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Breaking News Poetry Evening
The MhIST half yearly group meeting is scheduled for Wednesday 2 nd July. The event will be held at the MhIST offices at 30 Chorley New Road from 6:00 pm until 8:00pm. A buffet will be provided.
Members, clients and supporters of MhIST are invited to come and join in this poetry event.
You may bring your own poetry to recite, or that of others.
Please let the office know on 01204 527200 if you would like to attend and if you will be participating in the reading, or just coming to listen and meet up. If you have any dietary or access requirements please make this clear when you let us know that you are coming.
Competition Winner
Firstly a big congratulations to the winner of our competition to name the newsletter. 1 in 4' was just one of the many entries to be entered into the competition but we are proud to announce Lindy Shaw as our official winner.
The following four suggested names were entered into the competition
Suggested name |
Number of votes |
Silent H' |
1 |
Seasonal Greetings |
0 |
MhISTIC Mag |
4 |
1 in 4 |
9 |
After much deliberation and a massive nine votes Lindy's name won the majority vote. However, it could be argued that the title 1 in 4 could be seen as stigmatizing and the board of directors would like to hear from anyone who thinks this is offensive.
Back from printing
The New A to Z Directory for Mental Health Information 2008 was produced by Gillian Latham ' and many thanks to her for the very hard work she has put in.
To get your A to Z', either collect it from the MhIST Office, phone 01204 527200 or email us at help@mhist.co.uk . The directory is also on line at www.boltonmentalhealth.org.uk
Funding News
Mental health services are often at the bottom of the proverbial pile when it comes to funding and vulnerable people can often lose out on help. In the near future MhIST will be searching for more funding to bring back the befriending service which unfortunately folded and plans to expand on the other services it currently provides, but we need help with fundraising in order to supply these services.
If anyone would like to offer practical help with fundraising or has any ideas of how to raise money, which they would like to try out, let us know.
Feedback
MhIST is frequently inundated with letters and thanks for our services and we very much appreciate the feedback we receive. We've sifted through just a few of them including the following very profound and thankful letter that not only reiterated the good that MhIST does for the public of Bolton but also reminds us of what more can be done to improve the service.
The letter from the anonymous writer, who is also one of MhIST's volunteers states that their voluntary work helped, put their life back together after a severe breakdown. They state in their heartfelt letter;
MhIST offers counselling, advocacy as well as alternative therapies such as Reiki and many self help groups covering depression and self harm. There are so many things going on for service users and their carers. The befriending service is a great success but like everything else needs funding.
Arriving at MhIST
When a person arrives at MhIST whether they be a volunteer or a health professional or simply someone in need of a friendly ear and a shoulder to cry on, they are all greeted with a welcoming and warm reception by the person who answers the door, namely Joanna Roscoe whose dedication in seeing to the needs of the people that arrive on the doorstep of MhIST goes beyond the call of duty. Joanna and her team makes sure everyone is introduced or directed to the right person and is a star when it comes to making people feel welcome and at home by offering to make them drinks and lending them that all important ear.
Initially Joanna was nervous answering the door to people approaching MhIST but soon she got into the swing of her duties and eventually warmed to the idea of being the first port of call for most people. She said: You must be pleasant and helpful, asking if people want a drink and seeing that they get to the right member of staff. Maybe they just want a brew and a chat. Joanna's humble nature comes across in her general way of being, she said quite simply: On a grand scale I am probably not cut out to make big differences in the world but at MhIST hopefully I can. There is a lot to be learned from people like Joanna and a lot to be grateful for and MhIST thanks Joanna for her dedication and time as a volunteer.
Volunteer at MhIST
In other news MhIST has been lucky to acquire a steady stream of volunteers and staff in the past and the present is no different. Below is the list of the new starters at MhIST, people who value the work the organisation does and want to add to making a difference to someone's day to day life.
Call Linda Latchford on 01204 366609 for more details about volunteering with MhIST.
Kat Spathis Newsletter, Craft group, Creative writing
Ann Hulton Craft group, specialist card maker
Sue Colton - Office admin , telephonist
Su Rainford Advocacy admin , telephonist
Nina Taylor Researcher
Vicky Bruty Researcher
Pippa Smith CBT Therapist
Stef Briacz CBT therapist
June Waterson CBT therapist
Noel McNabb Health and safety
Ruby Mahmood Integrative therapist
The end of an era
A s well as welcoming the new starters to MhIST the organisation has said a fond farewell to one of our veterans Lilian .
Lilian came to MhIST as a service user in the late 90's and took advantage of the depression self help group and also received counselling. She found both of these very helpful in her own journey. She was a member of the MhIST executive for a short while before being offered a paid post as admin worker on permitted earnings. She then held this post until she left in 2007 although it changed in many ways during the intervening years .
During September 2006 Lilian suffered a stroke and although she came back to work in the following January, she was unable to get back to how she was and again in the July of 2007, suffered further.
Shortly after that Lilian decided that it would be best if she finished work and became a lady of leisure!
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Lilian and her husband Jack have been enthusiastic supporters of MhIST and the work which we do. To this end Lilian has taken on the role of fund raiser and awareness raiser and through her various contacts (especially at the town hall) and the talks which she has given she has raised well over £3000.
In addition to this Lilian was an avid supporter of the MhIST rounders team, usually scoring and sometimes playing; she has promoted the chairman's gala dinner; run a rounder's competition; organised open days; Christmas parties and other get togethers, all of which have raised yet more funds.
MhIST has done so much for me. I have made lots of friends, my seven years involvement has genuinely been one of my best mile stones. I will remember and cherish them forever. I am grateful to you all and I will miss you very much. I hope to pop in and see you regularly. |
Other leavers from MhIST in recent times are; Sylvia Larkin Sylvia worked as a volunteer advocate.
Nicola Crook - Nicola worked as a volunteer advocate and has now got a job as an assistant psychologist working in a trauma unit in Haydock.
We wish them every success for their future.
Ginger Biscuits
By Joanna
Ingredients:
8 oz plain flour
4 oz block margarine
3 oz syrup
1 tsp ginger
4 oz white sugar
1/2 tsp bicarbonate of soda
Method:
1) Sieve the flour and ginger into a bowl.
2) Melt the margarine, syrup and sugar besides the bicarbonate of soda in a pan gently.
3) Pour the melted mixture into the flour.
4) Mix until combined.
5) Roll into balls
6) Put on a greased baking tray with plenty of room between.
7) Bake in the oven 400° F/200° C gas mark 4 for approx 10 to 15 minutes.
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Mental Health Independent Support Team
