Xmas Newsletter December 23rd 2020, 10th Edition Important Headway Services will be closed from Thursday 24th Dec 2020 to Sunday 3rd of January 2021 – if you have any emergencies during this time, please contact your local Borough or the emergency services. The staff led by our very own Tony Hart, who tweaked this festive song, have recorded SELNWK’s Twelve Days of COVID Christmas which you can listen to here Carers - Please make a big effort to attend the carers’ meeting on 7th January as the Bexley Commissioners will be there to answer your questions. Training in creation of podcasts will be available to Greenwich residents from Friday 15th January. More details are given in the following pages.
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COVID update Group activities Carers update Staff profile Word game Poetry Corner Puzzle Word search Fundraising update Crossword puzzle Volunteer update Pets corner Christmas Carols or Karaoke Recipe – Rum Cake Social Media
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COVID update We will be continuing with remote services from Monday 04th January 2021 due to the continuation of Tier 4 and our inability to ensure our members’ safety in centres and in the community. We will keep you updated with changes through the newsletter, our social media pages, and our Key workers. It has been a challenging year for us all with some light at the end of the tunnel with the vaccines. Please remember that whilst the vaccines are designed to reduce the severity of illness should one contract COVID. It is still unclear if you can still contract or pass on COVID following vaccination. So please continue to wear your mask, keep 2 metres distance, and remember to regularly wash your hands and disinfect surfaces, even if you receive the vaccination. With all the changes a useful App which tells you all the rules as they change is NHSCOVID-19 - just search your App store and download the app to keep updated. Please follow the guidance below to keep safe and within the law whilst we are in Tier 4.
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Group Updates New – Podcast training Ravensbourne University will be giving a training course – by ZOOM – on the creation and management of podcasts. The first session is on Friday 10th January and will run for 10 weeks at 10am every Friday. The sessions are open to all members, staff and volunteers living in Greenwich. If you are really interested and from another Borough please get in contact with us and we’ll discuss.
If you are interested please get in touch with Tricia at triciareilly@headwayselnwk.co.uk for full details.
Page 5 SELNWK Got Talent Stephen is looking for more members to join. “Have you got a talent? have you got an instrument you can play? – come and express yourself at SELNWK Got Talent. We’re here to enjoy, not judge”. Your talent doesn’t have to be musical – you could show off results of painting, origami, play-doh – or share a poem maybe. Stephen says – “The second session on the 18th of December went down without a hitch. We had a great attendance and I believe everybody enjoyed the songs that were sung and played.”
Carers’ Update The next meeting of the Carers’ group is on Thursday, Jan 7th at 7-9pm. It would be great if as many carers’ as possible join us as the Bexley Commissioners will be joining us. This is your opportunity to ask them any questions. Here are some comments from people who have attended previous ZOOM sessions. • “I think it’s a good support, lovely forum to have even if we can’t see people face to face it’s good to share things with each other.” • “A good forum where we can share and learn from each other and hear about any other things that are coming up in Headway SELNWK” • “A place to exchange and learn more”
When asked what they would say to another Carer or family member to encourage them to attend the group said:
• “Attend, join it, its not just good support but communication – who to contact. Helpful for newcomers especially, learn about other organisations and helpful hints and tips.”
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Staff Profile – Jane Brooks Jane is a senior key worker at Headway SELNWK. We asked her to look back over this turbulent year and talk about the highs – and the lows - of her new job.
