Weinterests.wanted to use this edition of the newsletter to share with you the different groups that run, and provide a glimpse into the kind of things you could do. We have worked with members of each of our groups to provide a short article around that theme. The details of each group can be found at the bottom of the page of each section. We will also be sharing the concluding part of our Interview with Jon Wheeler, the CEO of Advocacy for All, which we shared with you in our last edition. We would like to give a special thanks to all the contributors for their articles. We hope you enjoy all the articles included in this edition as much as we did writing them. We hope you are all keeping well, and we look forward to seeing you in the Kinggroups.regards, the Newsletter Team
Welcome to this edition of the Kent ASC newsletter, all about celebrating our Kent ASC groups
Within Kent ASC, we have lots of different groups that run, meeting both online and in person. These groups cover a wide range of hobbies and interests that the group members have, and provide an opportunity for like minded people to meet together to share in those
Would you like to submit an article for future editions? Perhaps you have a topic in mind that you would like us to cover? Submissions are always greatly appreciated, so keep them coming. Please contact Susie (susannah.moorefinch@advocacyforall.org.uk) to find out more.
There's one of the statutory advocacy types that we don't currently provide much for, and that’s Mental Health Act work. We have done in the past, but not currently. That would be really useful for us to go into that work, because it means that when local authorities come out with big contracts, we can tick every box.
9) Do you think Advocacy for All would consider expanding it’s autism provision to areas other than Kent.? Absolutely and unequivocally, yes. We want to. I'm tremendously proud of the services in Kent, and the staff and volunteers are magnificent. Ware looking to do it in other places. I regularly talk to commissioners in other areas about the services in Kent, and they're really interested in it, particularly some of the newer projects. We are really trying to look to how we can replicate what this great work in other areas
10) What other types of advocacy do you think Advocacy For All should get involved in? For example, employment, DWP, mental health etc I think there is two or three areas. First, there are the areas I think we should work in because it is important: Things like employment, DWP, housing, benefits, because these are the things people tell us are really important to them. People want help at the time when they need it and my experience is it’s those times when you get a letter from DWP or when your benefits need to be reapplied for, for example. I think that services are very good at putting into one box, and not recognising that sometimes people don’t fit into a box, or may fit into multiple boxes. For example, people who have autism and metal health challenges. They don't recognize that people have different kind of issues or different needs at different times in their life, as we all do. I would like to offer more of that “community advocacy”.
Please enjoy Part 2 of our interview with Jon Wheeler, the CEO of Advocacy for All, who we interviewed as part of the Advocacy for All 25th Anniversary celebrations.
These are the “new things” that local authorities are currently focused on and say are important, but they were just as important 5 or 10 years ago, and will still be important years from now. People need to be able to make the choices that are the best for them, and be supported to make them. No one should be forced into making a choice that they are no comfortable or ready for.
In this part, the group ask Jon about other types of advocacy, celebrity patrons, and find our more about Jon himself. Enjoy!
Jon: That is a good point. A question I often have is, is it the people themselves that actually want to be pushed in that direction, or is it that services are deciding that, for example, everyone with autism should have a job? We should all have access to those resources if we want to, but I can come across, as you say, a bit “buzzwordy”.
Tom: There are a lot of buzzwords around at the moment in regards to autism, like ‘employment’, ‘mental health’, which are the topics that keep coming up.
Interview with Jon Wheeler – Part 2
I think there are a couple of other areas that often don't get covered with advocacy, such as domestic violence, drug and alcohol issues, modern day slavery, refugees, which are really important topics that don't have a lot of support. There is more support needed to help these people have a voice, and help them navigate through some very difficult systems and processes. I think that would be interesting to do more work around.
11) Do we have any patrons or celebrity supporters at Advocacy for All? And who do you think would make a good supporter for us?
I think having patrons is really important. Do any of you have any suggestions of who might be a good person for us to work with?
For us it is a difficult position. We have to be able to offer services that are relevant, or we won’t get the funding to do our work. It can mean that we end up doing things because it is what the local authority tells us they want, as opposed to doing things we want to do, or what were a being told by members or clients that they want us to do. It is a fine balance, and we always try to find the money to be able to do those things we would like to do and our members would like.
