• your news and views from the millennium centre in st helens • published quarterly • issue 3: spring 2012 •TIMES

millennium

in this issue...

introducing ‘one vision for all media’

launch of st helens gateway

using photography as therapy

equality internet radio station to start broadcasting soon

easier access to health and social care information

how a small group helps mental health service users

MILLENNIUMNEWS BOARD

Sixty and up

You may have recently seen an article in the St Helens Star

celebrating a landmark occasion that the Millennium Centre

has recently reached.

We have recently hosted the 60th charitable organisation

to use the Millennium Centre’s meeting room facilities

free of charge. This service is invaluable to local charities,

voluntary groups and third sector organisations, especially in

light of recent funding cuts and austerity measures, allowing

them to continue delivering their much needed work and

support to people in the St Helens area.

Recent charitable organisations that have started using the

Millennium Centre’s meeting room facilities include...

• Wellbeing Project

• Filipino Community Group

• Hope Centre• One Vision for All Media (see p.7 for more details)

• ADHD Support Group

Autism Awareness DayThe Autism and Asperger Union was established in February 2011, meeting as a social group for autistic adults living in the Merseyside/Cheshire area. They currently meet every Thursday from 3pm to 5pm at the Millennium Centre.

The group will be holding a series of social and cultural events to mark Autism Awareness Day (Mon2ndApril),thefirsttimethatStHelenswillobserve the occasion.

For further details please contact David O’Keefe on 079 723 901 89 or autismunion@yahoo.co.uk

DID YOU KNOW...?Billinge Hill is actually the highest point in Merseyside, at a height of 587 feet

OPENING TIMESMonday 7am - 10pmTuesday 7am - 10pmWednesday 7am - 10pmThursday 7am - 10pmFriday 7am - 10pmSaturday 7am - 10pmSunday 9am - 10pm

Looking for information about health and

social care provision in St Helens?

We can point you in the right direction!

St Helens Gateway was launched by the

MillenniumCentreinMarch2012-flickahead

to p.4 for further details.

Focus on..Photographic Minds

Photographic Minds was established

as a social group for adult mental

health service users, aiming to improve

their wellbeing and empowerment by focusing on

the activity of photography.

Photographic Mindsc/o Millennium Centre

Corporation StreetSt Helens

WA10 1HJ

m: 078 617 287 17e: alan.808@

virginmedia.com

every issue we take a look at the work of a charity or voluntary group that use the Millennium Centre’s facilities

examples of pictures taken by members of Photographic Minds

Adult mental health service users can often be very creative people, but may find it difficult to

express themselves. This is the view that David Hemmings and Alan Sherratt had when they created Photographic Minds back in 2009.

David and Alan, both keen photographers and mental health service users themselves, remarked how their group has helped to change the lives of their members, “Some people would come to the group very shy and awkward, yet within a few weeks they are able to talk openly about their photography and it is as though they have transformed into completely different people.”

This has been further endorsed by the group having not had a single member readmitted to hospital since Photographic Minds’ inception.

Members meet up as a social group every Saturday morning at the Millennium Centre to discuss photos that they have taken during the week, and they regularly go on photography trips and holidays together - past excursions include trips to Liverpool, the Brew Ha Ha

festival, Martin Mere and Taylor Park.The group has made great

strides in the past few years, and in September 2011 had a public exhibition displayed at the Mash Gallery on Haydock Street. The exhibition was very well received and had glowing feedback, even from local professional photographers.

Photographic Minds have had a further boost recently with the award of a £9,000 grant from the Big Lottery (Awards for All) fund. They plan to invest the money in publicity, a field trip to Ingleton, mentoring/training and buying some new equipment - this will allow people who do not already have their own camera to become involved in the group.

For anyone experiencing mental health problems who is interested in joining Photographic Minds, Alan offers some words of encouragement, “No matter what your ability in photography is, we’re here to help you learn and pass on our skills. Everyone in the group has experienced difficulties with mental health, but we are all firm friends and a very supportive group.”

Photographic Minds can be contacted via the details on the left.

What is St Helens Gateway?St Helens Gateway is a community hub of information; bringing together all health, social care and wellbeing information and services into one central place.

