Life
AUTUMN 2012
5 Outreach 5 GUSTO Outings 5 Social Activities 5 Sponsored Walk 5 Penelope Keith 5 WIN a Kia Picanto! 5 Community Support 5 Events Diary Dear friends of Oakleaf, Welcome to the autumn 2012 edition of Oakleaf Life! You may have noticed that this edition of Oakleaf Life is rather different – it’s much larger, brighter and more interesting to read! With the help of Foster de Kretser Design Consultants, we’re reviewing our branding across the whole organisation to better-distinguish the different aspects of Oakleaf: as a training and support centre for clients; as a range of businesses; as a charity which needs your help. We will also be taking a closer look at the outward impression we give to people, from documents we send out to the colour scheme of our building. We are undertaking this work in celebration of our 15th birthday which is approaching. We look forward to inviting you to various events soon, including an Oakleaf open day and a high profile celebrity dinner. Keep your eyes peeled for further information! As we all know, mental health issues affect 1 in 4 people over the course of their lives, irrespective of gender, age or social class. That’s why Oakleaf exists, to support people from all walks of life. We may not be able to cure it, but we can certainly enable people to cope without it ruining their lives. Over the last 15 years we have assisted over 2,000 people to regain control over their lives whilst coping with a mental illness. But we wouldn’t have been able to do it without your help, so THANK YOU, whether you have been a volunteer, a supporter or a customer – we couldn’t do anything without you! Until the next edition, best wishes, Tess Macpherson, Events & Marketing Co-ordinator
OUR CLIENT TRAINING & ACTIVITIES
Outreach Course In an attempt to take our training and support services to more people in high need we are delivering an “IT Basics” course in partnership with Guildford Action. The course has been developed by our own IT department and will be delivered by three of our client volunteers. All of this has been made possible through a grant from SCIE (Social Care Institute for Excellence) enabling us to purchase new laptops and related software. CEO, Clive Stone says: “We are all looking forward to seeing this project succeed and the opportunity to help more people working in partnership is a great way of helping more people.”
Friday is IT! Friday is social networking day in Oakleaf’s IT department! Clients are taught about Facebook, LinkedIn, browsing the internet and sending and receiving emails. We hope this will give them more
The GUSTO service-user group boat trip
GUSTO Outings Our service-user group, GUSTO, is also carrying on with their day visits to increase clients’ social networks and self-confidence. Recent outings include a boat trip and a visit to Secretts in Milford for a pick-your-own session and café outing. Here’s what horticulture client, Emma Clark, had to say about the Secretts visit: “On a bright, sunny afternoon on 25th July, a few intrepid Oakleaf clients ventured out to explore Secretts in Godalming. We searched the pick-your-own fields and polytunnels for tasty ripe and ready fruit and veg to pick, such as strawberries, raspberries and broad beans. We then moved on to the Rendezvous restaurant for cream tea and a chat. Afterwards, there was just enough time for a quick look around the shop before returning to Oakleaf. All in all, a good day was had by everyone, and we look forward to the next GUSTO grand adventure!”
confidence not only in their personal lives, but also when researching and applying for all sorts of jobs. We have also secured funding to teach the Adobe CS6 Suite, covering programmes such as InDesign and Photoshop, which will begin in January after staff have undertaken necessary training. This will enable clients to become more involved with the print and design aspects of our social enterprise.
Social Inclusion Activities
The fruits of the Glasshouse Growing Group
For new readers of our newsletter, the Recovery Star is our main method of tracking clients’ progress both through our organisation and in their personal lives. It enables them to review different aspects of their mental and physical health and relationships over the previous 4 months. Our most recent results indicate that our clients need more activities to increase their social networks. Therefore we have introduced Spanish classes, more themed evening meals, Big Breakfasts and fitness classes. We also hold a weekly Glasshouse Growing Group, supported by Guildford Borough Council, which is run by a volunteer. Clients are taught about growing plants and vegetables, healthy eating and producing items for their own use as well as market stalls, including wildflower bombs! Crates have been kindly donated by Bramley’s Apple, a local greengrocer, for clients to grow salad, herbs and wild flowers. We also hope to hold a Stop Smoking workshop in the next few weeks.