We don’t currently have a patron, but it would be great to have one. Advocacy for All did have a patron before my time, James Cleverly was a supporter for us, and at the time was the local MP for Bexley and Bromley for the Tory government. It became problematic, as he voted against the proposed benefits increase for people with disabilities, which made his position as the patron for Advocacy for All a bit awkward! It was a lesson to use too, to make sure we double check who we ask to be a Therepatron!are some people who I think would make really good patrons for us. I think the person who I really admire is Chris Packham, and I think he may be an obvious choice for lots of people. I love his integrity and honesty. I saw a program recently where he was walking along the Wither into Winchester where he lives, and was heartbreakingly honest. Someone like him would be fabulous.Although I do know people who really dislike him because they dislike his politics. There's a couple of rugby players who are autistic or who have autistic children. There's a guy called Johnny Mae who plays for Gloucester, who is autistic. He’s spoken really interestingly about what having autism means for him as a professional sportsman. His whole career has been based on hard work and understanding how he operates, so I think he could be a good choice. The other person is a guy called Brian Moore, who was a rugby player and is now a commentator. He’s mixed race, and was fostered as a child in, what he calls, a ‘rainbow family’. He's half Malaysian, but he was brought up in a family with a whole range of different cultures. He has really maintained the importance of that, when a lot of local authorities would want to place children with people from the culture they are from. I can understand both sides, but his experiences of it is fascinating to listen to. He experienced abuse as a child, and from that has great insight into understanding the rights of children. He’s also a qualified barrister and qualified nail bar technician as well as a professional rugby player, so he has a wide range of experience!
Tom: I agree that Chris Packham would be interesting.A lot of autistic people I speak to see him as a good role model. I think he is involved with the NAS (National Autistic Society).
Group: Yeah, she could be good.
Jon: Yeah. Gloucester is my rugby club, and Gloucestershire is my cricket team. Who do you support, Cristian? What sports do you follow?
Cristian: My football team is problem Man[chester] United. My Rugby club is probably Bath.
I think I’d have a few choices! Definitely a sports based one would be lovely. But I’m also a gardener. I absolutely love gardening, and I constantly get cuts hands! I don't wear gloves, as I just love the feel of the soil! I love the feel of planting and digging.
Jon: Absolutely. Those are some good suggestions, thank you.
Jon: I agree, nice shirts! Very nice shirts, actually.
12) What is your favourite sport or hobby? Cricket and rugby are my absolute passions.
Jon: Excellent. I’ve been to bath loads, and I used to go watch them regularly. So I've always got a real soft spot Bath, even though they’re not having the greatest season currently!
Jon: Well, I supportAston Villa, so whether that counts of liking football or not, Cristian, you'd be able to properly tell me! I watch most sports but cricket and rugby my absolute passions.
I'm a very good digger; basically, I've just got brute force and ignorance! So I just dig, a lot. I like planting and I love the feeling of the soil. I love seeing stuff grow. I think a gardening group would be a good option for me.
Cristian: I shall admit, one of the main reasons I like Bath is because I like their colour too!
Cristian: Not football?
13) If you could run a group at Advocacy for All, what would you do?
Tom: I think it is really positive to see people who have been diagnosed as autism, and lived their life with it, and have managed to have success and a profile, it is quite heartening to see. That you have had some struggles and still managed to succeed, and you are using your platform now to help others. Though they may not work directly with those who work with and support autistic people, for me, it is nice to see someone like myself represented, and represents us as community. That has to be a good thing, even if you don’t particularly care for the person themselves. It is good to see someone succeeding who you can relate to.
Cristian: You mentioned you support Gloucester in the rugby?
Cristian: What about Anne Hegarty? Who is on The Chase?
Also, the Kent ASC groups have put together an Artvocacy brochure, with 25 pieces of art work made by our Kent group members, to celebrate the 25th Anniversary. You’ll see a sneak peak later!
Susie: We’ll have to get you down to the Bexley allotment, Jon!
Jon: I could probably bore you all about sport, and I hope you could bore me back!
I did at one time run a picture framing cooperative for people with learning disabilities. So we used to make picture frames, and then frame people’s photos and artwork, which was great. It worked as a business but also a service the community benefitted from. Perhaps I could do something like that, being creative and artistic.
Not necessarily a description most people would attach to me! But it would be an interesting one to run.
For those who are interested in sports, I think sports are a wonderful thing for bringing people together. One of the principles of rugby in particular is that is not, you know, tribalistic, which football sometimes can be. I've been to some brilliant matches at Twickenham, where I stood in a crowd of 60 80,000 people, next to people who you know are supporting the opposition, and it’s just a wonderful atmosphere.
Jon: I’d love to come!
Cristian: Were you able to attend any of the rugby world cup tickets when it in England?
14) What is Advocacy for All doing this year to celebrate it’s 25th Anniversary?
