HORSFORTH LIVE AT
HOME SCHEME
Tel 259 1511
February 2016
LARGE PRINT COPY
If you would benefit from a large print or audio version of this newsletter, please let us know.
To all our members and volunteers – we would like to wish you all a happy and healthy 2016
From Sally, Liz, Debbie, Dan, Nicki, Judith and Phillipa
ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING
Please note in your diaries that our next AGM will be held at Central Methodist Church on Tuesday 1 March at 3.15pm. You are all invited to attend. It will give you a good opportunity to see what your Scheme is doing and to ask any questions you may have. New members are welcome
BOOKING FOR TRIPS
Booking for trips can be made from 9.30am onwards on Thursday 3 March 2016.
Day Trips
The next few trips we’ve arranged for you are as follows:
Wednesday 20 April
A visit to Port Sunlight, a ‘ferry cross the Mersey’ and Albert Dock, Liverpool.
Tuesday 24 May
A day at Windermere in the Lake District
Monday 20 June
A visit to Thirsk on market day and then on to the Birds of Prey Centre
Booking forms are enclosed.
A polite reminder is due…..in order to avoid unnecessary delays if you decide to change your pick up point then please let us know.
Please note that due to building work at the bottom of King George Road, the Broadfields pickup is at the Stanhope Drive bus-stop on Broadgate Lane until further notice.
Five Day Holiday to Scotland
On 16 – 20 May, we will be making a visit to the Rob Roy Hotel in Stirlingshire; there will be excursions out to places of interest on three days. Please call the office or ask scheme staff for a booking form.
Recycling Christmas Gifts
Now that Christmas is over for another year, may we gently remind you that, if you have any gifts you’re unlikely to use, we may be able to generate funds for the Scheme by using them as raffle prizes.
Christmas Hampers
At Christmas we were very pleased to have been able to give around 200 members a hamper containing items of their own choice. These were made possible following gratefully received donations from several local schools, churches and local businesses and charities. Thank you everyone who made this possible.
Christmas Raffle
Due to the generosity of the following businesses, and our members, we raised £286.00 in our Christmas raffle.
Emily’s, Harriet’s, Marples, Simply Dry Clean, Vie.
Thank You.
Food Donation to TRJFP
This year, after our hampers had been distributed, we had a surplus of tins. This left us in the enviable position of being able to donate our excess food to The Real Junk Food Project where we knew it would be put to good use over the Christmas period.
Here is a bit of information about what TRJFP does and how they have used the food from Emma, the Manager, at All Hallows’ Café.
TRJFP @ All Hallows’ Café is part of The Real Junk Food Project. We intercept (collect) food that would otherwise be thrown in the bin. This food is then cooked in the café and made into tasty nutritious meals. There is a Pay As You Feel policy which means that people can either make a monetary donation to pay for their food or ‘pay’ by volunteering their time or skills.
A whole range of people come into our café, including a large number who are in food poverty. We hand out food parcels to individuals and families who are struggling. The wonderful donation from Horsforth Live at Home is helping us to do this. Those who have received your tins of food have been extremely grateful. Thank you so much for enabling us to be generous in this way!
Emma Mawer
Facebook/TRJFP at All Hallows’
Café.allhallowsleeds.org.uk
New Year: New Start
Why not try out some of our activities which are there to help you feel better and meet other members too? All are based at Central Methodist Church, unless otherwise noted.
Monday
Our exercise classes run for 1 hour at 10.00am and 11.00am. Dan runs regular outings, walks and strolls (door to door) using our minibus and Debbie takes groups out for a pub lunch. Craft Group with Liz runs from 1.30-3.30 every alternate Monday afternoon.
Tuesday
Bacon Butties runs from 11.30am to 1.00pm, with last orders at 12.30pm. In the afternoon, “Anything Goes” Dancing runs from 1.15pm to 3.00pm.
Wednesday
Weekly escorted shopping trips in our minibus, to either Morrison’s at Kirkstall, or ASDA at Owlcoates. ReminiSing our popular singing group runs monthly at 10.00am
Thursday
We have our coffee morning followed by our lunch club, doors open at 9.30am, last orders 12.30pm. Indoor Bowls runs from 10.00am to noon.
