MISSION STATEMENT RITA S STORY

Transcription

1 Bluebells at Lochend House ANNUAL REPORT 2014

2 MISSION STATEMENT Supporting women living in Edinburgh to live a hopeful and satisfying life even in the continuing presence of a mental illness or condition. Providing a community where women can connect with each other, share experiences, build relationships and find support to move forward through some really difficult times. Giving women the time and space to build their confidence and practice the skills needed to make positive changes in their lives outside the centre. RITA S STORY Just like that I felt really strange, I wondered if I was coming down with something from that instant terror just took over This is Rita s account of the moment she became unwell while sitting outside her daughter s hospital room where she was recovering from a transplant operation. Married, with a small son, while also holding down a job and caring for her daughter, Rita feels things eventually built up like a pressure cooker about to explode. I can t explain the terror, even opening the front door.it was like I had the shakes and I couldn t eat because I felt sick and I didn t want to be on my own. But I didn t know what it was you see. I phoned my GP and I said I think I m going insane. Following a referral from her GP Rita started attending a weekly support group at Link Up Women's Support Centre (LUWSC). Here Rita describes her early memories of attending, Zen Circle, Lochend House..even in the group my legs would start to shake and I d have to come out and sit somewhere and Margaret would sit with me and I d say I m losing my mind and she d reassure me and say No you re not, it just takes time. My god it took me over 2 years if not more for the terrors to stop. Rita now also comes to the Writing Group at the Centre and recently completed a Forensics Science course at Queen Margaret College. She continues to support her daughter with her ongoing treatment for what is a life-long condition. Rita feels the support she gets at LUWSC helps her keep those terrors at bay and says, If I felt really unwell I would jump in the car and come here before anywhere else. That s what the Centre means to me.

3 JENNY S STORY The Tiger Who Came to Tea Jenny is 29 years old and came to Link Up Women s Support Centre when her second son Stephen had just turned 1 year old. At that point my life was hellish. I wouldn t leave the house, I wouldn t go shopping, I was having panic attacks all the time and bad anxiety. Jenny has experienced difficult and traumatic times in the past, leaving home when still only a minor because her step-father was abusing her. I left home at 15 and started taking drugs and that was the road I went down. However, when Jenny fell pregnant with her first son, she turned things around, came off drugs and has remained drug free ever since. You really need to be focused on what you want. The way I saw it, it wasn t just about me anymore. Jenny spent the following years building a happy family life with her husband, son and stepdaughter. However; It was when Stephen was a baby that I went backwards again. I think it was a lack of sleep, lack of help, I didn t have anybody around about me, any family or any friends I could rely on. My GP put me on anti-depressants. That was it..and then I heard about Link Up through a friend. Jenny started attending a weekly support group at the Centre with Stephen attending the crèche. Jenny now also regularly comes to the Drop-In session every Thursday and is a volunteer at the Monday Lunch Club. Again a crèche is available for both of these activities. It s given me a totally different life. I feel that coming here I ve got the support of everybody and I ve made friends here. If I ve got anything on my chest I can come here and get rid of it. I still feel I need the Centre...it s a really big help. I feel that I ve got that type of behaviour where it would be easy for me to slide back again to where I was before.

4 THE MONDAY LUNCH CLUB This year Link Up Women s Support Centre was successful in its application to the People s Health Trust for a grant to run a Monday Lunch Club. The provision of a crèche means that women with small children can also become lunch club volunteers and a time banking system means that they can bank free crèche sessions which they can take when they want or need to. This exciting project has proved popular with members of the LUWSC community generally with many choosing to join the volunteers and staff for a delicious communal Monday lunch. The standard of food being cooked is high with an emphasis on affordable tasty dishes. Really enjoyed curry day. Food was amazing. Enjoyed cooking with the girls and learning new dishes. With some members trying new ingredients for the first time there has been a lot of discussion generated about food, food memories, why we learn not to like certain foods and the challenges of cooking at home whether for oneself or for the family. The other key aim of the Monday Lunch Club is to bring women together and while the focus may be the cooking, it allows women to start to build relationships and connect with each other, building confidence as they learn new skills. As one of our volunteers says, It s a good laugh and a giggle but at the same time there s always someone to talk to if you need it. Lovely wholesome food. My 98 year old mother, who was invited today, found the company, surroundings and food wonderful. We will be back! The Monday Lunch Club has also provided lunch for health professionals in the field as well as local councillors. Providing a platform for social interaction between members of LUWSC and invited guests it has given rise to discussions about local issues and concerns in an informal and relaxed environment. This year the Monday Lunch Club will be preparing the buffet lunch for the organisation s AGM which is a compliment both to the volunteers and the standard of food being produced.

5 ACCOUNTS AND FUNDERS 2013/14 INCOME EXPENDITURE GRANTS The City of Edinburgh Council NHS Lothian People s Health Trust Craigmillar & Duddingston Neighbourhood Partnership EVOT 72, , , , , STAFF COSTS Salaries & Social Security Contributions Staff Training Sessional Fees Payroll Fees ADMINISTRATION 50, , , OTHER INCOME Hall Hire etc. Bank Interest 8, PROPERTY COSTS GOVERNANCE COSTS 22, TOTAL INCOME 99, TOTAL EXPENDITURE 86, A GREAT BIG THANK YOU TO ALL OF THE FOLLOWING: Action On Depression Art In Healthcare Care For Carer s Craigmillar Early Years Centre Edinburgh Community Food Edinburgh Women s Aid ELCA EVOC Frank Sargent, The Shiatsu Centre Lothian and Borders Police Lyceum Theatre Pilton Disabled Alliance Retreat Ripple Project Seasons Speaker NEIGHBOURHOOD CRAIGENTINNY & DUDDINGSTON PARTNERSHIP

6 WHAT S ON Link Up Women s Support Centre offers a range of different services which are outlined below: MONDAY TUESDAY WEDNESDAY THURSDAY FRIDAY Writing Group Monday Lunch Club Creche available New You 2 Support Group Chi-Gung Movement and Meditation Group Chance for Change Support Group ELCA New You Support Group Try Something New Counselling Service Time for Me Support Group Drop In Counselling Service Creche available Squirrel Group A Parent/Carer and Toddlers group run by Craigmillar Early Years Centre. 10 am - 12 midday 10 am pm 10 am pm am pm pm pm 4 appointments available 10 am - 12 midday 1-3 pm 4 appointments available 10 am - 12 midday 1-3 pm 4 appointments available All day 10am - 1pm (Including lunch) Link Up Women s Support Centre also runs two residential wellbeing weekends a year for the members of the support groups New You and New You 2 and a Family Day out for the members of Time for Me. Through our commitment to partnership working LUWSC is able to deliver courses such as Living Life to the Full in partnership with Action on Depression and Mellow Parenting in partnership with Edinburgh Women s Aid. Continuing Lottery support means that we are also able to offer a range of workshops and courses of interest to our members. Keep checking the website for details. If you are interested in any of the above please contact Fiona or Margaret on Link Up Women s Support Centre St Margaret s House G1, 151 London Road Edinburgh,EH7 6AE T: E: info@link-upsupport.co.uk W: Scottish Charity No. SCO 17541