Spring 2017
Happy New Year everyone! We have some exciting events and opportunities
to read about in this newsletter, as well as an update on your Shared Lives
team!
Read about what we have been up to in February as well as an excellent
update from the Care Inspectorate.
We have a fantastic opportunity for budding photographers in this newsletter!
We are running a photography competition with the chance to have your
photograph displayed in the Stonehaven Library window in June and also
featured in the Summer Newsletter! More information inside!
We have some dates for your diary- including the sponsored walk, lunch at the
Shepherds Rest and dates for this year’s Glenmore Activity Weekend. The
flyer and booking form for Glenmore will follow soon. Look out for it in the
post as last year we were fully booked with 70 people attending and more on a
waiting list!
If anyone has anything they would like to share- somewhere they have visited,
something they have achieved etc. please let us know for next newsletter.
In this issue:
 My Holiday to America by Rachel
 My Karate Class by Fiona
 Shared Lives in February
 Our Shared Lives Team
 The Chatty Daisy Group
 Shared Lives Carers’ Group
 Care Inspectorate Update
 Dates for your diary
 Photography Competition
 Come Dine with Shared Lives 2017
 Milton of Crathes Sponsored Walk
 Did you know?
 What are outcomes?
 Puzzle page
 List of important contacts
My Holiday to America
I went on holiday to America. I went to
Richmond, Virginia and stayed with my
oldest brother for Christmas. One of our
suitcases got lost on the way there! But we
got it back eventually.
We went to a Christmas theme park with
my family and went on lots of different
rides, one had horses on it and the other
had spinning cups. I met Santa Claus and saw lots of really
good Christmas lights!
At my brothers we had pancakes with bacon for breakfast in the
mornings, YUM! They have a REALLY cute dog called Teddy, I
took him out on lots of walks and played with him. He liked to
play in the snow. There was LOADS of snow when we were
there. I went on a sledge for the first time, it was scary but
loads of fun! I threw a snowball and Teddy tried to catch it, it
was funny.
On Christmas day we had lots of presents underneath the tree
and our stockings were full up. I got my mum a pink scarf and I
got brilliant presents. Next time I go to America I would love to
go to Disneyland Florida and see all of the Harry Potter rides. I
had a great time on my holiday!
By Rachel Marr
My Karate Class in Pitmedden
I have always wanted to try karate when I was a young person and be part of a local class
but this has not been possible before and I have faced many barriers and this had made it
difficult. Before I would have been placed in a class with very small children as that was the
level I was in and I would have struggled and received no help and it was mostly about
competing and not the learning side of things.
Then last year I went along to a free taster session run as part the Disability Sports summer
programme. It was held in Insch Hall and we were helped by some of the more mature
young people who were black belts. They did some simple exercises and they let us go on
some of the contact pads. I quickly decided that I wanted to become part of a club. So I
asked if there were any local sessions.
At the start of term I attended the Pitmedden Adult Class. I was put with the adults in the
back of the class and they went through each step calmly and slowly and they also helped
out by to start with by moving my body into the correct positions. After that I officially
joined his club and I got my uniform and then I was able to slowly progress to learning about
the basics of the kata- The Fighting Positions. I have a little target setter booklet which I
have written my goals in and it give a rough estimate time of when you will complete it. At
the end of the Christmas term I was presented a medal for being the 100th member of the
club.
In my class I take part in a warm up so I do not hurt my muscles. We do a big session on
basic moves. I split later on and I go and focus on one of the kata positions and I’m finding
that it’s easier and my muscles less achy and my listening, waiting and my team working skills
are much improved. In between we get a nice rest and we have a fun story session and we
learn the origins of the karate moves and its founders. Sometime we have a ‘show and tell’
where you can go through your moves and share with the rest of the class. We also play
fun games.
I am doing it as part of my Silver Duke of Edinburgh Physical section of the awards. I also
keep going over the positions and I have watched online tutorial videos and read some
books on improving karate as it’s important that I keep my skills. I’m in the middle of
studying for my first belt. In June I might attempt to try for my first belt and I will need to do
practical and a written exam.
The reason why I like being involved my class it’s keeping my body fit active and my muscles
are stronger and it helps to get rid of negative energy in a safe place and it never stops- you
can always lean new things. I have met some nice people who have made me feel
comfortable and include and they have accepted me for who I am. They do not mind if I
speak out the moves. They let you study at a pace right for you and not rush you. Also the
rewards are nice and simple and worth waiting for. You make new friends. It is ideal for
those which team sports do not suit. It has quickly become one of my favourite hobbies
and I would recommend that others have a try.
If you fancy giving it a try then please feel free to get in contact with David Mutch 4th Dan
Black Belt Satori Martial Arts Instructor on 07568595654.
