Volume magazine #6

6 June 2017

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Loud

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Vo l u n t e e r i n g

THE ROAD TO RECOVERY VOLUNTEERS PAVE THE WAY FOR SUCCESS AT AMY'S PLACE //

ABSOLUTELY BUDDY BRILLIANT JULIA & ANNA CONNECT FOR BETTER MENTAL HEALTH

CHEEK TO CHEEK

DJ IAN RUSTLES UP SOME JOYFUL DANCEFLOOR MEMORIES

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CONTENTS Loud

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Proud

About

Vo l u n t e e r i n g

4 EDITOR'S LETTER Going to our GP when having any issue with our physical health is a very common thing to do and accepted as something necessary. When it comes to our mental health though, for some reason, that ’s a taboo subject.

Fortunately there are people who are trying to break that taboo and open up about their own mental health. A beautiful example was the interview Prince Harry recently gave in a podcast with Bryony Gordon about his struggles after losing his mum at a young age, and how therapy helped him.

This edition of Volume contains some inspiring examples of how people can flourish with the right support, counselling and fun activities.

Talking about flourishing, Jo’s gardens are looking fantastic again. She shares some of her knowledge about food growing in "Know your onions".

Last, but certainly not least, there is our cover story, "Cheek to cheek". An enchanting example of how music can lift the spirit and be great for your mental wellbeing!

HAVE A HAPPY READ!

HAFIDA AABBAD Editor

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3 NEWS 4 INTERVIEW

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> >

4 Know your onions

6 Connect for better mental health

8 REPORT >

At home at Amy's Place

10 PERSPECTIVE >

Cheek to cheek

12 ROLE MODELS >

12 This is how Patience roles 1 3 Where is Stefani now?

VOLUME #6 . 2017

// NEWS //

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DIGITAL LOVE LAST ISSUE'S COVER STAR, Simon Cook, has been nominated by Clarion Housing for a Tech4Good award. These awards celebrate those people who are using technology to make the world a better place and Simon has certainly made an outstanding contribution to our efforts to promote digital inclusion across sheltered housing for older people. We will be keeping our fingers crossed for Simon, but, as our longest-serving volunteer, we already think of him as a winner.

Volunteers’ Week is an annual celebration of the fantastic contribution millions of volunteers make across the UK. Centra will be hosting some special events throughout the week, 1-7 June, to recognise how volunteers are adding to the lives of our residents and service users.

If you have friends, family or colleagues who are volunteers please use the week to tell them "You make the difference."

230 THAT'S THE NUMBER of volunteers who were

involved in our work during 2016/17.

We want more!

Whether it’s providing a nutritious weekly meal to groups of older people, offering peer support to mental health service users or facilitating yoga classes for young women in recovery our amazing volunteers are promoting health, happiness and independence among the people that use our services. Anyone with time, enthusiasm and commitment can volunteer – no qualifications or experience necessary.

So if you know anyone who might like to support our work please share this magazine with them and encourage them to get in touch with centra.volunteering@centragroup.org.uk

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BEST EXPOSURE A BIG THANK YOU to the following people for donating

equipment to support the running of a photography project with the young women residing at Amy’s Place.

Pictures created with these cameras have been used alongside the article on page 8, so our appreciation goes to Colin Coates, Adrian Shaw, Andrew Arnold and Sara Patricelli for helping to bring recovery into focus.

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// INTERVIEW //

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KNOW YOUR

ONIONS

DO YOU KNOW WHAT ROCKET FLOWERS TASTE LIKE? AND NASTURTIUM SEEDS? JO BANNON DOES; SHE KNOWS AN ASTONISHING AMOUNT ABOUT GROWING FOOD. VOLUNTEERING AT CUTBUSH HOUSE, JO WORKS WITH RESIDENTS TO PLANT, TEND AND HARVEST FOOD CROPS ALL YEAR ROUND. 3

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rom planting out strawberries to planning pumpkin soup day, there is always plenty to do."I think all the senses are stimulated by growing food." says Jo. "You get exercise, the plants look nice and taste nice. There’s texture working with the soil and different shapes and then it brings in the bees and birds."

