BHC and ACCESS Art (Focus on people over 50, people with a long term condition aged 50 and over and those caring for someone aged 50 or over)

BHC (Dumfries and Lower Nithsdale/Upper Nithsdale) in partnership with Access Art will be working together on a Creative Arts programme to explore issues that affect the over 50s particularly those with a long term condition and carers of any age who look after someone over the age of 50.

This project will give individuals the opportunity to express themselves through a broad range of art media and will culminate in an exhibition.   

BHC encourages people to get involved and to be aware that NO previous art experience is necessary – Get in touch with Helen Mackintosh for a chat if you have any further questions or are interested.

Up and Coming Events

Please Look below to see whats coming up in upcoming weeks

Pain Management course delivered in Partnership with Arthritis Care

The Pain Self-Management course is a series of 6 modules. Each module can be presented as a single stand-alone session or a combination of modules can be chosen or all 6 modules as a complete course.

The modules are:-

a) Introducing Pain Self-Management - this module is used to help the Trainer identify the needs of the group and then be able to tailor the course to meet those needs.

b) Effective Communication
c) Understanding Pain and Other Symptoms
d) Activity and Exercise
e) Finance Welfare and Employment
f) Managing Change

Modules are run on a person centered approach and are interactive and interpersonal therefore the size of the group is important. A minimum of eight people and a maximum of 12 people would be required.

The time commitment will depend on the needs of the group and how many of the modules are deemed necessary but as a guide each module can be run in a morning or over an entire day and usually take place one session a week

Please do not hesitate to contact any member of BHC staff with any questions or if you are interested in the course.

Creative Reflections

A set of workshops which aim to increase everyday mindful awareness through creative use of art materials. These workshops offer participants the opportunity to connect with who they are ‘right now’ and how they see themselves in terms of their community.  By the end of the workshops people will have explored how they can connect within their community and how they can use it as a resource in helping to manage their long term health conditions.  

The term “art” is used in its widest meaning, this could include creative writing, mixed media, video, photography etc the approach is person centred which means that it is the person who decides how best to express themselves, whilst having full support of the facilitator.  The first few weeks of the workshops are about introducing art materials and having the opportunity to experiment with them until the person finds what works best for them.  Therefore there is no need to have any artistic experience as this is about creative freedom of personal exploration. 

Key features:  Development of compassionate understanding, mindfulness in everyday action and artistic exploration.

Support for ICT Welfare Reform Programme (Focus on people over 50, people with a long term condition aged 50 and over and those caring for someone aged 50 or over)

BHC and CLD have been listening to the expressed need and concerns of community members and groups and recognising that the New Welfare Reform Bill could have a detrimental effect across our communities and in particular for those with long term conditions, older people and carers.

Building Healthy Communities (BHC) & Nithsdale Community Learning and Development (CLD) will build on the assets of local people by providing training/learning to 12 volunteers who between them will have committed to delivering 6 x 8 week ICT Welfare Reform programmes across Nithsdale.

Volunteers will “team teach in pairs” which will create a grouping of 6 paired volunteers; they will be assisting in the recruitment from their own peer/community groupings to promote and encourage participation.

BHC & CLD staff working with the initial cohort of volunteers will recruit 200 - 220 older people, carers and people living with a long term conditions over the period of 1 year to participate within the ICT Welfare Reform programmes – which will be delivered by the paired volunteers (who in turn will be supervised and supported by a tutor appointed by CLD via their Adult Learning service). The pairs can run the programmes concurrently across Nithsdale to respond to the needs as identified. This will ensure that immediate needs can be responded to as quickly as possible.

To provide adequate resources to the priority group – e.g. memory sticks which will store home study packs/course material etc.

To provide a high standard of support to volunteers throughout a 1 year programme - BHC SMP worker will have regular involvement and will register the priority group via the BHC monitoring systems; this will be reflected through the CLD monitoring systems also.

Reiki

An energy healing system based on ancient Tibetan knowledge.  ‘Universal Life Energy’ is channeled by gently placing hands for a few minutes in specific positions on the body.

Reiki can be applied to anybody, or any condition, to enhance a treatment programme and to help relieve pain.  It produces feelings of peace and relaxation and helps relieve conditions such as stress, depression, anxiety and insomnia

Indian Head Massage

A simple, safe, highly beneficial therapy and has been popular throughout the Indian sub-continent for over a thousand years.

The head, neck and shoulders, where tension is most likely to accumulate, are gently, firmly and rhythmically massaged.  By stimulating scalp circulation the scalp is relaxed and subcutaneous muscles are toned thus relieving eye strain, headaches and improving concentration.  It also eliminates muscle tension and restores joint movement by stretching and mobilizing the tissues of the neck and shoulders.

BHC DLN – Annual Action Planning Event

A very busy morning Tuesday the 16^th of July where BHC staff and volunteers shared with partners a review/evaluation of BHC work for the period April 2012 – March 2013 and explored opportunities and proposals for new activity/initiatives.

The evaluation completed at the end of the event gave us positive feedback along with some new ideas and suggestions. Staff are now busy transferring the information from the day into formalised LEAP action plans which will be distributed to partners on completion.