Wednesday 28 March 2012
COULD THIS BE THE LAST POST
OVER THE LAST FEW YEARS I HAVE USED THIS BLOG TO POST I HOPE SOME THINGS THAT DON'T APPEAR IN THE NEWSLETTER PHOTOS OF EVENTS THAT HAVE TAKEN PLACE SOME OF THE RAMBLING THOUGHTS OF MYSELF BUT AS MY TIME SEEMS TO BE TAKEN UP WITH MEETINGS AND THINGS ALONG WITH OF COURSE BEING THE CARER THE REASON ALL OF THIS STARTED THAT IS MY INVOLVEMENT IN NEUROSUPPORT AND THE SUPPORT GROUPS I HAVE DECIDED TO ANOTHER TERM OF BEING A GOVERNOR IF ELECTED BUT THAT IS ONLY IF I CUT DOWN ON OTHER THINGS NOTSURE HOW ITS ALL GOING TO WORK OUT BUT AS THEY SAY WATCH THIS SPACE
HERE IS A FEW PHOTOS OF THE HEAD MATTERS TEA PARTY ON 13TH MARCH 2012CAN YOU ALL HAVE YOUR OWN HEAD MATTERS TEA PARTY AND HELP RAISE SOME FUNDS FOR NEUROSUPPORT
Tuesday 20 March 2012
MAYBE THE LAST
Tuesday 3 January 2012
NEURO NEWS— NEWSLETTER DECEMBER/JANUARY 2011-2012 ISSUE 23
Looking back to look forward 2011/2012
As an innovative and unique charity, Neurosupport can look forward to many years ahead, but before we can look forward we have to look back.
In 2012, we look to celebrate our 20th Anniversary of being a charity, though if you look at the pictures in the meeting room, it will say 1993. But the charity itself was formed in 1992. We had to be a charity, in order to be eligible for the £1,000,000.00 (a million pounds) from Glaxo Pharmaceuticals.
I am sure you can recall, how at our inductions, with our first faltering steps in becoming a volunteer. Maureen Kelly telling us how the centre came to be, the vision of Dr Ian Williams, (the then Director of the Walton Centre) and his far-sighted idea of a neurological centre and to where we are now.
So where are we now? you might ask and for the last few weeks, (make that months), I have been wondering the same. The past 12 months has seen the centre at a crossroads. At the annual review, held on 12th October, you didn’t have to be an accountant, when looking at the back page of the review, to see that over the past 2 years our expenditure has exceeded our income by £125,000. The accounts for this year are also looking to be in the red, rather than the black. So in order to balance the centre’s books in this very uneconomic climate, changes have had to made. These changes started with the trustees asking for a review of Neurosupport. The aims and objectives etc; of the review, were highlighted in an earlier newsletter. With Maureen speaking of the organisational review in more depth at our last volunteers meeting on 11th November. The details of which were in the minutes that we received that day.
Early on in 2011 saw Neurolife coming to an end, with some of the courses moving out into the community, but it also meant 2 members of staff losing their job and now we are to see the loss of more staff. But, phoenix like there are new posts rising from the ashes, one of these new jobs will be a full time receptionist.
As this year draws to a close and we prepare to celebrate Christmas and the coming New Year, Gordon, in poem form, puts his unique take on 2011(see back
page). Alan Clark.
So where do we go in this coming year?
What does this all mean to us the volunteers? Especially as one of the new jobs will be a full time receptionist? Certainly a year of change is ahead as we tighten our belts financially speaking and maybe literally after all that Christmas pudding, (I wonder who first set puddings on fire, thinking “that’s a good idea”).
Some of our services will have to be looked at differently, marketing, room hire and fundraising will feature heavily in 2012, although Chris has made great inroads with the room hire, Alec and Carolyn have been busy already fundraising, with our next Bike Ride due to take place on Sunday 19 August 2012 already in the calendar. The final total from this years’ ride being over £3,000, so a big thank you again to Alec, Carolyn, Chris and ourselves of course for helping.
Other events planned for next year are “A Head Matters Tea Party” to be held on Tuesday, 13th March, during Brain Awareness Week, with Joe Paton walking on that day from The Walton Centre to Neurosupport, arriving in time for tea and cakes at the party. This walk is to help raise funds for ‘The Brain Tumour Support Group’ and ‘Neurosupport’. If you would like to support the walk go online to: http://www.justgiving.com/JoePaton2 or Text: HMWA12 £5, to 70070. To join in the walk, you can get sponsorship forms from Carolyn Garlick at Neurosupport (0151 207 8520, email: carolyn@neurosupport.org.uk). The new enterprise of NeuroCinema has been well received and again will feature in next years’ plans, with the first film in 2012 being “Awakenings” on Thursday 26th January.
