Headway Ayrshire. Welcome to our Christmas 2005 Edition. Raising Awareness of Acquired Brain Injury HEADWAY UK AWARDS

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1 December 2005 Raising Awareness of Acquired Brain Injury Welcome to our Christmas 2005 Edition. HEADWAY UK AWARDS On Thursday 8th December, the Headway UK Awards Ceremony was held in the Dorchester Hotel, London. were delighted that three people got to the finals! These people were: Jane McCormick (Campaigner of the Year Award Winner) Kirsty Templeton (Achiever of the Year Award Winner) Stephen Brown (Volunteer of the Year Award Runner Up) Jane raised a considerable amount of money by swimming the English Channel, it took her fifteen hours. Everyone admires her for her bravery. Well done Jane! Kirsty has made remarkable progress this year, you can read her story on page 2. Keep it up Kirsty, we are all really proud of you! Stephen has Volunteered for for five years. He has provided us with invaluable support by helping out at the Groups and all of our outings. Thanks very much Stephen! Inside this issue: Sponsored Walk 2 Client s stories 2 Adult Literacy & Numeracy / Computer 3 Club Thrieve Gardens 3 Group News 4 Useful Information 5 Groups Thanks!! 6 Investor in People 6 Award Christmas Lunch 6 Sad News 6 Kirsty & Jim: Everyone enjoyed the ceremony, which was also attended by Jim Ross (Director ) & Lorraine Pattie (Administrator ). Jane with her parents, Malky & Anne: Stephen & Kirsty: Stephen & Lorraine:

2 SPONSORED WALK Jack Fleming from Catrine is a neighbour of Kirsty Templeton, a Member. He wanted to do something to boost our funds for all the support Kirsty has been given by Headway. Jack did a sponsored walk on behalf of Headway and so far has raised nearly 600 more money still to be collected. A big thank to you to Jack for his support (Right: Kirsty & Jack) MY STORY WILLIAM MARTIN Hello, Too much activity can lead me towards anxiety and stress. Not enough activity can take me in the direction of self-pity and depression. Therefore, it is good to be able to come along to Headway at Beresford Court and Sutherland House in Prestwick. If I feel like it, I can join in with the various activities on offer, or simply relax in the garden with a cuppa! There is no pressure, either way. Thanks to Headway Team William Martin MY STORY KIRSTY TEMPLETON My name is Kirsty Templeton and I am 19 years old. I was involved in a bad car crash in December 2003 and that is how I got my brain injury. I have been attending the Headway support group in Auchinleck for just over a year. I have recently started Adult Literacy and Computing classes at the Headway office in Ayr. The literacy classes are helping my memory problems and improving my reading skills. At the computer class I am getting back some of my old skills and hopefully this will help me to get some kind of employment in the future. I have also just been given the opportunity to take up a six week work placement at the GP practice at 31 Portland Road, Kilmarnock. I am really enjoying this. I am answering telephones, sending letters and doing some filing. All the girls at the practice are really nice and are helping me find my way around. A big thank you to the Doctors and Staff at 31 Portland Road, Kilmarnock for their support and input when Kirsty was on placement. Page 2

3 ADULT LITERACY /NUMERACY AND COMPUTER CLUB A big thank you to all the tutors and volunteers for their hard work over the last few months. Their input has been greatly appreciated. Well done to all the individuals who have worked hard to improve their skills either with Literacy/Numeracy or Computing. Anyone interested in finding out more about these clubs, please contact the office for details. THRIEVE GARDENS It seems such a long time ago since we went to Thrieve Gardens down by Castle Douglas, for our summer trip. We could not have asked for a better day! The weather was beautiful, the scenery breathtaking and the company superb. We had a pleasurable day walking around the gardens and sat down to a lovely lunch which we had outside on the veranda, where some of us enjoyed a nice glass of wine or a glass of cold beer. The bus journey back was a bit more sedate than what it was on the way down I think everyone was having a wee snooze by this point!