Yes, there will be events happening during the year. We're just in the planning stages [at the time of the interview]. One thing we really want to focus on is celebrating what we've done over 25 years, and the fabulous people we have worked with, both clients and members as well as the staff, volunteers and trustees. Over the last 25 years, there has been some amazing and interesting stories, and it is wonderful hearing them. When those stories are shared, it’s really uplifting. Tom, it’s like what you were saying about role models earlier. Hearing about the things we have done and achieved is really inspiring for me to hear, and it really reinforces for me why we do what we do. We want to celebrate these successes. We want to celebrate where we came from, and all the work that has been put in by everyone involved. It is also an opportunity to share all we have done with other organisations who may want to support us or work with us.
I am the second CEO of this charity, and I really have to acknowledge the work our founding CEO, Vivienne, put in at the beginning for so many years. She was just brilliant, and she set it up from scratch really. It is really important for her to be involved in our celebrations, as we wouldn’t be where we are today without her. And that goes for everyone, present and historical, who have worked at Advocacy for All.
Jon: Unfortunately I didn't. I tried for tickets and didn't get one sadly. But I would love to go. I want to go to the next one in France. I'd love to go to the final in France!
Since this interview, there was a 25th Anniversary celebration in Bromley, to mark the occasion. With this edition of the newsletter, you will also get the latest newsletter from Bromley Together, highlighting the celebration (you may see some photos in there of people you know!)
Susie: We’re also always looking for something more sporty, as that is one of the gaps in our Kent groups. So, if you’re looking for a new job….?
A big thank you to Jon, for coming a chatting with us for the day, and for answering all of our questions!
Do you have a message to our Kent members, and readers of the newsletter?
First of all, it's been an absolute pleasure listening to you and talking to you today, and thank you for your time. I'd love to hear more. I'd love to come to along to some of your events and sessions in the future. We can only be better if we know what we're doing wrong. And what we could do better or differently doesn't necessarily have to be about good and bad. It's about differently. So I really encourage and welcome any comments and if it's easier for me to attend a group like this either online or in person, let me know. I want to hear what people think; I want to hear where we do things well, and what new opportunities there are. We get great ideas from our group members; from people who have that lived experience, and they are great at telling us what we should be doing and what doesn't work. So, yeah, please be involved. Keep involved with groups. If there's anything we can do better or differently, please let me know and get the message to me and I'm always really happy to come and listen.
Also, a big thank you to Tom, Cristian, and Richard, for conducting the interview, and the whole newsletter team for putting together the questions.
15)
Our Favourite Games
Tom: I enjoy playing video games on the PlayStation and Xbox. The are probably among some of the most popular games at the moment! There’s a game called ‘Grounded’ that I have really enjoyed, where you have been shrunken down like in ‘Honey, I Shrunk the Kids!’, and you have to navigate around the garden to find what you need to become big again, whilst fighting off ants and insects! That’s really good.
Susie: My favourite computer game is the Sims. In particular, I love Sims 3. The Sims is a life-simulation game, where you create people, or Sims, and play their life, make them a home, and help direct their moods or desires. I enjoy trying to create the most bizarre and surreal life I can, and giving my Sims crazy jobs and homes! Currently, I have a home of 6 adults, who are trying to create the perfect meal for a restaurant critic.
Cristian: I have enjoyed playing Monopoly with mates before. There are lots of different types of Monopoly. I wonder, do McDonalds Monopoly work in the same way as the board game does? There are physical prizes you can win. Monopoly is one of my favourite games. I would like to play the Weakest Link board game I have heard about. Anne Robinson voices some of it. You take it in turns to answer questions, like on the show, and at the end of each round someone is eliminated. You are the Weakest Link, goodbye!
D&D is one of my favourite games, and I love playing it with friends. I am part of a campaign at the moment. It is a fantasy table top role playing game. I am playing a Harengon, which is similar to a humanoid bunny. It is also a ranger, so they attack with a bow and arrow. Our game is set in an Alice in Wonderland style fantasy world. We have seen giant snails, swamps and witches so far! We have only just started, but I am looking forward to see what adventure we go on! I have a nice set of metal dice.
Richard: There is a games group I have been going to at the library I volunteer at. I recently enjoyed playing Exploding Kittens. Everyone in the game gets a hand of card, and you take it in turns to draw a card from the deck and play card from their hand. You have to be careful though, because you may draw an Exploding Kitten! If you are lucky, you might have a defuse card in your hand to defuse the Kitten bomb. If not, you are out. You can attack your opponents too.