Upholstery Success! Our upholstery department continues to thrive! We have recently been asked to quote for John Lewis on Oxford Street to re-upholster forty armchairs. But they’re not the only retailer who has noticed our great skill; Culinary Concepts have also been in touch about 24 tubchairs being re-upholstered, and this is not the first time we’ve done work for them. The Craft Festival in Guildford proved to be as fruitful as ever, with a number of enquiries coming through to our upholstery department. The demonstration given by our staff and volunteers certainly creates a buzz on the stall each year. It’s not just good news for the social enterprise side of upholstery - our clients have been producing great results too! Sixteen clients passed their AMUSF (The Association of Master Upholsterers & Soft Furnishers) exams this year at varying levels, and we’re very proud of all of them.
PLEASE SUPPORT US!
You can support our work in a variety of ways:
5 By making a donation 5 By donating time, services or products 5 By organising or taking part in fundraising events/activities
5 By supporting our activities or events 5 B y becoming a corporate or community partner
OUR CLIENT TRAINING & ACTIVITIES
Horticulture continues to grow! Our horticulture service is also doing well, having recently secured a monthly contract for garden maintenance at Birtley House care home in Bramley. We are grateful for their support with the opportunity to increase our income whilst providing a great training area for our clients. The Oakleaf horticulture service is always looking for new business, so if you or anyone you know could benefit from the services of our professional team, please get in touch: 01483 30649.
A Client’s View
managing mental health
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addictive beahviour
living skills
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responsibilities
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identity & self-esteem
Sam Browne has been on Oakleaf’s IT training course for around 2 years.
self-care
trust& hope
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social networks
work
relationships
Recovery Star As mentioned previously, the Recovery Star is invaluable in helping us monitor and review clients’ journeys through Oakleaf. Our latest reports indicate that the percentage of people successfully ‘managing their mental health’ has increased significantly since starting at Oakleaf. The figures also show a rise in the ‘work’ and ‘identity and self-esteem’ categories. This monitoring tool is proving to be an excellent way of ensuring that our clients are moving in the right direction with our support.
Sam was admitted to hospital with severe depression in November 2010. She had been out of work in telesales for five years and was suffering from agoraphobia. She said: “I was really, really low and I didn’t want to go out of the house. It was so hard on my family. Then I saw the leaflet about Oakleaf and I thought, ‘That looks like somewhere good, it looks like a place that can help get me back into work’.” She decided to join Oakleaf’s IT training course, and soon after began volunteering on reception for one day a week. She said: “When I came to Oakleaf I didn’t think I could go outside let alone get a job. I feel supported here. My family think Oakleaf is great. I’m much more confident now and I go out. I hope to find a job and am looking forward to a better future.”
OUR DONORS, SUPPORTERS & VOLUNTEERS
Sponsored Walk 2012 Each year we take part in the Guildford Rotary 10k Sponsored Walk from Shalford Park, and this year was no exception. Twenty-two people walked for Oakleaf this year (and a few dogs too) raising a whopping £3,350 - our best figure yet. Our star fundraiser was an IT volunteer, securing £1,500 alone in pledges. Of course our dog mascot, Arthur, also deserves a mention, as he raised £300 and even had his own Twitter campaign! The Oakleaf Sponsored Walk Team ready for the off!
Penelope Keith Reception raises over £2000 You may have read about our Special Evening with Penelope Keith in our last newsletter and in the local media.
supported by Allianz, who sponsored the event, and JMK Classic Catering who provided delicious food at a tremendous price.
