Avante News - February Edition by Avante Care & Support

Avante News Spring 2013 www.avantepartnership.org.uk

Happy 100 Birthday Queenie

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Award Winning Staff

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Admiral Nurse joins the team Page 16

start making plans going forward for the future. My own view of the world is The financial 2013 is goingchallenges to be an faced by ourchallenging local authority exciting but partners in particular year us. We know The for financial challenges financial challenges areThe significant, and we faced our local authority that thebycurrent economic faced by our local authority understand the need for partners increating particular partners in particular climate is usare tosignificant, play our part in and wewe are significant, and difficulties for everyone, supporting them to meet understand thethe need forfor understand need no matter what sector. In their reduction usus tocost play our part intargets. to play our part in retail, the news this week Atsupporting the samethem time, towe meet supporting them to meet whilst I write this, saw the remain totally committed their cost reduction targets. their cost reduction targets. closure of Jessops and toAtensuring that we not thethe same time, wewe the At same time, only continue to provide remain totally committed insolvency of HMV. This remain totally committed to to ensuring that we not the highest quality services came as a shock towe many ensuring that not only continue tothere provide possible, but strive to is only continue to provide of us, however thethe highest services improve the quality quality ofservices highest quality positive news for others, possible, butbut strive to toto possible, strive our services. In order with online sales and improve thethe quality of ofsome improve quality achieve this we are asking of the more innovative our services. In In order to to our services. order ourselves tough questions retailers doing really well, achieve thisthis wewe areare asking achieve asking about what we do, how this includes Argos and ourselves tough questions questions we ourselves do it andtough whether we about what wewe do,do, how Next to name but a few. about what how can do it more efficiently. wewe dodo it and whether wewe it and Cedric Frederick - Chief Executive We remain verywhether ambitious can do it more efficiently. can do it more These principles ofefficiently. doing for the organisation, the Cedric WeWe remain very ambitious CedricFrederick Frederick- Chief - ChiefExecutive Executive remain very ambitious something different and people we care for and FordAvante - BusinessPartnership Development is Director forfor thethe organisation, thethe As Michelle a charity, listening toorganisation, our customers support and our wonderful people we care for and people we care for and Avante Partnership isis of be something that to staff who work so hard Asa acharity, charity, Avante Partnership DearAs all, Development, and must support and our wonderful ‘apolitical’ in that we Business operate outside support and our wonderful aswho an organisation achieve the results and staff work soso hard to to Firstly‘apolitical’ please can I take this joined Avante outside Partnership staff who work hard ininthat we ofof we ‘apolitical’ thatthe weoperate operate outside politics, working for benefit of our outcomes that we want. achieve the results and must do over the next achieve the results and opportunity to wish you all in September 2012. Since politics, working for the ofofour politics, working for thebenefit benefit our 12 outcomes that wewe want. Yes, we make mistakes service users with political months. Currently the outcomes that want. a happy New Year!! You whichever joining I have been really Yes, weManagement make mistakes service users with whichever political and we do not get it right Yes, we make mistakes service users with whichever political Senior Team may be is wondering why at aimpressed by the people party in control national, regional and we dodo notnot getget it right every time, but when and we itthings right looking at the Business party isis inincontrol atthat a aInational, regional it’s me writing instead of have met within party control at national, regional are every time, but when things every time, but when things don’t go as well as we or local level. Plan forgothe next 5 years Cedric, thelevel. Senior the organisation, the don’t aswe well as wewe to ororwell, local don’t go as well as local level. would like, are quick writing our strategies Management Team thought commitment dedication and would like, we are quick to to would like, we are quick t is not for the country’s firstand coalition acknowledge our mistake t is not for the country’s first coalition for going forward (which acknowledge our mistake t is not for the country’s first coalition it would be a good idea is something that we should acknowledge our mistake organisation or any government in 70 years. and commit to learning any government in in 7070 years. and commit to to learning always a bit tricky when organisation or any all government years. is if we allorganisation took a turn itor into be really of. and commit learning individual within However, likeproud almost every lessons and working hard individual within it to However, like almost every lessons and working hard individual within it to part of However, like almost every the world is changing lessons and working hard writing introduction havethe a view on the our society, Avante to ensure that we get right part of of our society, Avante have a view onon thethe ensure that wewe getget itit right part our society, Avante sotofast). have a view to ensure that it right Our Business for the newsletter and yes The start of a new year results of the General Partnership is feeling the in the future. That being results of the General Partnership is feeling the in in the future. That being results of the General Partnership is feeling the Plan the future. That being and strategies are a Election on May 6th and effects of the coalition you have guessed it, I got is always interesting, an said, I am very pleased to effects of of thethe coalition Election onon May 6th6th and said, I am very pleased to effects coalition Election May and said, I am very pleased to chance to showcase our government’s key policies the short momentous events that the straw to go first! opportunity to look back say that we get it right much thethe momentous events that government’s key policies that wewe getget it right much momentous events that government’s key policies saysay that it right much and their efforts to reduce have taken place since, highlight our more often than we getget have taken place since, their efforts to to reduce To those who don’t know reflect over what has more often than wewe get itit it have taken place since, andand and their efforts reduce services, more often than thethe deficit. withI the formation of the ambitions with thethe formation thethe happened, deficit. wrong. me amwith the Director ofof of and a time to wrong. formation the deficit. wrong. and intentions

