Small Acts of Kindness Impact Report 2023 - Report - Page 3
Impact through partnerships
This year, we have seen new relationships and partnerships established, while longstanding existing ones have flourished and
strengthened. Our work is only made possible by continuing to connect and collaborate with our community partners. The
impact this brings can be life changing for the thousands of older and vulnerable people we reach every year.
Small Acts of Kindness expanded into Bedfordshire in 2022 with 1,000 Warm in
Winter gift bags being distributed that first winter. Now, in our second year, we
are extremely proud to have not only delivered 2,000 gift bags but to have hosted
our very first packing session in Houghton Regis, Dunstable, joined by volunteers
from the local community.
Central to this growth are the relationships we have successfully built with
community and statutory organisations, helping us to engage with communities and
hard to reach residents across the area. We are delighted to work in partnership
with the Adult Social Care Team at Luton Borough Council, who distributed 450
Warm in Winter gift bags to local organisations and groups.
Ann Munroe, Prevention and Enablement Co-Ordinator, Adult Social Care, Luton
Borough Council told us, “The consistent feedback from social and health care
professionals has been that, every Warm in Winter gift bag distributed, has
brought a feeling of joy because it was felt by the recipient that someone
remembered and cared”.
In these difficult times, the collaborative work that Small Acts of Kindness has initiated
with the team in Luton is a demonstration of wellbeing envisioned by The Care Act 2014.
Thank you Small Acts of Kindness for making a huge impact
The strength from working in partnership with front line services can be seen impacting our work in Hertfordshire.
Hertfordshire Police have supported us for many years but, this year, PCSOs across the county not only helped deliver
Warm in Winter gift bags at community engagement events, but directly to people’s homes. In addition, they were
encouraged to gift bags to older people that they identified as vulnerable and in need of support.
We are extremely appreciative for this partnership and believe that
our collaboration has the potential to reach and engage with older
people who sometimes slip under the radar, particularly those not
currently accessing existing support and services.
Lynne Misner, our CEO and Founder, commented, “Our gift bags
are a catalyst in creating connections. The legacy of this partnership
extends far beyond the initial delivery of a gift bag and will have a
lasting impact across communities”.