CARING ACROSS SCOTLAND
Previously known as Circle of Care
• Spotlight on Adult Care Services • Focus On...Welcoming People • Safeguarding is for everyone with Learning Disabilities • Me and My Job: Allan Marshall • Caring Across Scotland
ISSUE 1 2016
IN THIS ISSUE
CrossReach Week The Moderator praises CrossReach’s work ‘as a jewel of our church’ Full story on page 4 OUR SERVICE AREAS
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Children and Family Counselling and Support Criminal Justice Homeless People
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Learning Disabilities Mental Health Older People Substance Misuse
providing a caring future
For more information visit:
www.crossreach.org.uk
DID YOU KNOW? CrossReach is about to appoint Dementia Ambassadors in all of its Learning Disabilities services following the pioneering initiative to have them in every CrossReach service for older people.
FEATURES Spotlight
Calum Murray explains why a New Year brings new challenges to Adult Care Services. Page 5 Safeguarding
John Duncanson outlines why safeguarding training is important for service users as well as staff.
News STORNOWAY Congratulations to The Shed, based at Martin Memorial Church in Stornoway, which won Best Church Building Project in the Christian Forum Funders Awards. The Shed is the base for the church’s youth and community services, offering a versatile space where groups can meet, teens can hang out and anyone who needs peace and quiet can find a private spot for reflection or to receive support. The Moderator visited the project during CrossReach Week.
DORNOCH
Page 6 Tackling the Wall
Alison Millar raised £4,000 for Auchinlee by walking the Great Wall of China and completing other challenges. Page 10
Oversteps Care Home in Dornoch lost power last winter in poor weather so Royal Dornoch Golf Club stepped in to ensure it won’t suffer another blackout during winter storms. The club spent more than £8,000 to buy a diesel generator as a back-up. The money was donated from the club’s Captain’s Charity Fund which is built up annually by two fundraising weekends. A ceremony was held when a cake in the shape of the generator was made for the residents.
Editorial CrossReach has been celebrating its 10th birthday and during CrossReach Week the Moderator of the General Assembly Rt. Rev. Dr. Angus Morrison was a guest at a birthday event with our service managers, and as you would expect a special cake was cut. A slide show of highlights from the past decade was shown and it was interesting to see the number of cakes cut for various celebrations such as openings and anniversaries. CrossReach certainly keeps bakeries in business! There is so much to be thankful for since CrossReach was launched and indeed the Moderator praised our work as being ‘a jewel of the church’. But we couldn’t do all our caring work without huge support from our volunteers – counsellors, people who help in places like the R&R café, our Congregational Supporters who distribute CrossReach News – and many others. The time and effort you put in means CrossReach can continue to make a real difference in the lives of people across Scotland. Thank you! If you would like to get in touch, please e-mail: news@crossreach.org. uk or write to: CrossReach News, Charis House, 47 Milton Road East, Edinburgh. EH15 2SR.
Hugh Brown, Editor
Published three times a year by CrossReach. Please feel free to use any material or articles contained in this magazine, with an appropriate credit. CrossReach, Charis House, 47 Milton Road East, Edinburgh. EH15 2SR. Telephone: 0131 657 2000, Fax: 0131 657 5000, Email: news@crossreach.org.uk
Social Care Council
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Operating as CrossReach Scottish Charity number: SC011353
A Gaelic version of CrossReach News is available to download from our website: www.crossreach.org.uk
www.crossreach.org.uk
Reflections My role as CEO provides many inspirational moments as I visit services and represent CrossReach at events across Scotland. As I reflect at the beginning of 2016 on the coming year I thank God for the year past and I hope you enjoy seeing in pictures some of the special moments I have been privileged to be part of. 2016 will I am sure bring many challenges and opportunities but I am assured of the prayerful support of our many supporters and of God’s guidance as we care and support individuals in Christ’s name. Staff Awards The commitment of staff is evident and at the heart of the services they provide. I am privileged to lead an organisation that provides opportunities for staff to develop and grow professionally. An organisation that increasingly consults the people we support in the shaping of our services (pic service user Millicent Evans – 2014 Volunteer of the year - in the picture is presenting the award). Recovery Volunteer Graduation A humbling experience to be part of the event with graduates who gave of themselves despite nerves and selfdoubt: “The purpose of looking back is to go forward. We are all the same. We are all on a journey. We all question ourselves. We all have to persist.”