I II

KKK

Jemmett joined Avante Partnership April ayleaaylea Jemmett joined Avante Partnership ininApril aylea Jemmett joined Avante Partnership in April www.avantepartnership.org.uk 2010 asas part a scheme called ‘The future jobs 2010 as part ofpart aofscheme called ‘The future jobs 2010 of a scheme called ‘The future jobs through County Council. She started fund’fund’ through KentKent County Council. She started fund’ through Kent County Council. She started herher role a Trainee Administrator working with as a Trainee Administrator working with her role asrole aasTrainee Administrator working with thethe team in in thethe Community Support department, which Community Support department, which the team inteam the Community Support department, which she found interesting. she found very interesting. she found very very interesting. Members of:

Established 1990. Avante Partnership

Established 1990. Avante Partnership Established 1990. Avante Partnership

• National Housing Federation • The National Care Forum • The National Care Forum • The National Care Forum • Kent Community Care Association • Kent Community Care Association • Kent•Community Care Association IAHSA • IAHSA • IAHSA

A Company Limited by Guarantee (Registration No.No. 2565021, England) (Registration 2565021, England) (Registration No. 2565021, England) A Registered Charity A Registered Charity A Registered Charity (Registered No.1002727) (Registered No.1002727) (Registered No.1002727)

Working with: Working with: Working with:

Working with:

More recently Kaylea has been working alongside thethe More recently Kaylea has been working alongside More recently Kaylea has been working alongside the Chief Executive’s Karen Flynn, where she has been Chief Executive’s PA,PA, Karen Flynn, where she has been Chief Executive’s Karen Flynn, where she has learning about thethe organisation as aawhole. ofof learning about the organisation asas One learning about organisation awhole. whole.One One Kaylea’s many tasks was to help with this edition ofof Kaylea’s many tasks was help with this edition Kaylea’s many tasks was toto help with this edition If you would like to receive the Avante News which she has really nextenjoyed. edition of Avante News as an E edition Avante News which she has really enjoyed. Avante News which she has really enjoyed.

Members of: Members of:

