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Newsletter August/September 2014
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Hello <<First Name>>,
This is a newsletter packed full of opportunities! We're looking for volunteers, for artwork, for people who want to support us by toasting their toes, for views and opinions and we're offering amazing free training to help improve the lives of our carers. There's so much going on, but you can keep up to date by keeping a regular check on our web news and facebook page!
Rachael
Feedback to admin@fdamh.org.uk
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Fabulous Fundraiser
Congratulations to the Arts and Media Group, with a special mention for the lead organiser, Jenny! Their fundraiser in August at the British Legion, Grangemouth, raised a spectacular £516. Organising events can be a difficult business, with many ups and downs, so a big thumbs up from us for a magnificent effort - it has to be said Jenny, we're impressed with the amazing prizes you managed to get donated - gift of the gab? Definitely!
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Pow-er and Mental Health
Artlink want your exhibits for October's Scottish Mental Health Arts and Film Festival and Mental Health Awareness Week!
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To find out more about preparing and submitting your exhibit you can contact Artlink Central using the details in the advert above or speak to Julie at FDAMH.
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We're still looking for people interested in taking part - please take a look here: http://www.fdamh.org.uk/22-for-fdamh/ or speak to Stuart McCallum at FDAMH.
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Many thanks go to Bank of Scotland staff who have been arranging volunteering visits to FDAMH as part of the organisation's Make a Difference campaign. Our first volunteer spent a day of hard work in the garden with Charlie and very good it all looks too!
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Mental Welfare Commission Report
The MWC recently released a report highlighting worrying ignorance and misapplication of the use of 'Specified Persons' powers within psychiatric units. You can find out more here.
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Staffing Update
Many thanks to a funding award from the Henry Smith Charity, FDAMH now has a Volunteer Development Worker on board to help recruit, train and support the large number of volunteers on whom our work is so dependent. Morag Fullard, whom many of you will know already, is moving on from the admin team to take on the role and she is relishing getting started fully on the project, having already been supporting our training developments. We hope that all of our volunteers will find this a really beneficial addition to our volunteer support and engagement as the project develops.
Morag's move has resulted in further office shuffles - we are delighted that Jane Boyd, who has been providing evening reception and administration support, will be extending her hours to join the admin team part-time during the day. To make up Morag's hours, we are also very pleased to welcome our first ever dedicated receptionist - Heather Adamson. Heather will be with us part time through the busiest parts of the day to help ensure the smooth running of reception! Please do say hello to Heather and introduce yourself when you come in so she can get to know you!
Recently Hilary McCallum has joined us two days per week taking on the new role of Finance Administrator, Hilary is a welcome addition to the team bringing a new set of specialist skills into the office! We also extend a warm welcome to Diane Stewart, who has joined us to coordinate and evaluate the Building Resilience partnership project (partners being Falkirk Council, FDAMH, Citizens Advice Bureaux and the DWP). Finally we're glad to announce that Robbie Hutcheon has joined Natalie Bradley, both well known faces at FDAMH, in bolstering support for our befriending projects as Befriending Support Workers.
Phew!
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Pictured from top, reading right: Heather Adamson (Reception), Jane Boyd (Administration), Morag Fullard (Volunteer Development), Hilary McCallum (Finance), and Diane Stewart (Building Resilience Project)
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Our first batch of introductory mental health awareness training has been very well received. We're also very pleased with the reaction of students to our new Mindfulness Course, with those involved really embracing the programme. It's not long before the very first run of our Certificate in Counselling Skills course commences in September, which is a hugely exciting development. If you want to keep abreast of new training opportunities keep tuned to our newsletters, website and facebook page....new course dates will be announced soon!
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Service User and Carer Involvement
Bursting with New Activity
Our new Service User and Carer Involvement Co-ordinator, Linda McGonigle, wants to make sure YOUR views on mental health services help to shape future and existing services. No one is better placed to have a view on the services than the people receiving them, their families and friends."Now there are not enough hours in the day for me!!" is Linda's cry in the face of an exciting burst of growth in involvement since she has come in to post. Not only has Linda been working on developing her networks, re-invigorating local forums and busily consulting and involving people associated with FDAMH; but she has also been spearheading a whole host of engagement opportunities that have seen people supported to ask questions at a high profile hustings event in Glasgow, involved in interviews for social work posts and contributing to a review of local Community Mental Health services, to name only a few! You can read more here.
You can be involved at any level - contact Linda McGonigle at FDAMH or keep an eye on our website and facebook page to keep abreast of the latest developments!
