Social Impact Report
We use feedback from our annual survey of beneficiaries, case studies and social return on investment calculations to ensure that we are offering services that truly make a difference.
The heart of what we do
To ensure that stroke survivors and their families continue to be at the heart of what we do we produce an annual survey that is open to stroke survivors, family members, friends, carers and health professionals. We want to know if the services that we offer are meeting the needs of our community. The insight that this provides helps us ensure that we continue to deliver services that are relevant and from the heart.
Accountability Matters
We cultivate a culture of transparency and want to ensure that anyone who invests in our charity, whether through fundraising, volunteering or partnerships can know that their investment is in safe hands. We combine data and social return on investment methodology to calculate how effectively we are using funds and how our services are impacting on the people that they support.
Chris’s Story – Haemorrhagic stroke at 61
Running the group keeps me busy and makes me feel useful. It also helps me cognitively, because it gets me thinking about things in a logical way. Hearing other people’s stories makes you realise yours isn’t so bad. And it’s through Different Strokes that I’ve heard about research. I’ve applied for and taken part in a couple of studies. One was with Warwick University: every week for ten weeks, survivors did exercises together. They were beneficial, and still are.
Huma’s Story: Don’t wait until something happens. Take charge of your health and get checked
“We first heard about Different Strokes in hospital, where we were given an
information pack. Then I saw a post on Facebook looking for BASS ambassador
volunteers and I jumped on it straight away.
I’d taken Mum to a few groups, but most people there were in their 60s and she
felt out of place, older than she actually is. I wanted to help build networks for
younger survivors. We also went to a Different Strokes event in Manchester with
an indoor golf session. A speaker there had recovered and now runs marathons,
which was amazing to hear.”
Ian’s Story – Rare Stroke at 48
On 13th May I knew who I was, at work and at home. On 14th May I was suddenly dependent on everyone around me. That was a big mind-shift. My whole life I’ve wanted to help people, and suddenly I was the one who needed help. Acceptance is hard, but the quicker you get there – the better, so you can set your own goals to move forward at a pace appropriate to your own recovery and celebrate the wins when you get them.
My next project is looking after myself and facilitating the best recovery giving time to the people who’ve looked after me on this journey so far.
Chris & Jenny’s Story – Haemhorrhagic Stroke at 34
“There’s light at the end of the tunnel. Just be positive. That’s the main thing, because you can’t let the negative thoughts take over.”
Jenny’s advice for other couples is simple. “Remember who you were before the stroke, because realistically that hasn’t changed. You’re still the same people, to a point. Remember why you’re together and what’s important.”
Ian’s Story – Two Ischaemic Strokes At 52
The PFO closure went ahead at the end of January, and those four weeks were the longest of my life. Every morning I woke up thinking, ‘I haven’t died.’ I walked a small loop every day to keep my heart moving and my legs working. When the day came, the procedure took only a few hours out of a day. I was awake, and they put a 30-millimetre device in through a vein in my leg. They showed me my heart on the screen, the bubbles passing through the hole, and then the bubbles stopping. I was home by mid-afternoon.
So in about seven months I had two strokes and a heart operation. I think I need therapy just to understand what’s happened. We’ve joked about a T-shirt: ‘I’ve had two strokes and a heart operation.’
Michelle’s Story – Stroke due to AVM (arteriovenous malformation) at just 14
My mum was panicking when I woke up asking me if I remember who she is, I was really so confused. She said I had a stroke caused by AVM (arteriovenous malformation) on my left side, it caused me to have a non-epileptic seizure after getting sick and talking nonsense, then I was unconscious for 2 days. I needed open brain surgery to remove the AVM and I’m lucky to have my speech and memories and mobility as if nothing happened. I was mind blown. How can someone have a stroke when they are 14?