Scottish Care, Care Home Awards Balmedie House was the joint winner of Care Home of The Year Achievement in recognition of consistent innovative and excellent service provision and The Elms was Finalist of the Dementia and Specialist Care Award.
Heart and Soul “Living Stones – Living Stories”. Heart and Soul provided visitors with a chance to see the real difference made by our work as we shared the living stories in the tent. It was also a good opportunity to see the work of the other councils and church based organisations.
‘Oomph’ at Queens Bay Lodge It is always a pleasure to drop in on your neighbours and for me that means dropping into Queens Bay Lodge and Peter Bailey Chief Executive Officer, Secretary of the Social Care Council
taking part in ‘Oomph’. Over the past year the neighbours from Queens Bay Lodge have popped into Charis House where we have shared tea and chat.
Moderator’s Golf Challenge Fundraising is key to the sustainability of CrossReach and I was impressed by the connection made by Very Rev. John Chalmers with our Children and Family Services during the Golf Challenge. I am not a golfer but very much appreciated meeting Bill Lockie and John McTear (former PGA Senior Champion).
CrossReach Week Service Users Forum During CrossReach week the Service Users Forum showed a real ‘can do’ attitude to everything that took place on the day. An event rooted in fulfilling every individual’s aspirations and potential.
The Bungalow – “Strictly” CrossReach does Strictly! An evening of inspiration, fun and laughter and a real sense of feeling included and being inspired. A success made possible through ongoing and generous community support.
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CrossReach Week
A Memorable Week During CrossReach Week 2015 the Moderator of the General Assembly Rt. Rev. Dr. Angus Morrison travelled around Scotland to see some of our 70 care and support services. Speaking at the end of the hectic week he praised the wide work of CrossReach: “This is a cutting edge ministry – a mission - done in Christ’s name, and it’s one of the jewels of the church.” Dr. Morrison was in Stornoway in the Western Isles on Monday and spent time at the Lewis Street and Dochas projects to discuss the impact of their work dealing with homelessness and substance misuse.
Wednesday – Hamilton
Monday – Stornoway
Garden – services which work with adults and children affected by drug or alcohol misuse. They also attended the Learning Disabilities National Forum in Hamilton. On Thursday, Dr. Morrison led worship at Charis House in Edinburgh, CrossReach’s main office for central services, before travelling to Perth to attend a managers’ meeting and CrossReach’s 10th birthday celebration. To end the week the Moderator hosted a reception for CrossReach service users at his official residence in Edinburgh – an experience he described as a ‘joy’.
Dr. Morrison said: “It has been an enormous privilege to spend a week with the Church’s own wonderful charity, CrossReach, visiting centres of care provision in Stornoway, Inverness and Edinburgh. We also attended and participated in conferences in Inverness and Hamilton. It’s been a tremendous opportunity to learn more about the extraordinary range of care and support services CrossReach provides across the country and to witness first-hand the professionalism and commitment of our staff and volunteers. The sheer quality of the care which is delivered is widely recognised and this is a clear reflection of the faith commitment which underlies and motivates all they do, in the service of Christ.
Tuesday – Inverness
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On Tuesday, the Moderator and his wife visited Cameron House in Inverness, a residential care home for people with dementia. The couple met pupils from Bun Sgoil Gàidhlig Inbhir Nis who regularly visit residents and chat with them in their native Gaelic tongue. Later, they went to Inverness Caledonian Thistle FC stadium where a Dementia Ambassadors conference was held. CrossReach was the first organisation in Scotland to appoint a dementia ambassador in all its services for older people and is now introducing the role into its learning disabilities services. On Wednesday, they met staff at Wallace House in Edinburgh, which provides counselling services, and then heard about Simpson House and the Sunflower
Friday – Edinburgh
“This is a cutting edge ministry – a mission - done in Christ’s name, and it’s one of the jewels of the church.” Thursday – Perth
Spotlight
New Year – New Challenges Director of Adult Care Services Calum Murray explains how CrossReach is adapting to face new challenges.