Friday
Our popular mobile phone workshop has restarted.
New Activities Planned
As our scheme goes from strength to strength we are continually looking at opportunities to build friendship and community in Horsforth.
New activities in the pipeline include a Dementia Café (to open in Spring), a men’s group, games afternoons and IPad training sessions.
If you are interested in any of the above please see a member of staff or call the office.
We Need Your Help
Here at Horsforth Live at Home we have nearly 600 members and 6 members of staff. We are busy….and we know that the scheme couldn’t run in the way that it does without our volunteers.
BUT, there is always a BUT! We still have a huge shortage of volunteers, particularly in the area of befriending.
Befriending
Befriending involves visiting someone for approximately an hour on a weekly basis for a cuppa and a chat. We would always try to match you up with a person of similar interests and provide ongoing support.
If you are interested in offering the gift of friendship then please contact the office.
In the words of some of our volunteers this is what they have gained from being a volunteer with us
‘It has helped me improve my confidence and I get an enjoyment through helping other people’
‘It’s the little things that we get from Live at Home that people don’t always realise. It’s being recognized when you walk through the door, it’s having someone remember your name, not many people do that nowadays. It’s the good atmosphere. All these little things mount up and make a difference. That’s why I decided to become a volunteer, to give something back for what you’ve done for me and to feel useful again,’
‘I don’t see a lot of people, it’s as much a help to me as to the lady I visit. I enjoy it, in fact I would like to befriend someone else if that is possible’
Minibus Driver
Are you looking for a new challenge? Do you enjoy driving? Due to the increasing popularity of our shopping trips we are in need of another minibus driver.
Due to insurance requirements our drivers need to hold a MiDas certificate. The scheme would pay for any volunteers who would like to drive the bus to complete the two day training course.
This would not necessarily be a weekly commitment.
Committee roles
We are also in need of a Treasurer, this role involves inputting our accounting information onto a computer programme (Sage Instant Accounts is currently used) and producing the quarterly and annual reports.
Please contact Sally if you feel that this is something that you could help with. Book-keeping experience would be preferred.
A big thank you to Phil Toepritz, our retiring treasurer, for all his hard work and dedication over the years.
Meet Up @ Mine in Wintertime
We have once again received funding from the Leeds Community Foundation (Winter Warmth Programme) to fund the popular Meet Up @ Mine. We’ll fund and provide you with the essentials, all you need to do is open your door and invite fellow members for a Meet Up at yours. You can choose to be a host or guest or both.
If you are interested, fill in a form at Central, speak to Sally or ring us on the Office number – 259 1511.
HomeWard Project
The HomeWard scheme continues to be extremely successful under the guidance of Judith Colley.
So far HomeWard has supported 216 Horsforth people. Our trained staff and volunteers can offer you short term support and companionship whether you need help in hospital or at home.
Volunteering for Horsforth HomeWard service is a great way to learn new skills and make a difference to people’s lives
If you need to make a referral for someone in hospital, the contact is Stephanie Christmas on 07885 963913.
Referrals for those at home should be made to Judith Colley on 07921 800682.
Contact Changes
Please let us know if you change any of your personal details, for example, address, telephone number and also next of kin address and telephone numbers. In the event of an emergency it is important that we have this information. A form is included with this newsletter so that you can easily let us know of any changes. If you are not sure whether your details have changed or not please fill in the form anyway and we will check in the office. All personal information is stored and disposed of carefully.
Craft Club
The Craft Club continues to go from strength to strength. We meet every other Monday at Central and all are welcome whatever your ability.
If anyone has unused craft equipment, material or wool in good condition and would like to donate it to the club we would be very grateful. Please ring the office or speak to a member of staff.
Our next meeting will be on February 22. We always have a craft planned but you are also welcome to bring along whatever you happen to be working on.
Gardening Subsidy Scheme
Due to a lack of appropriate funding the garden subsidy scheme is currently under review. A decision regarding the future of this scheme will be made at the AGM
Swimming
Swimming restarts after Easter on Tuesday 5 April. Dan will pick you up from home in the minibus, take you to the swimming baths, and then either drop you back at home or bring you into the scheme for a bacon buttie. Please speak to Dan if you are interested or ring the office on 2591511.