'Making a difference': CBN kindness project kicks off

Community Broker Network (CBN) has started a kindness campaign in partnership with Kindsum, a peer-to-peer platform connecting people who need help with those who can provide it.

As part of the kindness project, a CBN team in SA last month went to the home of Clinton Ulsrrup where they worked to put in place measures to help him navigate his outdoor space and tend to his garden with greater ease.

Mr Ulsrrup, who suffered a stroke in 2014, leaving him without the use of one arm and restricted body movement, was selected as CBN’s Kindness recipient in July last year from a list of nominations sent in by the broker’s network.

“While we experienced a few roadblocks with covid and some challenges around the recipient’s personal timeline, we were delighted to finally come together and carry out this act of kindness for [him] in April 2022,” CBN said.

“At CBN, our network will always be stronger together, and core to this is supporting each other through good times and bad.”

CBN says the partnership with Kindsum aims to “make a difference to the life of someone in our community”.

“We’ve seen over the years that the most meaningful and telling acts of kindness don’t require financial aid and in fact are often more impactful when a community comes together with care, time and energy,” CBN said.

The CBN team spoke with Mr Ulsrrup about additions he would like in his home and one of these was a concrete path to help him manoeuvre his wheelchair around the garden without becoming stuck in the mud.

Executive Manager Broking Operations Wendy Foweraker and her husband identified all the areas where Mr Ulsrrup needed help, and their whole family also came along to help on the day.

CEO Richard Crawford had had gardening and refreshment duties, Regional Business Partner Nicky Dunkin was all hands on deck cleaning Mr Ulsrrup’s BBQ to make it useable again.

Broker Development Adviser Elaine Slater and her husband Colin helped create a workable outdoor veranda with weather protection as well as mounted Mr Ulsrrup’s racing bike on the wall.