By Fiona Jones
Shared Lives in February
On the 4th of February we met at Scolty Day
Centre for the first of our Come Dine with
Shared Lives Sessions. We enjoyed a session
with Lorna Ross on Food Hygiene in the morning.
Here we are after learning to wash our hands
correctly. We also learnt the importance of
labelling our foods with date opened, when it is out
of date and what it is.
We then enjoyed a lovely variety for lunch that included carrot soup, quiche,
fruit salad, macaroni, flapjacks, brownies and lemon drizzle cake. We all then
voted for our favourite.
In the afternoon we were joined by Chris, from Alcohol and
Drugs Partnership. She shared with us that to stay healthy
we should not be having more than 14 units of alcohol in a
week. An average glass of wine is around 2 units. We tried
on ‘beer googles’ which mimics the effects of alcohol. We
found that we needed help to walk down the corridor. We
also felt that it would be very difficult when out in the
community to stay safe.
On the 12th of February Shared Lives went curling! Those of us
who have tried curling before found that we were getting better,
we had better aim and even had a go with the brushes ‘sweeping’
to make the stone go farther. We also learnt that spinning the
stone clockwise ( ) makes our aim better. Those who tried it
for the first time enjoyed learning something new. We all worked
together as a team, took turns and showed good sportsmanship.
At the end of the session we shook hands with our opponents and
thanked them for a good game! Some of us have plans to go back
to Curl Aberdeen soon to try curling again!
Our Shared Lives Team
A Hello from Jenna.
(Jenna is our new full time Shared Lives Support Worker).
Hello! You may remember hearing that I joined the Shared Lives
team as a support worker in January. I would like to take this
opportunity to thank everyone for their warm welcomes and I look
forward to getting to know you all.
Pauline is back from maternity leave! (Pauline works as our
Shared Lives Assessor on a part time basis)
Hello everyone!
I just wanted to let you all know that I have returned to work
following my maternity leave. Niamh is doing well and growing fast,
we would like to thank you all for your kind messages and thoughts. I
hope to catch up with you all soon.
Thanks
Pauline
Nicola continues to work as Shared Lives Support Worker
part time.
And last but not least, Sue is our Shared Lives Team
Manager!
The ‘Chatty Daisy Group’
The first Chatty Daisy Group meeting of the year will be held
on Tuesday 28th of March at 6.30pm until 8pm at
Ellon Academy Community Campus. This is a great
opportunity for individuals supported by Shared Lives to
meet, get creative and develop something that will benefit
others. We can’t wait to hear what you have been up to
since the last meeting! We will be chatting about a TV
programme or movie that you have watched as well as
putting the finishing touches on the Shared Lives Fire Safety poster we put
together at the last meeting, ready for sharing with the rest of the scheme.
Whether you have been to the group before or you are thinking of joining we
would love to see you there. Give Jenna a phone on 07467 338813 if you want
to come along!
Shared Lives Carers’ Group and
Community Connections
The first Shared Lives Carers’ group meeting of the year will be held on
Sunday 19th of March from 3pm until 5pm in Peterhead. If you would
like to come along please let us know.
There will be an update on the progress of the community garden in
Peterhead. Carol, a local garden designer has kindly offered to
give us some initial direction to help us get going with this
project. Carol will be helping us develop an information letter
which highlights what we hope to achieve with this project and
how it will benefit many other groups and individuals in and
around the local community who may get involved. Carol has
been a fantastic support in getting this project going and we
really appreciate all of the help she has offered and sharing her
expertise with us. If anyone is interested in lending a hand with
this project, have any spare gardening tools or equipment you
are willing to part with or would like to help us attract some of the local
wildlife please get in touch with Jenna, Nicola or Sue.
Also, there will be the opportunity to find out more about Focus, an ASDAN
learning programme through which learners can develop skills in a variety of
areas (communication, independent living, managing money, using transport
etc.)
Telephone: 0345 6009527 [email protected]
“Aberdeenshire Council Shared Lives Scheme is Top Class”
It is official! These words are in our 2016 Care Inspectorate
report!
We have received our final draft from our care Inspector Lynn
Ellison on 06/02/2017 and I am delighted to share the report with
you.
We are all members of Shared Lives, our individual achievements
are a part of the whole team’s achievement and the inspectors’
report is made by us all as I do believe we are all part of the team. A
good team does work together, listens to each other, is reliable and
communicates well which does take time but is oh so worth it.
It is true we do learn and build from each other. “We have always
found Shared lives to be a welcoming and comfortable place/space.
We feel able to discuss anything that may concern us, knowing it will
be listened too and addressed”.