Regular gardener Beryl had her own garden before downsizing and moving to Cutbush House as a resident.

She enjoys the weekly session, "It gets me out of my flat for a bit. I can’t bend too much, but I do what I can."

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Opposite page

1. Ready to work.

2. Fresh produce.

3. Jo in the Garden.

This page

4. Beryl lending a hand.

5. Strawberries on the way 6. Beryl admiring the runner beans.

A GOOD REASON TO GET TOGETHER A believer in sustainability and making resources go a long way, Jo has "scavenged" a delivery of good soil, recycled pots, bought a "no name" apple tree at a bargain price and harvests many of their own seeds for planting. The produce is shared with everyone at Cutbush house. It’s fresh, delicious and comes with zero food miles.

Jo works carefully with her group, starting each session with planning together, watching out for people getting tired, knowing when to stop for a tea break. As she says, the whole session is "a good reason to get together".

EACH YEAR IS DIFFERENT

GARDENING CYCLE

The group grows almost everything from seed, using their small greenhouse for seedlings, then planting them out to raised beds and containers in the garden at Cutbush House. As in all gardens, each year is different. "The year before last year we had gorgeous radishes." says Beryl. The following year Jo blamed the "weird weather" for the lack of radishes and corn on the cob but says they had broccoli and cabbage all winter. By July, the strawberries, broad beans and garlic had been harvested, the runner beans were on their way, with French beans and pumpkins about to be planted. Byron, the "watering king", planted all the potatoes and recommends, "Just wash and boil them.

I never peel."

She reflects on working as a food growing volunteer for two and a half years, "That’s about the cycle of growing things, and working with people too." Inspired

by Jo’s success, another volunteer gardener, Caroline Humphries, is now working at Duval House and the residents are steadily becoming involved in the project "Two residents took a look around and there was enthusiasm for planting a gooseberry bush," says Caroline "and the plants are coming along nicely."

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If you have green fingers and are interested in becoming a food growing volunteer, please contact Centra Volunteering at: centra.volunteering@centragroup.org.uk or 0300 333 6712

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// INTERVIEW //

CONNECT

FOR BETTER MENTAL HEALTH

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HELPING AND SUPPORTING VULNERABLE PEOPLE TO GAIN GREATER INDEPENDENCE AND SELF-CONFIDENCE CAN BE EXTRAORDINARILY FULFILLING ACCORDING TO ANNA, WHO HAS BEEN A VOLUNTEER APPOINTMENT BUDDY FOR THE LAST SEVEN MONTHS.

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nna volunteers at a centre that supports, guides and helps people who experience various mental health issues. At their request, we have used pseudonyms for all people involved.

Appointment Buddy Anna is helping Julia to feel more in control of her life so she can make a greater number of decisions for herself. Anna became involved with Centra because of her interest in people and passion for understanding their needs.

"WHEN WE MET, I WAS A STRANGER TO HER AND SHE TO ME. THE TWO OF US SPENT TIME DOING MANY DIFFERENT ACTIVITIES TO BREAK THE ICE" - Anna, Appointment Buddy 2

BONDING For the first three months Anna and Julia got to know each other with the aim of establishing familiarity and trust. "Building a positive relationship with Julia was my primary concern in the first few months.

When we met, I was a stranger to her and she to me.

The two of us spent time doing many different activities to break the ice; playing Connect 4, dominoes and watching DVDs." Anna then started to accompany Julia to medical appointments or take trips to the park or library.

Julia appreciates the investment made in establishing this bond and now looks forward to their once weekly get-togethers. “We give each other support,” confirmed Julia.

ENCOURAGEMENT Much of the assistance Anna gives works because of her ability to listen and to assess how Julia is feeling on any given day, “Julia explained to me that she still gets quite lonely and experiences high and low moods that are challenging to overcome if left alone. It is the encouragement given during such periods of personal strife that more often than not make the difference to how people cope.”