The games group is held: Every Monday, at 2pm, on zoom. There are also some local groups in Ramsgate and Gravesend. The group is hosted by: David Hawthorn. To find out more, please contact David.Hawthorn@advocacyforall.org.uk: If you live near Cliftonville or Margate library, do come along their games sessions. Richard, one of our newsletter contributors, has reported they are good fun! Cliftonville library: d=0&lid=81&uprn=100062305105https://Margatehttps://local.kent.gov.uk/kb5/kent/directory/service.page?id=SSbc2AdSY0kLibrary:webapps.kent.gov.uk/KCC.Libraries.Web.Sites.Public/LibraryDetails.aspx?ai
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tQ0yjYUFKAESoontonumber
For once, my contribution to this edition will not be about sport. Rather, the subject for my piece is music. Now, I regularly listen to all kinds of music, but my favourite genre has to be pop. I am going to pick out 5 artists and one of their songs, and discuss why I like it. So ‘let’s hit play’!
The first artist I have picked out is Canadian singer-songwriter Justin Bieber. Only two years and 17 days older than me, he is an artist whose songs were “all the hype” during my teens and early 20s, and has, in the words of Wikipedia, ‘played an influential role in modern day popular music’. The song of his that catches my eye is “Peaches”, the fifth single from his sixth studio album “Justice”, released in March 2021, and which also features vocals from fellow Canadian artist Daniel Caesar, as well as US singersongwriter Giveon. What I like about it is it’s rather relaxing, midtempo funk melody, with a hint of West Coast bounce thrown in, as well as the chorus’ lyrics mentioning “Georgia” and getting his “weed [cannabis] from California”. Plus too, the music video, in which Bieber wears a distinctive puffer jacket, and a peach-coloured suit, which looks simply stunning.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bx1Bh8ZvH84
two of my selection, which is British rock band Oasis, formed in Manchester in 1991, and active from then until 2009. The party initially consisted of 4 members: Liam Gallagher, Paul Arthurs, Paul McGuigan, and Tony McCarroll; they were later joined by Liam’s elder brother Noel, to make up a quintet. The song I have selected is “Wonderwall”, recorded at studios in Wales in May 1995, and released (in the UK) on October 30 the same year. It is set at a similar pace to a moderate dance groove. I like the song’s melody, as well as the lyrics, e.g. ‘and all the roads that lead you there are winding // and all the lights that light the way are blinding’; the official video is black and white, though it does in one scene show a blue guitar.
My Favourite Music By Cristian
The group is hosted by: David Hawthorn
Number three of my selection is one that I’ve selected more because of the song than the artist. It is Puerto Rican singer-songwriter Ricky Martin’s first English-language single, “Livin la’ vida loca”. The song is the lead single from Martin’s eponymous fifth studio album, released in March 1999. It is a Latin pop song, about a ‘wild woman’ who tries to entice others to live her lifestyle. I like the track’s melody and Latin beat, and especially like listening to it in July and August, in the back garden on a hot, sunny day. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p47fEXGabaY
To find out more, please contact David.Hawthorn@advocacyforall.org.uk
The fourth act of my selection is an electronic band, formed in London in 1994, called Faithless. It disbanded in 2011 (but subsequently reformed in 2015), and consisted of Maxi Jazz, Sister Bliss and Rollo. The song is “Tarantula”, the third single from their third studio album Outrospective. I shall admit a major reason why I’ve chosen this one is that a remixed version was the BBC’s theme tune for it’s coverage of the 2002 soccer world cup. But I also like the electronic, fast paced beat, and the official video, which starts off with a scene of a bath plughole, and concludes in a nightclub. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KwufrpEDF9MAndso,toroundoffmyselection
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vQCirTog0cs
The music group is held: Every Monday, at 5.30pm, on zoom
is the highest selling Australian of all time, having sold over 80,000,000 records worldwide, Miss* Kylie Ann Minogue - *despite being 54yrs old, she has never married. She recently returned to Aussie after 3 decades living and working in London. I like many of her songs, but the one I have picked for the article is “Come into my World”, from her eighth studio album, Fever (2001). What catches my eye to this one is more the accompanying video. Filmed on September 8, 2002, at the junction of Rue du Pont du Jour with Rue de Solferino in Paris, the clip depicts Minogue being duplicated every time she completes a loop, so that, near the end, it appears as if there are four Kylies in amongst the city folk. Just as the video ends, a fifth Kylie appears just as the picture fades out. It sounds a bit complex to explain, but if you watch the video, it’ll all make sense:
September.
group members. The brochure is due to be released on 1
25
celebrate the
our Kent
just for you!
more, please Annie.Miller@advocacyforall.org.ukcontact susannah.Moorefinch@advocacyforall.org.ukor 25 Years of Artvocacy with AFA
To
To 25th Anniversary of some of members have put together with pieces of by st Here is a sneak peak
Advocacy for All,
25th Anniversary Art By Kent ASC
an Artvocacy collection,
art and music created
The art group is held: One the last Monday of the month, at 6pm, on zoom The group is hosted by: Annie Miller find out
And now imagine that you are sitting beside a stream that is flowing gently by you. Take a look around you and let your imagination fill in the details of the scene. Notice the stream, and perhaps some trees around you. Bring your awareness to some leaves that are floating down the stream.
