Issue 41 Spring 2021
Now spring is here we can get out and about and meet our friends and have a good time by Linda
Bromley Together Advocacy for All is an independent advocacy organisation and an equal opportunities employer. Charity no: 1064855.
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in this newsletter 3 4
Bexley Speaking Up
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At work SUG
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Media Team and CVT
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Bromley Speaking Up group
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A team training
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Bromley Together Ladies group Committee
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All Stars
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Bromley Together easy read guide
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Speaking up in Kent
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our news
Speak up Sutton Dates for your diary
our news Lovely photo of Paul and I. Can’t wait until I can hug him properly as virtual hugs are not the same as a proper hug. By Susie All through this pandemic I have been working and risking my own life. It has been a roll a coaster because the shops have been crazy full. It has made it feel a lot more risky.By Paul A big shout out thank you to Paul and all the essential key workers who have worked so hard and been so brave . We have another message from our wonderful member Laura who says don’t forget Hands Face Space Fresh air 3
group news
members joined a presentation about the
census with Nicola and Aleksandra
the ladies group has been sharing new skills
on zoom like yoga and dancing.
members spoke to Jane from health watch
Bexley about how we are affected by
lockdown and covid 19. also how to use online 66666 the allotment We are looking forward to visiting our allotment. We are planning to plant vegetables or fruit or even flowers. our planting boxes shed for tools social area fence outside 4
starting my online business My business which I first set up with my father is to sell old things that interest people and remind them of things in their past These might be football shirts or records or Harry Potter bits and pieces. The website is called Memorabilia Items. These are items that customers like to collect. We might also design and sell mugs and t shirts. Even with a disability you can set up a business. Have a think about what you could do and have a go. When you run a business, you need to keep all your money matters written down. There are sites that can help you with this e.g. quick books. This app helps you keep track of your money. With a selling business you can use things like eBay to help you find more people to buy your stock. You also need space to store stock. By Mark
members collected smiles by sharing jokes what do you get when you pour hot water into a rabbit hole?..... hot cross bunnies
did you hear what the butter said? …
I better not say or you’ll spread it!
what did the fish say to the flour?....... don’t batter me!
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This service is provided by Advocacy for All
At Work Speaking Up Group for people in Bromley with
Learning Disabilities Autistic Spectrum Conditions To talk about jobs, working and the workplace
A forum to meet other members to share stories and experiences
To have a voice Members meet via Zoom On the last Tuesday of the month at
To find out more about joining this free speaking up group Getting money out Contact: Tina on 07519 119377 Email: tina.mangar@advocacyforall.org.uk Advocacy for All are working in partnership with Bromley Well Funded by Bromley Council. Advocacy for all is an independent advocacy organisation and is an equal opportunities employer. 6
At Work Speaking Up Group Me, my work, my role and challenges I’m Juan and I am a peer supporter on 2 projects with Advocacy for All. I’m the taking notes guy, the report guy as well as mailing out flyers guy. I do planning and reminding members about coming onto zoom meetings. I find it challenging in a meeting when one person is talking and I try to write down what they say. It is hard when another person is talking over them. I find it hard to hear things sometimes but members come with good ideas. It is important to listen and try to help them if I can. I like working because it keeps me busy. The people I work with are amazing because they listen to how I like to work. They support me to challenge and improve . Thoughts about work lockdown and relationships
I thought my life had ended. I am a people person. It’s about adapting to new things Rudeness, travel and clothes hangers I didn’t know how to use Zoom, didn’t have a clue. But once I practiced it wasn’t scary anymore. Friendliness, camaraderie. Being treated like a human being 7
Media Team Abandoned, Forgotten and Ignored. The impact of Covid 19 on Disabled People
The media team have been very busy reaching out to lots of media groups like the bbc . We want to link up with them to get our voice heard and fund raise. We have continued our work about DNR - which stands for Do not Resuscitate . please read our Easy read report and look out for our video. We are doing this so that lessons are learnt and this doesn’t happen again. People with a learning disability need to be better supported and our lives valued more by health services.