• National Housing Federation • National Housing Federation

and show that what we have to offer is something that is unique and different, For many,onthe highlight focusing quality and of the summer should value for money. have been England ForFor many, thethe highlight many, returning from highlight the World of the summer Atof this time it should is should vital that the summer Cup clutching that gold have been England we as a team understand have been England trophy. As we know, it returning from the World returning from the World our mission, vision didn’t quite work outand like Cup clutching that gold Cup clutching that values andteam work to gold them, that. The didn’t trophy. AsAs wewe know, it itgel trophy. know, we all know that itslike people and too many players didn’t quite work out didn’t quite work out like that make the difference. under performed. Perhaps that. team didn’t gelgel I that.The The team didn’t know that in our day day Fabio Capello should have and tootoo many players and many playersto work we all meet people taken a leaf out of the under performed. Perhaps under performed. Perhaps Fabio Capello have Avante Partnership book and have the should opportunity Fabio Capello should have taken a leaf out of of the and popped into Amherst taken a leaf out the to promote what we are Avante Partnership Court, our newestbook 112 Avante Partnership book doing in a positive way, and popped into Amherst and popped into Amherst bed residential care home showing our strengths and Court, our newest 112 Court, our newest 112 in Chatham for some demonstrating our abilities bed residential care home bed residential care home advice about teamwork, to look afterforour service in Chatham some in Chatham for some commitment to excellence users with the skills and advice about teamwork, advice about teamwork, and achieving the goals commitment to to excellence expertise that they need. commitment excellence youachieving set for yourself. Fabio and thethe goals and achieving goals The coming year will be only had a squad of 23 you setset forfor yourself. Fabio you yourself. Fabio different, but our positive footballers to think about, only had a squad of 23 only had abysquad approach us allofas23 whilst my colleagues Tracey footballers to to think about, footballers think about, aJones team will show Ward our and Geoff led whilst my colleagues Tracey whilst my colleagues Tracey customers that we truly aJones team ofGeoff literally hundreds Jones and Ward ledled and Geoff Ward different. ofteam toliterally achieve what aare of of literally hundreds a people team hundreds isof a people fantastic result. of people to to achieve what achieve what isI hope a fantastic result. that you enjoy this is a fantastic result. Congratulations ‘thank edition of Avanteand News. Congratulations and ‘thank you’ to everybody who has Congratulations and ‘thank you’ to to everybody who has you’ everybody who hasa worked so hard to deliver worked soso hard tohome. deliver aa worked hard to deliver great new care great new care home. great new care home. As ever, I hope you enjoy AsAs ever, I hope you enjoy ever, I hope enjoy reading this newyou look reading thisthis new look reading new look editionofofAvante AvanteNews. News. edition edition of Avante News. Best wishes Cedric Frederick Cedric CedricFrederick Frederick Michelle Ford Chief Executive Chief ChiefExecutive Executive Business Development Director

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New business team

Staff and residents at Amherst Court start the journey… for several years before moving back to Kent to start a family. Once returning to work

Amherst Court Care Home, Road, Chatham, passed stringent afterPalmerston having her son assessments to be included on continued the Edenher registry; an industry-recognised Diane HR career in private sector mark of care quality.

companies before moving

den UK, who evaluated the wellbeing of the residents and into the public sector which ers Diane staff Rog during a recent visit, said that Amherst Court has included Kent Police for 6 ager nal HRitsMan Operatio achieved objectives that were Theprior residents and yearsset. and to joining staff have commenced a positive journey address theKent “three Avante to Partnership, plagues”; loneliness, and &boredom. Fire Rescue Service. Diane was born in helplessness Kent

and after college moved to Diane’s hobbies include London where she started “The Edencareer Alternative meant DIY, service users are cooking, reading her HR in theapproach hotel has now moreindustry rewarding andand active lives and enjoying life shopping!!! andleading hospitality

Amanda Odd, Home Manager at Amherst Court, said,

to the full.

Janys Ness HR Manager

Having left school at sixteen Janys followed family tradition and went into banking and joined Nat West in the West End of London.

It has taken us roughly twelve months to reach the standards expected by Eden UK; it is now upcare to everyone to keep up sector. Indeed, he worked a Care expectations of service users, families and allasinvolved.

where she worked as Group Marketing Manger for Highlands and Islands Airports Caroline is reacquainting herself with marketing colleagues within the area.

Assistant at Barnetts

I feel very proud of the whole team whoit have helped us to when was owned and operated by Kent County achieve this.” Council and which now,

Well done to the team at AmherstofCourt! course, is one of our

homes! After a varied career which included working in KCC’s area finance and contracting sections, Gary became an Inspector with Inspection and Registration in 2000 and regulated care services throughout the various incarnations of NCSC, CSCI and CQC.