We all have challenges in our lives be it personally, at our work, in
the past or the future , we are lucky that we can discuss openly,
work together and share together as a team, life’s obstacles and
triumphs. You are the team!
Thank you for these comments and feedback, they are yours for
what you have tried, achieved, worked towards and shared together.
I hope you enjoy reading the report
Sue
“I haven’t laughed so much, I am happy”. Anon
Dates for your diary
3-4 March 2017: Overnight at St Drostan’s at Glenesk.
Beautiful location and great activities! Spaces for the overnight
are fully booked but if you would like to come along for the
day on the 4th let us know! We will be having a walk at Loch
Lee, making wooden bird boxes and sharing in the cooking.
We will also enjoy a visit to the Glenesk Museum.
28th of March 2017 from 6.30pm to 8pm: Chatty Daisy Group Meeting at
Ellon Community Campus in community room 2 or 3.
If you would like to come to the next meeting please contact Sue, Nicola or
Jenna.
24th April 2017 from 12md we will be at the Shepherds Rest in Westhill for
a get together. If you fancy coming along for a cup of coffee, lunch or an ice
cream let us know.
13th May 2017 at 10am: Come Dine with Shared Lives at the Salvation
Army, Peterhead.
21st May 2017 at 11am: Sponsored walk, train ride and picnic at Milton of
Crathes. Flyer and sponsorship form enclosed.
16- 18 June 2017: Glenmore Activity Weekend near Aviemore. Flyer will be
sent out in due course.
Shared Lives Photography Competition
Why not join our photography competition? Take a photo and send it to us
either by email or post. Sights of Aberdeenshire is the theme for the
competition so make sure your photograph shows off some of the beautiful
scenery the area has to offer.
A local photographer will pick the top 3 they like most and these will be
published in the summer newsletter as well as being displayed in
the Stonehaven Library Window for the community to
enjoy!
So get snapping!
COME DINE WITH
SHARED LIVES
Shared Lives invite a team of two to join us in a Come Dine
with Me event and put your cooking skills to the test. We
have two heats- one in the North (in May 2017) and one in
South Aberdeenshire
took place in EVENT
FOOD(this
HYGIENE
February 2017), each pair should bring a
dish of their choice, cooked together and
we will all enjoy sampling the different
dishes for lunch.
Everyone then votes for their favourite
and the dishes with the most votes from each heat will come
together to cook their meal to an audience and for us all to
enjoy.
Before lunch we will enjoy an interesting and informative
food hygiene workshop presented by Lorna Ross (Food safety
and support officer for Aberdeenshire Council). This is always great
fun!
North: Saturday 13th May at10am Salvation Army, 47 Windmill Street,
Peterhead
Grand Final: Saturday 9th of September at 10am at the Wyness Hall
in Inverurie.
Book your place by contacting:
Nicola Watson: 0782653553 [email protected]
Sue Mahony: 07824 837791 [email protected]
Sponsored Walk
You are invited to join us for our annual Shared Lives sponsored walk and fun
day. The event will be held at Milton of Crathes, near Banchory.
The walk will be up to 3 miles long (1 ½ miles each way), all on a level surface
so it is suitable for anyone to come along, stop as you wish but still be part of
the fun at your own pace!
Like last year we will have a ‘bring a picnic to a picnic’ for lunch where
everyone is encouraged to make/take something along and we all share the
delights that have been brought!
The location has a grassy field where those who still have the energy can have
a game of rounders/football etc. Please feel free to bring along balls/bats etc.
Don’t worry if the weather is not kind we can eat our picnic on the stationary
catering train.
At Milltown of Crathes there are several craft shops, the steam train and toilet
facilities. We have arranged that we will get a ride on the train (Shared Lives
are paying for your ticket for this).
This year some of the money raised will go towards our Peterhead
Community Garden project. This will go towards purchasing equipment,
plants, seeds etc.
Those who came last year had a great day out so we hope you will come and
join in the fun this time round!
Date: Sunday 21st May
Time: 11am
Meeting Place: Steam train car park
SHARED LIVES
SPONSORED WALK FORM
UP TO 3MILE WALK (1 ½ miles each way)
NAME AND ADDRESS
AMOUNT SPONSORED
Did you know??
The Jubilee Hall in Portlethen runs The Fine Piece Café every Wednesday
mornings from 9am to 12 noon. Enjoy some homemade treats and a cuppa
while you catch up with friends.
Mixed Fish is an organisation which seeks to promote partnership and create
opportunities for people to flourish socially and artistically in the North East.
At the moment the group runs from Rosehill Day Centre in Aberdeen city
with plans to move to a newly built centre in Mastrick this year. There are also
hopes that a group may be developed in Aberdeenshire in the near future.