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Creative Voices Together
custard
yellow
banana
rubarb
The group has been doing work about words and feelings . Sarah played a game with us Have a go with family or friends Word string game Take turns to say the first thing that pops into your head We are collecting people’s thoughts about the last covidyear At our AGM in the summer (dates to follow) we are working with Nathan on an art mannequin project and presentation. Thank you Nathan for being such a great volunteer Good
Bad
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The following two pages will be about the Bexley Bromley and Sutton Zoom groups happening on Tuesdays and Fridays. Since Lockdown started in March 2021 our members meetings have been online. We wanted to reach out to members to see what is happening in their lives. So we created a website called “Living in Lockdown.” The site is called www.livinginlockdown.org
Members have sent in photos and wrote some words to tell us how they were doing. While we were seeing you all online at Zoom meetings, we really wanted to know what living in lockdown meant for you.
The Living In Lockdown site also has resources that you can download We have put newsletters on to read, activity worksheets with writing and drawing exercises and advice on how to have positive relationships. Please go to the website and enjoy! 10
Every week through January till March, Bromley members have shared their Zooms with Bexley Speaking Up and some members from Sutton. We have been meeting twice a week Tuesday evening and Friday afternoon. In our meetings there was a mixture of chat (sharing news, highlights and pictures of what they have been doing). We have also played games including Higher and Lower card game, Hangman, and Name That Tune. We also had guests come to speak to us. Nicola and Aleksandra talked about the census. We talked about how to fill it out and help and support members can get to fill it in. We also had learning disability nurses talking about the Covid 19 vaccines. Members have said “Having meetings clears my mind and great for my Mental Health and well-being.” “Via ZOOM Meetings, we can still get together and get to see each other face to face.” 11
Advocacy Advocacy for All bigger for All voices– better
lives
bigger voices– better lives
Keeping Safe With The A Team The A team have been refreshing their training skills
Using your voice and eye contact. With Sarah
17th March 2021 Listening Skills
A team in house training By Stephen Langley
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Advocacy for All
bigger voices– better lives Keeping Safe With The A Team
Using Games in training by Adam Southworth A team training March 2021 Gordon
easy read 13
Ladies Group Starting the new year we have kept ourselves busy
New Year 2021– Learning Something New Doing household chores Going for walks with a flask of tea Doing jigsaw puzzles Listening to music on the radio Writing to one another Chats on our Whatsapp group
someone showing me how to use Zoom on my new device managing to get onto zoom by myself learning to crochet rug making
you have the power!
Hopes
‘I can’t wait to get a hug from my boyfriend’- Susie ‘ I will try not Hopes to get upset’- Abigail Future ‘I want to help people to wash their hands to stay safe’
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Bromley Together Committee
Your committee needs you! We need 2 new members for the Bromley groups committee We need new people to help us raise our voices
you need to be good at listening
you need to be reliable
you need to be friendly
you need to have confidence and speak out
you need to follow the rules
we meet once a month
we have ideas for the groups
we are understanding If you interested contact Jan or Rachel 15
The Bexley members have been taking a trip down memory lane remembering the All stars Shuttle walks that they used to do with Chris. The All Stars are hoping to do the walk again and what a beautiful route it is. Duncan’s bird boxes are still looking good. Keep up the good work Duncan Chris and Erika walked the route in the beautiful sunshine checking it out for future walks. Good news! All stars walks started up again at the end of March Contact Erika or Chris or Jan if you are interested Spring is here and we are enjoying getting out and seeing each other again.
