Workshops, focus groups and a tea party
Over the coming months OCN will be organising some strand based focus groups, workshops and A TEA PARTY! There will be opportunities for people living with dementia and unpaid carers in Stirling to find out more about what each of the strands do, contribute their experiences and opinions and join us for a tea party with sandwiches and scones in a relaxed atmosphere. Or you can just come to the tea party and enjoy the company. Watch this space for further details!
Our Connected Voices
Our Connected Neighbourhoods were part of a group who met at the Macroberts Arts Centre to help plan a pilot for a new relaxed singing group. Janet McLachlan from Nordoff Robins will be holding the group Fridays 3-4pm Starting Fri 26 Oct to Fri 30 Nov (6 weeks)
The group will be kept very ‘open’, i.e. to adults with mental health issues as well as dementia, Parkinson’s so please promote through all your networks.
Please note due to works at the University Campus people will need to come round the ‘back way’ to the Macrobert (Hillfoot road entrance to the campus would be best..), and also ignore the No Entry barrier across half the road where you turn down left to the Macrobert. Hope that makes sense. The blue badge bays are still in use at the front door. And we do hope that this isn’t too much of a difficulty for people who are attending.
OCN volunteer community researchers will be assisting Our Connected Voices with the evaluation process.
Website: https://www.nordoff-robbins.org.uk/
Twitter: @NordoffRobbins1
Contact: Janet McLachlan – janet.mclachlan@nordoff-robbins.org.uk
Please see attached flyer for more details
British Standards Institute
I had a meeting with Anne Hastie who is appointed by BSI Consumer & Public Interest Network to represent the voice of UK Consumers in the development of a new International Standard for Ageing Societies (Dementia & Ageing Workforce). Anne explained a lot of focus has been on England so far, when there is a lot of excellent work happening in Scotland. I spent time talking through the work OCN has done so far to raise standards such as developing our literature audit tool and carrying out surveys. I spoke about the aims of the project and passed on feedback we have received through our surveys and community development work from people living with dementia and their unpaid carers on topics such as SDS, post diagnostic support and stigma and discrimination. I also spoke about the great work of dementia friendly communities in and around Stirling, the national dementia strategy, dementia friendly Stirling’s action plan as part of the wider landscape of work. Anne will be presenting to a committee in China and will include information on OCN. This was a great opportunity to contribute to the development of an international standard in dementia and ageing.
Volunteer Community Researchers ‘Wee Gathering’
As part of OCN’s commitment to continuous personal development and investment in volunteers we held a gathering for all out volunteers. We had feedback from the Digital Champions and Place Standard Tool Training. Thank you to Jess, Alison and Eilidh who did a great job recapping what was covered. We discussed how we could use what we learnt and examples of how we might apply it to the OCN work. We had a critical look at how the surveys have been going, what went well and what we could improve. We looked at what we could follow up on and what the next steps will be. Thank you to Kainde for leading a very productive session. Volunteer community researchers were able to look at the range of workshops and developments coming up and think about which they would prefer to be involved in. It was a great chance to catch up with volunteers and thank you to everyone who was able to come along.
Speak Your Mind! Dementia, SDS and Promoting Individual Autonomy
I attended this event which focused on SDS and individual autonomy. It was a good opportunity to raise awareness of OCN amongst attendees but mainly a useful event to get some ideas regarding SDS issues for the OCN project going forward.
Buttercup Café Bannockburn
I attended the launch of the buttercup café at Allan Church Hall, Main Street Bannockburn on Monday 15th. It was great to see some familiar faces and meet lots of new folk. I met Margaret Baxter who helped to set up and run the café and Olive whose original vision it was to set the café up. I’m looking forward to collaborating and supporting the buttercup café and involving the participants in OCN. Margaret provided some words about the cafe to include in my bulletin below. And I can vouch for the hugs….they all give great hugs.
‘The Buttercup cafe is open Every Monday from 1.45pm until 3.30pm. Our aim is to provide a safe and loving environment for all. It is not only a memory cafe it is also a wellbeing cafe. Our doors are open to those with memory problems, those with special needs, the lonely, the depressed, and the lost. In fact anyone who wants a listening ear a warm smile, a chat over a cup of tea and even, if they wish, a big hug. We do crafts play domino’s, cards and musical bingo.’