www.mcch.org.uk
li fe
Winter 2016
learning disability | autism | mental health
Nathan is settling in to his new home
learning disability | autism | mental health
Welcome There have been lots of changes at mcch this past year. We merged with charity Burgess Autistic Trust based in Beckenham. They have retained their status as a registered charity and continue to provide much-needed services to people on the autistic spectrum and their families/carers.
We have bought properties and redeveloped them into modern new self-contained flats. The Beeches (St Andrews Road) in Maidstone is now open and supports people moving on from forensic wards, rehabilitation, the Prison services and Trevor Gibbens Unit. Mill House was originally a school and is now transformed into a supported living service for 7 adults with learning disabilities. Each flat is large and the building contains many original features.
Settling in Nathan recently moved into his new self-contained flat in Hastings. “I have been living here now for 4 months and I really like it. There is a nice courtyard where I keep my rabbit, which is close to the front door of my flat. “The staff give me some support to help me be more independent. I like going into town and meeting my friends, and I also like going cycling.�
2
li fe
Stay safe on Facebook Facebook is a great way to reconnect with old friends, make new ones and share your stories. Just beware what you put on Facebook and remember that others may see what you post.
Here are some tips to stay safe on Facebook: About
Privacy Shortcuts
If you put your phone number or address into Facebook, make sure this is not seen by everyone. Click About and then on Contact info, click Edit. You can change who sees this information by clicking on the padlock icon next to your phone number or address - set to Only Me. On your mobile click More (at the bottom of the screen, next to Notifications) and then Privacy Shortcuts. If you are using a computer, click on Settings (top right of your screen) then Privacy. Change who can see you stuff and who can look you up - to Friends.
Help us reach 1,000 We share many of our stories on our facebook page. We’re at 850 likes so far, but we’d like to get over 1,000. If you haven’t liked us yet, please visit facebook and search for mcchcharity and click on like! We share stories, jobs, events and fundraising stories. Winter 2016
3
Get involved
Afternoon tea It’s the quintessential British experience! You’ll get a glass of Prosecco, sandwiches, scones and cakes, and a free raffle ticket.
When: Friday 24 February 2017, 11am - 2pm
24
Where: Rianos, 33 Tonbridge Road, Maidstone, Kent ME16 8RX £
£ £
£25 per person Book tickets online: www.mcch.org.uk/tea Katie 01622 722487 k.peckham@mcch.org.uk
Blues Brother night 4 February 2017 | 7.30pm - 11.30pm Ditton Community Centre, Kiln Barn Road, Ditton, Aylesford ME20 6AH Adults £12 | Children (5-16) £8 Children under 5 go free Enjoy this fantastic tribute night with Blues Brothers Little Brother. 4
li fe
Book tickets online: www.mcch.org.uk/blues
Emma Cassley Fundraising Manager
Thank you for your help !
t os
0 ,50
£3
m
Al
35!
£3 ised
Ra
Open water swimming Prudential RideLondonSurrey 100 Congratulations to this year’s cycling team, David, Sue and Jay, raising almost £3,500 for mcch. Well done!
£1,7
08.4
9 rais
Adventurous swimmers took the plunge into open water this September. Hosted by Leybourne Lake Watersports Centre, participants swam Leybourne Lakes and braved the cold temperatures, to raise £335 for mcch.
0
£90
ed!
ion
at don
50km walkers smash target!
Music club gets go-ahead
Well done to Liz, Nicola, Debbie and Jo for walking 50km from Putney to Runnymede in the Thames Path Challenge.
The Hart and Rushmoor Rotary Clubs donated £900 to mcch’s wellbeing centre in Aldershot. The donation will support the centre to set up a music group, working with the SoCo Music Project, to support the group to perform in public.
The team smashed their fundraising target, raising a fantastic £1,708.49.
£1,
708
.49
Winter 2016
rais
5
Stories past or present The My Voice, My Story, My Way project helps people we support to recollect stories to aid communication. Tracey Cox, Lead Practitioner, explains what impact it has had on staff and people we support: “The project has been running for over 3 years and the feedback we’ve received is really positive. “Over 65 Champions have now been trained, working across 38 services, and their job is to support other staff to get involved and offer ideas on how to gather stories in a way that truly engages the people we support. “We share stories each day, but many of the people we support may not remember well or cannot communicate what they want to say. Often they just don’t have the photos or objects to help them do this. “This project is not just about making memory boxes. It’s about communicating. Staff are keeping souvenirs from days out and holidays. They are taking more videos and photos and writing up stories - recollecting the key moments in a person’s life. “The way we tell or re-tell a story is really important. What works well for one person, may not work well for another. One staff re-united 2 people we support who used to live together and hadn’t seen each other for years. The moment was filmed so that they can both re-live and talk about it with their friends and staff. “I am so proud of all the work achieved by the Champions. They are forming much stronger relationships with the people we support and are getting to know them in ways that are truly individualised. They are finding better ways to engage with the people we support.”
6
li fe
Magic moments...Champions tell us what they liked best about working on the project: “Following the footsteps that Hilda once walked, piecing together her story.” “Spending quality time with Viola, looking at photos, writing down her memories and watching the joy and happiness on her face.” (We have changed the names to protect people’s identity).
80 year old Pat’s new flat After many years living in a shared house, Pat has now moved into her newly developed home. She no longer has to share the kitchen and lounge, as she has her own flat. Much to Pat’s delight, her previous housemate Joy has also moved into a flat in the same house. “She’s been talking about moving into her own flat for a little while now. I’m so pleased she has got to achieve this. It’s certainly never too late to be more independent.” Rob, Team Leader.
Healthy business Tuck by Truck, in Herne Bay, has taken up break-time table tennis as part of Table Tennis England’s Priority Zone work in East Kent. They gave us 2 table tennis packs which are used daily in break times to get individuals to participate in a physical activity in line with the Kent and Medway Healthy Business Awards. Tuck by Truck picked up their Workplace Wellbeing Charter certificate of accreditation from the Kent and Medway Healthy Business Awards in November, to recognise their work.
Winter 2016
7
Give as you live Help mcch just by shopping online. Shop with your favourite stores www.give.as/charity/mcch and we will get a donation. And it will not cost you a penny extra.
Give as you Live®
Shop at thousands of leading stores like Amazon, Expedia, Tesco, Argos and John Lewis.
Visit www.giveasyoulive.com to sign up and search for mcch.
Are you looking for support? Call us free on 0800 028 28 15
Other versions available: • Mental health and wellbeing news • Easy read
mcch One Hermitage Court Hermitage Lane Maidstone Kent ME16 9NT t. 01622 722400 f. 01622 722450 www.mcch.org.uk twitter.com/mcchcharity facebook.com/mcchcharity
Printed on 100% recycled paper
mcch is a registered charity number 1156486 and a company limited by guarantee (registered in England and Wales number 8971493).