For the next few minutes, we’re going to focus our attention on the stream.And whenever a thought comes into your head, whatever it’s about, we’re going to notice the thought, place it on the leaf and let it float away down the stream. We’re going to do this for all of your thoughts – pleasant and unpleasant –whatever comes up is ok. Just keep watching the stream, and noticing what comes into your mind. And when you notice something, place it on a leaf and let it float away. We’re not trying to get rid of these thoughts, rather just let them float on by us at their own speed. Some people find it helpful to have a kind, smiling facial expression when they’re placing their thoughts on a leaf. Perhaps try this and see how it works for you. You might get thoughts about being bored, or not doing this right. Just try to notice these thoughts if they come up, gently and kindly place them on a leaf and let them float away.
Sometimes you might get hooked into your thoughts before noticing what’s happened. Don’t worry if this happens, its normal and often happens. When you notice that it’s happened, just notice your thoughts, and gently out them on a leaf and let them float away. No matter how many thoughts come up, try to just notice them, place them on a leaf and let them float away.
Whenever thoughts come up for you, try to just notice them, gently and kindly place them on a leaf and let them float away.
The wellbeing group is held: Every Tuesday, at 7pm, on zoom The group is hosted by: Erika Hall
And when you’re ready, try to bring your attention away from the stream and back to the room around you – noticing the sounds, the feeling of contact with the floor and the chair – and then open your eyes. Leaves on a steam A guided meditation
In this exercise, we are going to imagine sitting by a stream, and as thoughts come to our head, we’ll try to see if we can let them go using the stream to help us. Start by finding a comfortable position and remember that we’re trying to become more aware of the here and now in this exercise, a bit like we’re trying to ‘fall awake’. When you’re ready, take a few deep breaths to help you settle into this exercise. Let the air fill your lungs, your tummy expanding to make room for this, and then letting the air empty from your body.
If a feeling comes up, maybe frustration or tiredness, simply notice it, saying “here’s a feeling of frustration” or “here’s a feeling of tiredness”, and then place those words on a leaf and let them float away.
To find out more, please contact susannah.moorefinch@advocacyforall.org.uk
lately. The Old Man and the (animation)Sea Curfew (thriller) Exit(SciStrategy-Fi) Code 8 (Superhero) Whiplash (drama) Lazy Boy (comedy)
To
, please
Film Recommendations from The Film Group
zoom The
and review them
The Film group is held: Every Friday, at 12.30pm, on group is hosted by: David Hawthorn find out more contact David.Hawthorn@advocacyforall.org.uk
a few short films each
In the film group, the group watch session, with score some group have watched
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Our local group meet ups have started up again this year. We now have multiple groups across Kent, meeting monthly.
I’ve been a member of the TonbridgeAFA group for nine years now, having first joined in 2013, after being referred by my social worker. Prior to that time, I had been reluctant to join any social groups, but a home visit by the Advocacy for all worker for West Kent at that time, Leonora Bennett was hugely encouraging in persuading me to attend.At the time of my joining, the Tonbridge group had yet to find a consistent meeting place, so our first meetings were in various cafes /venues in Tunbridge Wells, before we started to meet at the Tonbridge Mind centre. Over the years it has been a good source of support, with regular meetings to discuss autism related issues, as well as various group outings eating out in Tonbridge, or going bowling or to the cinema in Tunbridge wells as well as various events with other Kent AFA groups. Over the years, there have been varying members as well as attendance, though generally numbers have been consistently small. Then, after a couple of years, Leonora left as West Kent leader, followed by a transition period with Will Pook standing in, before Carol Detnon came along. Over the years, I’ve been very grateful for the huge amount of support and help given by Carol, as well as some very memorable occasions and days out. In particular, I remember one group outing, Christmas 2016, when the group attended a panto in support of one of our members. I remember this both for it being an enjoyable festive outing, but more so for the journey home afterward; getting rather lost while trying to get everyone safely home on a very dark and misty night, and a couple of anxious hours spent trying to navigate Kent country back roads in heavy fog and low visibility, eventually getting home around Inmidnightrecent
Local meet ups
years, the organisation of advocacy for all has changed - particularly since the start of the COVID 19 pandemic, with the organisation recruiting more volunteers in order to improve the service. This was beginning to take place in the early months of 2020, immediately before the lockdown started. For a while, over the rest of 2020 and the start of 2021, in accordance with the lockdown, there were no physical meetings of the Tonbridge group. Most meetings occurred online via Zoom, with a focus on specific group activities (e.g creative writing, book clubs, newsletters, quizzes, film and games etc) with meetings being centralised and members invited from Advocacy all for all groups in Kent.
