Keep Safe Scheme

What is the aim of the initiative?

The aim of the Keep Safe initiative is to ensure that disabled people can enjoy ordinary day to day life and activities free from the fear of abuse or intimidation.

What is Keep Safe and how does it work?

The Keep Safe initiative works with a network of businesses such as shops, libraries and cafes who have agreed to make their premises a ‘Keep Safe’ place for people to go if they feel frightened, distressed or are the victim of crime when out in the community.

Disabled and elderly people who wish to take part in the initiative will be issued with a contact card which will contain details of the persons name, any health concerns, any communication needs and helpful contact details for friends or family.

Businesses who agree to take part in the initiative will be issued with a Keep Safe Sticker to display in their premises window to let vulnerable people know that they provide a ‘Keep Safe’ place. If a person goes into the ‘Keep Safe’ place and shows their contact card to staff, the staff member will reassure the person and ring one of the numbers on the card and/or contact the police if a crime has been committed.

For further information, go to www.iammescotland.co.uk

Power of Attorney could be vital for your family!

A campaign has been launched across Dumfries and Galloway to encourage people to think about Power of Attorney.

Over the coming weeks, the Health and Social Care Partnership, via work within the Delayed Discharge Partnership, wants to raise awareness of preparation and making informed decisions.

Graham Abrines, Interim General Manager for Community Health and Social Care, says: "The message is quite simple. If you have family members, patients or even yourself, who haven't yet thought about how they would like to be supported if they lose the ability to make informed decisions for themselves then now is a good time to consider doing something about it.

"Power of Attorney (POA) allows people, whilst they still have full decision making capacity, to state how they want to be treated and who and it can be more than one person, should be making decisions on their behalf when they are no longer able to do so. Quite simply it takes away many of the dilemmas that families and on occasion clinicians find themselves in when deciding what or what not to do in supporting the person.

"There are some patients across our hospital settings, who with no POA  in place, require  an application by a family member or the local authority for a Guardianship
Order which is required to be heard in the Sheriff Court  to establish who should be making those informed decisions on their behalf.

"Take a moment; if that was you, or somebody you knew how does that make you feel? Particularly if you know there was an easier alternative where the person’s wishes were fully known?"

Many of the local solicitors across the region, who are fully supportive of this approach, will give a 10 per cent discount to anyone wanting to progress with a POA until the end of June.

To view the information leaflet please click here

Gentle Exercise to Music

The group, which runs every Wednesday afternoon from the Newton Stewart Activity Resource Centre (ARC), is aimed at people with limited mobility. 

Feedback from ARC Manager has been very positive, highlighting the health & wellbeing outcomes of their clients are being met every week, including confidence to take part in the activity and supporting their fall prevention outcomes:

“This group continues to be a much needed activity; Pam facilitates

the group and has built up very positive relationships with group members, both staff and users. 

The benefits of this group has enabled many to start moving again, maintain exercise, be involved and included in a social group and meet new friends. 

Improvement of Health and Wellbeing is an outcome for many individuals we support, the exercise group supports the service to meet personal outcomes on a weekly basis.

A great example of the benefit from this group: one lady who has a recorded number of falls and had a recent HIP replacement, has a falls prevention plan in place.  Gentle exercise is part of this; she has started strengthening her muscles again and has had no recorded falls.”

 

 

Login and Connect - Newton Stewart

11 people attended this group yesterday and help was given on a range of topics including Facebook privacy, downloading attachments on ipads, installing apps on tablets and general security advice.

All the group went away having had an interesting and informative session.

The group meet every Wednesday at the Newton Stewart Centre (The Hut) at 10.30 - 12.30. new members are always welcome!!

Monday Club

This week at the Monday Club the group had a visit from Eddie McGaw.

Eddie brought in some film recordings of the work he and volunteers do for a village in Africa. It was quite an emotional talk seeing how very little the villagers have and how so grateful they are to Eddie and the crew, simple things we take for granted make a massive impact on their lives.

The village is situated next to a dump which provides some resources that other folk discard, even licking cake deposits from old paper bags thrown away by a bakery.

Eddie showed the group just how unselfish they are, thinking of others before thinking of themselves - quite humbling! Eddie's next visit to Africa is October this year.  There is a group of 10 going to Africa and each and every one will use the flight allowance to the full taking very little for themselves.

This was a very thought provoking session!  There are so many things we just throw away or just have stashed in our cupboards never seeing the light of day, even a pencil for school with a rubber on top light up a child's face.

 Pam came during the second half on the morning once again to lift our spirits with her chair exercises and put a smile on our faces. 

At our next meeting on Monday 15th May we will be visited by Elinor Fenton from the Creedbridge Mill Pharmacy and Pam with gentle exercise.

Boccia and New Age Curling - Newton Stewart

Yesterday saw an incredibly competitive session at the Activity and Resource Centre in Newton Stewart as the 2 teams battled for supremacy.