What do you do? I was promoted to senior key worker in February 2020. The timing could not have been worse. A month after I took the job we were all in lockdown and I had to learn not only a new job but how to work remotely. It’s been challenging! I was a community key worker before this, supporting Headway members on a one-to-one basis. My emphasis is still on members’ wellbeing but the service is obviously now offered remotely and my focus is wider. Moving from the community into the centre has brought me much closer to Headway people. I’m the very proud captain of the Headway SELNWK Fantasy Football League. We’re top of the league thanks to the brilliant members we’ve got on board. They say football brings everyone together and it’s absolutely right. My daughter plays for Tottenham Hotspurs under 14 team so footie runs in our family! What have you found most difficult? A number of things. At the beginning when we switched to online services I think most people enjoyed the novelty of 1-to-1 chat but that soon wore thin. Asking our members to engage with us using the internet has been a really tough ask. I’ve found it challenging and I don’t
Page 7 have a brain injury. Members quite rightly want to know when everything is going to go back to normal and it’s been very frustrating not to have a ready answer. Financially it’s been tough too. Local boroughs are under huge pressure with their spending and we’ve had to really pull out all the stops to justifiy the money spent on our services. What’s inspired you this year? It continues to amaze me how adaptable we all are. It’s been so good to see the groups blossom, and our staff, volunteers and carers pull together to create this entirely new service. I’m in awe of everything we’ve done - all of us. Members, staff, volunteers and carers. None of us had any experience of this before. What did you do before Headway? You’ll never guess! I was a croupier, giving out playing cards and collecting and paying out money at casinos. I worked for 10 years for the Royal Caribbean Cruises, managing 40 people in their casinos. During that time I went everywhere I could possibly want to go. It was a great way to travel. You can only game when you’re 12 miles from any shoreline so whenever we were in port I was free to look around. Though the job sounds very different from the one I’m in now, there are a lot of similarities. I’m a people person and I’m used to listening to people and focussing on what they want to achieve. What are you looking forward to in the New Year? Headway opening its face-to-face services and being back to meeting members. And if that’s not going to happen immediately then developing the next phase of our online services. Whatever happens I think we all have a new confidence about what we can achieve.
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Word Game Try and find as many English words of 3 letters or more using the letters of the following word – each letter of the word can only be used once in each word. (e.g. words from PEOPLE could include peep, pope, lope). The word this issue is CHRISTMAS EVE
Yet again Jane M sent us the most words from last issues game – a total of 54 words with a 7 letter one (fellows) Email your list to newsletter@headwayselnwk.co.uk by 10th January and we will publish who found the most words and who found the longest word.
Poetry/Song Corner Chandip has written this pastiche of the 12 days of Christmas in memory of our days at Shrewsbury House – Aaah me!! One day we’ll be back there!! Twelve Days of SELNWK’s Christmas On the first day of Christmas, my true love sent to me, a board marker on a white board. On the second day of Christmas, my true love sent to me, two Members chatting and a board marker on a white board. On the third day of Christmas, my true love sent to me, three paint brushes, two Members chatting and a board marker on a white board.
Page 9 On the fourth day of Christmas, my true love sent to me, four Members laughing, three paint brushes, two Members chatting and a board marker on a white board. On the fifth day of Christmas my true love sent to me, fiiiive pencils tappingggg, four Members laughing, three paint brushes, two Members chatting and a board marker on a white board. On the sixth day of Christmas my true love sent to me, six jumbled words, fiiive pencils tappinggg, four Members laughing, three paint brushes, two Members chatting and a board marker on a white board. On the seventh day of Christmas my true love sent to me, seven Members munching, six jumbled words, fiiive pencils tappinggg, four Members laughing, three paint brushes, two Members chatting and a board marker on a white board. On the eighth day of Christmas my true love sent to me, eight coffee mugs, seven Members munching, six jumbled words, fiiive pencils tappinggg, four Members laughing, three paint brushes, two Members chatting and a board marker on a white board. On the ninth day of Christmas my true love sent to me, nine keyworkers, eight coffee mugs, seven Members munching, six jumbled words, fiiive pencils tappinggg, four Members laughing, three paint brushes, two Members chatting and a board marker on a white board. On the tenth day of Christmas my true love sent to me, ten packed lunches, nine keyworkers, eight coffee mugs, seven Members munching, six jumbled words, fiiive pencils tappinggg, four Members laughing, three paint brushes, two Members chatting and a board marker on a white board. On the eleventh day of Christmas my true love sent to me, eleven Members painting, ten packed lunches, nine keyworkers, eight coffee mugs, seven Members munching, six jumbled words, fiiive pencils tappinggg, four Members laughing, three paint brushes, two Members chatting and a board marker on a white board.