The start of another New for their support. It was Year brings hope and lovely to catch up with anticipation of what 2016 them again! will bring and the changes We were saddened in we will see in CrossReach’s October to tragically lose Adult Care services. However, a popular service user, the New Year is also a time Alistair MacIntyre, from our to reflect on the previous Threshold Glasgow Learning year and share some of that Disabilities service. Many with you in this edition of will have met Alistair, an CrossReach News. active member of the Service The challenge to reduce Users’ National Forum and costs to meet our income representative at CrossReach remains and, to that end, events and meetings. He is Adult Care has reluctantly sadly missed by service users discontinued pursuing and staff alike. Customer Service Excellence So, what lies ahead this accreditation and will adopt year? The UK government ‘Towards Quality’ instead. intends to reduce spending Talking of customer service, by a further 20% of GDP I am grateful to all central in the next five years* so support services who provide our sector must focus on “As ever, service users will be the timely, accurate data and redesigning citizen-centric particularly to finance for services to attract resources; driving force behind what we offer success last year in helping we may then expect wider and we strive to involve them in all have ‘aged debt’ paid by implementation of Self Councils. South Lanarkshire Directed Support across aspects of our work.” Council imposed a 10% fee more service areas and this reduction on us, at short will require creativity in notice, in October last year so we are adapting to try to new personalised services as payment-by-results develops. accommodate this. Technological solutions may help smarter working but In November Susan McGregor, Threshold Glasgow Manager, funding of it and cultural change are key to harnessing it was seconded to Business Development as Personalisation effectively. Some commissioners are seeking ‘Best Value’ Officer. Having been instrumental in steering Threshold by tendering, some will impose reductions and others Glasgow forward through the original implementation will negotiate with providers; we will seek to collaborate, of Self Directed Support, Susan will be a great asset to adapting to meet the funding constraints while still offering CrossReach in her new role. We were excited to open services that are attractive to service users. In that regard, Clarkston Cottage, in the grounds of Charis House, in July we expect to open our new Allarton building in Glasgow which is featured elsewhere. Katie Mazzoncini, Manager at later this summer and pray that hurdles can be overcome to Allarton, is to be commended for the Mental Health training re-provision Gaberston’s building in Alloa. As ever, service provided to colleagues and thanks go to Roy MacKinnon for users will be the driving force behind what we offer and managing Allarton while Katie ensures a smooth transition we strive to involve them in all aspects of our work. The to its new location. Chris McDonagh, Managing Co-ordinator introduction of Personalisation Ambassadors in our services at Threshold Support Services, left to pursue a Social Work will help facilitate that and we look forward to benefitting post and we thank him for managing the largest service in from the knowledge and experience they will not only share CrossReach over recent years. We appointed Mary-Therese but also gain within our services and wish them – and all McCabe to the Managing Co-ordinator post at Rainbow staff – success in their roles.” House following Vic Walker’s promotion to Head of Service for Substance Misuse and Homelessness and celebrate their Calum Murray respective contributions. We also welcomed back some Director of Adult Care Services previous staff members who agreed to assist us with an *Reference: The State of the State 2015-16. Recalibrating Government. Deloitte. acute staffing shortage and we are most grateful to them
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Adult Care Services
Safeguarding Training is for Everyone John Duncanson from Threshold Glasgow explains why it’s crucial to include customers in safeguarding training
Safeguarding Group
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During the past year CrossReach senior staff attended Safeguarding Awareness training. Afterwards, the question was asked: ‘Will our customers be included in this training?’ At Threshold Glasgow, which supports people with learning disabilities, we believe everyone has value and should be included in every aspect of the service. It has become the natural thing at all training sessions for customers to be involved. We asked if CrossReach would consider allowing a small group at Threshold Glasgow to put together some ideas for this training. We were given the go ahead and soon a committee made up of workers, customers, a student from Glasgow Caledonian University and seniors met and discussed what harm was and how would it be possible to tell others. As the meetings progressed it became obvious that this approach was at the heart of the Scottish Government’s ‘The Keys to Life’ 10 year strategy which aims to improve the quality of life for all those with learning disabilities (www. gov.scot/Publications/2013/06/1123). To get the message across it was agreed