So with a charity ball, race night and a sportsman's dinner, as well as possibly a European bike ride, half marathon, and a full marathon (London) plus a football competition in May, there are lots of things for us to get involved with, will we even have time to answer the phone? Not forgetting the usual suspects of Tesco and street collections, monthly raffles, DAD in Warrington and Carers week, and of course our own volunteers week. I am sure we will be around for the next 20 years. But as we are all feeling the slow down of the economy, I know I am certainly turning into a grumpy old man when I see the price of things, so don't forget to make use of our services, especially the one that helps us with benefits etc; Why not get a give yourself a benefits MOT to make sure you are getting all that you may be entitled to.
THE CASE OF THE MISSING SECRET SANTA.
Over the last couple of years secret Santa has been busy in Neurosupport land arriving from the North Pole and spreading his good cheer, however this year things have taken a very secret turn. It was all so secret that nobody knew so our party had no presents as well as a few other things, but more of that news and photos of our Christmas party, courtesy of Gordon W. Milward & Missus Brenda.
NEUROSUPPORT VOLUNTEERS CHRISTMAS PARTY
At the Buffet Star Chinese Restaurant – Wednesday 7th December2011
Many of us have said in recent weeks “Where has this year gone too” whenever Christmas was mentioned and it was hard to believe we were sitting in the Buffet Star at our ‘Christmas party’. Well really to be accurate it was a festive meal together as there were no Christmas crackers, party hats, sing-a-long, ‘Secret Santa’ and the usual games of bingo which gave us all a good laugh with the comments from the bingo caller. That aside everyone enjoyed the vast array of food available to challenge even those with a massive appetite as you could eat as much as you liked which was very tempting.
On arrival there was a hiccup for several of the volunteers as the lift was out of order.
This meant they had to struggle with the flight of stairs to the lower floor but with the help of others they coped and the main concern was getting them back up again. Fortunately the staff contacted an engineer and it was repaired before we needed to use it when we were ready to leave, (which we were relieved to hear).
There has been so much going on at the Centre this year with all the job changes and cutbacks in an attempt to make ends meet that we were really grateful for the opportunity for 22 of us to meet up together at The Buffet Star. A good number of those attending said it will be nice if we can go back to the ‘old format’ next year when things have settled down and I’m sure if that is possible then it will. Brenda & Gordon
So as we all meet up again in 2012 Wednesday 1st February 10.30am start for our next volunteers meeting, maybe we should talk about the party and what we will do in 2012!!!!!!! Alan
TO STAFF, VOLUNTEERS AND SANTA’S LITTLE HELPER THANK YOU ALL FOR LISTENING AND TO THOSE WHO HAVE HELPED IN SOME WAY. TO YOU ALL MERRY CHRISTMAS AND A HAPPY NEW YEAR ALAN CLARK
2011 A Year at Neurosupport
The start of the year was not so hot
The economic climate had gone to pot
Money had to be found to keep Neurosupport afloat
Too many cutbacks were rocking the boat
Funds had to be raised it was up to the volunteers
To their hard work, you should give three cheers
A bike event was organized to raise money for the Centre
To be held later in the year, Alec was the mentor
A collection in Church Street we had to take to the road
With buckets to fill to try and share the load
Brain Awareness week the collection tins were out
Informing the people of Liverpool what Neurosupport is about
Joe Paton walked from Southport to the Walton Centre Trust
To raise money for Brain Tumour Group a man who won't be fussed
Volunteer week was started with a B.B.Q
Carolyn was in charge she had a lot to do
With help from Maureen, their relatives and friends
The energy of Chris Wall on whom the Centre depends
Another nice touch is the Wall of Celebration
A brick in the wall to put your dedication
With alterations to the Centre, builders knocking the place about
More space and re-organisation, workmen in and out
A new Computer Suite with all the latest 'tech'
A library with books for anyone to read, top speck
Coffee mornings were organized and a monthly raffle
Internet was updated, a new web site set to dazzle
A news letter every two months which keeps us on our toes
Stories from Brain Awareness, to a little bit of prose
And all who gave their time and energy and zest
To make the Neurosupport Centre stay simply the best.
G.W.Milward Nov 2011
Nov 2011
As an innovative and unique charity, Neurosupport can look forward to many years ahead, but before we can look forward we have to look back.
