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Newsletter Issue 22 July 2011 Dear Friend Welcome to the summer edition of our Newsletter. We were saddened at the death of Lloyd Grosvenor, Chairperson in May following a short illness. Mr Grosvenor has been on the Management Committee from 2003 to 2011 serving as committee member, vice-chair and chairperson, his involvement at the club was in supporting all areas to raise funds, and worked with the committee and others in raising awareness of moving the club further into a new development through it’s building plan and social enterprise status to develop a business arm of care in the community to our service users, and to engage with younger people in the community on the committee. Our sincere condolences go to his family. The following will act up until the Annual General Meeting Mr Jay Bhai Shah, Chairperson and Mrs Eulene Hoyte Vice-chair. We informed you through the last newsletter of the possible closure of Fairfield House, and relocation of BEMSCA, since then we have formed a committee made of representatives from BEMSCA, the Ethiopian Orthodox Church, Rastafarian groups from Bristol and London, Action for Pensioner and have received support from others in the community to discuss the future of the house and how we can support any application to it remaining as a building to support the services currently being provided here and to accommodate new ones. Meetings have been held with B&NES officers but no outcomes have come from our meetings, we will update you with the future developments. Funding News Over the past year we like many other groups took part in many workshops looking at looming funding cuts and how we could collaborate with others to develop and continue our services, this was a very positive piece of work and have made us review the services being provided, cost effectiveness and future development in supporting caring needs in the community, we are currently doing a customer survey and welcome all our members to take part, for a copy please contact a member of

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Fairfield House, 2 Kelston Road, Bath BA1 3QJ Tel. 01225 46 4165

www.bemsca.btik.com Email: bemsca@btopenworld.com

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staff. BEMSCA was successful in receiving commissioning funds for a further three years and is in the last year of Lloyds TSB Foundation and the 2nd year of the Big lottery fund. At the Annual General Meeting this year we will hold an open forum with the users of the service talking of BEMSCA and the benefit it is to them, and give a feed back on the survey and use this day to also look at the future of the club, and to engage people in our community to be on the management committee and to recruit, volunteers.

We would like to thank everyone who supported the coffee morning held in May the money raised went towards buying a Wii console and games and a CD player for ipod.

Health News Caring in the community is a priority for staff at BEMSCA, during the outreach visits we have supported users in many care and emotional aspect to live independently, sometime we have come across issues that we have to signpost users to, but with all the good we cannot address nor have time to deliver. We receive funding from the Big Lottery which have enhance the hours of staff to deliver outreach work and also funding from Lloyds TSB foundation which staff have prioritise for those in more need, from the evidence of these visits it would envisage employing more staff to give, we are hoping to do some outreach on dementia in the following month and if successful to look at a staff member for this post which will help in the community and at the club. A group of social work students worked with BEMSCA and B&NES Racial Equlaity council in researching how information was given and received by service users on diabetes, heart, stroke and high blood pressure, from the research those who took part said they felt confident to explain their symptoms but there was shortfall to some aftercare and with this information we can work with providers and also to support those users in greatest need to be able to share their concerns. Events will be taking place in Jul to raise awareness of Dementia, the Halziemer day centre base at Cleeve Court centre, Cleeve Green Twerton will be holding an open day on Thursday 7th July 10.30am also the Royal United Hospital will be hosting “See it our Way” using stories told by people with dementia and their carer's to raise awareness of patience experience. There will also be an event for carers see diary sheet. BEMSCA have supported Guideposts Trust to launce the Dementia website, we will follow this up with a talk in the near future.

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We are planning to carry out a joint work with social work students with B&NES Racial Equality Council to profile a care project to BME people it will involve questionnaire on care being provided and comments on the health benefit to the users and their carers, the evidence will support BEMSCA and health profession to identify the gap in services and how best to give choice and better care. Later in the year there will be a joint health day on community health with the NHS PCT, Racial Equality Council, BEMSCA and other groups delivering services to the ethnic minority Community. A survey carried out by B&NES Link where the result highlighted concerns regarding the lack of NHS dentists within B&NES, they have identified 13 practises accepting all patients if you need this service contact a member of staff. The Diabetes group have been meeting bi-monthly and always full attended, it is a forum for those with diabetes to meet and share information and develop the group in requesting in speakers, in the following months they have arranged to look at a life map, diets, foot and eye care. Information Updates The Royal United Hospital is applying to become an NHS Foundation Trust in April 2012, during this time they are consulting with members of the community and a visit BEMSCA was arranged to talk with the uses and encourage them to be trustees, some names were put forward if you would like to know more about this contact a member of staff. If approved the RUH believes they will be able to provide a cleaner, safer and better health care and you as trustees will be part of this new service. Bath People First is an organisation providing services to disable people in B&NES, they have held several meetings to which users have BEMSCA have attended and they visited BEMSCA in June to talk on disable issues if you would like more information contact a member of staff.

B&NES council has invested in a range of accessible cycles that can be rented out this is a chance to try out and support a new imitative for disabled people if you are interested contact Chris Revill on 01225 396433.

Are you missing out on entitled benefits? If so speak to a member of staff who can arrange for a representative to visit you at the club or at your home.

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Our condolences go to the family of Mr Martin Jones, volunteer bus driver, also to Annette Inchley, Alan Saunders and Mavis Thomas Our thoughts are with those who are currently out of the club due to ill health.

Activities The computer class continues to be well attended and will be ending in July; the new term starts in Sept if you wish to enrol contact a member of staff.

