YOUR T WICE YEARLY MAGAZINE FROM FAMILY MOSAIC SPRING 2015

Welcome to the latest edition of Reachout magazine, bringing you the latest news about events and projects that took place over the last six months in London, Essex and the south east.

As usual the magazine is packed with stories and pictures of exciting initiatives and projects that have been happening across services. And once again I would like to say a big thank you to all the organisers who continue to ensure people have the opportunity to get involved in such a wide range of activities, events and trips.

It is heart warming to read about the kindness people show towards others, whether it be raising money for Macmillan Cancer Care or another charity, being inspired by our recent care conference to organise a party or setting up a workshop for customers. These are all genuine acts of kindness that deserve to be recognised and applauded.

It has seemed like a long winter but spring has definitely arrived and, as summer approaches, I hope we will all be able to enjoy many more activities outside in the warm sunshine. Have a great summer.

MOIRA GRIFFITHS, GROUP CARE AND SUPPORT DIRECTOR

making the news call usESSEX REGIONGeneral enquiriesq 01268 498 500Visiting support services Thurrock, Basildon, Castle Point, Rochford, and Rayleigh q 0800 288 8883Southend q 01702 445 870Haveringq 01708 776 770LONDON REGIONGeneral enquiriesq 020 7089 1000Visiting support servicesHackney, Islington q 020 7241 7940Hammersmith & Fulham q 0800 123 1991Redbridge q 0800 970 8401Kensington & Chelsea q 020 7351 2522SOUTH REGIONGeneral enquiriesq 01273 468 010 enquiries@familymosaic.co.uk www.familymosaiccare andsupport.co.ukTHANKS TO MAISIE SHEEDMany of the activities covered in this issue were very kindly funded by the Maisie Sheed Trust Fund.

MONEY FOR GOOD WORKSEach year the Maisie Sheed Trust Fund sets aside a pot of money to pay for activities and events that it agrees will do good for you and our other customers.

If you have an idea for an activity or event like this and would like to apply for some money to help pay for it, please talk to your support worker or contact the social inclusion team for your area.London, Essex: Sue WalkerE sue.walker@familymosaic.co.uk q01206 773 021Kent, East Sussex: Emma Reeves E emma.reeves@familymosaic.co.uk q01273 468 024Hampshire, West Sussex: Ann Maree Purnell E ann-maree.purnell@familymosaic.co.uk q02380 659 672

TOUCHED BY YOUR ACTS OF HUMAN KINDNESS

editorial

A workshop for people with learning disabilities, run as part of our Be Heard voting campaign, has persuaded 60-year-old Paul Eastleigh to cast his vote for first time in more than 40 years

Paul, from Corringham, says he can’t remember if he’s ever used his right to vote since turning 18. But right now, he’s focused on picking the ‘right’ candidate.

Tailor-made lessonThe special workshop, given by Nick Banton from Parliamentary Outreach, used games and a film to get the group thinking about our MPs’ responsibilities and decisions.

The group also talked about the role of the public and why it is important for people to vote in elections, so everyone gets a say in who becomes your local representative in parliament.

After the session, Helen Simpkins from Thurrock said she now felt much ‘more confident’ about how to vote in May. ‘It’s really interesting finding out what MPs and lords actually do,’ Helen said.

We ran our Be Heard campaign because we want politicians to take your views seriously. 'We serve 45,000 of you and politicians know a lot of you will not use your right to vote,' says Family Mosaic chief executive Brendan Sarsfield.

'That is because the people who usually don't bother to vote are those who live in a housing association home, who don't have much money, or who have a disability.

'If you don't vote, politicians are less likely to do things that make your life easier because they know you are unlikely to vote them out of power. We  want your voice to be heard by the politicians who will make up our next government.'

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PAUL'S SET TO BE A FIRST-TIME VOTER AT 60!

It's really interesting finding out what MPs and lords actually do

WHY WE SHOULD ALL VOTEPoliticians make decisions that affect our lives for better or worse all the time.

Politics decides if we can or can't get a home we can afford or free health care.

Politics decides how much support there will be for you if you have a disability.

Politics is about the quality and cost of your care if you cannot look after yourself.