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On the twelfth day of Christmas, my true love sent to me, twelve playing cards, eleven Members painting, ten packed lunches, nine keyworkers, eight coffee mugs, seven Members munching, six jumbled words, fiiive pencils tappinggg, four Members laughing, three paint brushes, two Members chatting and a board marker on a white board.
Puzzle Corner
Can you work out these anagrams?
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Can you find the words listed? They can be forwards, backwards, horizontal, vertical or diagonal.
Fundraising. We were successful in our partnership bid with the Blue Elephant Theatre Camberwell to The Mrs Smith & Mount Trust. For £4,000 to deliver online drama sessions to our members and their families. We should like to offer a huge thanks to The Mrs Smith & Mount Trust.
Waitrose, Beckenham, have kindly given us a cheque for £333.00 as part of their funding policy, this is in addition to the £166 we previously received from Little Waitrose Sidcup which will enable us to extend our online drama sessions. We should like to thank Waitrose for their continued support over the years, its is very much needed and appreciated!
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And Another Puzzle
Just fill in the Crossword from the pictures shown
Here is the answer to last issue’s puzzle:
Lion’s hair Not mad Beach grains Mail Pip Listen Gripped
MATE MANE SANE SAND SEND SEED HEED HELD HELP
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Volunteer Update Here’s a profile of one of our recently joined volunteers.
Hannah is one of our volunteers. When she’s not helping us out remotely, she’s a student in her final year of a psychology degree. We caught up with her between Headway Zoom groups and online classes. Why did you want to volunteer with Headway SELNWK? I wanted to gain an understanding of brain injuries - how the brain adapts and changes when damaged - and learn how to support people who’ve got brain injuries. How did you hear of Headway SELNWK? I heard about Headway through uni at a careers event. A fellow student had done work experience with a Headway group and said how much she’d learnt and how accommodating they’d been. I contacted Tony at Headway SELNWK to ask about doing work experience in the summer. He came back to me very quickly. I had originally thought I’d be helping out face to face at Shrewsbury House but the lockdown restrictions put paid to that. Tony kept me in the loop though. Once Headway SELNWK was offering support remotely he passed me over to Tricia who coordinates volunteers and she’s been great at setting me up with different opportunities. So, how’s the volunteering going? I’m sitting in on the quiz, audio book and peer support Zoom groups as an observer. I’m also on the newsletter planning group so have a hand in this newsletter! I’m enjoying them all but the audio book club has a special quality of relaxation. Something to do with just listening to the calm voice of someone reading a story. What surprises me most is how much of a ‘family feel’ there is even on online in the Zoom groups with members. It’s quite striking. In normal times I’d be back at uni now, having finished my volunteering. But because Headway support is currently offered remotely, I can still
Page 14 continue to contribute and fit in Zoom groups with my online classes. That’s a positive. I found it really difficult to get work experience originally. I applied to many organisations in related areas but rarely heard back. Headway SELNWK was very different. They've always been responsive and proactive and genuinely want volunteers to come on board and help support them.
Pets’ Corner Here’s a reminder - please send in pictures of your pets enjoying Christmas and the New Year. Send to newsletter@headwayselnwk.co.uk by 5th January. We’ll publish them in the next issue.
Here are some examples
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Christmas Carols or Karaoke? In our Christmas special this month we ask Angie for the low down on her festive favourites.
Christmas carols or Karaoke? Jingle Bells all the way.......
Beer or bubbles? Neither. Hot chocolate every night but maybe, once in a while, a Baileys.