Nick shares with us his experiences and memories as a long standing member of the Tonbridge group.
• Tonbridge • Gravesend • Broadstairs • Ramsgate • Hythe (NEW!) • Canterbury • Margate (NEW!) Make sure to check your calendar
In the summer of 2021, the vaccination programme began rolling out, resulting in restrictions being eased again after they had been tightened up again cumulating in the second lockdown. Groups meetings began to be organised again alongside the central activities on Zoom. However, due to various concerns about COVID, we were not able to return to the MIND building. The first meeting consisted of an outside walk in Tonbridge. Thereafter, there has been a mix of online and physical - some meetings still occurring via Zoom. For face to face meetings - we now have a new venue, with meetings taking at Planet JJ's, located near the railway station - which is a board game cakerywith an extensive selection of board games available as well as snacks, cakes and drinks.As a result we have been mainly meeting up once a month, to try out a variety of interesting board games, with this being the current pattern for the foreseeable future. ASC now has monthly meet ups in the following areas: to see who is running the group to find out about what is happening at the groups, and to get up to date details and future
more
Kent
invites.
Celebration A short story by Tom
Today we celebrate, today we reflect, today we rejoice in the people we have met. A celebration is a marker, it shows the significance of the passage of time, or an achievement that has been reached. It is a time for dressing up, smiling a lot and eating lots of nice, lovely food, drinking nice, expensive wine and basking in the glow and adoration of our friends.
Except, Cedric didn’t have friends, and none of his family were here with him to celebrate this big day. So, Cedric did what anyone would do, he cried and after a while stopped and looked around the room. There, on the curtains if he squinted just at the right angle, were magnificent lines of bunting. And though the food on his plate was sloppy and microwaved to death, if he breathed deeply and focused on the memory of food from long ago, he could imagine the loveliest Victoria Sponge sat there.And next to it the aroma of a scrumptious trifle, yum! There should have been music, but instead there was only the hum of the central heating and an orderly in the near distance cleaning one of the rooms down the hall. So, Cedric hummed and as if by magic, all the songs of yesteryear played on a loop. All the songs he remembered playing, on that big old gramophone, long consigned to the junk. Or was it in the junk? For, as Cedric gazed into the far corner, into the murky shadows, there surely, sat his old gramophone. What a surprise! Cedric smiled. His children, probably his eldest daughter Deborah, had sneaked in and placed it there. But Cedric knew it must be a surprise, so no mentioning is to Sister Eunice, he didn’t want to ruin the surprises the day had in store for him. As he ate the cake a voice, indistinguishable, via the metallic grill made an announcement, a dull and indiscernible instruction for an orderly, or nurse to come to ward so and so. But if Cedric listened closely he could hear it clearer, over the tannoy system for that was what it must be, Cedric had to come immediately to the main hall. Cedric leapt to his feet, and moved as fast as he could without pulling a muscle, he nabbed the cane in the corner and fled his room to greet the people surely waiting in the main hall. The halls themselves were a maze, like Theseus in the Labyrinth he traversed each corridor on his merry mission. The wards were quiet, it must be late. Time seemed to have slowed down the last two years, but now it sped along, like he was in his old car back in the day, here he was tearing down the corridors towards this his happiest of birthdays. There were two doors here, unlocked, and the void of darkness beyond must surely be the main hall he had been summoned to. Cedric squinted through the frosted glass, there in the darkness he could see an ordinary stacked mass of chairs. But on closer inspection he could see huddled crowds of people, trying very hard to hide in the darkness, Cedric smiled and feigning ignorance, opened the door loudly announcing his presence.
To find out more, please contact David.Hawthorn@advocacyforall.org.uk
“Why celebrating, you old goat, think I’d turn down a knees up with my old pal eh? No chance!”