Janys quickly realised this was far too stuffy a career path for her and left to join Tesco. After a brief stint in the cash office to use those bank skills, she was given the opportunity to train in HR and that was the start of her 24 year career in HR. This has included roles with other retailers, both high street and independent, to the Biotech and Pharmaceutical industry and more recently in supported living for adults with learning disabilities.

Her previous marketing roles have included working for Eurotunnel, P&O Ferries, Marketing Manager Leukaemia Research Fund and DMB and B advertising Caroline has joined Avante Ashley Roberts and I consider ourselves to be agency. Partnership’s Property and very lucky that we have been requested to visit Business Development Team our Avante Care and Support care homesand to Caroline is married, as Marketing Manager. enjoys anything to do with deliver Eden Alternative Awareness training to travel, motor sports, historical Having just moved back staff. sites and walking. to Kent from Scotland,

Caroline Williams

Eden Alternative Awareness Training Gary Bartlett

Regulation Manager

Gary was born in London and spent his primary school years in Australia. Most of his working life has been in the

and Malling Housing Association. In more recent years she has worked as a Registered Residential Home Manager and Area Manager Residential for a private sector company.

Belinda Watson Operations Manager

Belinda began her career in the care industry 15 years ago as a relief Sheltered Scheme Manager for Tonbridge

Belinda has an NVQ 4 in both Health and Social Care and the Registered Manager Award. She would like to study for a Diploma in Dementia, an area that is close to her heart.

ur very first training day was delivered at Amherst Court in October 2012, where we were very grateful for the support from the staff at our go at it, they were Onfirst leaving school she so positive and enthusiastic it gave usmarried a real boost. You only and had 5 have to read the article above to see how hard theWhen team at Amherst children. her 3rd Court worked to receive the Eden child registry in January 2013. reached 6 months

old she worked as an

Our second visit was to Weybourne in November 2012, with Auxiliary Nurse at her staff from Weybourne and Perrygrove. We were all packed local NHS hospital. into quite a small room on this day which was challenging to Lyn went from there to a say the least, but again the staff were wonderful and really private domiciliary care seemed to enjoy the training. We visited Barton Court in provider as a carer and December, this was equally interesting, trying to block out the worked her way through sun (something would want to do!) in order to sonnot usually ven mel Stewe Car theofranks to become a see the screen for the visual aspects the training, staff here ager Man nal ratio Ope registered manager at a were so enthusiastic and positive.

Kent branch. She was

lucky enough Lyn was Ashley andborn I still in have a few morethen homes to visit at theto be offered new challenge Buckinghamshire andwe are both beginning of 2013 and reallyalooking forward asso Operations tomoved it. It hastobeen sowhen very rewarding far, workingManager with our at Essex wonderful and old helping to start the journey Eden Care and of Support. she was staff 8 years to them Avante training andher our education. Philosophy of Care. complete

By Frances Lake

3 3

Award winning staff A Riverdale Court care home worker was honored at a glittering awards ceremony in November 2012. Alan O’Neill, from Abbeywood, received the Care Worker of the Year Award at the Great South East Care Awards Gala Dinner, at the Metropole Hotel, Brighton on Friday November 30th.

lan, who is a Team Leader at Riverdale Court, Welling, beat a strong field of nominees, demonstrating to the judging panel his dedication, high standards and awareness of the needs of those in residential care. Alan, 21 of Abbeywood started working for Avante Care and Support three years ago, following a career in banking. Alan said,

“I am absolutely delighted to win this award. It was a great evening and a fantastic feeling when my name was called out. I am pleased for the team and everyone at the home. This award is about the care our residents receive, and that is a team effort. I look forward to sharing it with my colleagues at Riverdale Court. I feel that in my three years at Avante Care and Support I have gained a very high knowledge in dementia, and progressed very quickly into my role as a young male carer. My favourite part of the job is turning a task into an activity, making the residents feel like they have a purpose. When I receive a smile from a person who finds it very difficult to do so, it really makes my day and reminds me why we do the job we do.” Next step for Alan will be the national finals in April 2013, in London, where winners from across the country come together to hear who has won the coveted national awards.

he organisation would like to also congratulate Dawn Christopher, Activities Coordinator at Amherst Court for being shortlisted for the Activity Organiser Award for the Great British Care Awards and Ashley Roberts Activities Coordinator, Court Regis for being shortlisted for Best Activities Co-ordinator for People with Dementia’ at the National Dementia care awards 2012. This is an amazing achievement to be shortlisted from so many entries. Well done!