Dr Who or the Queen’s Speech? I watch both but if I had to choose it would be Dr Who. I’ve watched Dr Who right from the beginning with the Daleks. My favourite Dr Who was Tom Baker (the doctor with the long scarves for those who are old enough to remember!). I also like David Tennant’s Dr Who. But really all the doctors are good. Turkey or nut roast? Lamb, duck or beef are more my favourites with roast potatoes, vegetables and gravy. But I do like some festive pigs in blankets. Real or artificial Christmas tree? I’ve had an artificial tree for the last five years or so. I put lots and lots and lots of ornaments on it! My absolute favourite ornament is the Christmas star which has star billing at the top of the tree. Board games or Playstation? I like playing Monopoly but my daughters are big Wii fans and play sports on it. Bing Crosby or Jay-Z? The king of crooners, Bing Crosby. Has to be really for Christmas.
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Recipe
- Rum Cake
Here’s a popular recipe among Ziska’s friends and family SIMPLE RUM CAKE...(hopefully..) INGREDIENTS FRUIT MIX 4oz 4oz 3oz 3oz
raisins currants white/red rum Red wine
DRY INGREDIENTS 8oz butter 8oz brown sugar 1 Tbsp orange zest 4 eggs 10oz plain flour ½ tsp salt 1½ Tbsp mixed spice/All purpose spice 1½ tsp baking powder 2 Tbsp Madagascan vanilla 2/3 Tbsp Browning METHOD Grease a 10 inch round baking tin and line with greaseproof paper Preheat oven to 180⁰C, 350⁰F, gas mark 4 – reduce temperature if fan oven. Put a baking tray with water on the bottom of the oven (encourages steam) 1. Blend together fruit, rum and wine until smooth 2. Beat together the eggs and set aside 3. Cream butter and sugar together in a mixer until smooth
Page 17 4. Combine all dry ingredients together YOU WILL NEED A WOODEN SPOON FROM HERE ON 5. Using a wooden spoon, add fruit mix to cream mixture and fold in until smooth...don’t rush 6. Gradually add eggs and fold in until smooth 7. Add browning to the mix 8. Fold in flour mix, gradually until all combined together. 9. Put in baking tin and place on middle shelf in oven, 180⁰C 350⁰F Gas mark 4 ☆ cooking times vary depending on oven -- 1½ to 2 hours BEST OF LUCK TO ALL WHO TRY THIS!!!
SEND us a picture before you eat it!!!! Call for more recipes: We hope to include a recipe each issue so please send your favourite recipe to newsletter@headwayselnwk.co.uk
Your ideas count
Please tell us what you think of this newsletter – any suggestions for improvement? News you would like to share (especially if positive)? -email newsletter@headwayselnwk.co.uk
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Our Social Media A quick run down on what we’ve been putting up on our social media pages this month
Facebook (Headway South East London North West Kent) Facebook: @Headway South East London North West Kent
Check out Facebook for details of all our weekly members’ groups PLUS breaking news with The Weekly Updates including the Q & A with senior managers on 21 December International Day of People with Disabilities Monthly Carers and Family Group 3 December UK Disability History Month
Twitter (SELNWKHeadway)
@SELNWKHeadway
Stay in the loop on Twitter with #WeeklyUpdate #MembersGroups #IDPWD2020 (International Day of People with Disabilities) Carers & Family Group 3 December
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Instagram (headwayselnwk) Check out our Members’ Groups & Weekly Updates Note: These are the only social media platforms we currently use. There are other versions e.g. HeadwaySELNWK which ARE NOT in use by us. We hope you enjoy this edition of Headway SELNWK’s newsletter as we have very much enjoyed putting it together! If you would like to join our Newsletter Team please contact Tricia on 07817 951055 or email the team at newsletter@headwayselnwk.co.uk
Newsletter Production Team: Greg Thorn – Member, Volunteer & Art Attack Lead Jeff Clare – Member, Volunteer, Peer Support & Topical Issues Lead Chandip Jandu – Member, Trustee, Volunteer Stephen Araromi – Member, Volunteer Jen Gillard – Volunteer & Editor Sally Miller – Volunteer & Lead Reporter Hannah Bridges - Volunteer Patricia Reilly (Tricia) – Community Organiser & Staff Lead