Politics lesson: our group learns why voting in elections matters

Good outcomes: the Maisee Sheed Trust Fund has paid for lots of activities that do good for you and others like you

MAY 201531

1 23 4 5 6 7 8 910 11 12 13 14 15 1617 18 19 20 21 22 2324 25 26 27 28 29 30

If you don't vote, politicians are less likely to do things to make your life easier

creativity4 5

‘[Young people] should know that it's not normal to be in a relationship that doesn't make them happy.'

Natalie Gresham

campaign

MODELLING WITH CLAYMaking ceramics is good for your mental health! That’s the message we picked up from some of you from Fareham, Gosport and Southampton who exercised your creative skills at our ceramics workshops last winter

Customers of Fareham and Gosport mental health team say that since starting the workshops they are making far fewer calls to us for support.

‘I feel 100% more positive and look forward to more [classes],’ said one customer. Another reported now feeling a lot happier being in the same room as new people. ‘I’ve learnt to tolerate being in a room with strangers and to control my anxiety.’

The workshops at Bursledon Brickworks Museum were organised by the mental health team and Southampton

Disabilities Services, to give people who use their services a safe and understanding place to learn new creative skills.

It’s been a great success with customers doing some amazing work, making friends, growing in confidence, and having fun. Almost everyone who came to the first workshop came back to learn more and some said it was the highlight of their week.

The weekly classes ran from November to January and rounded off with an exhibition at the museum to showcase all your wonderful creations.

The museum’s education officer is looking for funding to pay for more creative workshops. She has told us she loved having you at the Brickworks and hopes to be able to pay for another round.

BEING CRAFTY EASES ACHES AND PAINS Independence is a tough call when pain is a constant presence but the help Maria Montemeyer gets from our carers has, she tells us, made a real difference to her life.

Maria, who has osteoarthritis, gets help from us to do the shopping and household tasks like preparing meals, cleaning up and washing herself.

Maria lives in St Leonards with teenage son Aaron, who has Asperger’s, and her three dogs, including assistance dog Bentley.

Evenings are often spent making her own jewellery, a task she finds relaxing. But the work also keeps her joints from becoming painfully stiff. Last Christmas she even turned her hand to making wreaths.

Osteoarthritis is a condition affecting the joints. It causes constant and often serious pain. Maria's pain is controlled by patches prescribed by her GP but it is often extreme.

Maria might have drawn the short straw when health was being handed out but she more than makes up for it with her sense of humour. ‘I am heavily into bungee jumping at the moment,’ she informs us.

FIRED-UP FIXEROne of our young apprentices has produced her own film to launch a one-woman campaign against domestic violenceNatalie Gresham, now working for us as an apprentice business administrator in our social inclusion team, says she hopes her campaign will give victims of domestic violence the courage to seek help.

‘I’m aware of people who’ve been in an abusive relationship and want others to know that they’re not alone,’ Natalie says.

‘They might believe that it’s normal to have a controlling partner, or might be too in love to see that the way they’re

being treated is wrong.’In Natalie’s film, a woman

with a bungee cord around her waist is pulled back each time she tries to move forward.

Natalie, who wants the film shown to teenagers as young as 14, says it reflects the challenges of breaking free from an unhealthy relationship.

‘I want young people to realise what abuse is,’ Natalie says. ‘They should know that it is not normal to be in a relationship that doesn’t make them happy.’

To watch Natalie's film, go to: www.fixers.org.uk/news/ 11086-11208/acting-on-abuse.php

BRICK BY BRICKAll of those who came along to the workshops were also invited to take part in a community brick sculpture project. Each was tasked with making a brick using wooden moulds.They then created their own design on one side of the brick.

After the bricks were fired in the museum’s kilns, a tutor who teaches bricklaying at the city college started building a permanent outdoor sculpture, using all of the bricks.

‘I give it 10 out of 10,’ said one of our team. 'It was brilliant! I would love to do it again.’

Being part of a joint effort was also fun and our contributors plan to take family and friends to the museum to show them the sculpture they helped create.

