Multiple Sclerosis Society Ayrshire & Arran Branch Newsletter
Summer 2014 Big Hearts at Fencedyke School in Bourtreehill Friends, teachers and pupils at Fencedyke Primary School in Irvine have raised an astonishing total of ÂŁ3,700 for the Ayrshire & Arran Branch of the Multiple Sclerosis Society. A year of fund raising efforts culminated in the handover of this impressive sum to representatives of the local Branch in June 2014. Activities included challenging runs, sponsored walks and brave sky diving. The school, which has a proud history of charity giving over the years, agreed to select Multiple Sclerosis as its nominated charity due to its close connections with a highly respected member of staff. With its impending closure and amalgamation with the other Bourtreehill Primary Schools this was its final noteworthy effort. Branch members are pictured below collecting the cheque from staff and pupils.
Chairman’s Report Hi, my name is Harry Travers your newly elected Chairman of the branch as of our recent AGM. Some of you may know me but for those who don’t, I was secretary of the branch for eight years and for a short period recently I was membership secretary, but I have now taken on a much easier job… LOL. A big thanks to Jacqui Downs for taking on the membership secretary’s job. I have had MS myself now for the past 14 years, so I’m hoping to be able to serve you, the members, well and I must say a big thanks to my predecessor George McLachlan and wish him well for the future. We are not losing George as he will still be on the committee giving us a helping hand. I would like also to take this opportunity of thanking all our volunteers on the committee, at our Resource Centre and shop and of course all the volunteers who run the sub-groups. If you haven’t done so already please pay a visit to your Resource Centre at 84, Main Street, Kilwinning, KA13 6AG, between 11am & 3pm Monday to Friday. The volunteers there would welcome donations of small items of furniture and Bric-a-Brac for our charity shop. The Resource Centre also has a ‘Quiet Room’ facility and any discussion taking place is held in the strictest confidentiality. We are also hoping in the near future to be offering a counselling service also to be held in the Quiet Room. It’s my intention of getting around to visit the various sub-groups we have in Ayrshire – details of these appear elsewhere in this newsletter. If you would like a chat with me call the office on 01294 558866 or call/text my mobile: 07717039326. Aye Yours. Harry Travers Branch Chairman VACANCY One of our lady members in North Ayrshire is looking to recruit someone female on a part-time basis (8 hours per week plus holiday cover) to assist with personal care, housework, outings etc. Some weekend working will be involved. Experience isn’t necessary although someone who is able to drive is preferred. Wages are considerably higher that the national minimum and the usual holiday benefits apply. Please email careka13@hotmail.com for full details.
Multiple Sclerosis Society Ayrshire & Arran Branch Much more than “just another charity shop” Many people are familiar with our charity shop in Kilwinning, but don’t realise that our premises at 84 Main Street also house the Ayrshire Multiple Sclerosis Resource Centre. Our trained, friendly, local volunteers - we have NO paid staff - will offer confidential help, advice and a listening ear to people who have, or are affected by MS. We have a ‘Quiet Room’ which is used for private meetings and counselling and our Information Point offers a wealth of leaflets and other materials…. and, of course, there’s our Charity Shop raising funds to help local people affected by MS. Please feel free to drop in between 11 am and 3pm Monday to Friday. Outside of these hours, the national MS Society operate a telephone helpline. This is available 9am-9pm weekdays and can be accessed on 0808 800 8000.
84 Main Street, Kilwinning KA13 6AG Telephone 01294 558866 Email msayrshire@talktalk.net Website www.msayrshire.com Some of our Resource Centre volunteers take a well-earned breather during a recent re-vamp of the premises. Back Row (L-R): Frank, Heather, Derek, Kim and Betty. Front: Krys, Moira and Janette.