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All smiles after a flower quiz and bubbles. The Kelsey Park and Crystal Palace Park meet ups will continue through the summer months . Please come and join us 17
Bromley Together What we have been talking about at the members monthly meetings In January we had the Community Nurse from Oxleas called Vee come in to talk about the vaccination It was very good having Vee visit The information was useful. It is good to know Community Nurses can help By Gordon In February we had a bit of fun thinking about Valentines. We shared cards we had made for people and Dave gave us a quiz It was nice to get together to celebrate by Teresa
Model building - George
Art -Rhiannon In March we focused on hobbies that have kept us going during lockdown.
you have you have you have the power! the power! the power! Crafts - Polly
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Lots of people have been working on a Easy read guide to Bromley Well done everyone. It has been made to tell everyone about places that have things like easy access good places to eat places to shop and visit . This will be a great guide for our members and family and friends once lock down is eased. By George
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How the Kent group members have been keeping busy during lock down
A Book Review on H is for Hawk by Helen Macdonald
This book is about personal journey surrounding the author whilst undergoing her own process of grief after the sudden loss of her father in 2007.
Her father was a well respected photojournalist and an experienced falconer. In the past they both raised a northern goshawk together as well as going on plenty of walks through their magical woodland. In the beginning she describes the layout of the woods in a poetical way. To cope with her bereavement, Helen decides to raise and train another goshawk chick guided by her father’s knowledge. As time passes an extraordinary close bond starts developing between them which starts to change her life in unexpected ways . In the end she begins to accept her father’s passing with a final sense of closure and inner peace. I’d would recommend for all to read . This book was certainly one of those types that one can’t seem to put down and get enough of. 20
Learning to knit I’ve only started learning how to knit in the past few months. When I was a child it seemed that most women learnt how to knit at school and as adults would knit clothes for children and grandchildren. I didn’t have any wool or knitting needles to get started with so I made use of Next door, the Neighbourhood app I have downloaded on my tablet. It links you together with other people in your area. I posted a message that I wanted to start knitting but didn’t have any materials. Two people then donated me everything I needed to get started. It is a good way to begin if you don’t have much money. So far I have found the most difficult aspect of knitting is not the stitches themselves but keeping the tension of the wool consistent while you are knitting. I have found watching Youtube videos on knitting a very good way of beginning as I learn best when I can watch other people doing something and so on. At the moment, we are keeping things simple and just aiming to make squares that could later be made into a blanket. Taken from an article written by Kim 21
Speak up Sutton Life after Lockdown Take things one step at a time It is ok to feel anxious, because we have been indoors for a very long time. Don’t be afraid to step out. Written By Ian Bring back your old routines Relief of being stuck at home, and coming out now will do great things for my mental health. Written by Roger
Things will go back to where we started from. Written by Philip
Conversations It is important for people to meet up and have conversations for their mental health, not forgetting to still maintain social distance. Written by Lucy The normal things People should now be supported to have a normal life. It has been hard not been able to see family and friends. Written by Sharon 22
Action Voices
Making sure our Voices are heard The group has continued to hold sessions on zoom and have learned so much from each another. This has helped them to cope with lockdown. Congratulations to AV members on receiving certificates for participating in the COVID-19 National consultation for children and young people with SEND. Well done!
Info and advice research Hub with Dirk We have participated in the info and advice research project, used our IT skills on how to research for information RelationshipsWe spoke about good and unhealthy relationships. A said, ‘don’t go out with random people you don’t know.’ R said ‘respect ones’ choice and always be patient.’ Socially distanced park meetings It has been an absolute joy to meet in the park with SUS members. ‘it is always nice to see people face to face and catch up.’ 23
dates and events
Big Picnic Saturday 22nd May Crystal Palace Park Details to follow Sunday Socials with Ben
Bexley SUG are planning to go back into King Henry Hall 5th May Well done and a big thank you to our wonderful volunteers staff and members for their continued energy . Bromley Together will keep on meeting in Kelsey Park. We will let you know when things change The socials are starting up again. Ben and Jan will invite people by text or email
As we move to meeting up in person Zoom meetings will keep going for all the different groups and Every Tuesday 7pm Every Friday 4pm Thank you Isaac, Charlie and Annie
/advocacy4all /advocacyforall @biggervoice /biggervoices 24
www.advocacyforall.org.uk