Natalie’s campaign came about through our work with Fixers, a charity helping young people - called 'Fixers' - take a stand on issues they feel passionate about. Anne Maree Purnell from our social inclusion team has secured funding from the Maisie Sheed Fund for Fixers's work with young customers in Hampshire. Fixers get practical and creative support from media professionals to create material like a film, website or posters for their project. Fixers has helped 15,000 young people in the UK.

Handmade: Amanda Rippon tries her hand at making a brick for the sculpture

aiming high speedy recovery6 7

JOE'S DREAM MOVES CLOSER Starling Close resident Joe Osben is getting ever closer to his goal of becoming a personal trainer - one that nearly got knocked badly off course

Joe moved to our supported scheme in Essex after a serious accident left him completely paralysed down one side.

FocusedBut by hardwork and dogged determination, Joe is now back in the gym and close to qualifying as a gym instructor.

His future didn’t always look this bright. Joe, now aged 23, thought the accident had dashed his hopes. But support worker Linda was determined to keep Joe’s ambitions on track, helped by Becki in Family Mosaic’s volunteering team.

‘Joe was already volunteering at a local gym,' says Becki, ‘but

he was going to need a lot more qualifications to become a personal trainer.’

Becki and Linda got busy. Michael from New Body Health & Fitness told them what Joe needed to do to qualify.

They tapped Family Mosaic for funding. Our former care and support director Yvonne Arrowsmith found money to pay for Joe’s gym instructor qualification and the Youth Academy offered Joe a bursary for a 'circuit trainer' course.

Joe is now at the gym every week doing the course work for his gym instructor qualification. Once he's leapt this hurdle he'll work on the extra skills needed

to qualify as a personal trainer.But no minute goes wasted

with Joe, who's close to completing his bronze Duke of Edinburgh qualification, backed by our Youth Academy. Truly, there’s no stopping him!

Fighting back: Joe has made a remarkable recovery

CUP CAKES FOR CANCER CAREResidents of mental health scheme Pathways, in Bexhill on Sea, turned their house into a pop-up cake shop recently, all in a good cause. Sam takes up the story

‘I think it’s important to support McMillan Cancer charity because it helps people who are ill.

We made and handed out flyers with Maxine, our housing support officer. We delivered them around Bexhill and up and down our street.

We made loads of cakes the evening before. The chocolate fairy cakes and chocolate brownies were tasty.

On the day it was exciting and we got up early to get the cakes out and decorate our house. I was in charge of the visitor book that our guests signed as they came in.

I went with Art to Bexhill town to sell cakes that were not being bought. I sold them all and came back feeling very proud of what I had done.

I enjoyed the face painting

done by a fellow resident. I had her paint a football and some Tottenham Hotspurs colours on my cheeks.

We made over £210! It made me feel really good to raise that much money for charity.’

Street sales: Spurs fan Sam sets off to sell cakes

Street sales: Spurs fan Sam sets off to sell cakes

EILEEN'S KIND LEGACY SPARKS A REVOLUTIONA typically kind gesture from former Knowlton Gardens resident Eileen has given a new lease of life to her friend and neighbour, Stan.

Eileen, who sadly passed away from lung cancer recently, had Huntington’s disease for many years but was always out and about on her electric scooter.

She often dropped by for coffee with Stan, who was usually either house-bound or in Maidstone Hospital.

Sadly the visits stopped when Eileen was diagnosed with lung cancer. But Eileen wanted Stan to be able to get out into the sun so, in her will, left him her scooter.

‘I’ve just had my first day outside in the sun for about three years,’ Stan says. ‘The scooter is a ‘Pride Revo’ from the USA and, with Eileen’s character in mind, I have given it the nickname Revolution! It was great to be out in the fresh air again.’

Easy rider: Stan gets a taste of fresh air thanks to friend Eileen

FAST TRACK TO INDEPENDENCEBerryfields customer Debbie Harvey has made astounding progress since moving to our supported living scheme last September

Debbie’s brain had been severely injured 15 months earlier by cardiac arrest which caused the oxygen supply to her brain to be cut off.

After treatment in hospital and a spell in rehab, Debbie moved to a specialist centre where she slowly learnt to talk, walk, and feed herself again.

