MONDAY CLUB

Volunteer Jo Chambers welcomed members, including two new ones, to this weeks Monday Club on 22nd April .  The programme for the next 3 meetings was handed out and then the Group divided into the “Enthusiastic  fit” or “Just willing to have a go at anything” lot and those who preferred to sit having a cup of coffee and a blether or join the card making group.

Walking around, it was interesting to hear advice being given on mobile phones, progress on health issues, plus swapping ideas on knitting, gardening and so much more.

The card makers went from complete beginners to those who had enjoyed the hobby for years, so were able to help those sitting close to them.  All went home with at least one finished product much to their own surprise.

The Wii fit report …by a member.

“Yesterday we found a Wii had been set up and many laughs were heard as those of us who felt able to cope with it. Physically trying our hands at tennis, bowling and baseball. Even boxing!  The boxing proved far too taxing and we quickly returned to the bowling alley!

On another screen the ‘Dancercize’ programme was shown and that group achieved credible, if more modest movement, to the upbeat pop music -and to the amusement of the less energetic onlookers.

Many thanks for a good morning (and best of all, it was free!)

Please note although it is the Spring Bank Holiday on Monday 6th May, the meeting will go ahead as usual. All welcome.

DG Health Blog

Dr. Ken Donaldson, Medical Consultant at DGRI, has recently started a new blog for all NHSDG staff with various different articles from specialists. We have provided a link to this blog located on the side bar, but you can view the DG Health blogpage by clicking here. 

Gentle Exercise and Singing. – Ashgrove Court.

As part of reaching out to the community, The SMP programme has started a 6 week course in gentle exercise and singing at Ashgrove Court in Newton Stewart. Ashgrove Courtis a sheltered housing scheme for vulnerable adults.

Pam, the tutor, is excellent in getting all involved and the feedback at present is very positive. Sessions continue on Wednesday afternoons for three weeks.

Monday Club Wii Sports Session

The Monday club came to life yesterday with a session of Wii Sports and Wii Dance. Many people “Had a go” at Bowling, Tennis, Boxing and Baseball, some with more success than others!!

The session was so well received that the group want us to return later in the summer for a follow up visit. 

For the quieter members, Card making, general chatting and free tea and coffee were available. 

One member received 1:1 support with his mobile phone.

 Another successful Monday which all enjoyed.

Next meeting 6^th May with a film show and gentle exercise.

Hello Again Welcome Back

Hi everyone. Welcome back after the Easter break and our enforced break from activities due to the snow and ice. It seems such a long time ago, but we are still catching up.

We had to cancel many events during and after the snow storm that affected us all including Wii dance for youth groups and the first Monday Club session of April.

However, we are back, have a redesigned office and are back in the swing of things.

Last week, the “Monday club” were visited by the local press. A full report can be seen by clicking here.

Planning is underway for a series of cooking events for youth groups in the area. This will give them an opportunity to work as a team as well as learn new skills and be introduced to the idea of “Love Food Hate Waste”. So far, the following has been arranged.

Date	Time	Activity + numbers	Venue
Thursday 2nd May	7pm – 9pm	Cooking (8)	SORBIE Village Hall
Friday 10th May	7.30pm – 9pm	Cooking (12)	Port William Youth Centre
Monday 13th May	6pm – 8pm	Cooking (12)	Garlieston Village Hall
Wednesday 15th May	6pm – 7.15pm	Cooking (17)	Isle of Whithorn Village Hall
Wednesday 15th May	7.15pm – 8.30pm	Cooking (16)	Isle of Whithorn Village Hall
Tuesday 21st May	6.30pm – 8.30pm	Cooking (8)	Kirkinner Village Hall
Wednesday 29th May	6pm – 9pm	Cooking (6)	Wigtown – Kaos Café
Tuesday 4th June	6.30 – 8.30	Wii dance	Kirkinner Village Hall

Reports to Follow

Monday Club News

I can hardly believe it, but the Monday Club has now been running for three months!  Seems like only yesterday we were setting up for the first time, and it has been an absolute joy to meet so many lovely folk from different backgrounds.

