Issue 9 - Catch up with PCP, projects and services

New College Durham students lent a helping hand to support PCP, by creating engaging video content for projects including the PCP Cancer Awareness Team and the County Durham Better Health at Work Award (BHAWA).

Through storytelling, the innovative videos have supported organisations in County Durham discover the benefits of prioritising health and wellbeing in the workplace and also raised awareness of key messages for cancer prevention.

Carol Gaskarth, Chief Executive of PCP, said: “We visited the students as we wanted to thank them for all their hard work and support over the last year.

“The videos have been successful in promoting our work, with hundreds of people viewing them at events or online. It’s a real testament to their creative skills.

“We look forward to working with New College Durham in the future to support students through their projects.”

Through creating videos, students had the opportunity to work directly with clients, including the County Durham and Darlington Fire and Rescue Service - an organisation that holds ambassador status from the County Durham BHAWA.

Further video content also highlighted the importance of cancer prevention, with tips and tricks on how you can lower your risk of developing cancer.

Scott Whytock, Programme Leader FdA in Film and Media Production at New College Durham, said: “It has been a great pleasure to work with PCP on a number of different projects, especially those which unfortunately, will affect all of us at some point in our lives.

“It was great for our students to have a client to work with and I thank Karen, Amy and Andrea who were always there if the students ever needed anything. We hope to continue this partnership helping PCP spread awareness across the county.”

Lights, camera, action!

PCP shines a light on Durham students

foodbanks

During October the Pioneering Care Partnership appealed for donations of toiletries to support a need from local foodbanks throughout PCP's service delivery areas.

No one should go without hygiene products. We wanted to say thank you to everyone who donated to our collection that will support people across the North East.

If you missed out and would still like to donate to a foodbank near you, see your local foodbank suppliers at:

Sunderland Foodbank | Helping Local People in Crisis

Durham Foodbank | Helping Local People in Crisis

Redcar Area Foodbank | Helping Local People in Crisis

Middlesbrough Foodbank | Helping Local People in Crisis

King's Foodbank | King's Church Darlington (kingschurchdarlington.org)

Billingham & Stockton Borough Foodbank | Helping Local People in Crisis

Thank you for helping us support

Taking home the title of ‘Best Community Garden 2022’ - the Pioneering Care Centre’s (PCC) thriving garden is a credit to those that maintain and develop it.

Aycliffe Town Councillor, Phillip Hawkins, and Steve Cooper, Works & Environment Manager, presented the award to green fingered volunteers, service users, trustees and staff, who were over the moon to be recognised in Great Aycliffe Town Council’s Garden Competition.

Carol Gaskarth, Chief Executive of the Pioneering Care Partnership, said: “I’m delighted to see our fantastic team that tend to the Community Garden recognised for their efforts and skills.

“To celebrate the occasion staff, volunteers and our Options members gathered in the Community Garden to reflect on the achievement and enjoy a catch up.

“The awarding certificate and shield is displayed with pride in our mall in the Pioneering Care Centre and the cheque of £100 will support future developments to the Community Garden.

“We’d like to thank Great Aycliffe Town Council for recognising and supporting our Community Garden.”

The PCC’s Community Garden is home to a selection of plants, fruit trees and vegetable planters – there really is something for everyone to enjoy and explore.

PCP Community Garden crowned winner in Aycliffe awards

Warm up for winter – PCP supports Warm Spaces Scheme

Now underway until next year, the Pioneering Care Centre is offering a ‘Warm Space’ for local people to come together and enjoy a range of activities and a hot snack.

The sessions will run weekly on a Thursday from 3:30pm until 5:30pm and all are welcome. We’ll have games, seasonal crafts, children’s fitness and much more.

Carol Gaskarth, Chief Executive at PCP, said: “The cost of living crisis is affecting everyone with rising utility bills and the price of a weekly shop increasing all the time.

"The Pioneering Care Centre is a community resource, and we want to be able to provide support to local people during what could be a difficult winter.

“The sessions are aimed at families with primary school aged children, taking place straight after school, each week we’ll be offering free fun activities and a hot meal will be provided too. This first week is pizza making which I’m sure will go down a treat. Give us a call or drop us an email to book your spaces.”

Over 40 places have committed to providing Warm Spaces across County Durham where people can go to keep warm and enjoy meeting others and PCP is grateful to County Durham Community Foundation for funding to assist with these sessions.

No tricks, only treats - £405 raised to support OurOptions

The Pioneering Care Centre (PCC) in Aycliffe transformed for spooky season to offer half term family fun whilst supporting rewarding community projects.

On Friday 28 October, staff from PCP took part in the ‘spooky sleepover’ at the PCC, to raise funds for PCP’s Options service. Eight braved the night and (despite the haunted ghouls) raised over £405, with support still growing!

Linda West, Options Coordinator, said: “Options members are very excited about the upcoming renovation. This project is so important to all of us, and I’d like to thank everyone who has donated, or took part in the sponsored sleepover! We had so much fun raising money for a brilliant cause.”