Someone, a young wag he thought he had lost touch with years ago, joked and ribbed him, “Why the old boy looks white as a sheet, thought we’d forgotten eh?” he ribbed him. “Archie Dick! Why, what are you doing here?” Cedric grinned, in joy at his dear old friend being here with him.
The lights flashed on, brighter than starlight, and he was met at once, by yells of “Surprise!” and a young woman who must surely have been Deborah, beaming at him, “Happy Birthday Dad!”
“Yes, in the hall, frightened to death, and he turned and just started hugging her,” Deborah paused a little bit of sadness about her, mixed in with the anger, “she said he called out my name as he hugged her, in between the crying, he must have been so scared…”
Mike paused, “She was the one that found him, wasn’t she?”
Deborah fumed. Leaving a vulnerable old man like my father to die like that, unsupervised and alone in the dark, he must have been terrified, and so scared. Mike looked up, he had been listening to Deborah complain of the neglect her father had suffered at the hands of a health service that had failed her father, only nodding and half agreeing with what was said.
“I’d told them to put a lock on that door, but no, nobody bloody listens to me! And now look, a heart attack in the dark.”
Probably rushed off her feet I know, and yes, maybe she is overworked, but leaving my father alone in his state - no that is inexcusable.”
The Creative Writing group is held: 1st Monday of the month, at 11am on zoom The group is hosted by: David Hawthorn
Archie turned away and spoke to one of the other guests and Cedric looked over and around, there were so many faces here so many, Deborah and her husband Mike came over and spoke warmly, Deborah hugged him tight, tighter than she had in years. Cedric felt like crying tears of joy running down his face, the tears wouldn’t sto *
“Disgraceful!”
“Well said,” said Mike, “are you got to lodge a complaint?” and with that returned to his perusing of the paper over his coffee.
“You’re damn right I am! That nurse of his, Eunice for one, she needs the sack.
Word Search – Groups edition
The Ladies Group is a group just for the women of our membership!
The group is an opportunity for our women to get together, socialise, and support each other and their wellbeing. The group share experiences they have had through their autism and through being female. There is also always time for a chit chat and tea!
“The group is a great place to share your experiences with others and feel comforted, knowing that they can understand me”
The Ladies Group
“I find the ladies group a great place to speak with others that share the same experiences as me and this makes me feel understood and valued”
Here are some quotes from our ladies on why they enjoy this group
To find out more, please contact jan.Williams@advocacyforall.org.uk
“I find the ladies that run the group really understand me.”
The group is hosted by: Jan Williams and Kelly Phoenix
The Ladies group is held: on zoom and in person (Canterbury)
The Sci-Fi and Fantasy group is held: Every 2nd Monday of the month, 2pm, on zoom The group is hosted by: David Hawthorn To find out more, please contact David.Hawthorn@advocacyforall.org.uk
Sci Fi and Fantasy Our sci fi and fantasy group enjoy exploring all things in these genres, from books to film, TV to comics, games to documentaries. Members often bring new things to share with each other Take a look at some of the interesting things the group have looked at over the last few months.
any of these titles? What would you recommend to the group?
: Every 3rd
Here are
the books they
The book club have been running for some time, and have enjoyed reading a wide range of genres and themes. They have covered fiction and non-fiction book. some of have read over the last year. Have read
you
To find out more, please contact David.Hawthorn@advocacyforall.org.uk
The Book Club is held Monday of the month, 11am, on zoom The group is hosted by: David Hawthorn
Book Club
Quiz
2. Chris Packham (CBE) is an English naturalist and TV presenter. He hosts Springwatch, as well as other nature focused shows. Chris won an episode of Mastermind in 2011. What was his specialist subject? a) The music of The Jam b) Honeybees c) The Battle or Rorke’s Drift
1. Anne Hegarty is an English quizzer, famous for being a chaser on ITV’s The Chase. How many episodes of The Chase has Anne won? a) 415 b) 331 c) 196
5. Gary Numan is an English singer songwriter, best known for songs such as ‘Cars’ and ‘Are Friends Electric?’. Gary Numan is a stage name. He has had many stage names over the years. What was one of them? a) Stiletto b) Lazer c) Valerian
4. Sir Anthony Hopkins is a WelshActor, well known for his performances on film, television, and on stage. One of Sir Anthony’s most famous roles was as Hannibal Lecter in the film The Silence of the Lambs. How many awards in total did he win for this film?
a) 4 b) 8 c) 12
Test your knowledge with this quiz all about famous people with autism. Eagle eyed readers may recognise this quiz – no cheating!