We will be starting a new project in Sept where users will be asked to share life stories of coming to England and to also share memorable items such as photographs and records, will go towards an exhibition next year, those taking part will be using a digital camera and camcorder to record events and to be

taught to download on to the computer for the presentation, if you are interested contact a member of staff. This project will also be developing our dementia programme where we want to support users who have memory problem and by being involved it helps them in taking part in activities such as music and oral history Soundwell Music will be running (2) music therapy workshops at the club, users have found these sessions relaxing and the group has grown over the sessions, we are planning to record the events and would like to know your favourite songs and hymns which you may wish to be performed. Stone King Solicitors will be returning to give a talk on wills, probate and lasting power of attorney in July, but if you miss this talk we will have them back in the New Year. Six service users took part in a day of events on 1st July discussing the experiences of those involved with the Bristol Bus Boycott, Windrush and moving to the UK. The day was to engage with year 9 students at Hayesfield School, and to take part in the event giving a talk also BEMSCA loaned them photographs and a DVD of our users experience when they arrived in Bath in the 60s.

Staff: Ms Pauline Swaby-Wallace :Project Co-ordinator Ms Meenu Manro :Asian Project Worker Mrs Sandy Wu- Grant :Chinese Project Worker Miss Ryan Thomas, Caribbean Community Outreach Worker Mrs Sue McLeod, Administrator

Fairfield House, 2 Kelston Road, Bath BA2 3QJ BEMSCA opening hours 10am – 4.00pm Monday & Friday 电话电话电话电话：：：： 01225.464165 电邮电邮电邮电邮：：：： bemsca@btopenworld.com 网站网站网站网站：：：：www.bemsca.btik.com

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Diary Dates July – December 2011

7th Jul (Thurs) Open Day at Alzheimer Centre @ Cleeve Court, Cleeve Green, Bath See it my Way “Dementia”

10-30 am – 3.00pm 2.00-3.00pm

8th Jul (Fri) Dyrham Park excursion

9th Jul (Sat) Barbadian and Friends Fundraising Dance

Bristol City Football Club 7pm - late

14 Jul (Thurs) B&NES Racial Equality Council The Guildhall 6.00pm

15th Jul (Fri) Soundwell Music Therapy workshop

2.15- 4.00pm

18th Jul (Mon) Talk - Fall Awareness Follows lunch deliver by members of staff

20 Jul (Wed) Bristol West Indies Select xi Rose Green Centre 5.00 – 9.00pm call to book a seat (10) ticket £10 available from BEMSCA

22nd Jul (Fri) Dorothy House presentation Sarah Whitfield @ 2.30pm

23rd Jul (Sat)

Fund raising event - Barbeque 2.00- 8.00pm

27th Jul (Wed) BEMSCA Review Day 10.30am -3.30pm 29th Jul (Fri) The use of Aloe Vera

2.30pm Georgina Miller

5th August (Fri) Soundwell Music Therapy workshop

2.15pm – 3.45pm

6th August (Sat)

Jamaica Independence Day BBQ celebrate 49 years

Fairfield House 2.00- 8.00 pm

11th August(Thu) Visit to Weston-Super-Mare

Call to book seat

12th August (Fri) Outing - Weymouth Call to book seat 15th August (Mon)

Indian Independence Day Lunch

19th August (Fri) User Forum followed by Talk- Making a funeral plan

2.30pm

29th August (Mon)

BEMSCA closed Summer break

12th Sept (Mon) BEMSCA re-open 12th Sep (Mon) Chinese Moon Festival Day Lunch

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15th Sept (Thurs)

See it my Way – Life as a Carer Royal United Hospital 2-3pm

16th Sept (Fri) Service users – safeguarding workshop (1of 3)

2.30pm

21st Sept (Wed) Computer course resume (1of 10)

10.30am – 12 noon 12.30 – 2.00pm

23rd Sept(Fri) Continence talk Sheila Hert 2.30pm 29th Sept(Thurs) Bath Older People Show Assembly Rooms,

Bennett Street 30th Sept (Fri) Service users – safeguarding

workshop (2of 3) 2.30pm

3rd Oct (Mon) China Independence Day Lunch 7th Oct (Fri) Older People Day celebration 11.am- 3.30pm 14th Oct (Fri) Service users – safeguarding

workshop (3of 3) 2.30pm

21st Oct (Fri) Annual General Meeting 2.00- 4.00pm 27th Oct (Thurs) Life Skill Centre Call to book seat 11th Nov (Fri) Diwali celebration 11.30pm- 2.00pm 18th Nov (Fri) User Forum Meeting Follows lunch 26th Nov (Sat) Fundraising Christmas fete 11am- 4.00pm 2nd Dec (Fri) Outing to Birmingham Bull Ring Call to book seat 8th Dec (Thurs) Bristol shopping Call to book seat 16th Dec (Fri) Christmas celebration lunch 21st Dec (Wed) Christmas holiday 9th Jan (Mon) 2012

Re-open

Our newsletters give out information of community organizations offering services if you have tried any of the service we would like to receive a feedback from you. Please note if you wish to contribute to the newsletter contact a member of staff. Foot care appointments only at BEMSCA, home visits can be arranged Events:

• Computer Term starts Wednesday 21st September – 23rd November

• Massage session every Monday 10.00am – 2.00pm by appointment

• Gardening and Reminiscing Project

• Bingo\ Quiz Activities once a Month 2.30 – 3.30pm

• Flexercise Friday 12noon- 1.00pm