Building Healthy Communities in Dumfries & Lower
Nithsdale recently participated in the Inspection of Community Learning and
Development activity in the area surrounding Dumfries Academy. Feedback from the Inspection team was
extremely positive on how well we as partners are improving learning,
increasing life chances, promoting and securing wellbeing for individuals and
communities.
Saturday, 19 October 2013
Tai Chi for Health and Wellbeing
The Tai Chi groups are still very active and
working towards supporting individual wellbeing and building strong
networks. The credit for the success of
these groups is due to the commitment and skills of volunteers and we are
currently working through the waiting list.
The Tai Chi for Health Initiative is very
popular and we just seem to get through the waiting list before we have another
one to work through. This has identified
the need to build on our assets and resources so we have formed a Tai Chi
Working Group whose role will be to begin to explore sustainability and
training and learning opportunities.
BHC DLN – Area Partnership update
We would like acknowledge the recent departure Maureen Farrell
and to share that we are very grateful for Maureen’s contribution and her support,
commitment, passion, experience, skills and knowledge that she has shared with
BHC over the last few years .Maureen is held in high regard and we fondly wish
her well in her continued commitment and endeavours to support the communities
of Dumfries and Galloway.
Mr Paul McGregor has now taken up the position of Area
Partnership Chair and is currently busying himself meeting and greeting
potential new Area Partnership members. There are plans to induct potential new
Area Partnership members over the month of November 2013 with the first
business meeting being held the end of January 2014.
We have a limited number of places left for any interested
members of the community who would be interested in joining the Area
Partnership and supporting the continued work of BHC.
Activity News!!!
Welcome to
the first offering from “Inkspirations”,
the Creative Writing Group based
at the North West
We are a group of
people who meet together simply for the pleasure of writing, whether in short
stories, poetry or more factual writing, whatever we want to write, as a way of
expressing our feelings about our lives and the world around us. Sometimes we share our work with each other,
sometimes it’s too private to share but we all agree that just writing “stuff”
down can help you sort your head out!
And we have a lot of fun.
So please read this
month’s piece which was the result of having to write a flash fiction based on
“Annoyances”
Quiet
Please!
The man made yet
another call on his mobile phone and the “quiet carriage” travellers sighed and
raised their eyebrows again.
As he finished his
call the little old lady
Sitting opposite
Smiled sweetly, then
calmly leaned forward
Took it from him and
dropped it
In his coffee
Anne Heads
“Annoyances”
The police sergeant clicked his ballpoint pen intermittently. Click;
click… click-click, like Chinese water torture.
“So tell me” enquired the inspector, “what provoked this vicious attack
on your fellow student?” I revelled in
the sergeant’s sharp intake of breath as I hissed, “he wouldn’t stop clicking
his b****y pen”.
Juanita McNeish
If you would like to
have a go, we’d love to meet you. Go on,
it’s easier than you’d think and everybody’s got a story in them somewhere!!!
BHC THURSDAY CRAFT GROUP
The Fairy Tale Continues....
And will keep going on, as more and more new people from the
local community find out about Building Healthy Communities and the Thursday
Craft Group.
Imagine this - here I
am, sitting at home for months and months, nothing to do, no confidence to go out,
too shy and scared, scared of people and the outside. Then by magic a leaflet came through the
door. Come along it said, come join in
at the North West Resource Centre, meet new friends, and get new skills –
“Really?” I thought.
After several panic attacks,
I picked up the courage and went along.
I walked into the “lions’ den”, that’s what it felt like to me, all of
these women sitting round a table. I
took a deep breath and entered the room of the Thursday craft group, shaking
with nerves. “Hello” they said, they
spoke to me - after all, I thought I
was different, quietly I said “hello” back.
“Hello” another voice said “I’m Krys nice to meet you”, and introduced
me to the rest of the group. Really,
were they speaking to me? Was I not weird and different? No I was not and the group treated me like a
normal person - I was shocked to say the least.
“We are doing tea bag
folding today, come and join in.” Tea
bag folding I thought, I imagined we would be folding with Tetley or Brooke
Bond teabags, I did not have a clue and thought they were weird. It was paper folding, what a fool I
thought. I was shown how to make a
lovely flower. These ladies talked me
through everything; they treated me like one of their own. I went home so excited that I had made
something. I showed everyone what I had
made and was so excited about going back.
As time went on I no longer felt like Cinderella in the never, never
land. My confidence grew, my shyness
slowly went away.
