Medway April newsletter

Transcription

MEDWAY BRANCH NEWSLETTER – APRIL 2015
April 2015 Medway MS News
Website: www.mssociety.org.uk/Medway
Branch Tel. No.: 07804 600 677
Newsletter Editor: Martin Nagler
Tel: 01634 671 285 or email: medway@mssociety.org.uk
HELLO TO ALL MEMBERS, FAMILY, FRIENDS, CARERS &
ALL AFFECTED BY MS IN MEDWAY
DROP-IN RE-OPENS AT AMHERST COURT
Reena Bhardwaj, Director of Chatham Branch of Santander Bank, cut
the ribbon to re-open our Drop-In at Amherst Court Care Home on 2
April. To her left is Gary Luxumburg, Santander Community Plus
Multiple Sclerosis Society, Medway Branch
Registered Charity Nos. 1139257/ SC041990
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April 2015
Registered as a limited company in England and Wales No. 07451571
Manager, who nominated us for the £5,000 grant; Rosemary Hales is seen here
holding the cheque. To Reena’s right we have Tracey Crouch, until very recently
MP for Chatham & Aylsford and now prospective candidate. Other VIP guests
pictured are: Julie Eyres (Amherst Court Care Manager), Cllr Pat Gulvin (Princes
Park Ward), and Cllr Vince Maple & Cllr Julie Shaw (Chatham Central Ward).
Many thanks to Penny Johnson and Jean Cunningham for holding the orange
ribbon, donated by a local florist.
Martin welcomed everyone and introduced
the guests. He said that the Drop-In had
enjoyed 7 successful years at Warren
Wood School, but now it was time to move
on to take advantage of the improved
facilities at Amherst Court, most
particularly the model disabled toilets,
and the easy access. He thanked Santander for the £5,000 Community Plus grant
and said that this had made this change of venue possible.
Gary Luxumburg said that our Community Plus grant was one of six that Santander
had given in the Medway area over the past year, and that the total of £30,000
was already making a big difference to local services. Gary said that a member of
his family has MS, and this was what first drew his attention to the MS Society,
and then to the activities of Medway Branch. He handed over to the Reena
Bhardwaj who wished us well in our new venue, and then formally cut the ribbon.
Tracey Crouch said that she had long been a supporter of Medway Branch, citing
her hosting of a Branch outing to Westminster Palace in 2013, and working with
Ray Reid on the Medway Physical Disabilities Partnership Board. Tracey was also
a strong supporter of Amherst Court Care Home and was thrilled that Medway
Branch was now able to take advantage of the excellent facilities.
Vince Maple, leader of the Labour Group on Medway Council, told us that he was
Councillor for Chatham Central Ward that included Amherst Court Care Home.
He said that he was very pleased to welcome the Drop-In into his Ward and had
nominated Medway Branch for a £300 Ward Improvement Grant to help cover
the cost of changing venues. Vince also mentioned his work on the Health and
Wellbeing Board and said that combating isolation was high on its agenda; this is
why services such as this Drop-In are so important.
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April 2015
After the speeches, we tucked into a tasty buffet lunch, prepared by our Drop-In
Coordinator Rosemary Hales. Our guests didn’t
rush off after the speeches; they stayed and
mingled for about an hour and showed a genuine
interest. Also, the politicians of both left and
right socialised amiably together, despite
campaigning having just started in earnest.
CHAIRMAN’S SAY: Dear Reader,
Please participate in our Annual Meeting on 21 April so that we can build up
momentum for the coming year. I am pleased to announce that our new volunteer,
who I mentioned last month, is Marnie Snow, and she WILL be standing for
election as our Social Secretary; vote for Marnie!!!
Please support: our Wheel&Walk on 30 May, see p 11; our Hospital Cake Break on 1
June, see p13; Lynda’s 5 x 50 Challenge & Tracey’s London 2 Brighton Challenge,
see p 11. Booking is now open for our amazing Summer Lunch Show, see p 7.