In 2012, we look to celebrate our 20th Anniversary of being a charity, though if you look at the pictures in the meeting room, it will say 1993. But the charity itself was formed in 1992. We had to be a charity, in order to be eligible for the £1,000,000.00 (a million pounds) from Glaxo Pharmaceuticals.
I am sure you can recall, how at our inductions, with our first faltering steps in becoming a volunteer. Maureen Kelly telling us how the centre came to be, the vision of Dr Ian Williams, (the then Director of the Walton Centre) and his far-sighted idea of a neurological centre and to where we are now.
So where are we now? you might ask and for the last few weeks, (make that months), I have been wondering the same. The past 12 months has seen the centre at a crossroads. At the annual review, held on 12th October, you didn’t have to be an accountant, when looking at the back page of the review, to see that over the past 2 years our expenditure has exceeded our income by £125,000. The accounts for this year are also looking to be in the red, rather than the black. So in order to balance the centre’s books in this very uneconomic climate, changes have had to made. These changes started with the trustees asking for a review of Neurosupport. The aims and objectives etc; of the review, were highlighted in an earlier newsletter. With Maureen speaking of the organisational review in more depth at our last volunteers meeting on 11th November. The details of which were in the minutes that we received that day.
Early on in 2011 saw Neurolife coming to an end, with some of the courses moving out into the community, but it also meant 2 members of staff losing their job and now we are to see the loss of more staff. But, phoenix like there are new posts rising from the ashes, one of these new jobs will be a full time receptionist.
As this year draws to a close and we prepare to celebrate Christmas and the coming New Year, Gordon, in poem form, puts his unique take on 2011(see back
page). Alan Clark.
So where do we go in this coming year?
What does this all mean to us the volunteers? Especially as one of the new jobs will be a full time receptionist? Certainly a year of change is ahead as we tighten our belts financially speaking and maybe literally after all that Christmas pudding, (I wonder who first set puddings on fire, thinking “that’s a good idea”).
Some of our services will have to be looked at differently, marketing, room hire and fundraising will feature heavily in 2012, although Chris has made great inroads with the room hire, Alec and Carolyn have been busy already fundraising, with our next Bike Ride due to take place on Sunday 19 August 2012 already in the calendar. The final total from this years’ ride being over £3,000, so a big thank you again to Alec, Carolyn, Chris and ourselves of course for helping.
Other events planned for next year are “A Head Matters Tea Party” to be held on Tuesday, 13th March, during Brain Awareness Week, with Joe Paton walking on that day from The Walton Centre to Neurosupport, arriving in time for tea and cakes at the party. This walk is to help raise funds for ‘The Brain Tumour Support Group’ and ‘Neurosupport’. If you would like to support the walk go online to: http://www.justgiving.com/JoePaton2 or Text: HMWA12 £5, to 70070. To join in the walk, you can get sponsorship forms from Carolyn Garlick at Neurosupport (0151 207 8520, email: carolyn@neurosupport.org.uk). The new enterprise of NeuroCinema has been well received and again will feature in next years’ plans, with the first film in 2012 being “Awakenings” on Thursday 26th January.
So with a charity ball, race night and a sportsman's dinner, as well as possibly a European bike ride, half marathon, and a full marathon (London) plus a football competition in May, there are lots of things for us to get involved with, will we even have time to answer the phone? Not forgetting the usual suspects of Tesco and street collections, monthly raffles, DAD in Warrington and Carers week, and of course our own volunteers week. I am sure we will be around for the next 20 years. But as we are all feeling the slow down of the economy, I know I am certainly turning into a grumpy old man when I see the price of things, so don't forget to make use of our services, especially the one that helps us with benefits etc; Why not get a give yourself a benefits MOT to make sure you are getting all that you may be entitled to.
THE CASE OF THE MISSING SECRET SANTA.
Over the last couple of years secret Santa has been busy in Neurosupport land arriving from the North Pole and spreading his good cheer, however this year things have taken a very secret turn. It was all so secret that nobody knew so our party had no presents as well as a few other things, but more of that news and photos of our Christmas party, courtesy of Gordon W. Milward & Missus Brenda.
NEUROSUPPORT VOLUNTEERS CHRISTMAS PARTY
At the Buffet Star Chinese Restaurant – Wednesday 7th December2011
Many of us have said in recent weeks “Where has this year gone too” whenever Christmas was mentioned and it was hard to believe we were sitting in the Buffet Star at our ‘Christmas party’. Well really to be accurate it was a festive meal together as there were no Christmas crackers, party hats, sing-a-long, ‘Secret Santa’ and the usual games of bingo which gave us all a good laugh with the comments from the bingo caller. That aside everyone enjoyed the vast array of food available to challenge even those with a massive appetite as you could eat as much as you liked which was very tempting.
