Heartstart Creetown Youth Group

More Lifesavers in Creetown

Monday saw the Creetown Youth Group invite the team from Heartstart to run an Emergency Life Support training session for them.  Team members David Hirst, Anne Hirst and Margaret McAllister, together with a member of the Wigtownshire Health and Wellbeing team, Samantha O’Malley, presented the 2 hour hands on course to 25 participants covering recognition of a Heart Attack, how to deal with it (including the use of a defibrillator) how to deal with someone who is unconscious, is choking or has severe bleeding.

Having mastered the simple techniques which save lives, the Youth Group members were presented with Certificates. This was the third course in Creetown in recent weeks, following the siting of their first defibrillator at the Waverley Hall and means there are now 65 people in the village trained in its use. Creetown Initiative are arranging further courses after Christmas and there are plans by the Creetown Gala Committee to install another defibrillator in the near future. These will vastly improve survival rates following a Heart Attack from less than 10% to as much as 50%.

Courses in other areas of Dumfries & Galloway can be arranged through David Hirst on 01988 700637 or email davidhirsthome@gmail.com. Instructors are volunteers so the only costs are for travel expenses and in some cases, such as this one, can be covered by the NHS.

 

Launch of the Machars Cancer Drop-In

Today, the Machars Cancer Drop-In was officially launched at the Newton Stewart Health Centre by NHS Board Member Penny Halliday.

The Drop-In is open every Thursday from 10am to 1pm at the Newton Stewart Health Centre.

Please come along to our free service and meet one of the trained volunteers who can provide you with: -

• A listening ear

• Cancer information

• Sign-posting to other services

• Friendly, confidential and relaxed place to talk

• Tea or coffee.

Monday Club

Today at the Monday Club our guest speaker was Joan Rhind, D & G Co-ordinator for the Project Linus UK. Joan brought us all different sizes and types of blankets for children of all ages. The blankets go to hospitals,Women’s Aid and Social Work.

If you would like to find out more information please click on the link https://m.facebook.com/ProjectLinusUK/

At our next Monday Club session, on 18th November, we will be having  one of our popular Healthy Cooking Workshop with Dave Groves, Community Healthy Support Worker within the Wigtownshire Health & Wellbeing Team, who helps deliver the Building Healthy Communities Programme with the Machars and Newton Stewart Area.

African Drumming / Rhythm Circles

What a great turnout yesterday at the fortnightly meeting of the African Drumming / Rhythm Circles initiative delivered by a volunteer for Building Healthy Communities.

14 members joined in from a diverse range of backgrounds and abilities. The group is led by Ann, who uses her own drums and percussion instruments to create an authentic sound. It is so good to see people enjoying themselves and creating music!

The group is open to all the community and takes place at the Newton Stewart Centre, opposite the Library, from 10.30am - 11.30am.

The next session is on 13th November 2019.

There are 2 further initiatives also running on Wednesdays at the Centre: "Login and Connect" - bring your phone/laptop/tablet and let people help you how to overcome difficulties that you may be having. This runs weekly from 10.30am - 12.30pm and " Dancercise" runs on alternate Wednesdays from 10.30am - 11.30am - the members take themselves through a series of gentle dance routines for all abilities. Next date for Dancercise is 6th November 2019.

For any further info on these or any other activities offered by Building Healthy Communities, please phone 01671 404267

Whithorn Drop-in

Good to catch up with some of the Building Healthy Communities volunteers yesterday.

It was lovely to hear about the activities they are involved in as well as plan other community projects coming up very soon like the Drumming Group and a 14 week Self Management course which will be run by the Community Link workers, Michelle McAuley and Susan Sloan, who are part of the Wigtownshire Health & Wellbeing Team.
Watch out in future posts for more details.

The Whithorn Drop-in is held every Monday morning from 9.30 to 12.30pm at the South Machars Community Centre. Anyone is welcome to attend and chat, to the staff and volunteers about the Building Healthy Community Programme.  Advice, information and/or support like completing forms, modern technology, being referred to a local service, etc..... are also available as well as a free cup of tea or coffee.

Machars Cancer Drop-In

WANTED - African Drums/Percussion

Following a successful taster session of African Drumming and Rhythm Circle at the South Machars Community Centre last week, the Machars Area Partnership for Building Healthy Communities are hoping to set up a new weekly group in the near future.

To enable this, we are asking anyone who may have African drums or percussion instruments hidden away in their lofts, cupboards, garages etc if they would consider donating or loaning them to this exciting new initiative to enable the group to start whilst the partnership look for specific funding for new equipment.