Each week they showed
me something different to make, these woman were sharing their skills with me.
They treated me like a normal
human being – because I now realise, I am normal. My confidence is growing from week to
week. All these woman are just like I
am. I have even started, making friends.
Thank you BHC for
doing all this for me and everyone else who attends. To all the people who have not found you yet
come along and start to enjoy life. So
while BHC and these wonderful people continue to help others, like myself, this
fairy tale will be never ending. The
happiness will continue on to help more and more people with problems, and help
them better themselves as it has done to many before them.
…..to
be continued ...................
Creative Reflections – Currently Active - contact if you are interested in a future course.
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.
Hi all, this is Stacie Scott from Creative Reflections. This
initiative is about building confidence and a sense of connectedness through
creative arts. The approach involves
both therapeutic & mindfulness techniques.
Each workshop also involves relaxation exercises and so far we have been
testing out which relaxations suit the group best.
Today's workshop was telling a story through mixed media and
some very honest & creative pieces were born. One exercise was creating an altered book
where the individual takes an old or unused book and changes how it looks
either through changing its shape, painting on its pages or building up mixed
media images over each page so that the original story is gone or looks
completely different.
People in the group have reported that they are having fun
and learning new ways of using art which helps with their confidence.
This initiative did not need participants to have any
previous artistic experience as it is mainly about discovering personal self
expression so previous workshops have been about building up experience of
artistic approaches and testing out different methods like drawing, using
watercolour/ acrylic/ oil paint, developing different mixed media methods and
using clay. Both clay and drawing are reported to be the most beneficial so far
and the paint workshop could have carried on as people were lost in the moment
really enjoying bringing their art alive!
The group look forward to updating through the blog again
soon, perhaps one of the individuals themselves can share their experience with
you next time.
Stacie Scott
CreativeReflections
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.
Coming Soon – Reiki
is 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
Support for ICT Welfare Reform Programme – Ongoing and under development (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.
Friday, 18 October 2013
Pain Management course delivered in Partnership with Arthritis Care- Current Course closed please contact us if you would be interested in a future course.
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
Saturday, 27 July 2013
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.
Friday, 26 July 2013
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.
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.
Tuesday, 16 July 2013
BHC DLN – Annual Action Planning Event
A very busy morning
Tuesday the 16th 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.
Saturday, 29 June 2013
Veterans Event
BHC was delighted to be asked to attend the
recent veteran’s event where we had the opportunity to promote our
activities/initiatives and volunteering opportunities. The event was very much
an Intergenerational celebration:-
Friday, 28 June 2013
MSP Visit
BHC Volunteers
recently had the opportunity to share the activities that they either lead or
support Dr Aileen McLeod (MSP).
The event was very
much a showcase of volunteer’s creativity, skills and training and learning in
practice.
Sunday, 9 June 2013
Tai Chi for Health and Wellbeing Celebration at Nithsdale Community Achievement award (Nithsdale- Health & Wellbeing Category)
The Tai Chi for Health, one of Building Healthy Communities initiatives,
has won a community achievement award at the Nithsdale Community Achievements
Awards evening on
The initiative, which began in
North West Resource Centre as a basic Tai Chi for Health initiative, has now
expanded to give more local people the opportunity to participate within
accredited Tai Chi instruction and exercise. The initial focus was to enable
people with Long term conditions to feel more confident about taking control of
their own health issues and increase their understanding of what is required to
make any necessary changes to their lifestyle. This in turn was to increase
wellbeing and combat isolation. However as the programme evolved a
social/community Tai Chi network has been formed, a self help aspect approach
has become established and some participants have stepped up to become trained
Tai Chi Volunteers thus ‘building in’ a lasting legacy.
The Tai Chi
Volunteers were nominated for this award by service users (participants) and
all 14 volunteers received well deserved recognition by winning the Nithsdale
Community Achievement Award for Nithsdale Health and Wellbeing
The award was given
in the light of the hard work carried out by the volunteers and BHC staff in
driving forward this innovative ‘asset building’ programme which now all
14 trained volunteers/ tutors now have
accreditation though formal training funded by BHC / PYF . They are now in a
position to cascade the approach to other areas of Nithsdale and beyond. The
volunteers continue their personal development by adding onto their
qualifications new Tai Chi training pathways such as – First Aid and Tai Chi
for Diabetes/Arthritis level 1 and 2 delivered via the internationally
acclaimed Paul Lam Institute
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