INSPIRE CONFIDENCE Such reassurances help Julia manage consultations with her doctor and dentist. “When we go to appointments together Julia is independent and takes the lead talking with her GP, I am there as her buddy. I don’t know her medical history and so it is important that she can speak for herself. After all, the only person who knows how she is feeling is Julia herself.

My role in such a setting is to inspire confidence. It’s helpful that everyone at the medical practice we attend knows her well and always asks how she is doing.

She is very popular there,” explains Anna.

THE LAST SAY Julia’s growing self-reliance comes from the hard work done with Anna and others at the centre. She is emboldened to choose which activities she would like to do, and always has the last say on this matter. “For ideas of things to do I generally ask Julia by first giving a list of possibilities, and then she decides if she wants to do it. There have been times when we’ve gone out to places like the common for a walk or the shops to buy new clothes and she has said that she’s tired or has just had enough and wants to return home.”

1. Julia and Anna connect 2. Getting together

Julia agrees that having her voice heard is one of the most welcoming aspects of spending time with Anna.

Understanding what she is in the mood for doing is important. “I’ve been very up and down here,” said Julia. “I was very ill when I first came. I’ve got better since then.”

SIMON AND GARFUNKEL Both women are fans of Simon and Garfunkel, for instance, with "The Graduate", Julia’s favourite film, planned for the next film night. They also share a liking for travel, particularly to France. “We enjoy watching TV holiday programmes together, especially those on location in France,” Anna enthuses. Julia spent a period of her life living in Tours near the Loire Valley, and is fluent in the language.

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"I'VE BEEN VERY UP AND DOWN HERE. I WAS VERY ILL WHEN I FIRST CAME, I'VE GOT BETTER SINCE THEN" - Julia

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// REPORT //

AT HOME

AT AMY’S PLACE

R

achel Geary and Alan Granley, who are both support workers at Amy’s Place, in East London, know firsthand what it’s like to overcome addiction. “My partner and my family were planning my funeral at a certain point,” admits Rachel. She became very ill, which landed her in hospital, not knowing how and if she would survive.

Rachel feels very lucky to be alive and to be able to support the girls. She started out as a volunteer at Amy’s Place, supporting the young women in a generic way. Now Rachel and Alan are working full time as Recovery Support Coordinators.

A PARTNERSHIP BETWEEN CENTRA AND THE AMY WINEHOUSE FOUNDATION MADE IT POSSIBLE TO OPEN THE FIRST RECOVERY HOUSE IN BRITAIN EXCLUSIVELY FOR YOUNG WOMEN WHO ARE OVERCOMING DRUG, ALCOHOL AND EATING ADDICTIONS.

GETTING SUPPORT Alan has been sober for 28 years, but clearly remembers his darkest moments of addiction.

“I overdosed on 2 bottles of vodka and the first thing I thought after I was released from the hospital, was how and where to get my next drink.” Fortunately Alan had support, got into rehab and went to regular AA meetings to overcome his addiction.

To have a good support system is key when one is in recovery. This support system goes further than the great work people like Alan and Rachel do. It’s also the work and activities volunteers organise at Amy’s Place that benefits residents immensely.

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Counselling, yoga, creative writing, photography, Reiki, employability skills and CV writing are examples of sessions run by volunteers at the project.

YOGIC PHILOSOPHY Hellie Saffery, a qualified yoga teacher, enjoys the interaction she has with the participants of her weekly yoga classes at Amy’s Place. “There has been an exceptionally good level of participation from everyone who has joined the class.” By humorously debating yogic philosophy, Hellie was able to tailor her classes. “I deliberately wanted the yoga sessions to be very client led because that way we go on a journey together.” Hellie particularly likes that she can really engage with her clients in this setting.

“Amy's place has really enabled me to develop a course and accompany clients on the journey of yoga as a mindful practice.”

