Time Out Group Newsletter.

Transcription

1 Welcome to our fourth edition of Time Out Group Newsletter. Strategic Manager s Message A lot has happened since the last newsletter. There have been new staff and new members and new things happening at Time Out Group. We still have activities in Macclesfield and Wilmslow and we also have the new drop-in in Handforth. Time Out Group received money to open the drop-in from organisations that help fund charities, and also from Cheshire East. We also made some money ourselves by doing things like sponsored events and a cake sale. We need to keep getting money so we can pay for the rent, for staff, materials and activities. Some of the members went on a holiday recently; this was a mini-cruise that members said they wanted to do. Time Out Group works hard to do what its members want; it is important that members take a role in running the charity. Time Out Group supports members to become more independent and make decisions about their own lives. The most important things coming up are: october 2017 In This Issue About us Summer holiday Party at TOG Staff profiles Fundraising review o Christmas activities and celebrations o Getting money to carry on next year o Members taking part in deciding what happens o New ideas such as things for younger members o Another holiday for members who want something in Britain o Opening the Together Drop-in more often Salli Ward Strategic Manager 1

2 TIME OUT GROUP NEWSLETTER About TIME OUT Group Time Out Group is a charity working with adults who have learning disabilities in Cheshire East. We support members in social, leisure and sports activities to help them develop independent living skills. Most activities are in the Macclesfield and Wilmslow areas; they include cinema trips, dodgeball, baking and going to the gym. There is also a drop-in centre in Handforth called Together, which is open several times a week. At Together members can play games, work on the computer, do arts & crafts or just relax with a cup of tea; sometimes there are special events and presentations. Once a year there is a big party and sometimes holidays away are organised. Time Out Group also runs a Parents and Carers Support Group that meets at Together. Members, parents & carers, staff, volunteers and trustees often help by joining in fundraising activities so that Time Out Group has enough money to keep going. g Boxin Arts & Cr afts Walks Parties social events And much more... 2

3 STAFF PROFILEs Get to know a bit more about our lovely staff here at Time Out Group with our Staff Profiles! Today we are talking to Clare, Yvonne and Jo to find out a bit more about them and what they like about TOG. Clare Reavey Why did you decide to get involved with Time Out Group? I found out about Time Out Group on Facebook and I was excited when I saw that new people were needed. I have always worked helping people, from children to older adults. For the last 20 years my most important job has been looking after my boys. Now that they are grown up it is the perfect time to start a job to keep me busy and involved. What are your likes/interests? I like kittens, piglets, flowers, painting, sticking and writing lists. I support Leeds United FC. What are your favourite things about Time Out Group? My favourite things about Time Out are making friends, meeting interesting people, trying new things and using the good ideas from members. When can we see you around at Time Out Group? I work at the drop in and some evening sessions. 3

4 STAFF PROFILEs yvonne Styles Why did you decide to get involved with Time Out Group? I was privileged to see the first positions Time Out was looking at with Clive and Pete, and thought I would like to be involved at the drop in. I have worked in Health and Social Care for the past 30 years and needed fun put back the job, which Together drop-in has given me. What are your likes/interests? I love animals; I have 3 cats, 2 dogs. I am very arty and love all types of crafts. I love the computer and social media. I love most types of music from Classical to Pop. What are your favourite things about Time Out Group? Working with the great team that we have, meeting new members, Arts and Crafts, social activities. When can we see you around at Time Out Group? I work at Together drop-in Thursdays and Saturdays. 4

5 STAFF PROFILEs Jo Adams Operations Manager Why did you decide to get involved with Time Out Group? I have worked in adult commissioning for over ten years and I really missed day to day running of a service. I saw the vacancy in a local paper and thought that sounds fun/different. Almost ten months in, I was right; it is certainly the most fun/rewarding job I ve had for a long time. I love to see our members becoming more independent due to the service the team provides. We are really lucky to have a complement of staff that are passionate and are dedicated. What are your likes/interests? Time with loved ones is very important to me especially fun days out with my little girl Isabelle. I love to travel; I have been very fortunate and have been to some fantastic places but the world is huge and I still haven t done all the natural wonders of the world yet nor the Norwegian fjords!! I like to go the theatre and music festivals. I also like contact sport such as rugby, hockey and boxing!! What are your favourite things about Time Out Group? I love the fact that is member-led and the members instruct us what they would like on their programme. I am also thrilled to have organised the TOG first cruise holiday in September. Then members said they wanted to go on a cruise and a cruise we will go on!! When can we see you around at Time Out Group? Thursdays mainly at the drop in day and night. 5