Robbie Dickie Fund – Bursaries The Ayrshire and Arran Branch of the Multiple Sclerosis Society are pleased to announce the award of four bursaries for 2014 to young people affected by MS. The awards of £500 each will support students in pursuing further education and enhancing employment at University and Colleges in Ayrshire and Glasgow. The recipients were resident in Crosshouse, Kilwinning, Prestwick and Stewarton. The Bursary scheme will again be available in 2015. The MS Society is a registered Scottish Charity with the local Branch located at its Resource Centre in the Main St. in Kilwinning. The Robbie Dickie Fund was established by friends and family to commemorate young Robbie Dickie of Ayr who died tragically in a road accident. When established it was agreed the Fund would be administered jointly as a direct result of the family’s connection with the Branch. All grants, including the four awarded Bursaries totalling £2,000 are met equally by the Branch from its locally raised efforts and the Robbie Dickie Fund. Since its inception in late 2011 a total of almost £10,000 has been awarded in grants and bursaries to young people affected by Multiple Sclerosis throughout Ayrshire and Arran. Further inquiries for grants are invited - telephone 01294 558866 or visit our local branch website – www.msayrshire.com ‘MS Patient/Carer Education’ 23rd July 2014 MS Overview Alan Izat / Lindsay Collins MS Nurse Specialists
22nd October 2014 General Adjustment and Coping Dr Carolyn Patterson MS Specialist Clinical
Each event will be held on a Wednesday afternoon from 2pm to 4pm at the Douglas Grant Rehabilitation Centre in Irvine. Would you like to attend? Then please contact Diane Togneri on 01294 323344. Numbers are limited for each event, so please book your place.
Hidden Fund Raising Quite rightly, the Branch focuses on the many efforts of our members and friends in fundraising for us in big events through our website and local Newsletter. We maybe overlook the other ongoing activities which provide a steady stream of income for us. Our bright orange, static cans on display at many shops and pubs bring us almost £2,000 every year. In addition, we seize, with the help of our local Groups, the collection facilities offered to us by the many Supermarkets throughout the County. Its hard work but we do get excellent support from the local community with much of the proceeds going to your local groups. Maybe not as obvious, but HQ in London provides us with good income from the many membership subscriptions and associated donations sent direct to them every quarter – to the end of May 2014 we benefited over to the tune of £1045. So renew your membership either locally or with HQ as all subs come to the Branch. We also get the added benefit of keeping our work in the public eye and enhancing our profile. Anyone involved will tell you how often people affected by MS did not know of the Society and importantly our local Branch. We put them right. We have a good cohort of volunteers but are always looking for more help for all these activities. If you know of any local shop that would display our can or have a few hours to spare for store collections please contact us PLEASE remember the main object of all our Fund Raising is to allow us to help people affected by MS by giving individual grants decided LOCALLY by the Support Committee of the Branch. We encourage grant inquiries, all in strict confidence For more info on help or grants call our Resource Centre on 01294 558866. Donald McNeill Chief Fundraiser
Do you want to raise funds for MS Ayrshire Branch by doing a sponsored walk, skydive or similar event? If so, we can offer the support to get you started….just ring us on 01294 558866.
Henderson Group We meet in the Scout Hall behind Kay Park Church, London Road, Kilmarnock on the first and third Tuesdays of the month from 1-4pm. We would welcome new as well as old members. For details please call Carole on 0751 924 4190.
NEW GROUP Largs MS Support Group Amanda Harries is developing a local MS Support Group in the Largs area. The inaugural meeting of the group took place in late June at the Willowbank Hotel, Greenock Road, Largs. This is an accessible venue which is on the public transport route and has ample free parking if you come by car.
Kyle Coffee Club With this beautiful weather there is nowhere nicer than Dobbies on the last Wednesday of the month for coffee/tea and scones. To meet up with the members of the group; to catch up on the 'chat'; to welcome new and longstanding friends; to listen to the news of family, holidays, events etc and plan what we will do next is part of what the Coffee Club is all about. The other part is about friendship and support and being there for each other. So if you are free on the last Wednesday of the month, we would love to see you at Dobbies Garden Centre Ayr, at 10.30. Come along and join in!