“It was excellent - I thought it was really important to see how safeguarding helps everyone, and it made me more aware of my choices being listened to and respected.” that all materials should be user friendly and there should also be an element of role play in all training sessions. It was essential to create a training session where people were encouraged to take part. We also discussed the fact that at some point it may cause a customer to remember harmful experiences. We then agreed that before any session we would ensure customers felt supported in the event of this happening. Some customers may not even recognise that they should have this training. There is sometimes an acceptance that harm
happens and can’t be challenged. The group also spent time looking at a DVD on harm and discussed which section could be used in the training session. Equally it’s crucial to understand the importance of recognising harm. What do you do if harm is suspected? Who can you tell? What are your rights? To supplement the training session a workbook was also developed to be completed by each customer within a set period. There is a clear benefit to anyone who attends these sessions as they become empowered and made aware of harm - or potential harm. So far the committee has presented two sessions at Threshold Glasgow and the feedback has been totally positive. Margaret Winchcole, who is a service user and customer of Threshold Glasgow, was at one of the sessions: “It was excellent - I thought it was really important to see how safeguarding helps everyone, and it made me more aware of my choices being listened to and respected.” The committee has now applied for ‘The Keys to Life’ Implementation 2015 – 2017 funding. If successful, this training will be offered to Learning Disabilities services, then extended to other CrossReach services and possibly even other organisations.
Self-Safeguarding Colin Robertson from the Church of Scotland Safeguarding service recently attended a training event led by service users at Threshold Glasgow. It is very sad fact but despite our best efforts, harm and abuse will continue to occur in a Church or CrossReach setting. In the Church of Scotland Safeguarding service, we try and ensure through training and safeguarding publications that any suspected, reported or witnessed incident of harm and abuse is reported in a timeous and proportionate manner. By giving congregations and CrossReach staff training and awareness of what harm and abuse is, and what it looks like, then this encourages safeguarding for themselves and those around them. How then should we provide the tools and awareness for ‘self-safeguarding’ for those of our service users who have learning disabilities? How can we provide information and training in a manner that is understandable and relevant for these vulnerable people? In August I went to Threshold Glasgow to participate in a Safeguarding Training event. This was being led by service users themselves and was being delivered to other service users. Facilitated by Christina McIver and her
team, these scenario-based inputs, acted out by service users, were underpinned by short films where the actors were also people with learning disabilities. It was very humbling and gratifying to see service users engaged with one another around different areas of safeguarding, exploring issues including financial harm, sexual harm, and Institutional abuse and neglect. The committed audience participated in full and frank discussions about safeguarding and how to recognise and act on ‘wrong doing.’ By the end of this training event, I was sure that these service users were better equipped to keep themselves and other people safe from harm and abuse.
“It was very humbling and gratifying to see service users engaged with one another around different areas of safeguarding.”
New tenants for Clarkston Cottage
Heather and Wilma’s new home
Recently, Heather and Wilma became CrossReach tenants and moved in to their new home at Clarkston Cottage supported by staff from Eskmills Project. The property (in the grounds of Charis House) became available in 2014 and had originally been listed for sale. Following discussion with commissioners who wanted to develop
new, accessible services for people with learning disabilities, CrossReach agreed to take the bungalow off the market specifically to support the needs of Heather and Wilma. Manager of the Eskmills Project Graham Stewart told CrossReach News: “The development at Clarkston was achieved through effective partnership working with East Lothian Council, Community Learning Disability services, family, guardians and resourced flexibly through Self Directed Support.” The team at Eskmills worked closely with CrossReach Estates, East Lothian Council and Occupational Therapists to refurbish and adapt the bungalow, while family members worked with Heather and Wilma to decorate and furnish their beautiful new home. Both Heather and Wilma are said to be delighted with their new home!