Best regards to one and all,
Martin
-----------------------
Night Nursing Service in Medway. Jon Jeffery, our Lead Support
Volunteer, has been asked a number of times recently whether such a service
exists, and he has been able to give information about the service provided by
Medway Community Healthcare. There is a Night Nursing service that operates
from 10.30pm to 8am. This telephone advice and general nursing service can be
booked in advance, or in an emergency such as a catheter blockage or sudden
deterioration in condition: in emergencies call: 01634 792 072. Find out more:
Google with key words MCH Night Nursing Service to find the ‘.pdf’ brochure.
MS treatments cost effective, says Risk Sharing Scheme
Published on MS Society website: 02 Apr 2015
Beta interferon (Avonex, Betaferon and Rebif) and glatiramer acetate (Copaxone)
are cost effective treatments for relapsing MS, according to the MS Risk Sharing
Scheme’s (RSS) 6 year results. These treatments slow disease progression by
between 24-40% compared to natural course of history. The RSS has enabled 18,000
people with MS to access treatments on the NHS that otherwise would have been
denied to them. But only 6 out of 10 qualifying PWMS have access; Treat Me Right!!
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April 2015
ANNUAL MEETING, 21 APRIL 2015
Our Annual Meeting is to be held in the Calypso Café, Amherst Court Care
Home, Palmerston Road, Chatham, Kent ME4 6LU on 21 April, from 7.30 to
9pm. Please see the enclosed Agenda, Minutes, and pen portraits of those
standing for Committee.
If you would have liked to attend, but are unable to do so, then please convey your
apologies using Branch Line: 07804 600 677, or by email:
medway@mssociety.org.uk. You may also register your vote by proxy for any of
the candidates for Branch Committee, see the enclosed Pen Portraits.
-----------------------
COMPUTER TRAINING COURSE: Using the Internet
Would you like to get to grips with using the internet?
We have the opportunity to book a course covering how
to get connected and browse the web for information
and set-up an email account. You could also learn how to
use the internet safely for banking and shopping.
The course usually runs for 2 hours on a Saturday
morning for five consecutive weeks. If we can find 10
people, that are affected by MS, who are interested in
tasking this course, then we can offer this Medway Council course for free!!
(usual cost is £49 per person). If you are interested in taking this course, please
let us know asap via Branch Line on 07804 600 677, or by email:
www.medway@mssociety.org.uk
Many thanks to Marnie Snow for finding out about this very useful training
opportunity: Marnie will also organize the course, if there are sufficient takers.
YOUNG UNITED BY MULTIPLE SCLEROSIS
YUMS is an online support network for younger people affected by
MS and living in Kent.
For more information about YUMS, you can find them on Facebook, give them a ring or drop them an
e-mail.
Facebook.com/groups/kentYUMS
Phone: 07982 264856
Email: info.yums@yahoo.co.uk
Page 4
April 2015
Amherst Court Monthly Socials
Address: Palmerston Rd., Chatham, Kent ME4 6LU
Our monthly socials are held here on the third Tuesday of each month, starting
7.30pm. To find Amherst Court care home, turn left from the A230 out of Chatham
at the Pattens Lane/ Walderslade Road cross-roads. Then take 2nd left from
Walderslade Road into Magpie Hall Road and then 1st left into Palmerston Road;
Amherst Court is 100 yards in on the right. There is ample parking inside the
grounds, with two disabled bays to the right.
Next meeting, 21 April:
Annual Meeting
Forthcoming monthly socials:
19 May: Stephen Bingham, Paramedic Coordinator with SECAmb, will
talk about his work with the Ambulance Service.
16 June: Heidi Butcher will talk about Medway Healthwatch and will
be listening to the health and care issues that we would like to be
addressed.
Survival of the Weediest at Ranscombe Farm: talk by Richard
Moyse, Ranscombe Project Manager
Richard Moyse, seated front left, gave us a
very interesting talk about Ranscombe Farm
Reserve at our monthly social on 17 March.
The reserve is run by a charity called
Plantlife that campaigns on a global scale to
protect wild flowers, plants and fungi. A
large part of the work involves volunteers
monitoring wild plant populations.