PERSONAL GROWTH Stephen O’Toole is a counselling volunteer. “My work centres on personal growth, experiential ‘here and now’ states, and on the therapeutic relationship.”

Stephen does one to one sessions and the young women can choose to have a twelve or twenty session contact with him. “Clients are free to end the contact at any time and they are there under their own free will. I encourage them to see the contract through, reminding them that counselling can be difficult and painful work at times.” Stephen has regular supervision with a qualified supervisor as is the requirement for his role. “It’s very rewarding to work with the young women and to continue to expand and deepen my practice as a counsellor.”

INSPIRING Shahroo Izadi, a behavioural change specialist, with a masters degree in psychology, is one of the counsellors who started out as a volunteer. She focuses on relapse management and emotional wellbeing. “My day at Amy's Place is undoubtedly my favourite day of the week. Their sayings and slogans are part of my daily vocabulary now. Plus I'm inspired by them.”

"MY DAY AT AMY'S PLACE IS UNDOUBTEDLY MY FAVOURITE DAY OF THE WEEK" - Shahroo Izadi Shahroo remembers how the young women were when they first came to Amy’s Place and how much progress they have made since. “Understandably it was bewildering for them to adjust, and I knew it would take time for them to feel at home. A couple of months ago, I was just finishing my day and a few of the girls were in the hallway chatting and laughing.

A few others happened to walk through, one by one, over the next 20 minutes or so. Without exception they were all met with warmth, encouragement and an almost familial welcome. I remember thinking, this is really a home now.”

VOLUME #6 . 2017

The photos with this story were taken by residents of Amy’s Place during a photography workshop with volunteer photographer Barbara Luckhurst.

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// PERSPECTIVE //

CHEEK TO

CHEEK

e Sometimes w

THURSDAY MORNINGS AT KESTREL COURT ARE A MUSICAL EXPLOSION HOSTED BY DJ IAN. THERE'S ALWAYS A GOOD AMOUNT OF POSITIVE ENERGY GOING AROUND TO AFFECT ANYONE THERE.

ngs here. ursday morni Th y jo en ly ffee" al "I re od cup of co n makes a go Ia ine d sm an Ja e nc da

"We can all gi ve requests.

I really enjoy it and you m ake friends" Margaret

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an Russell has been a volunteer with Centra for over 2 years now. He started off with reminiscence sessions, then he switched over to music. At Kestrel Court, one of Centra’s housing schemes in Walthamstow, people just love Ians’s weekly musical get-togethers.

The crowd, consisting mainly of ladies, are visibly enjoying the music Ian is playing for them, which is based on their own requests. The room is filled with people singing along, moving with the beat, some from their chairs and some on their feet.

"I try to come every week, if I am in.

Ian is a really nice guy" George

"I try to come in whenever I can.

It's nice to see the ladies enjoying themselves" Loretta

condition, "If I didn’t have a heart thi und s room" I would be dancing aro Sheila “Ian is such a great guy" Gladys

"I come most weeks.

I come in for the music and to play pool with Ian afterwards" Reg

VOLUME #6 . 2017

DID YOU KNOW THAT LISTENING TO MUSIC CAN BOOST HAPPINESS AND REDUCE ANXIETY? ACCORDING TO A RECENT STUDY BY RESEARCHERS AT DURHAM UNIVERSITY AND THE UNIVERSITY OF JYVÄSKYLÄ, FINLAND, EVEN SAD MUSIC CAN LIFT YOUR MOOD.

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// ROLE MODELS //

THIS IS HOW

PATIENCE

ROLES VOLUME CELEBRATES PATIENCE, A SECOND YEAR CRIMINOLOGY STUDENT WHO TELLS US ABOUT HER VOLUNTEERING EXPERIENCE WITH CENTRA IN RESETTLEMENT.

TELL US ABOUT YOURSELF > I’m one of your typical girly girls. I love everything to do with make-up, hair and fashion.

I am also a second-year criminology student who wants to understand how the criminal justice system works, especially for people with mental health concerns.

