Latest News – 30 June 2010
Change of telephone numbers
Please note that the former main contact telephone number 254004 is no longer operational. If you want to book lunch or speak to a Peer Support Volunteer, please call 01752 512284. For general information, please call 01752 229962. For Advice and Information, please call 01752 264960.
Great news!
Plymouth and District Mind has been assessed as meeting level two of the National Mind Quality Management standards. We will shortly be able to add a Charity Commission quality kite mark to our publicity material. Thanks are due to everyone who helped out in any way with this exercise. I am particularly grateful to Jane Guy who handled a lot of extra unexpected work at the end of this process when I was away on leave in March.
Thank you
Have you noticed how the gardens have been tidied up? Our thanks are due to Teresa Overall and the small group that has been helping her. Teresa has worked hard to clear a small vegetable patch in the back garden. Rocket, lettuce, runner beans, garlic, cauliflower, carrots, beetroot and spring onions have all been sown. Additionally, borders have been cleared both in the back and in the front. Thank you everyone who is doing this work. It is fantastic to see our gardens looking so well maintained.
New face
On Monday 5th July, Shannon McCulloch will be joining our staff team for six months. Shannon will be working to provide administrative support to both Graham Nicholls and Richard Wakerell.
Building Work – update
While, nothing is happening outside currently, behind the scenes, there is a lot going on. Richard Wakerell is in touch with two further companies to get quotes for the repair work. The area will remain roped off for a few weeks yet. We hope still that this work will be done later in the summer.
Can you help?
Mick Mullarkey has joined executive committee recently and is making a valuable contribution to its work. We are always grateful for further offers of help from service users. This month’s needs are:
1. Mindful Money Day – 21st September 2010 at the Holiday Inn.
We need two members who are prepared to help plan an interesting training day along with Richard Wakerell and our chair of trustees, Jane Guy. This will involve attending several meetings. The task will not be too onerous!
2. We need volunteers who are willing to help with either interviewing new staff and/or reviewing policies of Plymouth and District Mind.
If you can help out, or if you want to know more about these tasks, please speak to Mick Mullarkey or Richard Wakerell.
Small items
Another round of Peer Support Volunteer Training began on Thursday 24th June. Eight people attended the first session.
A press release will be sent out shortly publicising the new Advice and Information service
Meal price increase
The increase in meal prices has been delayed. From Monday 2nd August 2010, the cost of meals served in the Oasis Centre will be increased.
Small meal Old price £1.50 New price £2.50 New price (members) £2.25
Large meal Old price £2.00 New price £3.00 New price (members) £2.75
Dessert Old price £0.50 New price £0.75 New price (members) £0.70
While it is recognised that price increases are never good news, as Richard Wakerell told members at the last Members’ Meeting on 9th June, if we want to have cooked meals in the Oasis Centre, we have got to cover the cost of staffing our kitchen from sales of meals served there, from food sales through the Café in the Park and training. This cost will no longer be met by Plymouth City Council. We believe that even at these new prices, the high quality, nutritious food served by our excellent cook, Lorna, represent excellent value. Members attending the Oasis Centre regularly may be able to reduce the price of a meal by paying an annual membership fee of £5. (Please see separate article below).
Annual membership
The trustees have asked that a voluntary annual membership scheme is introduced. From 1st August 2010, all people using the services of Plymouth and District Mind will be invited to pay an annual membership fee £5. The revenue raised will go to the Members’ Fund. It will be for members to decide how to use this money. A bonus of annual membership is that it will entitle members to a small discount on the price of meals served in the Oasis Centre. If you wish to become a member, please complete our simple application form (which will be available from mid July) and hand it to one of our Peer Support Volunteers. If you have an email address, please note that on the application form. We will send copies of all newsletters to you.
We will aim to process all membership applications and issue membership cards within a week. Once you have your membership card, you will be entitled to claim your discounted meal price.
Service update
The Peace of Mind Advice and Information Service
Up until recently, we have provided advice and information about mental health issues to anyone who asked us as part of the Oasis drop-in service. We are now offering a formal advice and information service to the public.
For now this service will open as a walk-in service on Mondays and Fridays between 11.00 a.m. and 4.00 p.m., and as a telephone line on Wednesdays between 2.00 p.m. and 6.30 p.m.
Our business phone number is 01752 229962. Our Walk-in Advice service is held at 6 Woodside Lane (behind 8 Woodside). The telephone number is 01752 264960. Our email address is advice@plymouthmind.myzen.co.uk.
Contributions please!!
This newsletter is intended to be a means of exchanging news and information between staff, volunteers and service users of all projects at Plymouth and District Mind. We would be grateful for your contributions. They can be sent to Richard Wakerell or emailed to him (richard@plymouthmind.org.uk) Please note this is one job, Richard would like to be made redundant from. Following the success of the Oasis Observer, would a member like to take on the job of producing this newsletter? If so, please talk to Richard.