Ranscombe Farm Reserve is a site of special scientific interest and includes a
working arable farm, extensive ancient woodland and fragments of chalk
grassland. The landscape has remained largely unaltered since the 18th century
and the reserve boasts the first UK recording of two important species: meadow
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April 2015
clary (1699) {see left} and hairy mallow (1792); both still
survive in the same spot today!!
Richard showed us pictures of many interesting plants,
including those that grow in open woodland, such as the fly
orchid (vulnerable) that imitates a wasp
and a lady orchid (endangered) that
grows up to 2.5 feet high; both in
flower in May and June. In the flowerrich grassland, some of which is 200 to 300 years old, you
can find man orchids (scarce, right), which also grow quite
close to the car park, again in May to June. Also look out for
the deep blue flowers of the rare clustered bellflower.
Some plants, such as scarlet and blue pimpernels, are ‘time travellers’ because
their seeds can survive long periods underground. Richard explained that
sometimes his projects appear at first sight to be destroying the very habitat
and associated plants that they are trying to save. But turning over the ground in
areas of grassland can bring dormant seeds to the surface, and within a year or
two there are even more flowers than before, including some new, very rare ones.
Richard then told us about two projects that Plantlife was involved in:
Magnificent Meadows that aims to conserve and restore wildflower meadows
in the UK, with the help of £3 million Heritage Lottery funding.
Coronation Meadows that, in honour of Her Majesty Queen Elisabeth’s 60th
year on the throne, will identify 60 wildflower meadows, one good one in each
county, and then create one extra meadow in each county.
Ranscombe Farm Reserve car park can be found on the A228, just south of
Junction 2 of the M2. The reserve is yours to explore using 10 miles of
footpaths, and there are circular routes of 2, 3 and 4.5 miles, but these are NOT
easy access. The ethos is very much one of exploration; and don’t expect any
facilities at all, not even a toilet!! But Richard can be found in a project office on
Court Farm in Halling, where he can advice you what is in flower, and give you
some walk brochures.
Martin thanked Richard for the talk and then Rosemary conducted an enjoyable
raffle that raised £29. A good time was had by all.
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April 2015
Medway Branch
SUMMER LUNCH SHOW
th
Saturday 27 June
12:30pm – 4pm
BLUE BELL HILL VILLAGE HALL
316 ROBIN HOOD LANE, CHATHAM, KENT ME5 9QR
Buffet Lunch with entertainment from The Culham
Family - as enjoyed at our Christmas lunch but this time with their talented Grandchildren!
TO BOOK
Y
ON L
£7.50 !
H
EAC
Contact Marnie
medway@mssociety.org.uk
07804 600 677
CLOSING DATE: 20 June 2015
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April 2015
Welcome Drop-In Centre
Open Thursdays from 10.00am to 2.00pm
Drop-In to:
The Harbour Suite, Amherst Court Care Home, Palmerston Road,
Chatham, Kent ME4 6LU
You can always expect a warm welcome. A place to meet,
chat, play games and network. Find Information, Support,
Therapies and Friendship.
Next Sarah Crampton therapy session: 30 April. Don’t miss
Reflexology, or Indian Head Massage or Foot Care; all for a Branch-subsidised £5/
treatment!!
Contact: Rosemary Hales on msdropin@virginmedia.com or Branch Line
-------------------------
BRANCH OUTINGS FOR 2015
Penny Johnson has organised an additional outing to Minnis Bay, on 6 June. To
book a place please contact Penny, email: medway@mssociety.org.uk or phone:
07804 600 677. Places are still available on all outings, apart from Wingham,
but please book early to avoid disappointment. Once Penny has allocated you a
place, she will advise you how to make payment. In addition, Maggi Alexander has
organised two Kingfisher Medway Cruises, see below for details.
Wingham Wildlife Park, Saturday 25th April
All aboard for Penny’s first outing. Sorry, bookings are now closed. Good luck.
Minnis Bay, Saturday 6th June.
Cost £5 per person. Leaving 10am –
returning approx. 6pm.