3. Dan Ackroyd is a Canadian actor, best known for his roles in Blues Brothers and Ghostbusters. What instruments does Dan‘s character play in Blue’s Brothers? a) Harmonica b) Saxophone c) Piano
9. Susan Boyle is a Scottish singer, who rose to fame by competing in Britain’s Got Talent. Susan’s debut album ‘I Dreamed A Dream’ became the best selling debut album of all time in the UK. Who’s record did she beat?
a) Arctic Monkey’s (Whatever People Say I Am, That’s What I’m Not) b) Leona Lewis (Spirit) c) Craig David (Born to Do It)
8. David Byrne is a singer songwriter, best known for being a member of the band Talking Heads. In the Talking Heads song ‘Drugs’, David sings with an eerie, breathy voice. How did he achieve this effect?
10) Courtney Love is an American singer-songwriter. As well as being a musician, Courtney is an accomplished actress. One of her roles got her a Golden Globe nomination. What was the name of the film?
a) $872,000 b) $968,000 c) $1,025,000
a) Smoking a cigarette while singing b) Jogging on the spot while singing c) Whispering as he sang
6. Tara Palmer-Tompkinson was an English socialite, and appeared on several reality TV shows. Tara was a contestant on the first series of ‘I’m A Celebrity, Get Me Out of Here!’ in 2002. What position did she finish?
7. Elon Musk is an entrepreneur and founder of Tesla cars. Elon purchased the submarine from the Bond film ‘The Spy who Loved Me’ at auction. How much did it cost him?
a) Sid and Nancy b) Man on the Moon c) The People vs Larry Flint The Quiz group is held: Every last Thursday of the month, 2pm, on zoom The group is hosted by: David Hawthorn To find out more, please contact David.Hawthorn@advocacyforall.org.uk
a) 1st b) 2nd c) 3rd
The changes to Open Mic by Susie
To find out more, please contact susannah.moorefinch@advocacyforall.org.uk
Over time, however, as can be the nature of things sometimes, people didn’t always want to perform, and sometimes they wanted to do other things. We moved the group to being monthly, and we decided to try some other things, whilst keeping to that ‘pub night’ feel Open Mic has always had. We have had quiz nights, game tournaments, sharing music like on a jukebox, and we still do traditional open mic nights too. The group pick what they would like to do for the following month, and we have a fun evening. We have our group of ‘pub regulars’, but we also welcome anyone who wants to join in the fun. So, if you would like to come along, join us at the virtual Pub AFA!
The group is hosted by: Susie Moorefinch
Back before Covid times, Advocacy for All was approached by two social workers from Kent County Council Nic and Adam. They wanted help to run a group to encourage some of the people they supported socialise and have a good time. They had a few people they knew of who were musically talented and creative, and they wanted to create a space where those things can be shared. They wanted an opportunity for people to perform their talents, and for other people to enjoy the show and company. They wanted a late night feel to the Openevent.Mic was born! We worked with those social workers to create the concept of something similar to an Open Mic night at a pub, where people who wanted to perform, whether it be music, karaoke, stand up comedy, poetry, or anything they wanted to share, could come along and do so. It would be a relaxed atmosphere. Those who wanted to join in for the social side were also encouraged to come to. A location was found, and initial plans were put in place. Then, as we all know, 2020 and Covid happened, which meant plans had to change quickly! The Open Mic sessions moved onto zoom, initially running every two weeks. Adam, Nic and Carol were there, and Linda joined in as a volunteer. We had many wonderful performances displayed, and everyone joined in the party vibe! We had poetry from Nic, Adam sang for us too, but we also had the wonderful talents of some of our members displayed. We had wonderful ukulele, keyboard, and singing performances. Some people shared their soundcloud links to share their music with everyone.
Open Mic is held: Last Thursday of the month, 8pm, on zoom
Answers Quiz answers: 1) B 2) C 3) A 4) C 5) C 6) B 7) B 8) B 9) B 10) C
Farewell to Carol wanted to take a moment to say farewell to the wonderful Carol Detnon, who has been the manager for Kent ASC for the last 3 years, and involved in Advocacy for All for 6 years.
We
zoom on Wednesday 31st August
the zoom, you will be very welcome! Look out for the zoom link Carol will send out soon!
Carol will be hosting a at 10.30am to like to come along to
Carol has been a wonderful part of the groups team, and we will miss her as she moves on. is going to work for the Maudsley NHS trust. We wish her the best of luck in the new role.
say goodbye to members. If you would
Carol
Stay in touch Carol!!!
Thank you for reading Look out for our next edition later this year Calendars are guide only and may be subject to change. Look out for the final version which will be emailed to you at the end of each month