A big well done goes out to our CEO, Cedric Frederick, who was recognised for the 4th time in October 2012 as one of Britains Most Influential Black People for the Powerlist 2013. The reception for the 2013 Powerlist was held at 10 Downing Street, which Cedric attended.

he Power List focuses on success in: business, finance and IT; media, publishing and entertainment; as well as politics, law and religion, the public sector and third sector. The list also recognises black people in: science, medicine and engineering; as well as sport, the arts, fashion and design. I am sure you will join in saying congratulations and well done Cedric, this really is an amazing achievement.

Queenie Gets a Telegram from the Queen

Queenie Feist, a resident at Barnetts, celebrated her 100th birthday in January. Queenie Ellen Feist was born on the 26th January 1913, before the outbreak of the First World War, in Ashley, near Newmarket Suffolk.

ne of six children, Queenie has survived both World Wars and lived under four Monarchs, including Edward VIII, who abdicated in 1936.

Queenie lived in Hastings for many years and in 1997 she moved to Tonbridge. Queenie has always had a keen interest in the arts, particularly poetry and painting. She belonged to a poetry club in Hastings for many years, writing a lot of her own poems that she still keeps today. Painting was also a favourite hobby and over the years she was able to sell a few of her pieces. Queenie still shows a very keen interest in art and likes to paint and draw when she can. Queenie came to live at Barnetts Care Home in Tunbridge Wells in November 2011. Sue Wild, Activities Co-ordinator at Barnetts Care Home said,

“Queenie is a wonderful person, and everyone here is very excited by her 100th birthday. Queenie regularly takes part in drawing and she frequently likes to listen to poetry, she truly is an amazing lady.... It is always a wonderful celebration here at Barnetts when a resident celebrates their 100th birthday; it is our 2nd 100th celebration in the last 18 months”

Happy 100th Birthday Queenie!

Mabel Abbott also celebrated her 100th Birthday in December

2012. Mabel, a resident at Homeleigh was born in Plumstead and was the youngest of four children. Mabel worked in Fleet Street as a secretary to the Editor of the Evening News. The staff at Homeleigh held a High Tea which was requested by Mabel, including finger food , Champagne and Strawberry Gateau’s for friends and staff members to enjoy with Mabel. The CEO of Avante Partnership, Cedric Frederick also attended Mabels party to present her with a beautiful bouquet of flowers.

Many happy returns Mabel!

December 2012 saw Florrie Russell turn 100. Florries family held her a big party at the home and everyone at Honeyfield was treated to some very special entertainment. Florries daughter Georgina came over from the USA to celebrate with her too – Florrie certainly celebrated in style!

Happy Birthday Florrie!

Happy

100ays! th

Birthd

We’ve moved! Avante Community Support, has moved offices from Faversham, to Turkey Mill in Maidstone. The demand to assist people to live independently in their own home is growing and it is vital there are experienced care providers able to meet these demands.

vante Community Support has now extended its service to deliver domiciliary care throughout the Medway, Swale, Maidstone and Bexley areas, to help support the increase of people choosing to remain living as independently as they can in their own homes. Anita Eader, Interim Managing Director at Avante Community Support said

‘The move went extremely well and we are already settling into our new offices in Maidstone well, by moving to Maidstone we can now concentrate on delivering care in the areas of Medway and Maidstone as well as the other areas that we operate’.

You can find us at... Our Maidstone Office 29 Turkey Court, Turkey Mills, Ashford Road, Maidstone, Kent ME14 5PP 01622 351166 Our Erith office Unit 2, Manor Park, Turpin Lane, Erith, Kent, DA8 2AT 01322 344980

A day in the life of Yazz Nijjer,

Avante Community Support Out of Hours Administrator phones are always ringing but it is down to the Out of Hours to coordinate these calls and make sure every call is covered. The day normally flies by and before I know it I am writing up call logs and ready for handover to the next shift. Highlight of week ahead? I have been invited to attend a staff briefing for the 100 most influential staff members for the organisation, so I am very much looking forward to attending that and taking part!

