Minds Matter Mental Health and Wellbeing Event

Please note the date – Saturday 4^th September 2010 in the Piazza from 10am until 4 pm. Organised by PIPS (Plymouth Involvement and Participation Service), this event will promote positive attitudes towards mental health.  LINk representatives will be present. Plymouth and District Mind will have two stalls at this event. We would be grateful for volunteers to help us run our stalls.  If you can help, please contact Annette Fisher.

False letters

We have been informed by Jobcentre Plus, Plymouth, that a number of false letters inviting people, in receipt of incapacity related benefits, to an appointment about returning to work have been sent out. If you have received such a letter, please take it to a member of staff to check that it is genuine.

Oasis Centre

Please note that the Oasis Centre will be closed on the August Bank Holiday, Monday 30^th August. It will reopen at 10.00 a.m. on Tuesday 31^st August.

Oasis Developments

A lot more great things are happening in our Peer Support Volunteer led day centre. Mick Mullarkey gave another really encouraging report to the Executive Committee at its meeting on 19^th August. The main points were:

• Camping – a second trip was organised in August. This time nine members stayed overnight. Two other members joined the group for the day on Saturday.

• Fresh food! You will not get fresher food than home grown fruit or vegetables. Well done to everyone who is looking after the vegetable patch. Lorna Avery, our cook, is now using some of the produce in meals served in Oasis!

• Ø The PSV’s have volunteered to organise future events. Look out for information about Christmas lunch and future Oasis social dates. More information should be available by October.

• Two of our PSVs are working on a Members’ Charter. Further details should be available next month.

More help needed!

Well done to everyone who is helping out with the running of the Oasis Centre.

Further Peer Support Volunteer training will be planned shortly. If you are interested in becoming a Peer Support Volunteer, please contact Mick Mullarkey or any of the other Peer Support Volunteers. To keep the service user led day centre operating, we need a group of committed PSVs to take their place on a rota.

Annual membership

40 people have now paid an annual membership fee of £5 that was introduced on 1^st August. The revenue raised will go to the Members’ Fund. Membership is entitles 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 from our Peer Support Volunteer office.  If you have an email address, please note that on the application form. We will send copies of all newsletters to you.

Lorna’s sandwiches

Lorna is now providing a sandwich making service for members. Each sandwich costs £1.50 and will be made to order. Please see Steve Pellet to place your order. There is no members’ discount for this service.

Annual General Meeting

Please note this important date in your diary. This year it will be held on Thursday 4^th November 2010 at 6.00 p.m. in the day room at 8 Woodside.

A buffet will be provided. Further details will follow in the next few weeks.

Can you help?

Mick Mullarkey has joined executive committee recently and is making a valuable contribution to its work. We are keen to encourage other service users to join us. If you can help out, or if you want to know more about these tasks, please speak to Mick Mullarkey or Richard Wakerell.

New telephone numbers

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.

New Peer Support Volunteers

We are delighted to report that another seven people have become Peer Support Volunteers having completed their training on 22^nd July 2010. The group comprises Steve Scott, Jenny Czerwinski, Danielle Jackson, Glen King, Sue Ramsey, Andrew Rickard and Beth Bromley.

Oasis Developments

Some really great things are happening in our Peer Support Volunteer led day centre. Mick Mullarkey gave an upbeat and encouraging report to the Executive Committee at its meeting on 22^nd July.

• Camping – some members went away for their first camping trip in mid July to Maker Heights near Rame Head.  Another trip is being organised shortly. Mick reported that discounted rates may be obtained from the site owner if members are willing to provide a little help working around the site.

• A greenhouse has been donated which will be erected near the vegetable patch in the next few weeks.

• The vegetable patch is growing well, the products of which will be used in the kitchen for the meals and sandwiches.

• The Oasis Centre opens two full days (Monday and Fridays) and two half days (Tuesdays and Wednesdays) each week.  Since becoming service user led in March, the centre has only been unable to open as planned on one half day.

Well done to everyone who is helping out with the running of the Oasis Centre.

Further Peer Support Volunteer training will be planned shortly. If you are interested in becoming a Peer Support Volunteer, please contact Mick Mullarkey or any of the other Peer Support Volunteers.

Meal price increase

From Monday 2^nd 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, we believe that even at these new prices, the high quality, nutritious food served by our excellent cook, Lorna, represents 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.

Annual membership

From 1^st 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. 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 from our Peer Support Volunteer office.  Once completed, please hand it to one of our Peer Support Volunteers together with your membership fee. If you have an email address, please note that on the application form. We will send copies of all newsletters to you.

We will 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.

Annual General Meeting

Please note this important date in your diary. This year it will be held on Thursday 4^th November 2010 at 6.00 p.m. in the day room at 8 Woodside.

A buffet will be provided. Further details will follow in the next few weeks.

What a result!

Congratulations to Bea Gullick and members of the Mosaics Group. They   entered twelve pieces of arts and crafts for the Skilled Hands Arts and Crafts exhibition that was held at Elspeth Sitters House on the Barbican between 14^th and 21^st June. The group members won twelve gold awards! 450 items were entered. The group won a cup for the best painting and a rose bowl for the best mosaic.

Can you help?

Mick Mullarkey has joined executive committee recently and is making a valuable contribution to its work. We are keen to encourage other service users to join us. If you can help out, or if you want to know more about these tasks, please speak to Mick Mullarkey or Richard Wakerell.

New telephone numbers

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.