Weareanindependent,confidentialandfree service for anyone in St Helens, based online and available face to face at the Millennium Centre.

You can access St Helens Gateway:• Online at www.sthelensgateway.info• By email at contact@sthelensgateway.info• Over the phone on 01744 675 137• Face-to-face at the Millennium Centre reception

What support is there in St Helens for people with heart disease?

Heart disease is the biggest killer in St Helens and has clear links to lifestyle choices such as smoking, drinking, poor diet and a lack of physical exercise.

If you have been diagnosed with heart problems there are two local support groups that can offer help by providing information, emotional support, access to exercise equipment/classes and a chance to meet others who have gone through similar experiences. These are the St Helens Healthy Heart Support Group and the St Helens Heartbeat Cardiac Support Group.

The best way to avoid heart problems in the future is to make changes to your lifestyle today - the Health Improvement Team have a range of programmes that can help, and local leisure centres and sports clubs offer a variety of activities and classes to help improve your physical health.

For further information about the two heart support groups, the Health Improvement Team and all other services available in St Helens, check out www.sthelensgateway.info today.

Hot topic

St Helens Wellbeing Week 2012

A new week-long event is coming to St Helens in May, aimed at improving the town’s health and wellbeing. Whether you would like to improve your mental wellbeing, physical health, try something new, meet new people, need information/signposting or even help with finding employment, St Helens Wellbeing Week is jam-packed full of free events to help boost the town.

There will be lots of fun, free and exciting events taking place throughout St Helens between the 14th and 20th May - from walks and physical exercise classes to learning opportunities, local history talks, arts/crafts and techniques for improving your emotional wellbeing - there will be something to suit people of all ages and all tastes. So come along and grab yourself a slice of wellbeing!

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TO FIND OUT MORE ABOUT WELLBEING WEEK...You can view the full Wellbeing Week programme and further information by visiting www.sthelensgateway.info/wellbeing-week-2012 or simply scan the QR code on the left with your smartphone!

14th May10am to 4pm

Church SquareWELLBEING CARNIVAL

Wellbeing Week will kick off with a marquee event where you can come along and try your hand at some fun

activities (including Zumba, belly dancing and tai chi) as well as

finding out more information about wellbeing and events taking

place during the rest of the week

When you hear the word ‘lounge’, what is the first thing that comes to mind...? Sitting at home in front of your TV, relaxing by putting

your feet up and watching Corry? For many people using the Millennium

Centre’s drop-in lounge, a very different perception of the word ‘lounge’ is conjured up; it can be a place of hope, support, friendship and relief after a traumatic experience.

The Millennium Centre’s lounge is used by a variety of charitable organisations to hold peer support groups, counselling and activities to help those who are going through a tough time; this may be someone who has experienced a mental health problem, addiction, self-harm, rape/sexual abuse, a loss through bereavement or someone who is caring for another person.

The informal nature of the drop-in lounge, with its comfy furniture and relaxing decor, makes the room a calm and peaceful location for people to express their emotions and connect with others who have experienced similar situations. This opportunity can often be a life-line to people who feel that they have nowhere else to turn.

There is even an adjoining therapy room in the lounge equipped with a massage table, mood lighting and candles. Previously this room has been used by the likes of the Carers Centre and Cancer Support Group to offer free massages to help people have a break from their everyday stresses.

Over the years all sorts of activities have taken place in the lounge. The newest group, the Wellbeing Project’s Community Choir, is for anyone in the local community who would like to develop their singing ability and unlock their creative potential.

The drop-in lounge is just one of the rooms that the Millennium Centre provides free of charge to other charitable organisations that work with people in St Helens. To date over sixty different charities, voluntary groups and social enterprises have taken advantage of this offer so that they can help people in the local community who need support and assistance.

For further information about the Millennium Centre, or if you are a charitable organisation interested in using our facilities, please visit us online (www.tmcsh.org.uk), give us a call (01744 675 131) or alternatively send us an e-mail (contact@tmcsh.org.uk).

a lot can go on within a little lounge

Internet radio has grown in popularity over the last couple of years, and a new radio station focusing

on equality issues is soon to start broadcasting from the Millennium Centre.

