NEWSLETTER SUMMER2017

Page 1Day Centre Closure Dates

Page 2Activities

Page 3 & 4Members’, staffing and volunteer matters

Page 4 & 5Bird boxes and Haven Day Centre Clothing Form (to register interest)

PLEASE NOTE:

The Haven Day Centre will be closedfor 2 weeks from

Monday 10 July 2017 to Friday 21 July 2017

We will re-open onMonday 24 July 2017

And

Wednesday 23 August to Monday 28 August 2017 (which includes Bank Holiday)

We will re-open onTuesday 29 August 2017. (Please note that these dates were not included in the bookmark of dates sent earlier in the year)

Activities

Forthcoming outings

As you know we have changed our arrangements for outings this year and are planning trips to Bristol Zoo, Bitton Steam trains for a ride, Skittles/Bowling and a Willow Trust boat trip.

We will be taking small groups of roughly 5 members out at one time. This means that members will get more quality time with staff and others on the outing.

Thank you to all members for informing us of your chosen activity. Most outings have been arranged and letters have or are being sent prior to each event with further details. For the zoo and Steam Trains we need to pay in advance so if anyone pulls out on the day or day before, we shall still incur the full cost.

All the trips are assessed for suitability to the members who are going and a pre-visit has been carried out. We cannot provide 1:1 staff support to our members so where this is necessary we have asked whether carers can help out.

Some outings have taken place, others between now and early July, though we will organise the skittles/bowling to take place in the Autumn/Winter. Updates with photos will follow, hopefully in the next newsletter.

Paddling Pool

We plan to buy a small paddling pool, to be located under the UV gazebo, for members to dip their feet into during hot weather. (I am sure many members will find it cooling and refreshing to paddle their feet. We would ask carers and care homes to let us know as soon as possible if, for any reason, a member should not use this facility.

Working in the garden

We have been working hard to look after the garden; the plants and fruit trees which are already established as well as planting new plants. Paula worked hard planting sunflowers from the seeds we collected from last year’s sunflower heads. They are coming on really well so far!

Other members got involved in successfully planting pumpkin, squash and marrow seeds. The plants are looking really healthy and we are looking forward to watching the vegetables grow. Jackie pruned the Damson tree so that we could get lots of large healthy fruits. Clifford got involved helping us to clear away the branches.

Summer Barbecue

Following a request arising from the Members’ Committee meeting we have decided to hold a Summer Barbecue on Thursday, 17 August. Exact details will follow nearer the date but it will be for our members only with certain invited guests.

MEMBERS’ MATTERS

Members’ holidays

It is very important that we know, in advance, when our members will be on holiday. This affects transport arrangements, food and catering, etc. Therefore, can carers and care homes please inform the Haven Day centre in writing, of members’ holidays, giving us 1 or 2 weeks’ notice. Your co-operation in this matter will be greatly appreciated.

Members’ Committee Meeting

The Members’ Committee met on Tuesday 6 June and Chris, Roger, Clifford, Andrew, Edith and Moyra represented members. Juliet and Lisa represented staff. Chris took notes of what was discussed and they were put on the Members’ notice board.

Members would like a barbecue in the summer. Juliet agreed to ask Simon D and suggested it would be an opportunity to celebrate special occasions such as special birthdays and attendance anniversaries at the Haven Day Centre. It was agreed to serve soft drinks only. Chris and Roger would like to serve the drinks and Andrew, Clifford and Edith have decided to make posters to advertise the event.

The members said they enjoy their days at the centre and the trips out. They asked for some skittles and a goal net for the garden. This will be considered.

Member review meetings

Many members who currently attend the Haven Day Centre and who are funded by Bristol City Council to attend each week will be receiving an invitation to meet with a social care practitioner in the coming weeks and months to review their needs and attendance. More information should follow from Bristol City Council.

STAFFING MATTERS

Angela is now to stay till the end of the year. She is a minibus driver/passenger assistant and care worker. Angela settled in very well and is attending further training. She is very popular with our members.

Alex Dust–Mason, who was employed as a temporary member of staff has now joined us permanently. His duties include facilities management and IT as well as being a passenger assistant on the minibuses. He recently passed his MiDAS minibus training.

Life Skills Courses

Members of staff have taken it in turns to attend courses at the Life Skills Centre at the Create Centre, in Ashton. These courses are designed to teach children and vulnerable adults how to cope with situations which can arise in everyday living as well as emergency situations. They are taught how to cross roads using zebra crossings, deal with railway situations and electricity pylons. They are also shown how to identify danger, e.g. fire, and how to contact the emergency services. There are mock ups of common scenes which identify potential hazards in the home, e.g. slippery bathrooms, trailing cables, electricity sockets etc.

These courses are particularly useful to those members who live independently or who live on their own. In the future, we are looking to take some of our members to the Life Skills Centre so they can benefit from this teaching. (Only those staff who have received the training can train our members.

Volunteer Retirement

Rita has been working as a volunteer at DCFPW, latterly the Haven Day Centre, for many, many years but has now decided that it’s time to step down in the coming weeks. Rita initially volunteered as a minibus driver and indeed bought her own minibus to transport members. She then focussed her energy on cooking delicious meals twice each week for a very long time. We will miss you so much Rita but we thank you for your many years of dedicated service and wish you a long and happy retirement. We appreciate that you will keep in touch as a Trustee and visiting us from time to time and may now increase your days volunteering in Charity Shops.

Meals

Simon will be writing to all those who have cooked meals, or to their carer, before the summer closure.

ITEMS FOR SALE

Bird Boxes

It is still possible to buy bird boxes which are made with the help of members.

Woodworking sessions have started. Some of our members have been working with Alex to prepare the wood for the bird boxes.

Bird Nesting Boxes (modelled on RSPB standards) which can be made to order cost £10 each. We intend to make a limited number of these boxes over the next few months.

Email to order your bird box.

Clothing with Haven logo

The clothing we recently ordered proved to be very popular and some people have asked if we could order some more. We can do this if there are enough orders to make it worthwhile. If you are interested in buying further items of clothing or missed the chance last time, please let us know by completing the form below, where you will also find prices. Please note that, at this stage, a further order is not guaranteed.(The form must be returned by 31/8/2017)

If you would like to receive our newsletters in a larger font size, or have any questions about the content of the newsletter or our activities, please contact the manager, Simon David.

Alex,Juliet,Simon H,Lisa,Jackie,Denise,Charlotte,Margaret,Philbert, Alex DM, Angela and Simon.

Telephone 0117 9851188

Registered Charity No 1059468

Flowers appear on the earth; the season of singing has come,

the cooing of doves is heard in our land.Song of Songs 2:12

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To: Carol

NAME OF MEMBER: ______would be interested in purchasing the followingIf a further order were to be placed. I understand that this will depend on the numberof orders received by The Haven Day Centre. (Please return by 31 August)

Purple Black Black or Purple Black only

£7.50 £7.50£14.00£17.00

T Shirt / Sweatshirt / Hoodie:______

Size:- Small / medium / Large / Ex Large / XXL / XXXL : ______

Colour: ______

Total amount: ______

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