Held on the 11th July in the Great Hall at Loseley House, the event was a roaring success, raising over £2,000 through ticket sales, auction bids and
Michael More-Molyneux very kindly provided the venue. Auction prizes were donated by very generous local businesses: Bramley Golf Club; Denbies; Get Ahead VA; Headmasters; KJL Pilates; Matt Pereira Photography; Shine at Peak Fitness; The Comms Company; The Spa at Radisson Blu Edwardian and Veritas Gifts.
raffle ticket sales. We were honoured to have had not one but two local mayors attending the event: Councillor Tony Gordon-Smith, Mayor of Waverley and Councillor Pauline Searle, Deputy Mayor of Guildford. We were incredibly lucky to have been
l-r Deputy Mayor of Guildford, Councillor Pauline Searle, Michael More-Molyneux, Adrian Abbott, Penelope Keith, Clive Stone and Mayor of Waverley, Councillor Tony Gordon-Smith.
RAISE MONEY FOR OAKLEAF JUST BY SHOPPING!
through www.easyfundraising.org.uk where you’ll find all your favourite retailers: Amazon, Apple, Boots, Comet, eBay, Marks & Spencer, New Look, Play and Sainsbury’s
OUR DONORS, SUPPORTERS & VOLUNTEERS
Win a Kia Picanto! We have kindly been invited by The FSI (The Foundation for Social Improvement) to raise funds by joining their car draw for a Kia Picanto. We will get 92% of the funds raised through our ticket sales, to allow for the FSI’s administration costs. The draw will take place on 19th February 2013 but we need to sell as many tickets as possible before 18th January so it’s time to get yours!
To buy your tickets, call Tess on 01483 303649 or visit tinyurl.com/oakleafkiadraw. Good luck!
Wildlife Rocks On 1st September, we had the pleasure of joining Brian May’s charity, Save Me at their Wildlife Rocks event at Guildford Cathedral. As well as selling our homegrown and homemade items, we gave out advice about encouraging wildlife into gardens and advertised our horticulture services. The day was brilliant for getting our name out in the local community.
Speed Scrabble A super Speed Scrabble evening was held by one of our supporters at St Albans Church Hall, Hindhead, on 22nd September. Raising over £220, the event was enjoyed by all. As well as several rounds of Scrabble, refreshments and a raffle were provided.
ALL CHANGE IN UPHOLSTERY Over the last few years, our upholstery department has moved from one end of the building to the other in search of more space and this year is no exception. The old upholstery room will become a training and counselling area, with room for storage. The building work to divide this room has already begun, and open day invites will go out soon so keep your eyes peeled and come and have a nose around!
A Volunteer’s View JT volunteers in Oakleaf’s IT department three mornings a week “Working in Oakleaf’s IT department gives me the opportunity to practise some otherwise dormant technical skills in a relaxed and enjoyable atmosphere. It is a pleasure to work with the other volunteers and staff who have a positive and friendly manner.”
OUR CUSTOMER SERVICES
eBay sales Recently we have been donated items to sell on eBay and have raised over £300! Do you have any high quality items you no longer need, such as furniture, designer clothing or technology? If so, please consider donating it to us so we can continue to raise funds. If you’re looking to buy any good quality items, check out our eBay page by searching for seller ‘oakleafenterprise’ in the advanced search. As well as this, we would welcome any donations of CDs, DVDs, mobile phones and printer cartridges as we can recycle them to raise funds. You can either drop them off at our centre or phone Tess on 01483 303649 to arrange collection. Thank you!
JOIN OUR E-NEWSLETTER Do we have your email address? We are hoping to start emailing our newsletter out to all our supporters, to save on printing and postage costs, and to cut down on the high levels of mail you undoubtedly receive too! We comply with the Data Protection Act 1998 which means we won’t share your details with anyone else so you can be safe in the knowledge that you’ll only receive exciting news from Oakleaf. Email Tess: tessmacpherson@oakleaf-enterprise.org to inform us of your email address now, or call 01483 303649. You can also use these details should you wish to be removed from our mailing list. If you’d like to continue receiving newsletters by post, don’t worry, we’ll keep sending them to you.