Allarton preparing for the future For 25 years, Allarton in Glasgow has provided care and support for adults with severe and enduring mental illness. Opened in 1990, Allarton has supported over 100 people to live in a community setting and develop coping mechanisms to assist in their recovery towards improved Mental Health. Working in partnership with Partick Housing Association and Commissioners from Glasgow Social Work Services, Allarton is currently involved in an exciting ‘New Build’ scheme. The design for the Allarton service has been incorporated into the social housing of the development, ensuring its function as a discrete service among its local community – a far cry from the days when care facilities stood separate from others. Allarton’s manager Katie Mazzoncini says it’s an exciting time: “Building works are ongoing at the Broomlea site in Glasgow’s West End and service users and staff are looking forward to Summer 2016, when we are expected to take occupancy of our modern, high specification building. We’re delighted to be at the centre of social inclusion and community partnership, the close proximity of the new site to our existing one means that established links with Health and Social Services are retained. Updates are reported by service users, relatives and stakeholders in Allarton’s service, who enjoy regular walks past the development site. Allarton is blessed to have such continued success as a service provider and this progress to our new home will promote our capacity to deliver high quality service into the future.”
“...We’re delighted to be at the centre of social inclusion and community partnership, the close proximity of the new site to our existing one means that established links with Health and Social Services are retained.” 7
Learning Disabilities
Threshold officially opens Hugh Brown reports from a special day in Hamilton
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Threshold Support Services provide support to people with learning disabilities and people on the autistic spectrum across Lanarkshire. The project is called Threshold because, with our support, people have the opportunity to cross the threshold of new experiences. We help people to think about what a good life looks like for them and help them to get that good life and meet their outcomes, giving people the chance to learn, develop confidence and independence, and achieve hopes and dreams. “It’s helped me big time – it’s the best care package I’ve ever had.” says John, one of the people supported by Threshold. Recognising potential and supporting individuals to achieve their outcomes is one of the main objectives of this unique service, and on 25th August it was well and truly celebrated. Having moved premises to a more central location in Hamilton earlier in the year, the Threshold community opened their doors to invited family members, friends and guests to share something of what makes this service so special. The buzz of excitement was tangible within the building as both staff and people supported by the service proudly directed visitors to photographs of events, activities and trips they had enjoyed, whilst enthusiastically sharing their stories with delight. This is their service, and the sense of inclusion and ownership was evident. In the afternoon, with equal enthusiasm, they welcomed health care professionals from the Adult Learning disabilities team; social work representatives; Customer Services Excellence assessors; members of the Guild; CrossReach Chief Executive, Peter Bailey; Convener of the Social Care Council, Dr Sally Bonnar; and the Moderator of the General Assembly of the Church of Scotland, Rt. Rev. Dr. Angus Morrison and his wife Marion. Welcomed by Ronnie Black (Head of Service for Learning Disabilities), the guests listened as he made reference
Threshold service users
Threshold opening
to the diversity of the service. Outlining the potential life-long service provision available, he detailed the flexible approach to each individual’s needs: • Support for school leavers transitioning into adult services • Individual support to access community- based activities • “Leading lives” group support day opportunities • Respite holidays in the UK and abroad • Support to maintain an individual tenancy and to live independently • Residential care for those with higher support needs Whilst enjoying a buffet and chance to meet and mingle, the guests were treated to a short video, featuring testimonials from the people who use Threshold Support Services, information from staff, and visual representations of some of the events, activities and support received.