Despite still needing intense support, Debbie was set on getting her independence back, and she wanted to be closer to her family.

After talking to Debbie, her rehab team and family, our Berryfields staff drew up a support package designed to help Debbie relearn the skills she’d need to support herself.

As part of this, our staff visit Debbie in her Berryfields bungalow four times daily, every day, and her progress has been remarkable. When she first arrived she was unable to even shower or dress herself. She now does both.

She goes to college every week and has applied to do voluntary work. She’s made new friends and attends social events, including the computer club and church.

‘I have come on in leaps and bounds since moving to Berryfields,’ Debbie says. ‘I felt the rehabilitation centre smothered me. Here I am my own person and I have learnt to do things independently.

‘I can now make my own meals and make my bed. I've also joined the gym and am on the waiting list for the Headway Centre. I am not looking too far into the future but every day feels like a bonus and I have a lot to learn.’

‘We have found a huge difference in Debbie,’ says sister Ann Marie Wood. ‘Family Mosaic at Berryfields has given Debbie and us so much. With their hard work and Debbie’s we can thankfully see a bright and happy future.’

Debbie: determined streak!

social whirl Christmas diary8 9

A LUVVERLY JUBBLY COCKNEY KNEES-UP

BOGNOR REGIS GETS BUSY A Christmas craft afternoon was the first of many social activities now being held at Flax Mean, near Bognor Regis.

A lot of staff changes in recent years had left residents out of the loop, with very little extra to brighten up their days.

Most of Flax Mean’s residents are 60 or older and poor physical or mental health leaves them quite isolated.

So our craft afternoon was a welcome change. Residents chatted and relaxed while they made Christmas cards, wreathes and decorations and wool snowmen and angels.

Festive tunes played in the background as eight residents wrapped presents and two decorated the Christmas tree.

The afternoon was quickly followed up in the new year with Monday afternoon painting classes.

Great outdoorsA garden ‘greening scheme’ is now making their shared outdoor area more welcome, backed by the local council.

Get Connected classes start soon, to teach residents the vital computer skills they will need to use the internet.

‘Flax Mean is taking on a new lease of life,’ says support worker Juli Willis. ‘It has been lovely seeing residents’ enjoyment and appreciation grow and we have plenty more social events planned for them.’

A party with a London ‘knees-up’ theme is proof that, behind all the best parties, is a great team, says Gina Zitouni at Ferguson Close, and it doesn’t take a lot of effort to make a lot of people happy

Inspired by a Family Mosaic Compassion in care conference, I asked some of our customers what they’d like from a party.One said they liked the song ‘My old man’s a dustman’ and the idea took off from there.

Apples and pearsWe agreed that we’d have a right old knees-up, starting with fish and chips for dinner, and everyone could let their hair down and have some fun.

Invitations were designed by customers and handed out to friends. Everyone helped decorate the dining room and after supper we danced and sang old London songs.

It was lovely how customers and staff made the evening so much fun for everyone. I felt really proud looking around at all those smiling faces.

But the highlight was being told by one guest that it had been her birthday the day before and she’d enjoyed the party so much she wanted to arrange her own.

Sure enough, two days later I  got her invitation so it seems I  started a chain reaction.

I can’t say thank you enough everyone who helped with the organising and cleaning up. For not much effort we made a lot of people happy. I'd definitely like to do it again.

Party time in Saffron Walden Happy shoppers: at the stalls

HAPPY BIRTHDAY ALFRED! Jimilda resident Alfred recently celebrated his 80th birthday with cake, balloons and lots of goodies.

Friendly gatheringAlfred shared the day with his neighbours and staff who’ve got to know him over the years.

Alfred's bungalow, which he shares with another man, was specially decorated for the day and we played music by ABBA, Alfred’s favourite band.

Life hasn’t always been this good for Alfred. For years he lived in institutions. He wasn’t

able to do things he wanted to do so found life difficult.

Things began to look up when he moved to Jimilda 15 years ago. It’s a housing with support scheme for adults with learning disabilities near Colchester. Alfred and his housemate both get round-the-clock support.

Moving here has given Alfred a much better quality of life. He gets hydro-sessions twice a week and has gone on some fantastic holidays.