The PCC carried on the spooky theme and welcomed families for a Halloween Fun Day with children’s author and illustrator, Liz Million, hosting a ‘wicked’ arts and crafts session, a scary storytelling session and a disco.

The party didn’t stop there - as PCP’s Options service for adults with learning and physical disabilities, held its annual Halloween disco on Thursday 27 October. Options members dressed up and danced the night away and tucked into a delicious supper of pie and peas from the Garden Kitchen.

The PCP is proud to offer communities in the region free community events, so no one has to miss out on the fun!

There’s still time to dig deep and donate to PCP’s Options fundraiser. All proceeds from the Halloween fundraiser are donated to Options day service to support members to be their best. To sponsor the Spooky Sleepover, click here

Pink for #ItsBoobEasyBeacon shines a light on ‘breast support’ for patients

Our Healthwatch Sunderland team gathered with a team of self-advocates from Sunderland People First at the Beacon of Light in Sunderland to celebrate the launch of #ItsBoobEasy campaign.

The campaign celebrates developments to get three standard letters to recall people to hospital after a mammogram, to become available in an easy read format.

Organisations across the region have joined in to spread Healthwatch Sunderland’s message on Thursday 24 November, 2022, with campaign images spread on social media with the message ‘If you need easy read letters and information, make sure you tell your doctor or nurse you need your mammogram invitations and any recall letters in easy read. #ItsBoobEasy.’

Tara Johnson, Project Lead of Healthwatch Sunderland, said: “As the independent champion for health and social care for the people of Sunderland we are proud to launch our #ItsBoobEasy campaign, as no one has to go without access to easy read information.

“Our campaign started when we met Sharon through an engagement session with Sunderland People First, a local advocacy service for people with a learning disability or autism.

“Sharon explained to us that she felt like her independence had been taken away when her as she could not read the standard letter sent to her following a mammogram. Her sister had to relay her letter to her.

“From sharing her story with us, Sharon and our team have influenced change nationally and prevented people who need an easy read format from feeling isolated.”

You can see the letters that will be used nationally here.

Bee

Happy: Our Health and Wellbeing since COVID-19 Learning Disability Report

Our Healthwatch Stockton-on-Tees team has worked with Stockton-on-Tees Borough Council Community Based Learning Disability Day Services to engage with people with a learning disability on their views and experiences of health and wellbeing over the past year.

The overall findings show:

The key workers at CBLDDS, the doctors, nurses and catering services at North Tees Hospital, the GPs, primary care nurses, dentists, and ‘Creative Support’, have given people with a learning disability, positive experiences of health and care.

With support from family members and carers, a range of health care appointments have been easily accessible.

There have been difficulties with communication and accessing information from some health care services. (Ref: Healthwatch Stockton, Accessible Information Standards Report)

People with a learning disability have experienced confusion around health messages and media stories.

Outside of day service provision, there’s a lack of opportunities for those with a learning disability to be able to participate in, and access enjoyable and meaningful activities which enhance learning and communication since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic.

The lack of access to opportunities and participation in the local area has also had an impact on how people feel, their health and wellbeing, and their social contact, and continues to do so as the COVID-19 restrictions have lifted.

Family members and carers of those with a learning disability have taken longer than expected to recover from the COVID-19 virus.

A wide range of factors supporting health and wellbeing have also been identified.

See more information and download the full report here.

Together 21 Life Skills Member finalist in national photography competition

We are proud of our Together 21 Life Skills Member, Emma Horton, who was among the finalists for the National photography competition 'My Perspective 2022'.

Emma attended the awarding event in London, which was live streamed for all of the T21 family to cheer her on.

The event saw all the shortlisted photographers, their families, judges and special guests to the Langdon Down Centre to celebrate.

We'd like to say congratulations to Emma for being a finalist and showing off her amazing skills. Well done to all the shortlisted photographers.

An informal eight-week group session has started from the County Durham COVID-19 Resilience Team. The group brings together people of all ages to build confidence, try something new and connect with others.

The group has enjoyed arts and crafts to get in the festive spirit.

You can still refer people to join the group for its last sessions, contact covidresilience@pcp.uk.net

County Durham COVID-19 Resilience Team support group underway

PCP Community Roadshows

PCP has hosted its third Community Roadshow in Newton Aycliffe and invited internal projects and services, as well as external organisations to come together to connect with the community and offer support.

Over 100 people attended the three Community Roadshows, with free goody bags and information on offer.

Find out more about the Community Roadshows here.

Staff wreath making at the Pioneering Care Centre

To get in the festive spirit staff and volunteers had the opportunity to enjoy Christmas wreath making at the Pioneering Care Centre.

It was a great opportunity for staff to connect and welcome in the Christmas season with a handmade wreath, a hot drink and a festive treat.

Elf Day at Primrose Lodge in Chester-le-Street

Tis' the season - as our team at Primrose Lodge in Chester-le-Street celebrated Elf Day to raise awareness for the Alzheimer's Society.

Staff dressed up in their best elf attire, had a bake sale, a raffle, a buffet, a quiz and bingo, raising £63.73 for the Alzheimer’s Society!