexandra round his new home!
The right support is vital to support people like Nathan, Andrew and Nicholas but assistive technology is a big feature of FitzRoy’s approach to support too. The film shows just some of the tools available to help people be more independent -from communication through to kitchen gadgets.
About BBC Appeals
The BBC’s Lifeline appeals have been running for more than 20 years. Showing once a month on BBC1, and repeated during the week at lunchtime on BBC2, the appeals showcase a wide range of local, national and international charities and their valuable work. The films produced by the BBC may only be up to ten minutes long, but they have an invaluable impact on a charities reputation, profile and fundraising.
FitzRoy’s patron, actress and wildlife campaigner, Virginia McKenna has in the past made both a BBC TV and radio appeal for the charity. In FitzRoy’s early years, Sir Alec Guinness made an appeal on the charities behalf.
Find out more about about BBC Appeals