WHAT LED YOU TO BECOME A VOLUNTEER? > I have been looking for ways to give back to my local community, either through making donations or by actually doing something myself. Through my degree I became increasingly interested in learning more about prisons and whether they were effective or not. When I came across this opportunity to volunteer, I knew that it would help me start making a positive impact as well as supporting my studies.

WHAT DO YOU DO FOR CENTRA? > The last couple of months, I have spent shadowing and attending court trials, supporting clients within the prison and also meeting them on the day of their release and helping them to resettle back into the community.

My first day was quite memorable. I remember walking in through the security clearance only to be asked by a female officer “you don’t have anything on you, do you miss?” to which I responded “no”. In my head, however, I was actually starting to question whether I did have something on me. It’s crazy to think how in just a matter of seconds, you actually start to feel like a prisoner.

WHAT DO YOU WANT TO GET OUT OF VOLUNTEERING? > I really want to understand how people with mental health problems cope with being in

"BY GETTING MORE INVOLVED I HAVE INCREASED MY CONFIDENCE AND COMMUNICATION SKILLS" - Patience

prison, its effectiveness and whether community measures were more suitable. I also want to challenge myself to do something that is completely out of my comfort zone, meet new people and make a difference to someone’s life.

ARE YOU ACCOMPLISHING THAT? > Absolutely, this experience has taught me a lot, especially working first hand with some of the individuals. You get the chance to interact and also listen to their sides of the story. You also get to meet key players such as nurses and other healthcare professionals.

By getting more involved I have increased my confidence and communication skills.

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WHERE IS

laugh.

She would talk about her family and her life. Her son lived far away and couldn't come and visit often, as his wife was very ill. When the weather was nice I took her out onto the roof so she could sit in the sun.

STEFANI NOW?

WHAT DO YOU DO NOW? > I'm still a student counsellor but I now see clients as part of my training for short term counselling and longer term therapy work.

EACH ISSUE WE TRY TO TRACK DOWN A FORMER CENTRA VOLUNTEER TO SEE WHAT THEY ARE UP TO NOW. MEET STEFANI, PREVIOUSLY A BEFRIENDING VOLUNTEER AND CURRENTLY A TRAINEE COUNSELLOR.

HOW DID YOUR VOLUNTEER EXPERIENCE HELP? > I developed my supportive listening skills, capacity for empathy, intuition and widened my scope for dealing with challenging material.

WHAT LED YOU TO BECOME A VOLUNTEER?

WHAT DID YOU DO AT CENTRA?

> As part of my training to become a counsellor/ psychotherapist it is recommended to get some experience of befriending before progressing and doing more in-depth client work. I also believe in social responsibility and playing my part in helping vulnerable people in our society.

> I visited three elderly women, two of whom were quite vulnerable. I saw one of them weekly for about six months. She was nearly blind, wasn't that steady on her feet and had numerous health issues. On top of all this, she was pretty lonely.

She just liked having someone to talk to and having a bit of a

WHAT ADVICE WOULD YOU GIVE SOMEONE WISHING TO BECOME A VOLUNTEER? > Get really interested and curious about people's stories.

Being a non-judgemental, empathic witness to the stories people tell, can really make a positive difference to them.

TEAM

MICHAEL BOWDEN

Writer Has lived in London for ten years. Interested in music, cooking, reading and sport.

VOLUME #6 . 2017

BARBARA LUCKHURST Photographer Student of life, education, photography and Swahili.

SOFIA SANTOS NEVES

Art Director Chatterbox from Lisbon, enjoys movies nights, pizza and fries. Loves languages and patterns.

Centra delivers a range of services to support people who require a safe, comfortable place to live or who require assistance to find a secure and sustainable home.

We provide care, support and assistive technology to more than 130,000 people across the UK.

CENTRA VOLUNTEERING 0300 333 6712 centra.volunteering@centragroup.org.uk www.centragroup.org.uk/volunteering