The Blues thrashed the Reds, even though the red team put up a gallant effort. The games were played with great enthusiasm and enjoyment by all.

 

The red team will be up for revenge next week!!

Pets as Therapy - Activity Resource Centre, Newton Stewart

Last Wednesday was Ben and Alyson's first visit to the ARC in Newton Stewart and what a success it was.


All the people who were there, some stating that they were scared of dogs, had a hug, cuddle and stroke with Ben, who was on his best behaviour and brought smiles and laughter to everyone involved.

 

 

Huge thanks to Alyson for allowing Ben to be shared with the community. (click on photos to enlarge)

SQA Preparing to Volunteer - BHC and CLD Partnership Working

Last week was the final week for the participants on this course, run by BHC Staff in Partnership with CLD.


Of the 9 candidates who started the course, 6 have completed their portfolios and these are being assessed.


Since the start of the course, 2 people have gained part-time employment, 1 person has joined BHC as a volunteer and is actively involved in the "Login and Connect" Initiative and all 6 have reported an increase in their confidence levels.


If there is anyone out there who thinks they would benefit from such a course, then please contact Susan Brown, Community Learning Assistant on 01988 500364.

BHC Machars' newest volunteers: Ben & Alyson from "Pets As Therapy"

We are delighted to introduce you to Ben and Alyson, the newest addition to BHC Machars volunteers' team.

In June 2016, Ben and Alyson became registered as Pets As Therapy Visitors, having reached the high standards required.


Alyson worked for 33 years as a physiotherapist with disabled adults and children and has recently moved in the Machars to run a small farm.  However Alyson wishes to continue her volunteering work for Pets As Therapy and we are delighted to help her do so through BHC.
Ben is a four year old Border/Beardie cross.  He is a working dog and when he is not working the sheep, he loves swimming in the sea and chasing Frisbees.  He is very friendly and loves meeting people.


So far Ben and Alyson have visited the residents from Cornwall Park and will start their fortnightly visit to the members of the Activity Resource Centre in Newton Stewart on Wednesday 29th March 2017.




What is Pet As Therapy?
Pets As Therapy is a national charity founded in 1983 which enhances the health & wellbeing in the community through visits of trusted volunteers with their behaviourally assessed PAT Pets.
They provide a visiting service in hospitals, hospices, nursing and care homes, special needs schools, mainstream schools and a variety of other venues all across the UK.
Their therapeutic visits:
Enhance lives in the communities by providing companionship and friendship which helps to tackle loneliness.
Improve the lives of people suffering from debilitating mental and physical health conditions and illnesses such as Autism, Dementia and Stroke by including animal assisted interventions as part of a holistic approach to treatment.
Improve literacy in children by developing their confidence, interest and enjoyment in reading through their "read2dogs" scheme.


For further information on their services please visit: petsastherapy.org

Monday Club- Sewing Workshop

The theme for this weeks Monday Club was Sewing Workshop with Linda Woodfield, Linda has a workshop studio in Newton Stewart and sells bespoke textile items and also run various group classes, Linda brought in material and sewing equipment and gave the Monday group a choice to make either a chick an egg or a bauble, most of the group made chicks one member made an Easter egg. Linda first demonstrated the making of each item. The morning was successful and was enjoyed by all.

 

 

 

At our next Monday Club meeting on 3rd April we are having a Heartstart  Course (Emergency Life Skills).

 

 

Monday Club Poster From April to July

Move More Dumfries & Galloway, Gentle Movement, Free Sessions

Monday Club - Memory Lane



Today Monday Club members brought in items from their past. Christine brought in a coat which is a 1940's Beaver Swagger style coat. Doreen brought in a dress that she wore in the 1950's with a lovely flower detail necklace. The World War 2 medals were Christine's dads also his demo certificate was read out to us. Very informative.



Thank you to all the members who brought in photos we had a good time guessing who they were.

Christine also had a Relay for Life table setup she had made homemade mince pies for 50p each, which where very popular and sold out. Christine was also selling knitted Easter chicks with a chocolate egg as the body, also sold out. Well done Christine!!

At our next Monday Club meeting on 20th March we will have Linda Woodfield. Linda will be doing a sewing workshop with us.

Samantha is also in the process of organising our next programme for April to July, it will be with us soon. Keep an eye out for the posters and programme.



 

 



Hearstart Course - Isle of Whithorn

8 members of the Dancercise and Art Group as well as one member of the public took part in a Heartstart Course last week, delivered by David Hirst and Peter Parker..

The free 2 hour course covered what to do with someone who:

• Is unconscious
• Has stooped breathing
• Is chocking
• Is bleeding

It also includes how to recognise if someone is having a heart attack or failure and how to us a Defibrillator.

 

Everyone enjoyed the course which they successfully completed. 

Thanks to St Ninian's Church for the use of the hall

Food Train Shoppers - Volunteering Opportunity

Food train are looking for shoppers to support their programme in the community. For further details, see poster below:

click on poster to enlarge