6 Good Ideas and Good news Working at the Together Drop In is fun because members have good ideas and achieve a lot. We made a box for good ideas and a box for good news. When we plan activities it is easy because we can look in the box. When a member does something well we want to remember it so we write a note and put it with good news. Here are some of the suggestions we have used: Making notebooks post box, buying a fridge, Quiz night, James Bond Night, Games night Luckily there are lots more ideas in the box! Here is some good news about members learning new skills: Getting the bus from Macclesfield to Handforth Getting the train between Wilmslow and Handforth Helping wash up, dry up, re-cycle and water plants Helping to hoover Showing visitors around Welcoming new members Selling cakes Bringing in ideas for Saturday crafts Speaking in a group Going to the shop and buying lunch Look out for more good news in the next newsletter. 6

7 Fundraising Here are some of the fundraising activities we have done recently and how much we have raised. Thank you everyone who has been involved! It really helps Time Out Group to keep going and we are all very grateful. Launch Day Win a Bottle, Name the Rabbit, Tombola and Donations made Alderley Edge May Fair Sue, Rob and Marina at the Alderley Edge May Fair raised 286! Simply Health Manchester 10k Karan Vij (Bharat s brother) and the Fit4Less staff raised 2573 for Running Together for TOG to keep Together going through the Simply Health Manchester 10k in May! Santander Bharat and Marina spent a morning at Santander in Wilmslow to show people about TOG. Raised around 60! 7

8 Fundraising continued... Running Together events - Totals raised through this by everyone are around 2,000 and going up!!! - Max Chappell did the Alderley Edge Bypass 1K with Marina in July and he raised 80. Poor Max managed it in less than 1 hour despite blisters and sores on his feet. - Sue and Clive did the Alderley Edge Bypass 1K as a practice to the Macc Fun Run and fundraising ongoing - Jo s Partner, James, and his brother, Ed, with Marina, did the Colshaw Hall 10K in June. Fundraising is ongoing. - Many friends and members of TOG, including our own Manager, Salli, are doing either the 1K, 5K or Half Marathon in Macclesfield on 25th August. - Gareth Morgan, David Morgan s brother, raised 1600 by doing the Yorkshire 3 Peaks in Sept. Totals made through Fundraising are now Nearly 9000 this year! Well done everyone! Want to fundraise for TOG? Feel like doing something a bit different? We are now registered on charitychallenge.com. People can take part in various challenges here and raise funds for TOG. How about a Kilimanjaro Trek? Or a cycle to Paris? Amazon Trek? Everest Base camp? Marina told us more about charity challenge: If anyone is up to one of them, Kilimanjaro isn t hard but looks impressive. Been there, done that (didn t get a T-shirt but got a certificate instead!) 8

9 Time Out Party We had a party at Time Out Group to raise some money. We managed to raise around 1700! Thank you to everyone who came we hope you had as much fun as we did. Many thanks to Chafes Hague Lambert and Simply Argan Wilmslow for their very generous donation of raffle prizes. Thanks to members, together with Yvonne and Clare for making some amazing decorations and props! A specific thank you to Salli s John for making the red bus! Also thanks to the great band (the Daydreamers) and the Oakmere singers. And finally thank you to Clive, who was an enormous help on the night! If you enjoyed the Time Out Party, or you missed it this time and would like us to have another one, please let us know! 9

10 Time out group holiday Here are some pictures from our fun group holiday cruise to the Island of Guernsey! Thank you to all our wonderful staff for their time and organisation which made the whole trip a huge success! And of course a big thank you to our fabulous members who had the best time and made some wonderful memories. They ve already decided on another cruise to Barcelona next time... we best all get fundraising now haha! Clive: We arrived at Southampton on Thursday afternoon about 4pm. We stayed at the Travelodge, we had food to eat but not very good. We had breakfast there as well which was really nice. We saw the ship from the bedroom window and wanted to get on straight away. We couldn't get on until 2.30pm. 10

11 Time out group holiday We went through customs the ship sailed at We had to wear life jackets which was funny. Jo was told to be quiet. On Friday it was Andy's Birthday and all the waiters sang Happy Birthday to him. On Saturday we went to Guernsey and got a bit wet but still had a good time. On Saturday night we all dressed in our suits. We saw Dolphins. Sunday we got up early to come home we wanted to stay. Its the best Holiday we have had we would like to thank all staff and volunteers. Bharat: Andy drove us I helped show him the way. We stayed in a hotel. Next day we looked out our window and saw the ship. Later on we showed our passports. We got on the ship and it felt bouncy. It sailed overnight. The next day we got the little boat to Guernsey and it rained a bit. Everyone got 4 dinners including a 5 course meal. 11

12 Want to know more? If you would like more information on Time Out Group, check out our social media! Website: Like us on FACEBOOK search Time Out Group Or CONTACT US: Salli Ward Manager Get in touch for: Questions about TOG New Programmes Sports & Activities Information Help with Sponsored Walks Fundraising Ideas How to Donate Becoming a Member Becoming a Volunteer Letting us know if you have anything you would like to go in the next newsletter This is your newsletter, tell us what you want to see inside it! 12