We have organised a trip to the seaside
thanks to the generosity of Canterbury
branch, that has rented a beach hut at
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April 2015
Minnis Bay. The hut is situated a few yards from the main car park down a slight
slope. It is kitted out with basic requirements and a fresh water tap is available a
few yards away. There are food options nearby. There are also public toilets in
the car park and designated disabled parking. The sandy beach is reached via
another slight slope off the promenade outside the hut. The local charity ‘Beach
Within Reach’ offer free loan of an all-terrain wheelchair that is suitable for the
beach and can even go into the sea, and this is available from the beach
supervisor.
OR, Book a day out yourself: Canterbury Branch has rented the hut for the
period 16/05/15 – 10/07/15 and they would be very pleased to welcome any of our
members who might like a day or two beside the sea. There is no charge for the
bookings although a donation towards costs would be welcome. If any of our
Medway members would like to make their own booking, please contact Judy on
07977 452 994.
Natural History Museum, Saturday 19th September
Cost £5 per person. Leaving at 10am- Returning approx. 6pm.
You may like to visit the Natural History
Museum, before the famous dinosaur is
replaced by a boring old blue whale!! Or, pop up
the road to the Science Museum or across
Exhibition Road to the Victoria and Albert
Museum; all are within very easy reach.
It may be a good idea to bring some sandwiches for lunch, although there are a
number of eateries in the Museums, if you can avoid the queues.
Criterion Blue Town Music Hall Show,
Tuesday 27th October
Cost £20 per person, including transport to
Sheerness, tickets for show & vintage cream
tea. Leaving at 1pm- Returning approx. 6pm
This is one of only a few authentic music halls in the
country and they now put on professional music hall shows. Join us for their
popular ‘Music Hall Show’ and take a trip down memory lane and enjoy the music
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April 2015
from the good old days. Sing along, have a laugh and boo the villain. A
great cast of seasoned professional performers will entertain you with songs,
comedy sketches and even a melodrama. So be prepared….to have the time
of your life. You will also be served with one of their famous vintage cream teas
in the interval, which is included in the price.
Please contact Penny asap as tickets need to be booked early.
KINGFISHER ALL DAY BOAT TRIPS – River Medway,
Friday 26 June, & Thursday 13 August (Drop-in away day)
Cost £5 person per trip (transport not included, lifts arranged)
The boat is able to accommodate 12 people, including
up to three manual (no electric) wheelchairs. The
boat goes at a leisurely pace through some of the
most beautiful countryside of Kent. Starting at
Wateringbury, we can either go downstream, under
Teston Bridge and on to East Farleigh and
Maidstone. Or, we can go upstream past
Nettlestead Place, through Hampstead Lock and Tea
Pot Island on toward East Peckham and Beltring.
To book your place on the Kingfisher please contact Maggi Alexander on:
07804 600 677.
If you have any trouble contacting either Penny or Maggi to book an outing, just
leave a message on Branch Line: 07804 600 677.
Ellie Laming Bakes for Medway Branch
Ellie writes: <On the 4th of March I did a cake break sale
at my school, Rainham School for Girls, to raise money
for multiple sclerosis. I decided to do this charity as my
mum has MS and my best friend Nan had it. I baked
around 80 cupcakes and decorated them with icing with
an M and S on top. I raised £56.71 pounds that I was
more then happy with; I only had about 6 cupcakes left.
I enjoyed doing it so much that I'd love to do it again
soon. It made me so happy to realise that I was helping
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April 2015
out with the MS Society fundraising. Thank you so much, Ellie>
THANK YOU so much, ELLIE, for doing this cake break at your school and raising
so much money for the MS Society. Thank you, and your family, for also kindly
helping to prepare the food at our Information Day last May!!
Please support our
Wheel &
Walk
th
Saturday 30 May, 9.30am
Riverside Country Park
Lower Rainham Rd., Gillingham, Kent ME7 2XH
CALLING wheel-chair users, those with aided/ limited walking
ability, carers & friends
Join us in support of those affected by MS in Medway. Easy access
walks and rides of: 2, 4 or 6 km beside the river. After our walk or
ride we will meet together for a Picnic in the Park
Please call Maggi on 07804 600 677 for more details and a
Sponsorship Form, or for offers to help out on the day.