Fiona Walker from Threshold Support Services describes ‘Leading Lives’ Day Opportunities ‘Leading Lives’ is a new and dynamic addition to the range of Threshold Support Services, developed in response to personalisation and Self-directed support. Our groups are customer-led, based on research into interesting and enjoyable activities that people are interested in, and include fun-fit, arts and crafts, ten-pin bowling and ice-skating. Each group is supported by friendly and helpful workers who share that interest. They make sure that each person is safe, respected, valued, included and happy in the group, giving everyone the opportunity to make friends and build relationships with people with similar interests, goals and dreams. We support each individual to achieve a sense of pride, satisfaction and self-worth.
Adult Care Services
Revive and Restore Café
Welcoming People with Learning Disabilities Top tips for churches • In the first instance, please just be friendly to me – smile at me and speak to me.
Customers at the Revive and Restore Café
As you enter the Revive & Restore Café (or R & R for short) in Coldside Church, Dundee, you are warmly welcomed by a friendly volunteer. After a cheery word you are offered a cup of tea, coffee, soup or a toastie and asked to join others at a table of four – which is less daunting if it’s your first time. Volunteers in recovery provide peer to peer support in a warm, safe environment. Members of the public wander in and mingle too. As you look around the room you are aware of lots of discussion and laughter too. Other activities take place in every corner – organisations to help with benefits and money problems, Healthy Living Initiative staff and substance misuse workers all ready to give help and support, run arts and crafts, a nail bar and more. This is a volunteer led café for those who want to engage or stay engaged in recovery. CrossReach supports the volunteers who work in the café, and our staff also help
• Please could you invite me to go with you to a Church event? in the cafe. Cathy Paton from CrossReach Tayside Support Services in Dundee says that if substance misuse is isolating, then recovery can be about connection: “Those who attend will tell you how important it is to feel wanted and loved and without any judgement. The volunteers will also tell you of the opportunities to discover something new and also how to develop new skills. They say working in the café makes them feel good. An opportunity to give back to the community and perhaps even gain some qualifications at the same time. Remember that Jesus said ‘come to me all you are weary and burdened and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me for I am gentle and humble in heart and you will find rest for your souls.’ If recovery means regaining control of some part of your life that has been stolen or lost then the R & R café is where you can find the place do just that.”
Dick Stewart Service Garden How do you turn an unloved and disused patch of land into something special? Well, service users at the Dick Stewart Service in Glasgow suggested that the back garden of the house should be a more communal space for family and friends and have some raised beds for planting fresh vegetables. In particular, one of the service users brought his experience from working in the garden of Castle Huntly open estates. His experience was passed on to others while working on general maintenance and preparation of soil. New benches and raised beds were built from recycled scaffolding planks with some attractive new landscaping also designed. Over the months, many service users became involved with the project at all
the various stages - from weeding and landscaping through to planting the first crop of tomatoes. Many reported that they enjoyed the experience and ‘gained great satisfaction from it, and ‘a tremendous feeling of self-worth’ and a ‘togetherness’ was talked about. This was seen by many service users as a way of giving back to the service and also a way of leaving a legacy. Dick Stewart Service provides direct support to up to seven offenders either as an alternative to custody or towards the end of a prison sentence. Service users are supported to address offending behaviour and develop new life skills which will assist them to make different choices in the future.
• I would love to help in the church. Is there a job you think I could do? • It would be great if you could arrange to meet me sometimes outside Church. • Please ask me what my needs are and also ask my carer, but ask me first. • Please talk to my carer about their needs. • It would be helpful if I had a ‘buddy’ in the Church. • It can help me when pictures and other visual aids are used. • The use of standard icons on a screen can help me to know what is happening next. •
There are many different technological aids available. Please ask what I use out of Church and explore the possibilities of use in Church.
• It is good if someone in the Church can take on a role to help and advise others – but everyone can be my friend. •
Perhaps you could arrange training, so that people could better understand the challenges I might face and how best to help me, whilst still remembering that everyone is different. Please ask if I can help in preparing and delivering the training.
• Please invite me to share my gifts, stories and hospitality and not leave me to always be the recipient. •
Please pray for me – and not just about my disability. I will likely be seeking prayer for the same sort of issues as face us all.