Owl or Lark? I’m an early riser, definitely a lark!

Best part of your week last week? I was using up my Annual Leave as I need to use it up before March, so was making the most of having some time off, pottering around the house and spending time with my children and husband!

Daily alarm set for? Daily alarm set for 6am – In the Summer I try to get up earlier to go for a run!

Whats the best part of your job? Knowing that you are helping clients, reassuring and supporting them.

Tea or Coffee? Neither, I only drink hot water!

What would you say to someone who is thinking of a career in caring? They need to be compassionate and caring, it’s not for the faint hearted. If you have these skills it is the job for you, it is very rewarding and I get so much job satisfaction, I have been with Avante Community Support for over 7 years so it must be good!

What is a typical day for you? Weekend Out of Hours is an early start, arrive at office 5.45am switch on all the computers and then get myself a cup of hot water! The phones can sometimes already be ringing before 6am with calls relating to carers or service users. Carers pop in throughout the day to collect time sheets and equipment. The

• If you want to join the team we’ve got some great career opportunities at www.avantepartnership.org.uk/careers

The big freeze but an even bigger O thank you! A big thank you to all of our staff, residential care staff, community carers, volunteers and Keyworkers across the organisation who ensured that all of our services continued to operate during the adverse weather conditions.

ur Avante Community Support care workers cancelled days off, swapped shifts, car shared and generally all pulled together to make sure that all calls were covered and clients received their service. The Out of Hours service for Avante Community Support especially went that extra mile (which they so often do) by making sure that all calls were coordinated and covered, without them, this just wouldn’t have been possible – great work team, keep it up! Some staff at Avante Care and Support even stayed over at the homes to make sure all shifts were covered, including the cook at Amherst Court who didn’t want to risk not being able to make it in so he stayed at the home.

Thank you to you all!

Kevin Richardson Maddison House resident Kevin Richardson doesn’t believe in sitting around waiting for things to happen.

s president of Gravesham Youth Council, for the past year or so Kevin has been representing the views and interests of local young people; shadowing and reflecting the activities of Gravesham Borough Council. The GYC meets once a month, and weekly meetings are held by the executive members. Kevin is also president of the ‘GIG’ committee, which meets once a week to organise events for young people. As if this were not enough, Kevin, a talented self-taught musician, leads the music project for the local BME (Black, Minority, Ethnic) network. This involves him in Black History Month, where he organises visits to local schools to raise awareness of, and to help celebrate Black and Ethnic culture. Kevin is in the second year of his A-level course at St John’s school in Gravesend. Maddison House is one of Stepahead Supports supported accommodation services.

New Counselling Service Now Available Are you, or a member of your family, suffering? Do you want to make sense of things that are worrying you, or find it difficult to put into words what’s on your mind? Stepahead Support has now launched a new counseling service in Ashford, Kent.

ith over 18 years experience of providing support to children, young people and their families, Stepahead Support is a well established and respected organisation. It is a lifeline for many communities and is renowned for its transformational skill when helping those in need. Stepahead Support’s counselling service strengthens its commitment to make a positive difference to the lives of children, young people, their parents, carers and other family members. Offering you the opportunity to purchase a high quality and timely service which can respond to your needs as quickly as possible.

For more information on the counselling service

Why counselling? Recognising your problems and realising you need support is the first step to making a positive change. Stepahead Support’s counselling service can help you make that positive difference to your lives. The service allows time, space and safety to express and explore feelings, empowering you to find a way forward that is right for you.

How Stepahead Support can help. The counselling service is available for children (aged six and above), young people, their parents, carers and other family members, using an integrative approach which treats every person as an individual. It looks beyond the confines of a single theoretical approach and instead uses a combination of methods in response to the specific needs of those they support. People are at the heart of the services provided and support is tailored to each unique individual. All the counsellors are passionate about their work and adhere to Stepahead Support’s mission statement and values. They are trained to a minimum of Diploma level and are members of the British Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy and adhere to its Code of Ethics and Practice. Stepahead Support is an organisational member of the British Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy (BACP) and abides by its code of ethics and practice.