-----------------I’m not one to go repeating gossip – so listen carefully.
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April 2015
Lynda’s 5 x 50 Challenge
Lynda Gallagher is raising money for Medway branch by taking on the 5 x 50
Challenge. Lynda’s challenge will be to walk or jog 5 km for 50 consecutive days.
To donate, please go to Lynda’s Just Giving page:
http://www.justgiving.com/Lynda-Gallagher
JustGiving sends your donation straight to 5x50 Challenge and automatically
reclaims Gift Aid if you are a UK taxpayer, so your donation is worth even more.
For more information go to: www.5x50.org Thank you for your support!
Thank you, Lynda, for taking on this 50 day challenge, and donating your
sponsorship money to Medway branch.
Tracy's London 2 Brighton Walking Challenge, 23 May 2015
Please support Tracy’s amazing 100 km walking challenge to raise awareness of
MS and raise funds for Medway Branch.
Tracy says: “I am walking from London to
Brighton for the Medway Branch of the
Multiple Sclerosis Society because I am
able to help those who cannot. All I am
asking of my sponsors is £2.50, the price of
a take away coffee. If 200 kind people
sponsor me I will raise £500 for my chosen
charity.” If you would like to show your
support and sponsor Tracy, please visit
her Just Giving page at:
https://www.justgiving.com/tracy-rose6/donate.
Tracy has raised a magnificent £650 so far. Well done Tracy, and many thanks.
--------------------
Sittingbourne Branch Quiz: Friday 8 May 7.30pm
Venue: Regis Gate, North Street, Sittingbourne ME10 2FA
Tables of 6 at £5 per person, inclusive of ploughman’s supper; bring your own drink &
glasses. Contact Brenda on 01795 476000 for more information and to book a table.
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April 2015
IN AID OF:
Medway Branch of the MS Society
Please support our
Medway Maritime Hospital
Cake Break
st
Monday 1
June
8 am to 2 pm
Roll-Up to the
FOYER
for:
Cakes & Savouries
Healthy or Naughty
+ Raffle
For more information or OFFERS TO BAKE,
please contact Nicola on:
07804 600 677
or email: medway@mssociety.org.uk
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April 2015
LOCAL SOURCES OF SUPPORT CONTACTS
Branch Contact Number is: 07804 600 677
Branch Web Site: www.mssociety.org.uk/Medway.
Branch Facebook: www.facebook.com/MSSocietyMedwayBranch
Branch Support email: medwaysupport@mssociety.org.uk
National Membership Services: 020 8438 0759
MS NURSE CLINICS: Call 01634 825003 to make an appointment
Sylvie Hurst and Gail Simpson run regular clinics at:
Medway Maritime Hospital – Monday all day + Wednesday am + new Relapse Clinic on
Tuesday pm, plus interferon clinic at least once a month on Friday mornings
Walter Brice Centre (Hoo) – First and last Tuesday of every month, mornings
Sheppey – Alternate (with Sittingbourne) Friday mornings
Sittingbourne – Alternate Friday afternoons
If you have a general enquiry or a direct request for information, the National
MS Society Info Team can help you on 020 8438 0799. Lines are open from
10am-3pm Monday to Friday. Alternatively, contact the branch helpline which has
a 24 hour answer phone. Some other help lines that might be of use:
MS Society Helpline: 0808 800 8000.