On arrival there was a hiccup for several of the volunteers as the lift was out of order.
This meant they had to struggle with the flight of stairs to the lower floor but with the help of others they coped and the main concern was getting them back up again. Fortunately the staff contacted an engineer and it was repaired before we needed to use it when we were ready to leave, (which we were relieved to hear).
There has been so much going on at the Centre this year with all the job changes and cutbacks in an attempt to make ends meet that we were really grateful for the opportunity for 22 of us to meet up together at The Buffet Star. A good number of those attending said it will be nice if we can go back to the ‘old format’ next year when things have settled down and I’m sure if that is possible then it will. Brenda & Gordon
So as we all meet up again in 2012 Wednesday 1st February 10.30am start for our next volunteers meeting, maybe we should talk about the party and what we will do in 2012!!!!!!! Alan
TO STAFF, VOLUNTEERS AND SANTA’S LITTLE HELPER THANK YOU ALL FOR LISTENING AND TO THOSE WHO HAVE HELPED IN SOME WAY. TO YOU ALL MERRY CHRISTMAS AND A HAPPY NEW YEAR ALAN CLARK
2011 A Year at Neurosupport
The start of the year was not so hot
The economic climate had gone to pot
Money had to be found to keep Neurosupport afloat
Too many cutbacks were rocking the boat
Funds had to be raised it was up to the volunteers
To their hard work, you should give three cheers
A bike event was organized to raise money for the Centre
To be held later in the year, Alec was the mentor
A collection in Church Street we had to take to the road
With buckets to fill to try and share the load
Brain Awareness week the collection tins were out
Informing the people of Liverpool what Neurosupport is about
Joe Paton walked from Southport to the Walton Centre Trust
To raise money for Brain Tumour Group a man who won't be fussed
Volunteer week was started with a B.B.Q
Carolyn was in charge she had a lot to do
With help from Maureen, their relatives and friends
The energy of Chris Wall on whom the Centre depends
Another nice touch is the Wall of Celebration
A brick in the wall to put your dedication
With alterations to the Centre, builders knocking the place about
More space and re-organisation, workmen in and out
A new Computer Suite with all the latest 'tech'
A library with books for anyone to read, top speck
Coffee mornings were organized and a monthly raffle
Internet was updated, a new web site set to dazzle
A news letter every two months which keeps us on our toes
Stories from Brain Awareness, to a little bit of prose
And all who gave their time and energy and zest
To make the Neurosupport Centre stay simply the best.
G.W.Milward Nov 2011
Nov 2011
Thursday 17 November 2011
MISSING AGAIN
SOMETIMES LIFE GETS IN THE WAY OF YOU DOING THINGS AND THIS THING HAS BEEN IN THE WAY I DON'T KNOW HOW MANY TIMES I HAVE SAT AND THOUGHT I MUST GO ON THE BLOG AND I MUST ADMIT THE MAIN REASON IS THAT THE CENTRE HAS BEEN I WHAT YOU MIGHT CALL A BAD PLACE WITH BUDGETS AND SETTING BUDGETS BUT MORE IMPORTANTLY MEMBERS OF STAFF WILL LOSE THEIR JOBS THIS WHOLE PROCESS HAS BEEN GOING ON FOR A VERY LONG TIME BUT NEUROSUPPORT AT THE END OF THE YEAR WILL I HOPE BE IN A BETTER POSITION.WHAT DOES IT MEAN TO THE VOLUNTEERS AS WE WILL NOW BE EMPLOYING A FULL TIME RECEPTIONIST ANSWERING THE PHONE AND LOTS OF OTHER WORK AS WELL SOME WILL MOVE TO MEET AND GREET OTHERS WILL BE LOST BIUT NOT IN A GOOD WAY SOME MAY EVEN MAKE THE MOVE AND WORK AT THE WALTON CENTRE DESK
SO THE CHRISTMAS PARTY IS NEARLY UPON US AND THIS YEAR IT CLASHES WITH ME BEING A GOVERNOR SO I WILL HAVE TO MISS THE PARTY BUT I WILL BE AT THE WALTON CENTRE PARTY THE DAY BEFORE THE ADVANTAGE AT WORKING THERE YOU GET INVITED TO 2 PARTIES
