Bexley Speaking Up Group
Trying new things
written by Stephen
My friend Duncan, invited me to his house to do woodwork. We made some bird boxes and a bee hotel which I enjoyed doing.
Some of the tools we used were a chop saw, drills, screws and screwdrivers. When using some of the tools, I needed to wear safety goggles and special headphones to protect my ears as the chop saw was quite loud.
We also spray painted the bee hotel in yellow paint. When we did spray painting, Duncan lent me an old jumper to stop the paint getting on my T Shirt.
Another time I went to Duncan’s, we made sausage carbonara which was nice. I really enjoyed it and would love to do it again.
Duncan is very good at teaching woodwork.
He is very creative with his wood and his food.
Trips out in 2024
O2 Cable Car
by Duncan
Ian, Josh, Tanya, Duncan, Chris, Stephen and Lucy went to the O2 to go on the cable car. I've never done it before.
We went up and we had a lovely view going across the water up and down as it went so quickly.
I liked going on the cable car going across the water as it was peaceful and I would do it again.
Museum Of The Mind
As a joint group of members of Advocacy For All , members from the Bexley and Bromley groups went to the Museum of the Mind. Benjay, George and Gordon had a chat about how we felt being there.
I felt weird as I was out of place because there was a lot to see but it was very difficult to interact as well as nowhere to feel calm.
We found out facts of information of the history of the hospital as King Henry VIII gave the land. There was an onsite clinic about people need's so they are not alone.
Travel was not that hard. It was easy to find with using the Superloop buses. We took a photo of our group at the Museum of the Mind. This trip was on the 19th of September.
Other places we visited
Ramsgate in August London Christmas lights
picnic at Crystal Palace Park
Cudham Activity Centre
Members of Bexley and Bromley speaking up groups went to the Cudham Activity Centre. We made pizzas, did some arts and crafts, sang, did some gentle exercises . And we laughed…...a lot
Cooking with Duncan
Doing homemade food means you can control what you can put into your meals. Vegetables are important for you as well as chicken. It’s healthier to make your own meals at home. Ask people if they are allergic to certain foods if you are cooking for others.
I was diagnosed with diabetes 2 to 3 years ago.
I drink hot water and hot lemon and ginger and I live life to the full. This will help clean your body from any bad stuff you can’t see in your body as well as what you eat.
i don’t drink alcohol because of my epilepsy and I don’t drink soft drinks because of the sugar.
I save money this way and it helps with my diabetes.
Here is a recipe I cook: chicken and vegetable bake
how to make a chicken and vegetable bake recipe: what to do
1 heat the oven: for an electric oven 180C for a gas oven gas mark 4
2 get a big ovenproof baking dish to serve 4 people
3 cut tomatoes and put on the bottom of the baking dish
4 cut the courgette into small pieces and put into the dish on top of the tomatoes
5 using a knife, cut through the middle of each avocado. Take out the stone and throw away
6 cut the avocados away from the skin and cut into small pieces
Our men’s group
We started our men’s group in 2024.
We meet at Geddes Place once a month. It is a private room and we feel we can talk about anything we want.
we talk about things that affect us daily. We can get things out of our system there are things that you prefer to talk about with other men when I was younger I’d feel intimidated. I’m not macho. People talk about you behind your back we can support and understand each other when we talk about our health
I fear being judged and peer pressure. Others used to criticise my choices.
Chris, our volunteer, is there to encourage and support us to speak up.
I can talk to Chris if there are any problems
there is trust in the group if there’s a problem we can talk to our supporter
there’s a lot of respect and comfort within the group it’s a safe space where you can just talk and feel understood
Out and about with Bexley
Geddes Place event
written by Duncan
Ben and Duncan did a presentation on promoting Advocacy For All and the Bexley Speaking Up Group.
There were lots of different charities and organisations selling their charities and organisations.
Both Ben and I took down notes. When it was our turn, I was nervous but we only read through our notes before hand. We guided each other when to share our speech.
I didn't realise the Bexley Councillor Rags Sandhu was there until after everyone did their speech.
When refreshments came, I got straight down to business selling myself to the charities and organisations.
They liked our speech and Bexley Councillor Rags Sandhu said he would like to come to our meeting. He gave us a business card so we can arrange for him to come to Geddes Place one evening. Ben and I got details of other people to keep in touch with Advocacy For All. A good meeting and we'll see what happens.
Councillor Sandhu came to our meeting in November. Read all about it in our next issue.
Bexley Speaking Up Group
Learning Disability Week at Bexleyheath Sports Club
coffee and a chat with Duncan at Geddes Place
We went to Bromley to join in with Disability Pride. An event run by X by X. We enjoyed Duncan’s presentation about his woodwork.
Out and About with Bexley
Positive Voices Conference
written by Stephen
At the beginning of October 2024 members of Bromley and Bexley speaking up groups went to Birmingham for 2 days for a Positive Voices conference.
We got 2 cabs there and back. The cab drivers were very helpful which was good. We stayed at a university in Aston which is in Birmingham.
We had a disco the night before the conference which was enjoyable. There were also members of Research Network who I’m part of.
At the conference there were lots of self advocacy groups from all over the country. The conference was interesting as a lot of the groups had their own presentations and hearing about what they are doing to make things better.
Bexley Speaking Up Group
Money Matters in Sutton
written by Duncan
Stephen and I went with Susie from Advocacy for All to Sutton to do a speech about the Money Matters crisis with people with a learning disability.
Stephen and I read the speech out to the Sutton members. I was confident in my speech as there were lots of opinions on what people had to say. Susie said she was in safe hands with Stephen and I.
I had lots to say as I was passing on my own experiences on living independently. Everyone was interested in what Stephen and I had to say, Susie said Stephen and I could understand what people could and couldn’t understand in our meeting. It’s like putting us in their shoes.
Some people had strong opinions as we had a question and answer session which I helped out on. That wasn't too bad.
Adrian drove me to Community House as Susie and Stephen and I got a cab to Sutton and back again.
When I got back home it had taken me around 45 minutes to get here by cab. Advocacy for All said they would pay for Stephen and I to get back home safely.
Allotment
My introduction to our allotment
Hello I’m Ben. I’ve been a member allotment in April 2024. We had just been donated soil, tools, plants, herbs and ickes.
Duncan and his brother got some from home and reclaimed some and they built 2 raised beds. We made sure that a water membrane was put down using stop flooding.
Bronze award
Members from Bromley and Bexley groups work hard at the allotment.
They were awarded a ‘Certificate of Achievement’ by Ruxley in Bloom. It was judged by The London Gardens Society.
Well done everyone
