Monday Club 11th February and 25th February

There is a lot going on in Newton Stewart every other Monday!  Our new group is going from strength to strength and we are delighted at the response from our local communities.  More people have come along to the Monday Club over the last two sessions, and word is spreading fast through word of mouth.

On 11 February Liz introduced some of the principles around Tai Chi, and shared a laugh with the group when she told us that when she had invited a neighbour to attend a class, the response was, “Tai Chi?  I’m happy with where my furniture is in the hoose, thanks very much!”

No such misconceptions here!  A large group of members enjoyed learning the relaxation movements, while other folk chatted over tea and coffee, and it is clear that companionship is an important aspect of the Monday Club.

We had a further taster session on 25 February, where the theme was healthy eating/love food, hate waste.  Our wonderful ‘gourmet chefs’, Dave and Luke, treated the group to a practical demonstration of how to whip up a tasty, nutritious, meal with leftovers, and everyone enjoyed sampling the results:  thumbs up all round!  Thirty people came along that day, and some brought along their own ideas for economic or healthy meals. 

Thanks again to the Golf Club for providing the premises, and for the delicious soup provided afterward by Allison (only £2 for soup and a roll).

The Monday Club will continue to meet every other week, and the members are currently planning a programme of events, all of which are free to carers, people living with a long term condition and anyone aged over 50.  Join us when we meet again on 11 March for exercise to music and an introduction to an Access Art project.

Princess Royal Trust for Carers and Access Art

We also ran a taster session in February in partnership with Princess Royal Trust for Carers and Access Art.   This was a fantastic night and produced enough quality art from the group of young carers to put on an exhibition there and then!

Further information about projects with both Access Art and the Princess Royal Trust for Carers will be posted here soon.

There are other self management activities already in place apart from the Monday Club, with further activities under development.

“Laptop Heaven” and “Jills in the Community”

Dave and Luke run Laptop Heaven on a Tuesday afternoon from the Riverside Centre, but you don’t have to be a member to attend. The idea is that members bring their computer issues to the group and we attempt to solve them.  

‘Jills in the Community’ uses the basic DIY skills that have been learned in the workshop and transfers them into practical help by supporting people and assisting them with their decorating projects in their own homes. 

We also offer information and advice that can help you to live life on your terms.  Contact us for further information or a chat. We can support you in making informed decisions about improving your health and well being, and getting involved in your community.

Healthy Eating Creetown Youth Club

A great evening was held at Creetown on Thursday with all the young people involved in preparing and creating Chicken Fajitas. This was thoroughly enjoyed by all. Well done to all the young people for their efforts that evening. It was an absolute pleasure to assist them.

Prep and Cooking by the Young People of Creetown

For the recipe, look below in prior post.

Recipe for Chicken Fajita served with a Green Salad

Fajita Ingredients:

Marinated Chicken Breast Strips, Red Peppers, Onions,

Green Beans, Tomatoes, Tortilla Wraps, Chilli Powder, Cumin

and Creme Fraiche.

Green Salad Ingredients:

Lettuce, Green Pepper, Celery, Spring Onions, Cucumber.

Method

• Cut the chicken into thin strips.
• Cut the peppers, onions and beans into similar strips.
• Cut the Tomatoes into chunks.
• Heat some oil in the pan and cook the chicken for 3-4 minutes. 
• Remove from the pan, keep to the side.
• Cook the vegetables and tomatoes, for 2-3 minutes then return the chicken to the pan.
• Add ½ tsp cumin and more chilli if desired. Reduce heat and cook for 5-10 minutes.
• Whilst this is simmering, prepare the salad.
• Cut each wrap in half and spread with Creme Fraiche.
• Serve the cooked meat etc onto the wrap, roll up and eat with salad!

Love Food Hate Waste

The Monday club were treated to a presentation by Dave on “Love Food Hate Waste”

This included a quick “cook off” of Dave’s “Pasta con el Verdure del Frigo” ably assisted by Luke. A more detailed account of the session is available on the SMP blog by clicking here

The powerpoint presentation that BHC provided can be viewed by clicking here

Wii Dance and Wii Sports

Youth clubs from Sorbie and Garlieston have had the benefits of an evening of physical activity by taking part in Wii sessions in the past week. Both groups had a good time and most attempted some activity. All the young people enjoyed the Fruit Kebabs that were available for them.

Monday Club 25th of February

Next meeting 25^th February, “Love Food Hate Waste”. Members will sample a simple menu made from “What we have in the fridge” Looking forward to seeing everyone there.

Befriending Project Cooking Night

On Monday, the Befriending project were treated to Dave’s Pasta Primavera cooking session.

Dave’s Pasta Primavera Recipe

Ingredients

You can use any vegetables to make this simple quick Pasta dish.

½ Onion, slices of peppers,

Mushrooms,

Courgettes, garlic,

Mixed herbs,

Tomatoes,

Fresh Passata

75 grams of cooked pasta salt and pepper.

OPTIONAL: Cooked Chicken, Chorizo, ham etc (sliced thinly)

Method

Slice all the vegetables/meat.

Heat some oil in a wok/pan

Add vegetables and seasoning and stir fry for 4 or 5 minutes.

Add passata and any cooked meat and cook through.

Add the cooked pasta and warm through until well coated.

There were 8 young people and their befrienders. The group were given a demonstration in how to love food and hate waste as the recipe really should really be called;

 “Pasta and veg that we have in the fridge”

All were given information about using and storing vegetables and the value of cooking your own meals. The results were great and all enjoyed sampling the food that they had cooked.

 

“ Delicious, simple food- and , more than that, a great example of breaking down barriers to cooking. The young people had a good time and for some- whose diets are ridiculously limited- a chance to touch and taste and smell and explore.” 

 Fiona Jessiman

Volunteer Coordinator (Wigtownshire)

Dumfries and Galloway Befriending Project 

Forthcoming Events

BHC will be visiting youth groups in the next 2 weeks to deliver healthy activities including Wii fit and Wii dance. We will be at:

 Sorbie Youth Club

Thursday 21^st February

6.30pm – 8.30pm

Garlieston Youth Club

Monday 25^th February

6.00pm – 8.00pm.

Other youth groups in the area are being visited during March. We will advertise them nearer the time.

The BHC team are also involved in “Reward Time” for the children at Penninghame School. This will start on Friday, 1^st March for 4 weeks.

Keep viewing the blog for the feedback on these activities.

Monday Club Taster Tai Chi Session

On Monday, the club continued their taster sessions in gentle exercise with  Tai Chi, led by Liz McLean. 18 members took part and all appeared to gain benefit from this session.

Next meeting 25^th February, “Love Food Hate Waste”. Members will sample a simple menu made from “What we have in the fridge” Looking forward to seeing everyone there.

Thanks to all viewers!!

Thanks to your views, we have passed the 2000 mark this week!!

We, at BHC Machars, are really pleased and delighted that the blog has been so successful.

I will continue to develop this blog and hope to assist in the development of other BHC blog pages in the near future.

Luke “The Blogmeister” 

Jills in the Community

As part of the self management program, the Jills have now finished their second project, decorating a hall and bedroom for an individual in Community.

 Karina said the following:

“This is a great service for a person who cannot decorate for themselves. To me it was a Godsend.”

The Jills are now looking for a new challenge, so, if you know of anyone who needs the help to get started, please contact the office.