A charitable project is asking people to take part in a scheme that helps raise awareness of hidden disabilities.

Compassionate Isle of Man is a community initiative within Hospice IoM, which recognises the importance of families, friends, neighbours and communities working alongside statutory services to support residents of the island.

Hidden disabilities don’t have any physical signs and may not be immediately obvious.

This can include people with visual or hearing impairments, mental health, and learning difficulties.

They can also affect people with chronic medical conditions including asthma, COPD, diabetes and ME, diseases which can significantly impact day-to-day life.

The group focuses on building resilience, promoting well-being, connecting with people and communities, being kind to people and enhancing quality of life.

Compassionate IoM said: ’The Sunflower lanyard (and card if carried) discreetly indicates the wearer has a hidden disability and may need help.

’Children can also suffer from the same disabilities. By increasing awareness, shops, organisations, and the general public can act upon the visual cue to provide the Sunflower wearer with additional help or assistance, supporting people who would not ordinarily ask for help.’

The group said that the challenge of living with a hidden disability is not readily noticeable, and as such it can make life more demanding for people.

They continued: ’People are affected in different ways, pain, shortness of breath, not being able to stand for long periods of time, an inability to retain and process information and not being able to lip read making life more challenging.’

Douglas Rotary Club has donated lanyards to the scheme,which Compassionate IoM is to make available to charities and organisations.

Compassionate IoM lead Wendy Smith said: ’I think Covid has really brought out the best in people on the island during a time of crisis. But it’s also highlighted the fact that people within the community need support who might not ask outright.

’I hope that communities will continue this level of support for those with hidden disabilities beyond the pandemic and going forward, to be patient and more understanding.’

Compassionate IoM consists of representatives across IoM Government, the third sector and local businesses. Organisations represented include the police, Age Concern, Manx Blind Welfare, the Isle of Man Deaf Society, Disability Networks, PDMS, Manx Utilities, the Isle of Man Probation Service: Community Service, banks, shops and the family library among others.

For more information about the Sunflower scheme, visit the Hospice IoM website or email [email protected].

Resources can also be found on YouTube and their Facebook page.