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

Monday Club - Healthy Cooking Workshop

The Monday club were treated to a Healthy Cooking Workshop, run by Dave from Building Healthy Communities.

There was a short talk and a demonstration as to how to cook a quick, delicious and healthy stir fry, before all the members had a go for themselves.

Another really good session with some very positive comments. "Very Tasty" "Didn't think it would be so easy"

A copy of the recipe is posted below!

Oyster Chicken and Vegetable Stir Fry with Noodles

Ingredients:

Sliced chicken (about 3 oz/75gms)

1 clove of garlic, crushed

Small piece of ginger, sliced

Light soy sauce

Any combination of thinly sliced vegetables

pre-cooked Egg noodles or rice noodles (gluten free alternative), 

2 tbs Oyster Sauce

Pinch of 5 spice powder

Water to mix

Oil

Method:

1.    Slice and marinate the chicken with garlic, ginger and soy sauce.

2.    Pre-cook the noodles, drain and cool, then drizzle with a little oil and soy sauce.

3.    Chop the vegetables finely.

4.    Heat wok/pan and stir fry the chicken for 1 to 2 minutes or until white.  Remove from wok/pan.

5.    Add the vegetables to the wok/pan with a little oil and fry for 1 min.

6.    Add oyster sauce and the 5 spice powder and stir fry for a further 3 minutes.

7.    Add the noodles, chicken and a little water to stop the noodles sticking to the pan. Combine and serve!

Group dance at Dancercise, Isle of Whithorn

To have a good look at all the elegance involved in Dancercise, with the excellent Pam Paterson, click here. This should take you to the video.

Well done to all the members of the group for such a great performance!!!

Living Independently at Home - Information and dates for the Pop up Home from Home

Care Call (Telecare)

Care Call is a 24 hour 365 day response service which works through a control unit connected to your telephone line. It is operated by us to help you to stay safe in your own home.

Care Call means we can help in an emergency at any time, day or night. You'll be connected to our trained operators at the press of a button or through sensors in your home, the operators will speak to you and contact help if needed.

We can monitor:

·                                 emergency button pendants

·                                 smoke detectors

·                                 fall detectors

·                                 movement detectors

·                                 door and window sensors

·                                 flood detectors

·                                 carbon monoxide detectors

·                                 extreme temperature sensors

·                                 chair and bed sensors

·                                 wandering client alarms

Who can apply

Care Call might be the ideal solution if you're experiencing:

·                                 physical disability

·                                 sensory impairment

·                                 mental health problems

·                                 a long term health condition

·                                 frailty

·                                 dementia

·                                 problems with substance misuse

Costs

The charges for care and support services are normally based on an assessment of your financial circumstances but there is a charge for Care Call regardless of your financial situation.

The weekly charge is currently £3.60, the equipment you'll need is provided free of charge.

How to apply

·                                 Call 030 33 33 3001

·                                 Email carecall@dumgal.gov.uk

You'll need:

·                                 a telephone landline in your house

·                                 2 people who can hold a key and be your responders in an emergency

Monday Club - Arts and Crafts

Lynn came along to demonstrate her cloth dying art.

She used Egyptian Cloth, fabric paints and brushes sponges etc. for the demonstration.

When the cloth had dried, Lynn used the designs as a back drop for her embroidery and brought in some samples to show.

The members of the Monday Club all had a go at producing some lovely samples. The morning went very well with lots of enthusiasm.

 

At our next Monday Club meeting on 20th February, Dave from Building Healthy Communities is coming along to do a Healthy Cooking Workshop.

SQA Preparing to Volunteer - BHC and CLD Partnership Working

Working in partnership with D&G Community Learning, Building Healthy Communities

are running a 12 week course on Preparing to Volunteer.

There are specific outcomes for this level 3 course which are:

Demonstrate an understanding of volunteering.

Identify the benefits of volunteering to the volunteer.

Plan and prepare for a volunteering opportunity.

Students have to keep a portfolio of their work to show their understanding
of each of the three outcomes. The 12 week course includes:

What is a volunteer? 

What are the roles and responsibilities of both a volunteer and
an organisation that uses volunteers
What are the different types of Volunteering organisations 

Confidentiality, Reliability and Honesty

Behaviour and Attitude 

Child and Adult protection

Health and Safety, including risk assessments

Preparing to Volunteer

The group have done exceedingly well, with lots of discussions around the topics.

One person has already signed up as a volunteer with Building Healthy Communities

to assist with a specific initiative.

Login & Connect

The Login & Connect group continues to thrive with many people attending on a weekly basis.

Queries that were resolved have included: Placing folders onto desktops, Use of maps on tablets, deleting apps, Facebook navigation, software updates etc.

Comments from members so far include:

"Very helpful first class"
"Very good - will be back"
"Very helpful assistance"
"Informative"
"Most interesting and helpful"

The group meet every Wednesday at the Newton Stewart Centre from 10.30 to 12.30. All welcome for some advice and a cup of tea!!

Dancercise - Isle of Whithorn

The group, facilitated by the effervescent Pam Paterson, continues to grow. There are now 32 registered members for the group and their abilities, confidence and socialising all have increased over the year.

In a recent evaluation, the following comments were made:

" It has helped on all levels, my mobility has improved and I have made new friends.  As well as the exercise,  we have a laugh & coffee afterwards.  I t gives me a purpose to get up and get moving.  I really look forward to the class."

"It enables me to exercise at my level, helping to improve my flexibility and mood.  It gets me out of the house, I mix with other ladies and always feel good afterwards."

"As I am a quite healthy 66 years old, I still attend dancercise every week.  It is exercise that I probably wouldn’t get.  It has helped to make new friends; we have coffee after exercise and a chat and it makes me leave home, get out, fresh air and enjoy the class and the company and always get a good laugh. always feel good afterwards."Below is a collage of recent photos at the latest meeting of the group.

click on collage to enlarge

Dancercise runs every Tuesday at St Ninians Hall in the Isle from 10.30 until 11.30.

Our Wigtownshire - Jills of all Trades

This month's "Our Wigtownshire" features an article and photo about the Jills of all Trades on pages 42 and 43.  Anyone interested in reading the article should buy a copy!!  


Great photo Jills!!!!