Call: 01795 597432 Email: enquiries@stepaheadsupport.org.uk Web: www.stepaheadsupport.org.uk

Countdown to Christmas and New year activities from the team at Community Impact Christmas Crafts We started our Christmas craft activities at the beginning of December for our young people. This was an opportunity for our service users to express themselves through designing their own Christmas cards. There was a variety of designs and each was a way of individually expressing their images and scripts to their friends and family members. The young people also made individual presents which they designed such as Christmas stockings, candle holders and tree decorations. Some of the designs were so good, you would have thought that they had been bought rather than made.

Coffee and Chat At coffee and chat, (a drop in for parents and carers) we learned that Christmas is not always a good time for some. It can feel lonely for some if they have encountered separation or a loss of a loved one. Others expressed the pressures financially this time of year which one parent told us ‘can make you feel inadequate’. Our members of staff have taken these comments on board and are working on not only building our young people’s self-esteem and confidence but to remember that our parents are also sometimes needing additional support.

Christmas Party We had fun and games at our family Christmas party. Young and old alike were able to participate in games such as ‘Dress the snowman’ (an adaptation of pin the tail on the donkey), Christmas Bingo, find the Reindeers, Karaoke, and our Christmas quiz. One of our young people showed how much she had grown in confidence by being our quiz master. We provided a Christmas buffet to finish the party off. We received great feedback from all of our service users and it was a great opportunity to bring families together and play traditional games.

Fun and games Young people dropped in to our office at Cecil Square, to play Wii games in preparation to the big Christmas Family time and watched a Christmas movie together drinking hot chocolate and eating marshmallows.

Funky Dancing Workshop Pantomime We took our families to a local Pantomime ‘Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs’. There was a lot of laughter and interaction and it was difficult to know whether to watch the production or the young people as some were off their seats shouting back at the cast ‘It’s behind you’, booing the wicked witch and laughing at the ‘tongue in cheek’ jokes. At the end of the show, some of our young people were lucky enough to be called onto the stage to participate in the song ‘Old McDonald had a farm’ and provide their version of animal noises. So you never know, we may have future stars in the making! At the end of the show, the cast were happy to pose for photographs with the young people. A magical day for all!

Young people and their families have been invited to come along and enjoy our Afro Latin Fitness class to have fun and learn some funky moves and spend quality time together, the class was run by a local Margate Fitness Instructor, some parents who never tried this before have enquired about how to continue attending fitness classes in their local Community

Girls Group The girls had a great time taking ownership of the space they use and meet every Wednesday by decorating it and putting up a lovely Christmas tree and lots of Fairy lights. The girls then sat around the table together chatting and making lovely gifts for their family and loved ones

Cook and Eat

Newington Drop in

Young people, came to our Cooking Workshop based at Cecil Square and enjoyed decorating Cookies! We had some very creative designs, we encouraged young people to give cookies to family members and friends but of course a few had been munched before the end of the session.

December has also been the month when we inaugurated our first outreach visit to the Newington Community Centre. The first drop in just prior to Christmas gave the team an opportunity to engage with the Youth of Newington estate, getting to know them and finding out more about the needs in the area.

Tina Castro

Celebrating success Avante Partnership recognises that throughout each year individual members of staff reach a milestone, or achieve success that is worthy of special recognition. Avante Partnership invited those staff members that had achieved long service or a work related qualification to celebrate that success together.

n informal reception was held in November at the Bridgewood Manor Hotel in Chatham where over 100 members of staff were invited to receive certificates of achievement from Trustess, Bob Bushell and Philip Harland. Chief Executive, Cedric Frederick, gave his personal thanks to the staff for their contribution to the success of the organisation and positive difference to the lives of the people we care for and support.

Name

Qualification

Service

Christine French

20 Years Long Service

Hevercourt

Jane Wiltshire

20 Years Long Service

Pilgrims View

Diane Jessop

20 Years Long Service

Riverdale Court

Diane Tattersfield

20 Years Long Service

Homeleigh

Gillian Reed