Thanks for your help!
Community Support We are so grateful to have been adopted by the American Women of Surrey again this year, and the West Surrey and North-east Hampshire branches of the Co-op.
Happy Customers! “I have used Oakleaf for some time now, and I have always been pleased with the work done for me. Jackie and her team work hard and very well together. They just get on with the work.” Horticulture Customer
“Very high quality of workmanship, excellent service and reliability, overall a pleasure to deal with.” Upholstery Customer
“Good service and courteous staff.” IT Customer
Cranleigh Recruitment have supported us for the past few years through a monthly donation and by taking part in horrendous sponsored events such as Hellrunner, a 10 mile army assault course. What they provide is an incredibly valuable source of income and one that we could not do without. Brewers have also been particularly generous recently, providing us with paint to transform the walls of Oakleaf. If you have visited us before, you will know that the building is in rather dire condition, and is long overdue a lick of paint. With their support, we are able to make our workspace much more inspiring for the clients, volunteers and staff, not to mention more attractive for our visitors! As well as these two, we have given a number of talks to local Rotary clubs, Lions clubs and Women’s Institutes. If you are part of a community group, we’d love to discuss ways in which we can support any fundraising you do for us. We’d also be more than happy to give a talk about Oakleaf and mental health in general. To discuss this, please call Tess on 01483 303649 or email: tessmacpherson@oakleaf-enterprise.org.
MEETING AND KEEPING IN TOUCH WITH OAKLEAF
Our Forthcoming Events: 5 F armers’ Market
First Tuesday of each month, 10-3:30pm Guildford High Street
Come and check out our handmade items and plants grown by our clients
5 Birthday Celebrations Curry Night Thursday 18th October, 7pm Rose Valley restaurant, Guildford, GU1 4HD £25 per person, or £20 each for tables of 4+ Call Tess to book: 01483 303649
Help us to gain commission!
Come and celebrate Oakleaf’s 15th and Rose Valley’s 50th birthdays with a delicious meal: starter, main meal, coffee and glass of wine with more than half your meal price being donated to Oakleaf
Do you want to save money on your household bills? Then switch to Utility Warehouse and get one simple monthly bill, at a cheaper price. What’s more, for every customer who joins Utility Warehouse, we get 5% of your household bill each month. Who said donations had to come from your own pocket?!
ES Christmas Fair 5N
Saturday 17th November, 10-3:30pm Guildhall, Guildford High Street
Stock up on all your Christmas gifts at our stall!
odalming Community 5G
Gospel Choir Concert
Saturday 17th November, 7pm Guildford United Reformed Church £10 per person Call Tess at Oakleaf to book: 01483 303649 The Godalming Community Gospel Choir (GCGC) is a unique choir of 80 people from all walks of life who share a single passion – sharing the power of gospel music. This is the first time they’ve performed outside of Godalming, so get down to Guildford URC for a fabulous evening!
5 Guildford County School Christmas Fair
Friday 23rd November, 6-8:30pm Guildford County School, GU2 4LU Stock up on all your Christmas gifts at our stall!
ydes Hill Prep School Christmas Fair 5R Sunday 25th November, 1-4pm Rydes Hill Preparatory School, GU2 8BP
Stock up on all your Christmas gifts ast our stall!
Please check our website: www.oakleafenterprise.org or our Facebook and Twitter pages for more events as they are added.
Call 0800 131 3000 today for more information, quoting: K34376, or visit: www.utilitywarehouse.org.uk/k34376
Facebook & Twitter Have you ‘liked’ us on Facebook and followed us on Twitter yet? If not, it’s certainly time to! Get your Oakleaf news first from these sources and you’ll gain a real insight into what goes on here without even moving! Search for @_oakleaf on Twitter and find us on Facebook via the button on our website: www.oakleaf-enterprise.org.