Thanks to the Church of Scotland Learning Disabilities Working Group who compiled these tips.
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News in brief
Prayer Points For those who wish to pray, please consider •
Congregational Supporters who assist CrossReach by publicising our work in their churches
•
Residents and staff at Allarton in Glasgow as they prepare to move into their new building
•
The Social Care Council as they meet to finalise CrossReach’s report to the General Assembly in May
•
Staff from the Church of Scotland Safeguarding Service as they deliver training to congregations and Kirk Sessions
•
Volunteers at the R&R Café in Dundee and those who receive support from the team to help them stay alcohol or drug free
•
People like Alison Millar and many others who fundraise to help CrossReach continue to provide our care and support services
If you would like to receive our free Prayer Diary three times a year, please call: 0131 657 2000, or download a PDF version from:
www.crossreach.org.uk
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Our Mission Statement In Christ’s name we seek to retain and regain the highest quality of life which each individual is capable of experiencing at any given time
CARING ACROSS SCOTLAND Congratulations to two CrossReach services in the Scottish Care Awards 2015. Balmedie near Aberdeen was a joint winner of the ‘Care Home of the Year’ and The Elms in Edinburgh was a finalist in the ‘Dementia and Specialist Care Award’. The awards ceremony was held at Glasgow’s Hilton Hotel in in November and CrossReach CEO Peter Bailey says it was a memorable evening: “I am delighted that two of our care homes were finalists and winners and am proud for the staff of both services.”
Alison Millar has raised over £4,000 for Auchinlee in Campbeltown by completing a series of physical challenges. Why? Because Auchinlee (a specialist service for people with dementia) became home to her ‘Grandpa’ in April 2014 and Alison was impressed by the quality of the care he receives. She booked a place on The Great Wall Triple Challenge (running 2 half marathons, cycling 93 miles and trekking 31 miles along the Great Wall of China in just 6 days), but the trip was changed to a trek-only. Not wanting to let anyone down, she created a personal itinerary featuring this punishing schedule - 14th October: run the Mull of Kintyre half marathon; 15th October: cycle the Mull of Kintyre Bike Ultimate 66 mile route; 16th October: travel to London and fly to China; 18th October: begin a 5 day (31 mile) trek along the Great Wall; 31st October: run a 2nd Mull of Kintyre half marathon! How did Alison feel after her adventure was over? “Making it to the end in one piece was a huge personal achievement. I was blessed with kind weather on all of my Kintyre challenges. My trek along the Great Wall was superb - the variety of walking we experienced each day was quite something, plus I met some inspirational people along
the way. My boyfriend Kenny ran the final half marathon with me the day after I returned from China. That wasn’t pleasant! When I started running my calves cramped up and that remained throughout the entire 13 miles. I hadn’t really considered the jet lag and had no idea how sick I would feel. I wouldn’t have completed the miles had it not been for all the fantastic support I had.” At the heart of her fundraising is the care Alison’s grandfather is receiving: “Seeing the dedication, commitment and patience offered by every member of staff at Auchinlee made me determined to raise as much money as I could to ensure the fantastic service can continue. Every time I visit my Grandpa, I am delighted to see just how much interaction he gets on a daily basis. As a family we couldn’t want for anything more.”