4 EAST AYRSHIRE GROUPS AUCHINLECK Auchinleck Social Group held a fundraising evening on 12th November. The evening was a great success and enjoyed by all who attended. Everyone made good use of the bar and buffet and enjoyed activities such as a raffle and win the bottle. We raised more than from the event. Well Done all involved! KILMARNOCK The Kilmarnock Support Group welcomed three new members. Bill Galbraith, John Robertson and Tam Seaman. Bill and Tam gave the following feedback when asked what attending the Headway Group had offered them. Attending the support group has given me companionship and friendship. It is helping improve my memory and I have met people with similar problems to my own. - Bill Galbraith Since joining Headway Support Group I have met people with brain injuries who understand the problems I have. I have also received support from staff and other members. Tam Seaman. SOUTH AYRSHIRE GROUP NEW MEMBERS OF THE AYR GROUP: There are four new members of the Ayr Group, and all of them have positive comments to make: Charles Christie: I think its great to socialise with people who have similar problems, everyone is so friendly. The group has really helped me. I wish someone had told me about sooner after my accident. John McCubbin: I look forward to the group every week. I get on really well with Frank, who I work in the garden with. Frank Mihulka: I have really enjoyed working in the garden. I have planted lots of shrubs, and have been working hard with the other members digging the soil. We have also fed the grass and forked it to let the air in. I look forward to the group every week. Everyone is cheery and the staff are great, you couldn t ask for better! Andrew Semple: I have found the group very helpful. It has been nice meeting new people. I enjoy the greenhouse as my hobby, and get new ideas from meeting new people. A big welcome to all of them! NORTH AYRSHIRE GROUP Comments from the North Ayrshire Group: I have seen an improvement in each member from when I first started helping at the Parterre Hall in Irvine. Each client has grown in confidence through the activities/discussions we provide each week. I see clients becoming more assertive as time goes on, and gaining the ability to do more things for themselves (which is the most important part of course!). I also think the support we provide, and the opportunity to have their own say about issues provides as much care as anything else, as everything else falls into place naturally for me anyway! (Matthew Harrison) A big thank you to Matthew for his support at the group as a volunteer and good luck in his new job. The group is really enjoyable, you get the chance to make new friends, and have discussions about problems that have occurred. The social events are great fun! (Suzi Howatson) Page 4

5 Useful Information: 1) Application For European Health Insurance Card (EHIC) If you are a UK resident visiting a European Union (EU) country or Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway or Switzerland: You are entitled to medical treatment that becomes necessary, at a reduced cost or sometimes for free. Only treatment under the state scheme is covered. But to obtain treatment you need to take a EHIC with you. Please note, not all UK residents are covered in Denmark, Iceland, Lichtenstein, Norway or Switzerland. You can apply for an EHIC by calling , by picking up an application from the Post Office, or by going to the following website: You will need the NHS or National Insurance Number, Surname / Family Name, Forenames and Date of Birth of each applicant before you can apply. 2) Smoking Ban Remember that smoking in public places will be banned as of the 26th March 2006! About Headway Groups The group s aims are to improve confidence/self esteem, assist memory and improve social skills. We hope you can use the groups as a stepping stone to prepare you for your future goals. All groups will re-start in the week commencing Sunday 8th January, Anyone interested in attending a Headway Group should call the office for information

6 Raising Awareness of Acquired Brain Injury Have you got a story or any information you d like to share? Suite 4, Beresford Court, Beresford Lane, Ayr. KA7 2DW Let us know and we can add it to our next newsletter. Not only to share your news but it may help others going through a similar experience. Drop us a line by post, phone, or in person and we will try to include your photos too. Tel: info@headway-ayrshire.org.uk Thanks!! Recently we have received many donations from members and their families. We would like to say a big thank you to everyone for their generosity. Phone: Fax: info@headway-ayrshire.org.uk Christmas Lunch 2005 Investor In People Award Staff are pleased to announce we have been reviewed for IIP standard, and have been awarded the status for another three years. This year our Christmas lunch was held at Gailes Hotel, Irvine. It was a really enjoyable day for everyone. ABOVE: Ed, Charles, Bobby, George & Andy are full of Christmas cheer! LEFT: Andy poses in his Christmas hat. SAD NEWS received the sad news that three of our members passed away recently, Betty Smith from Auchinleck and Sheila Lee Jones from Ayr. Betty was a wonderful lady who enjoyed her life to the full. She was full of fun and always enjoyed a laugh. She will be sadly missed by the Auchinleck Group where she attended on a weekly basis. Sheila was a real character, and a lovely person. She will be greatly missed by everyone who knew her. Our thoughts are also with Evan Armstrong, whose wife, Agnes, passed away recently. Agnes was always very supportive of Headway, and in the early stages, helped us a lot with fundraising. She will be greatly missed by all who knew her. Our thoughts go out to all three families.