We’re now all looking forward  to celebrating Alfred’s 90th birthday with him!

INSPIRING OUTING TO WONDERLANDA day out in Hyde Park’s Winter Wonderland gave a group of our mental health customers a welcome taste of Christmas cheer in December

Customers of our Islington and Hackney mental health services, plus some from Hornsey Lane, tested their map reading skills as they navigated London’s largest Christmas festival.

Circus featsOur group started their outing with a tour of the stalls and Christmas light displays. Lunch in the burger hut was followed by a spectacular display of acrobatics at Zippos Circus.

After hot drinks in the chocolate hut, our festival goers visited the

positively arctic Ice Kingdom, featuring ice sculptures by some of the UK’s best artists.

‘It was a nice event and made me feel very nostalgic in a good way,’ said Zbigniew Wojtowicz from Cloudesley Road. ‘It’s been a while since we last went to the west end and this was with new people from other schemes. Very good.’

Neighbour Neville Mittalman added: ‘The event was nice. I enjoyed the bright lights and the music. It reminded me of when I was younger.’

fine foods10 11 advice and support

Coded ingredients: you've really enjoyed learning how to decode food labels

BANK DECISION LEFT VULNERABLE TENANT WITH WHOPPING DEBT Team manager Jonathan was alarmed to hear that one of his customers had run up a big debt on a credit card so pulled out all the stops to helpI was told recently that one of my customers had run up a big debt on a credit card given to him by Lloyds Bank.

Neil was struggling to pay the money back so was being charged even more than he'd spent. His credit card bill was getting bigger every month and he was very anxious.

Neil didn’t understand how a credit card works so didn’t realise that, if you buy lots of things with it but don’t pay all of the bill each month, you get charged extra.

I felt strongly that Lloyds should not have given Neil the

card in the first place so spoke to the bank. At first it claimed Neil was capable of ‘managing’ the card so was responsible for paying off his debt.

I disagreed so, helped by Neil’s support workers – Fay and Jeanette –we challenged the bank again. Neil’s doctor backed us up with a debt and mental health evidence form.

The bank backed down and has agreed to 'write off' the £2,800 Neil owed it. It hasn’t admitted that it shouldn’t have given Neil a credit card but at least Neil doesn’t have a huge bill hanging over his head.

If you or someone you know has a debt problem, speak to your  support worker or contact the free, independent Money Advice Service: www.moneyadviceservice.org.uk

GETTING WISE TO THE FOOD LABELSHealthy eating isn’t just for people who need to lose a few pounds, writes Yvette Harte. And that’s just one of the lessons taken on board by tenants at some of our older people’s schemes

Healthy eating sessions at the eight schemes have turned out to be a great way to share your wisdom, learn from others and sample healthy alternatives to some of the less healthy food that makes its way into our kitchen cupboards.

Poor substituteMost important is knowing what it is we’re putting into our mouths. We’ve looked at how much fat there is in butter, and its substitutes. We have also tasted them and rated the favourites.

We’ve tried different salad dressings (some had more fat than the salad!) and learnt the importance of using vinegar-based dressings.

We’ve also talked about healthy eating programmes shown on TV and NHS advice on healthy breakfasts, exercise and nutrients.

But what you enjoyed most was learning to make sense of labels on food packaging and the nutrition information on the back. Some found it very revealing and have cut down on some foods now that they understand the labels.

WHAT YOU'VE SAID...

Geoff from Plowright says he finds the sessions very interesting, learns something new every time and hopes they won’t end.

At Brewster, George says he now always compares labels rather than buy the first thing that comes to hand.

Losing weight is one of Peggy’s goals but she tells us she’s also learning more about which foods she should eat and those to avoid.

Joyce H says she now always studies food labels when she’s out shopping. Her friend Joyce D vouches for that. Joyce H is reading the labels when Joyce D enters the supermarket and she’s still reading them when Joyce II is finished.

Joyce D says she's really glad that she has learnt about hidden sugar in foods.

UP FOR NEW CHALLENGES? I’m Kirsty, the new activities coordinator for complex needs services in Islington, helping those of you with drug and alcohol problems, or a history of offending or rough sleeping.