The next meeting will also take place at the Willowbank from 10-12 on Tuesday 29th July with future venues, dates and times to be discussed.
For further details please phone me on 01292 478962. Irene McLean
There has been quite a lot of interest already so if you - or someone you know - would be interested in attending, please call Amanda on 07946 475212 or email her at: amandamssociety@gmail.com
Contact MS Ayrshire & Arran MS Resource Centre, 84 Main Street, Kilwinning KA13 6AG Telephone: 01294 558866 Email: msayrshire@talktalk.net Website: www.msayrshire.com Open 11am - 3pm Monday to Friday.
Eglinton Group
The MS Yoga Group
The self-management course that was carried out at the Eglinton group by Joan Wilson and Danielle Turner is now complete and all the attendees received a certificate.
Meets weekly on Monday evenings at the Biggart Hospital in Prestwick. at 6.45pm.
I was very happy to take a wee trip to Fencedyke School recently where a cheque for £3700 was donated to the branch by the kids and staff. We will reconvene on Monday 18th August from 12-3 at Taylors (formerly the Claremont) in Byres Road, Kilwinnning when we’ll begin looking forward to the Eglinton Group’s fundraising night in October. All are welcome, please send an email to: lizcrozier@outlook.com or call 01294 558866 if you require more information Liz Crozier
Ayr Craft Group Meets at 1.30pm Mondays at Ayr ex-Services Club. If you would like to come along and join us, please email k80@live.co.uk or call Katie on 01292 263537.
All are welcome. For details please call Susan Fitt on 01292 282377. Cunninghame Group The Cunninghame MS Drop-in Centre is still going strong at St. John’s Church Hall, Stevenston on Thursdays from 12- 3. Our end of season lunch was held in late June and our meetings will begin again on Thursday August 21. Why not come and join us for lunch and a social afternoon? Call Iris on 01294 471066. Margaret Shuttleworth New Cumnock Group New Cumnock and District MS Support Group are a friendly group that meets on the last Tuesday of each month from 6.30 pm at the Lochside House Hotel in New Cumnock. Everyone is welcome, for more details contact Caroline Duncan on 01290 333846.
WHERE AND WHEN OUR GROUPS MEET Kilmarnock
Kilwinning
Henderson MS Group Scout Hall, Kay Park Parish Church, London Road, Kilmarnock. 1st and 3rd Tuesday of month 1pm-4pm. Contact Carole on 0751 924 4190
Eglinton MS Group Taylors Hotel Byres Road Kilwinning Every Monday 12 noon-3pm. Contact Liz on 07809 373884
Stevenston
Largs
Cunninghame MS Drop In Centre St John’s Church Hall, Stevenston Every Thursday 12pm-3pm Contact Iris on 01294 471066
Largs MS Support Group Willowbank Hotel, Greenock Road, Largs. Tuesdays 10am-12 noon Contact Amanda on 07946 475212
Ayr
New Cumnock
Kyle Coffee Club Dobbies Garden Centre Holmston Toll Ayr Last Wednesday of the month 10.30am-12noon Contact Irene on 01292 478962
New Cumnock & District MS Support Group Lochside House Hotel New Cumnock Last Tuesday of month at 6.30pm Contact Caroline on 01290 333846
Ayr
Irvine
MS Craft Group Ayr Ex-Services Club Academy Street Ayr Mondays at 1.30pm Contact Katie on 01292 263537
Branch Social Group Menzies Hotel Irvine Some Thursdays 6 pm for 6.30-10pm Call 01294 558866 for details.
This newsletter is published by Ayrshire & Arran Branch of the Multiple Sclerosis Society. The views and opinions in this document are those of the individual and may not necessarily be those of either the Branch or the MS Society. The Multiple Sclerosis Society is a registered charity in England and Wales (1139257) and Scotland (SCO41990) and a company limited by guarantee. (07451571).