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Different Strokes was delighted to be one of 265 charities nationally to receive a grant from the
Cabinet Office’s Local Sustainability Fund. This funding is enabling us to improve the way we work,

and to forward plan, making us stronger and more resilient.

As part of this work, we encouraged stroke survivors and their family members to provide us with
valuable feedback on our information packs, groups, online services and telephone helpline. We had
376 responses to a survey and thank all participants. The feedback we received is that people really
value the information we provide, as well as the peer and emotional support either through groups,

Facebook, social media, or the website. The information and support Different Strokes offers means
that working age and younger stroke survivors feel more connected, and informed about what is
available to them.

What people seem to want is more of what we are already doing which is great – we now need to
find a way to make that happen and look forward to sharing with you how we plan to do this for the
future.
We are currently exploring the impact and value of our services. This means we are evaluating the
value of peer support, group activities and the information pack. We also recognise our team of
volunteers do an amazing job at so many different levels – at head office, in group settings, as

fundraisers, and by helping us to promote the work of Different Strokes – and we are very grateful
for their support. Assessing the value and impact of our services and support will help to inform our
future plans, and help us to attract more diverse funding sources so that we can offer more support
to those who need it most.
We are hugely grateful to the Cabinet Office for recognising the vital work that we do to support
younger stroke survivors and their families.