One Vision for All Media is a social enterprise set up by local man John Perry. Inclusion is at the heart of its philosophy, with disability and equality issues set to feature as the main focus of the radio station content.

Local, national and international news and views will be discussed, providing information for all sections of the community, and also giving them a voice for their ideas and opinions. In addition to the radio station, an online newspaper will also feature equality news and views.

Topics that will be broadcasted include breaking news, business, opinions, listeners’ views, humour, sports, community issues, arts/entertainment and mind, body & spirit. They also have the capacity to broadcast live from events taking place in the local area.

John Perry will be adopting a model of ‘Citizen Journalism’, whereby volunteering and employment opportunities will

be offered to local people, using the skills of people from excluded groups and minorities who are able to bring their stories and share them with the world.

You don’t have to be a budding DJ to get involved either - there are roles available in producing, editing, researching, planning, writing newspaper articles and helping out with the technical side of the radio station.

As a social enterprise, One Vision for All Media is non-profit, and so any surplus created

from advertising streams will be invested straight back into the organisation. Initial funding for the project has been provided by St Helens Chamber, Expanding Horizons and UnLtd.

One Vision for All Media is set to make its first live broadcast in April - further details will be mentioned in the next edition of Millennium Times.

Anyone interested in finding out more about One Vision for All Media or volunteering opportunities for the radio station/newspaper can contact John Perry on 0843 523 6167.

One Vision for All Media to start broadcasting from April 2012

John Perry and One Vision for All Media in their new surroundings

“we want to give people confidence and new skills”Having previously worked as a Vocational Guidance and Training Consultant, John recognises the difficulties that disabled people face in finding employment, “We want to establish One Vision for All Media as an opportunity for people from disabled and minority groups to gain the experience and confidence to

be able to go out into the world of work, as well as having some fun and meeting new people.

We will initially recruit people as volunteers with the long-term aim of employing them through the radio station or newspaper. Don’t let a lack of experience put you off - there’s a wide range of roles available, just come and have a go!”

The Millennium Centre (St Helens) Ltd is a registered charity based in the heart of St Helens. We support the local community, the third sector and statutory organisations by; offering meeting room facilities free of charge to charitable organisations, providing a central point of access for health and social care information, and housing vital community services to assist the people of St Helens.

All information printed in this newsletter was accurate at the time of printing (March 2012). If you have any comments or suggestions about Millennium Times please get in touch with us via the details below.

Millennium Centre, Corporation Street, St Helens, WA10 1HJt: 01744 675 131 | f: 01744 675 138 | e: contact@tmcsh.org.uk | w: www.tmcsh.org.uk

Registered Charity No. 1089878

View from a few...quotes from charities, voluntary groups and other organisations who use the Millennium Centre’s facilities

Burn your debtswith British Gas

St Helens Citizens Advice Bureau has teamed up with British Gas to give advice about money

management and fuel debt. The local branch, situated

on the second floor of the Millennium Centre, has recently been awarded a grant from the British Gas Energy Trust to offer support with energy efficiency and guidance on how to reduce and prevent fuel debt. As part of the project, Michael Egan has been employed full-time to provide specialist fuel debt advice face to face, online, over the telephone and at home.

Michael will help with applications to the British Gas Energy Fund, which gives grants to individuals and families who have fallen into arrears with energy and other household bills.

Research shows that people are more likely to fall into debt when they face a change in life circumstances, such as loss of employment or going through a divorce. Another key factor is poor financial education, as many customers do not understand the true cost of repayments (http://www.berr.gov.uk/files/file49248.pdf).

This new advice service is open

to everyone who is worried about their finances - not just British Gas customers.

Whilst the Trust is primarily designed to help those with gas and electricity arrears, applications can also be made for help with purchasing essential household items and payment of outstanding funeral expenses. Payment of Bankruptcy and Debt Relief Order deposits are also considered where there is financial hardship.

If you wish to make an application please contact Michael Egan on 01744 751 380 to arrange an appointment.

Mark Swift Wellbeing Project

Ruth BartramUniversity of the Third Age