I’ll be running activities that are good for your health, wellbeing and recovery, or useful for when you get your own home. My main priority is making you want to be involved.

After talking to lots of you, I’ve drawn up a timetable. It includes budgeting and cooking workshops, separate women’s and men’s health groups, a session on managing a tenancy, and IT classes run by Family Mosaic’s Get Connected. There'll also be gardening sessions and personal training in our fully equipped gym!

I’m hoping you'll lead some activities. We'll have an art class run by two of our very talented customers. One of our newer tenants was a chef in his home country so I hope he’ll co-run some of the cooking workshops with me once he’s settled.

Email Kirsty at kirsty.eaton@familymosaic.co.uk

ALL CHANGE IN THE GREEN FINGERS TEAMNEW RECRUIT HAS HER SPADE AT THE READY

Ella Dixon is our new Greening Communities project worker for the Essex region. If you have a garden that you think

could be nicer, and you and your fellow residents need help putting your ideas into practice, please call Ella on q07944 604 790 or email ella.dixon@familymosaic.co.uk

SOUTH REGION SAYS GOODBYE GREEN GODDESS

In March, Bernie Forshaw, Trevor Chapman, Trevor Starling, Kathryn Floyd, Debbie Baker, Simon Jenner and I said goodbye to Emma Reeves from Greening Communities.

With Emma's assistance and guidance our garden has been transformed into a much better place. On raised beds we have grown spinach, radishes, onions, courgettes and pumpkin. We have also grown potatoes and tomatoes, planted flowers and a fruit tree and installed a new bench. On our garden shed we have painted templates.

As a thank you gift, we gave Emma a book of photographs and a DVD on fruit growing.

Bernie Forshaw, who takes over from Emma, trained at Hadlow College near Tonbridge.Allan James WinstanleyOld Dairy, Tunbridge Wells

SMART MOVEEditorial panel member Daniel, from Ilford, has been awarded his karate orange belt, passing with merit. Dan is now looking forward to working

towards his black belt.

LOST SOCKSby Brian Harrington

I am the odd sock manI come from down your wayI've loads of socks like this indoorsIs not all that I'm prepared to say

Why do I wear odd socks?The thing is why not.The amount of odd sock people I've met in my lifeI have long since forgot

Folk tend to look at youThey stand, they point, they stareWhy shouldn't I be acceptedFor what I choose to wear?

A sock is a sock and all thatNo matter what colour or hueI think I ought to startAn odd sock societyThat's what I think I'll do

Odd sock wearers can sit aroundGet to know each other and chatCompare the odd sock storyAnd have a cup of tea andA biscuit and that.

Gradually we'll break down the barriersAnd I'm optimistic that before longOdd sock wearers will pull them up in publicHold their heads up and feel strong

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New black: Dan gains orange

ROY'S ON THE ROADLong Lane customer Roy is over the moon with his new car. Neighbour Peter isn’t on his passenger list. ‘Too noisy,’ says Roy. Gillian has her own car but Maud, he says, is welcome. Mum, he adds, will have to sit in the back. 'It’s my car and I sit in the front,’ he says. It’s safe to say that Roy is car-mad. He has done a painting of his car, in matching blue, and his holiday last September included an outing to Beaulieu National Motor Museum in Hampshire. Roy is one of four people with learning disabilities who live at our Long Lane scheme in Essex.

Roy was so excited when his car first turned up that sat in the footwell by accident

A DAY AT THE PANTOMINEIvydale Road had a rip-roaring time at pantomine Aladdin before Christmas, happily booing the baddies and singing along.

John, Princess, Diane, Robert, Teresa, Zaena, Nathan and Israel took their

seats among other guests at the Shaw Theatre.

The star-spangled line up included Ben Richards from The Bill as the evil Abanazar and Britain’s Got Talent semi-finalist La Voix as Widow Twankey.

The costumes were incredible and there were plenty of jokes, lots of banter, and a fantastic soundtrack that included live music.

The best bit, we agreed, was the cast using water pistols, or hiding from them in the audience.

All in all, it was a fantastic day out.

Star-spangled: off to Aladdin