People come for all sorts of reasons, and we are currently organising a programme of events that will address the needs of the group.  Some of these will be activities, information and advice around health and wellbeing, while others will have a more social side to them, and allow opportunities to spend time together and make new friends.  

Just drop in for a cup of tea or to find out more about what’s going on.  Gentle exercise is proving to be popular, but we have other activities taking place at the same time.   Last week we were delighted that John, a Monday Club member and Sue, who both belong to Creetown Woodpeckers Woodworking Group, gave a demonstration on wood carving and pyrography.  It was wonderful to see them in action, and we were reassured that you don’t have to be a skilled woodworker at the outset to produce the quality pieces they each brought along. As John said, “it’s just a matter of learning as you go”. There was a lot of interest in their work, and some of our members even decided there and then to join the group, which meets every second Saturday. (https://sites.google.com/site/woodpeckerswoodworkinggroup/homefor more information.)

We will post details of our longer term activity programme later, but in the meantime here’s what’s coming up:

22 April         Wii-Sport and card making

6 May            Gentle Exercise and film show

20 May          Gentle Exercise and Access Art project which will run all week.

Further Details of these and other activities to follow.

The Monday Club meets every second Monday in Newton Stewart Golf Club from 10.15am – 12.15pm, and activities are free.  Stay on and join us for home-made soup and a roll for only £2.  Contact me 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.  Karen Barbour 01988 501111 or karenbarbour@nhs.net or pop in to BHC,1 George Street, Whithorn, DG8 8NS.

Access Art

One of our partner organisations for the Putting You First Self Management Programme, is Access Art.

Access Art can offer a wide range of activities in one of their studios, within the community or within your own home. The aims of Access art are:

• To facilitate and support people to explore and develop self expression through their art work
• Develop and expand the boundaries of communication
• Encourage self discovery and build confidence in a safe environment
• Introduce and develop new creative opportunities.

Check out their powerpoint presentation which shows the various activities that are available and some of the projects that they have been associated with.

Look at the first part of the presentation here
Look at the second part of the presentation here

For further information on the activities of Access Art, please contact:

James Galloway

Arts Co-ordinator

9A Albert Street

Newton Stewart

jamesgalloway@tpsdg.co.uk

or contact the BHC office and we will be pleased to put you in touch

Access Art

One of our partner organisations for the Putting You First Self Management Programme, is Access Art.

Access Art can offer a wide range of activities in one of their studios, within the community or within your own home. The aims of Access art are:

• To facilitate and support people to explore and develop self expression through their art work
• Develop and expand the boundaries of communication
• Encourage self discovery and build confidence in a safe environment
• Introduce and develop new creative opportunities.

Check out their powerpoint presentation which shows the various activities that are available and some of the projects that they have been associated with.

Look at the first part of the presentation here
Look at the second part here

For further information on the activities of Access Art, please contact:

James Galloway

Arts Co-ordinator

9A Albert Street

Newton Stewart

jamesgalloway@tpsdg.co.uk

or contact the BHC office and we will be pleased to put you in touch

Penninghame School Reward Time Week 2 and 3

The children have continued to enjoy physical activity through Wii Dance and Wii Sports during their reward time at the School. The fruit kebabs are proving to be very popular!!

Monday Club – 11th March 2013

A short course of Gentle Exercise started this week and continues fortnightly until 8^th April. This was well attended and enjoyed by all. There was also a presentation by Access Arts as to what activities can be offered.

At the next meeting, 25^th March, a photographer from the Gazette is coming to take some photos of the activities that are taking place, so put on your make up and gladrags for the day!!

Monday Club

Please look at the SMP blog to see a short report from the Monday Club by clicking here

Penninghame School Reward Time

Starting on the 1st of March for 4 weeks, BHC  is running Wii Activities for the P 1-3 during their reward time.  We are also providing Fruit Kebabs as refreshments for the children.

Below are some photos taken from week 1.

Look out for further posts in the following weeks

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!