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Pictured: Scottish Association for Mental Health's referendum hustings event in Glasgow. More pictures from the day available on Facebook (look out for Susan and Jackie!).
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See Me Consults
Linda was delighted by the number of people from FDAMH who attended the recent See Me event in Stirling.
See me kicked off with an update on the re-founded programme and then participants had the opportunity to take part in community involvement workshops. People from local areas then got together to look at their priorities for tackling stigma. The event raised awareness of the see me programme and the grants that will be available to help tackle stigma. If anyone has ideas for projects to tackle stigma in Falkirk please get in touch with Linda. More on this story here.
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A Call for Over 50s to Get More Involved in Local Communities!
The Forum For The Over 50s is an independent organisation that gives people a collective voice about a whole range of community matters. It is a place where groups and individuals can raise local issues and increase the impact that older people have. Offering a great opportunity to socialise and make new like-minded friends, the hub will also help members share information and resources! Local meetings to stimulate new interest are taking place in August and September. Click here for more.
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STOP PRESS...
Does Linda sleep??? Linda will be giving a brief presentation on her role at the Public Partnership Forum (PPF) Coordinating Group in September and she's just let us know that service users and carers have been invited to the Scottish Patient Safety Programme event 'Mental Health Regional Learning Session 2' in Edinburgh on 10th September. Pop here for more.
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Branching Out Again
The Branching Out programme attended by some of our Drop-In members has been such a huge success that a brand new course will be starting in September just for FDAMH's service users! The course provides woodland activities and crafts in the grounds of Forth Valley Royal, and those who participated recently have received John Muir awards for their efforts. The buzz from students returning from the course was very evident - they were delighted to find themselves out in the woods and thoroughly enjoyed taking part in activities and learning skills that they never imagined themselves doing! Go here to read more.
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Summer Day Out
Drop-In popped out again to Burntisland after a great day there last summer! Fortunately a big coach was available this time so lots of people had the opportunity for a fun day out with friends! And we can confirm that we can also offer limited spaces for a trip to Blair Drummond Safari Park, leaving at 10am on Friday 29th August 2014. Please speak to Robert or Susan in Drop-In.
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Back on the Stage
This summer FDAMH’s Arts and Media Group were invited to participate in Falkirk’s newest festival – For Falkirk’s Sake. The Festival was an artist-led showcase of film makers, writers and artists from around Falkirk and the Media Group took part by performing and exhibiting in Behind The Wall’s Alehouse. For more click here.
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Bereaved by Suicide Group
The Group welcomes everyone who has experienced the loss through suicide of a person close to them – family, partner or friend. It is a self-help group which, together with group facilitators and counsellors offers mutual support and understanding. <Click for more>
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FREE Mindfulness Training for our Carers
With our first full Mindfulness Course underway and getting very positive feedback, we are delighted to be able to offer a free 8-Week Mindfulness Course exclusively for carers. Taking courses like this offers carers tools and techniques to relieve emotional distress. This is an excellent opportunity to attend mindfulness training, which is in very high demand. Follow this link for more. Please get in touch with Neil or Fay as soon as possible to book your place.
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NHS Scotland Online Survey
This survey asks questions revolving around how mental health services have changed over the last 10 years in your area. This survey will only take a few moments of your time and is completely anonymous. NHS Scotland are conducting the survey to ensure that you have the opportunity to influence the care or support you receive. Their aim is that they should always take account of the things that matter most to you, including your family or friends. If you have a specific suggestion that you think will help NHS Scotland to improve please feel free to contact then at hcis.personcentredscot@nhs.net
The survey can be found at www.care-experiences.com. You will need the code: AAMH02 to start the questionnaire.
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BBQ Season
A warm thank you to carers and bereaved-by-suicide group members who came along to their respective summer BBQ socials this year. Neil was once again delighted that so many of you could make it along and both of the evenings were lovely relaxed affairs, giving everyone the chance to take some time out to catch up with friends.
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Living with Mental Health Problems
A free course for relatives, partners and friends.
Running for 2 hours a week over 7 weeks, this course will aim to give you:
- Information about mental health
- Ways of dealing with stress and feelings of anger
- Ideas for coping with change
- Ways of supporting and communicating with your friend or relative
- An opportunity to discuss and share ideas with others
When? The next course is planned for Autumn
Where? FDAMH, Victoria Centre
If you would like to register for a place or find out more, please phone the Carers Project on 01324 671608 (reception on 671600) or email: neil.sowerby@fdamh.org.uk
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Leave this date free in your diary!
FDAMH's Annual General Meeting will take place on the evening of 24th September 2014. Venue to be confirmed. Full details will be announced soon!
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