Please spread this far and wide amongst your friends and networks and if you can assist your community with a donation of an instrument, please contact: Nathalie Guillaume on 01671404267 or 07825111684, nguillaume@nhs.net

Jills in the Community - SMCC

For a couple of sessions, the Jills have been replacing missing and damaged tiles at the South Machars Community Centre in Whithorn.

For some members, this was their first experience of tiling!

The results show a far more appealing area in both the ladies and disabled toilet facilities at the centre.

Anyone interested in Joining the Jills of all trades, please contact the BHC office on 01671 404267

Come and join the Jills!

The Jills of all Trades are a group of volunteers who continue to improve their DIY Skills when they attend the Training Workshop, based in Whithorn. The Initiative, which is run by Building Healthy Communities, has expanded over the years and the Jills have been offering their services to individuals and groups in the local community.

At present, they are helping the South Machars Community Centre with various little DIY jobs like painting a cupboard, fixing or putting up shelves, etc...They have also made and donated a couple of planters to the Centre.

Next Tuesday, 17^th September 2019, they are planning to do some tiling.

If you are interested, over the next few weeks, in lending a hand or learning a new skill, why not come along and join the Jills at the South Machars Community Centre from 10am to 12pm.  You will also get a chance to meet the volunteers and ask any questions over a free cup of coffee/tea.   Anyone is welcome.

If you require any further information, please contact the centre on 01988 500364 or Building Healthy Communities on 01671 404267

Free African Drumming Sessions!

Monday Club 2nd September

On Monday 2nd September, the Monday Club members had invited Charlie Bennett, from Macular Society, to came along and talk about Age-Related Macular Degeneration. Charlie's talk was very interesting, informative and interactive.

 

 

At our next meeting on 16th September, we will have Karen Trott talking to us about Personalisation and Self Directed Support. For more information please contact Building Healthy Communities on 01671 404267

Monday Club Programme.

Volunteer with Food Train

Dancercise - Isle of Whithorn

The group continues to thrive with an average of 12 people attending each week. The dance routines improve on a consistent basis and new routines are sourced as and when necessary.

To watch a short video of the latest routines, click HERE (sideways at present)

Dancercise runs every Tuesday at St Ninian's Hall in the Isle of Whithorn from 10.30am - 11.30am.

For more information, please contact the office on 01671 404267

 

Jills in the Community - Planters

Today saw the completion of the planters for the South Machars Community Centre.

The young plants, although a little small, were planted in the workshop before being transported to their permanent home!!

 

 

 

 

The planters look perfect on the window sills of the centre and will become stunning later in the year.

Planters of various sizes are available from the Jills for a small donation. Please contact the office on 01671 404267 for more details.

Jills in the Community

As part of the community and with the re-opening of South Machars Community Centre, the Jills thought it would be a good idea to make a couple of planters to sit by the entrance of the centre to make it feel welcoming.

These simple planters were cut and made in a single session and will be filled next week. Another small but significant input into the community by the Jills of all Trades.

 For further information about joining or being assisted by the Jills, contact the office on



 01671 404267

Machars Area Partnership Officers

Last week, the officers of the Machars Area Partnership for Building Healthy Communities were hard at work preparing for an important meeting of all the Area Partnerships within BHC.

We thank them for all their hard work and dedication in assisting the local community to improve their Health and Wellbeing.

Whithorn Drop-In Change of Venue from 8th July.

Third Sector Dumfries and Galloway

Jills of All trades - Compost Bin

Out of a few scraps of wood left over from a member's project, it was decided to make a small compost bin for the garden.

There was insufficient wood to make a totally enclosed version, so a design was used to include stapling material on the inside to enhance the decomposition. During the first session, all wood was cut to length and strapped, shown by Maggie.

During the next session, The material was stapled on the inside, a sliding door for access to the bottom was created and a lid was formed from more off cuts of wood. Maggie will now stain the item when she has it placed in her garden.

A great way to recycle items that we would have once thrown away!!  Next session is to complete some planter boxes to give to the local community. For further information about the Jills, contact BHC on 01671 404267

Come along every Wednesday to Newton Stewart Centre from 10.30am-12.30pm.

Monday Club

On Monday 17th June, the Monday Club Members visited the Roundhouse in Whithorn, for our last outing until September, the members were given a guided tour of the Roundhouse.

 Our next meeting is on 2nd September where we will have Charlie Bennet who is coming along to talk about Macular Degeneration.