Me and My Job Allan Marshall is Deputy Manager of Morven Day Services in Kilmarnock. I joined CrossReach from the local authority in February 1996 as a Project Worker with the specific task of setting up a volunteer support service. I have had my hand in all aspects of the service including the over-65s service, TOPS, and Outreach Services. I moved to Outreach Development Co-ordinator before I took up my present role as Deputy Manager in 2006. Morven Day Services offers quality day services accessible to people with mental health issues living in East Ayrshire. We involve those who use our service in the planning of the service as well as supporting them to become part of their community by providing therapeutic opportunities. ‘What do you do for a living?’ is a question I find difficult to answer concisely. “I support adults with Mental Health issues.” You can see people’s brains placing preconceived ideas in their head as I try to explain further. The truth is no amount of explaining can truly capture what is done at Morven. Clichés and buzzwords don’t cut it. If I had a pound for every time I heard ‘to reduce social isolation’ as the reason for referral then we wouldn’t need half the funding we get. Hopefully I give purpose as most who pass our way have lost that; we provide opportunity, a haven where they
can remove the mask; through listening ears without agenda, signposting to agencies without expectation and creating natural friendship through opportunity our groups provide. We recently had an art exhibition in the local health centre, led and organised by service users. One lady who had attempted suicide before she used our service, marched into the office saying: “Get your bums moved and support this event.” Someone who had isolated herself because of circumstances but now volunteers, takes her rabbits into elderly homes to let residents stroke them. Another who, after years of self-doubt and suicidal thoughts, has recently married and returned to part-time work. One health professional struggled to grasp what we do because our profession is usually driven by goals and outcomes, by achievements and ticking boxes. He was struggling because, as many do, they forget whose goals and outcomes they are and whose timescales to achieve them within. In times of tight budgets and imposed schedules we can rush on and leave behind the reason we do what we do. We allow the pace to be dictated by the service user. Yes, we push, challenge and encourage them to step out of their comfort zone, but with the reassurance that
we are not abandoning them because their allotted time is up. We do not include them in our programme - they include us in their lives. Mental Health often results in inward thinking, focusing on the issues makes them large. We help people re-focus on the world around, remind them they are not alone and that others do still care. That was refreshed for me at the art exhibition as I sat next to Councillor Jim Todd, Provost of East Ayrshire. As we chatted, someone hovered in the background. The Provost stopped, got the man a chair and a cup of tea. “Come and join us”, he said. We forget status, we include, and give a place and purpose to those who have lost it.
I wish to support CrossReach by donating £................................. on a single monthly annual basis If single: Please post us a cheque (payable to CrossReach) or donate online at www.CrossReach.org.uk If monthly: I would like to make my donation on the 1st/15th (delete as appropriate) of each month starting: ........../........../................ If annually: I would like to make my donation on: ........../........../................ and each year thereafter Your account details Name of bank: ........................................................................................... Address of bank: ........................................................................................ ...................................................................... Postcode: ............................. Account number:........................................................................................ Sort code: ...................................................................................................
Your personal details Name (inc title): .......................................................................................... Home address: ............................................................................................. ................................................................... Postcode: .................................. Phone number: ............................................................................................ Email address: ..............................................................................................
To the manager (Bank/Building Society): Please pay Bank of Scotland, 38 St Andrew Square, Edinburgh, EH2 2YR on the date indicated above and thereafter until further notice the sum indicated above for the credit of CrossReach Account No 00227186, Sort Code 80-41-21 If you pay tax, please sign this form and the tax office will give us 25p for every £1 you donate. I confirm I have paid or will pay an amount of UK Income Tax and/or Capital Gains for each tax year (6 April to 5 April) that is at least equal to the amount of tax that all charities that I donate to will reclaim on my gifts for that tax year. I understand that other taxes such as VAT and Council Tax do not qualify. I understand that the charity will reclaim 25p of tax on every £1 that I give. Please notify CrossReach if you want to cancel this declaration, change your name or home address or no longer pay sufficent tax. Signature: .................................................................. Date: ...../...../........... If you have any questions, call our Supporter Relations team on 0131 657 2000. Please send this completed form to: Supporter Relations, CrossReach, Charis House, 47 Milton Road East, Edinburgh, EH15 2SR
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Church of Scotland Social Care Forum
Inform
Connect
Inspire
From lunch clubs to playgroups to helping people confront addiction, Churches across Scotland are involved in vital work supporting people in their communities, often doing it alone. The Social Care Forum is a place for everyone interested in social care to get together, share ideas and experiences, learn from each other, and get inspired. Tell us about your project, and see what others are doing at:
CR0108
www.socialcareforum.scot
CR0109 Life adn Work May 15.indd 1
27/05/2015 10:12:24