www.helpline@mssociety.org.uk
For general information and practical advice from Monday to Friday, 9am until 9pm
MS Resource Centre, Counselling Line: 0800 783 0518, then press 1 for a
confidential service offering counselling by trained counsellors with personal experience of MS
MS Therapy Centre, Kent - 01227 470876, including hyperbaric oxygen
Bladder & Bowel Foundation (Helpline) – 0845 345 0165
Carers First, Kent & Medway – 0300 303 1555, www.carersfirst.org.uk. Charity
supporting adult & young carers
Cognitive problems? MS Essentials 02 or www.stayingsmart.org.uk
Disability Law Services – 0207 791 9800, www.dls.org.uk
Disabled Living Foundation – 0845 130 9177, www.dlf.org.uk
Disabled Motoring UK – 01508 489 449, www.disabledmotoring.org
Driving assessment/ advice: South East DrivAbility – 01622 795 719
Pain Concern – 0300 123 0789, www.painconcern.org.uk
Pain: British Pain Society – 0207 269 7840
Welfare and Disability Benefits (Dept. of Work & Pensions) – 0800 882 200
Wheelchair repair and delivery service – A J Mobility 01304 84 2321
Page 14
April 2015
The Branch Committee – ‘WHO’S WHO’
• Chair
Martin Nagler – 671 285, email:
• Vice-Chair
Gillian Watts, 07804 600 677
• Minutes Secretary/
Jenna Collins: 07804 600 677
Support Volunteer
• Treasurer
George Depledge – 07804 600 677
• Lead Support Volunteer
• Support Volunteer
Jon Jeffery – 07804 600 677, email:
medwaysupport@mssociety.org.uk
Nicole Day – 07804 600 677
• Social Secretary (Elect)
Marnie Snow – 07804 600 677
• Outings Organiser
Penny Johnson – 07804 600 677
• Fundraising Coordinator
Nicola Brixey – 07804 600 677
(elect)
• Fundraiser & Drop-In
Maggi Alexander – 07804 600 677
• Drop-In Coordinator/
Rosemary Hales – 07804 600 677, email:
Raffles/ Store Collections/ msdropin@virginmedia.com
Refreshments
• Newsletter/ Web Editor
Martin Nagler – See Chair
• Trainee Treasurer
Keisha Cain – 07804 600 677
• Transport Coordinator
Vacant
Newsletter by Email? Are you able to save us about £20/ year in printing and
postage costs by receiving your newsletters by email attachment? We know that
it’s not for everyone, but just email: medway@mssociety.org.uk to give it a try.
Page 15
April 2015
Dates for Your Diary
Month
April
May
June
August
September
October
December
Day
Date
Event
Tues
Thurs
Sat
21
23
25
Thurs
Thurs
Thurs
Mon
30
7
14
18
Tues
Thurs
Sat
Mon
Thurs
Sat
Thurs
19
21
30
1
4
6
11
Tues
Fri
16
26
Sat
Thurs
Sat
Tues
Sat
27
13
19
27
12
ANNUAL MEETING, Amherst Court. 7.30pm
Drop-In, Amherst Harbour Suite
OUTING, Wingham Wildlife Park
Drop-In, Sarah Crampton Therapies – Indian
Head Massage or Reflexology or Foot Care (£5)
Drop-In, Amherst Calypso Café
Store Collection, Morrisons Strood
Social, Amherst Court: Talk by Stephen Bingham
on the Ambulance Service (SECAmb)
Wheel&Walk, Riverside Country Park
Hospital Cake Break
Drop-In
Outing: Minnis Bay
Drop-In
Social, Amherst Court: Talk by Heidi Butcher on
Medway Healthwatch. What health/ care issues
do you want raised?
Kingfisher Medway Cruise
SUMMER LUNCH SHOW, Blue Bell Hill Village
Hall. The Culham Family entertains.
Kingfisher Medway Cruise, Drop-In Away-Day
OUTING, Natural History Museum
OUTING, Criterion Blue Town Music Hall, 1–6pm
Xmas Lunch, Holiday Inn, 12.30 to 4pm
CONTACT US
Branch Line:
07804 600 677
Email (Chair):
Email (Support):
medwaysupport@mssociety.org.uk
Facebook:
www.facebook.com/MSSocietyMedwayBranch
This newsletter is produced by the Medway Branch of the Multiple Sclerosis Society. All views
expressed are individual & not necessarily the views or policy of the charity & its supporters.
Page 16
April 2015

Medway April newsletter

Transcription

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