Mixed Fish offers opportunities to try something new and meet new friends at
the same time. Starting in February, Mixed Fish runs a drama and dance group
every Wednesday. Everyone is welcome to come and have a go! Last year the
group travelled to the south of England for five days to participate in a
conference promoting equality. Here they performed a number of acts
including dance and singing for everyone while also enjoying loads of events
and activities on offer. This is a very welcoming and fun group of people who
love to meet, dance and try new things together. Find out more about this
fantastic group on the Mixed Fish Facebook page.
One of our Shared Lives Carers recommends going along and trying Rock
Choir. Rock Choir is much more than a choir – it’s a multi layered singing
experience. The people involved are really welcoming and the singing is great
fun! There are Rock Choirs in Aberdeen, Stonehaven, Inverurie. Visit
www.rockchoir.com for more information.
Scottish Commission for Learning Disability has opened nominations for The
Learning Disability Awards. These provide an opportunity to celebrate, on
a national level, the rarely heard stories and achievements of people with
learning disabilities and the people who support them.
The categories are:
Sport achievement
Youth achievement
Employee recognition
Exceptional frontline worker
Inspirational family carer
Creative achievement
RSA Scotland: Social impact award
They will be announcing winners and highly commended applicants at the
inaugural ceremony at Grand Central Hotel, Glasgow on Friday 19th May
2017. Nominations close at 5pm on Monday 6th March 2017.
For information on how to nominate someone visit
www.scld.org.uk/ldawards2017/ or phone 0141 248 3733.
Walking to Health. There are a network of community Health Walk
projects that organise free group walks every week. These are short, safe,
social, fun, accessible, low level walks led by trained volunteers. Anyone can
come along to a Health Walk and new walkers are always welcome. There are
over 30 health walk groups in and around the Cairngorms National Park. Click
here for locations and further details. http://cairngorms.co.uk/discoverexplore/things-to-do/walking-trails/health-walks/
Focus is an ASDAN learning programme in which learners can develop skills
in particular areas such as communication, independent living, managing money,
using transport and many more. Within each module, the learner completes
activities and creates a portfolio to evidence their work. To get started with
Focus all you need to do is purchase the resources and get going! Learners will
receive certificates to highlight their achievements. We are looking to gauge
interest in using Focus within Shared Lives. There will be the opportunity to
find out more at the Carer and Chatty Daisy Groups in March.
What are outcomes?
You may have heard people speaking about outcomes a lot recently, but what
is an outcome? Your outcomes are what you want to achieve. An outcome is
a way of checking things are getting better. Outcomes can change to make
sure things keep getting better.
For example, you might want to learn to catch the bus as this will help you
meet the outcome of improving your wellbeing, independence and allow you
more opportunities to be involved in the community.
There are also outcomes which the Health and Social Care Partnership have
developed to make sure that everywhere in Scotland is working towards the
same goal. These outcomes are:
1. People are able to look after and improve their own health and wellbeing
and live in good health for longer.
2. People, including those with disabilities, long term conditions, or who are
frail, are able to live, as far as reasonably practicable, independently and at
home or in a homely setting in their community.
3. People who use health and social care services have positive
experiences of those services, and have their dignity respected.
4. Health and social care services are centred on helping to maintain or
improve the quality of life of service users.
5. Health and social care services contribute to reducing health
inequalities.
6. People who provide unpaid care are supported to reduce the
potential impact of their caring role on their own health and
wellbeing.
7. People who use health and social care services are safe from harm.
8. People who work in health and social care services are supported to continuously
improve the information, support, care and treatment they provide and
feel engaged with the work they do.
9. Resources are used effectively in the provision of
health and social care services.
It would be great to hear how you feel your experiences
with Shared Lives meet your outcomes! Send us your
stories for the newsletter!
Puzzle Page
Mexican Themed night
We will be having a Mexican themed night at our
Glenesk weekend in March. Jenna will be putting her
cooking skills to the test (with your help) and making
loads of yummy foods. Chicken, cheese, wraps and loads
more – and nothing too spicy! Mexican theme means lots
of colourful clothes and some funny hats! (Have you ever
seen a sombrero?!) Get involved with some fun games
and maybe even learn a few words in Spanish! So with
that in mind how about trying this Mexico wordsearch!
List of important contacts
If you have an article you would like to appear in the next issue of the Care
and Share then please get in touch with Nicola.
Any other enquiries please do not hesitate to contact us on one of the
numbers below!
Sue Mahony:
07824 837791
[email protected]
Jenna Meiklejohn
07467 338813
[email protected]
Nicola Watson
07826 535531
[email protected]
Pauline Desborough
07826 535532
[email protected]
Website:
www.aberdeenshire.gov.uk/sharedlives