THE NEXT NEWSLETTER SHOULD BE OUT JUST AFTER THE PARTY SO LOOK OUT FOR THE PICTURES OF THE DAY
ANOTHER EARLY START TO THE DAY AND ANOTHER MEETING TO GO TO NO REST AS THEY SAY BUT I HAVE BEEN GOOD AND I AM NOT IN THE NAUGHTY BOOK AS SANTA IS AROUND THE CORNER MAYBE HE WILL BRING ME A NEW CAR IN MY DREAMS
THE PICTURE IS ONE FORM THE ANNUAL REVIEW IN OCTOBER
SO THE CHRISTMAS PARTY IS NEARLY UPON US AND THIS YEAR IT CLASHES WITH ME BEING A GOVERNOR SO I WILL HAVE TO MISS THE PARTY BUT I WILL BE AT THE WALTON CENTRE PARTY THE DAY BEFORE THE ADVANTAGE AT WORKING THERE YOU GET INVITED TO 2 PARTIES
THE NEXT NEWSLETTER SHOULD BE OUT JUST AFTER THE PARTY SO LOOK OUT FOR THE PICTURES OF THE DAY
ANOTHER EARLY START TO THE DAY AND ANOTHER MEETING TO GO TO NO REST AS THEY SAY BUT I HAVE BEEN GOOD AND I AM NOT IN THE NAUGHTY BOOK AS SANTA IS AROUND THE CORNER MAYBE HE WILL BRING ME A NEW CAR IN MY DREAMS
Wednesday 5 October 2011
PICTURES ANNUAL REVIEW AT NEUROSUPPORT
IN THE LATEST NEWSLETTER THEIR IS A PICTURE OF THE BIKES LEAVING PETROLHEADS ONE FORM THE MANY THAT I HAVE PUBLISHED BEFORE SO I HAVE LEFT IF OFF.
DONT FORGET NEXT WEEK IF ANYONE HAS SOME FREE TIME WEDNESDAY 12TH OCTOBER STARTING AT 1.30PM SEE YOU THERE.THOUGHT I MIGHT GET IN AN EARLY PLUG FOR JOE PATON NEXT YEAR
13TH MARCH 2012 AN AMAZING JOURNEY BACK IN TIME PART 2
On Tuesday 13th March 2012, in Brain Awareness Week12th March-16th March (BAW), Neurosupport will be hosting “A Head Matters Tea Party” between 11.00am-3.00pm. As part of the celebration Joe Paton, family and friends will make the second part of his journey from The Walton Centre to Neurosupport, a journey of around 7 miles, passing both Everton and Liverpool Football Clubs, helping raise funds for The Brain Tumour Support Group and Neurosupport. If you would like to support the walk go to http://www.justgiving.com/JoePaton2 Textgiving HMWA £? To 70070. To join in the walk, obtain sponsorship forms contact Carolyn Garlick at Neurosupport.
Joe is an active member of the Brain Tumour Support Group that meet every month at Neurosupport supported by Brain Tumour UK, BT Buddies and The Walton Centre, for details of future meetings contact Neurosupport 0151 298 2999. Joe’s association with Neurosupport started in 2005 when he first started attending support group meetings, since then Joe has been a regular visitor to the centre, walking through the Mersey tunnel 19th July 2009 to help raise funds, as well as recent events The Great Brain Ride 3rd September 2011. His love of photography, painting and wildlife can be seen at Neurosupport, where his paintings are for sale, which he again donates to help raise funds.
PART 1 OF HIS AMAZING JOURNEY 17TH MARCH 2011 SOUTHPORT HOSPITAL TO THE WALTON CENTRE
As part of Brain Awareness Week (BAW) 2011 Joe Paton, family and friends walked from Southport Hospital to The Walton Centre, a journey of 17 miles to celebrate his discharge from hospital in 2010 to help raise funds for The Brain Tumour Support Group and Neurosupport where the group meets.
Joe started his medical journey in Southport Hospital in 1997 and was transferred to The Walton Centre in 1998 where a brain tumour was diagnosed for the start of a long journey. One part of that journey was to learn to walk again. Over the years Joe has had many obstacles to climb but has managed to overcome them all.
A PICTURE FROM THE LAST WALK WHEN THEY RAISED £1200 IN TOTAL HALF FOR THE BRAIN TUMOUR SUPPORT GROUP AND HALF FOR NEUROSUPPORT SEE IF WE CAN MAKE IT £1500 THIS YEAR
DONT FORGET NEXT WEEK IF ANYONE HAS SOME FREE TIME WEDNESDAY 12TH OCTOBER STARTING AT 1.30PM SEE YOU THERE.THOUGHT I MIGHT GET IN AN EARLY PLUG FOR JOE PATON NEXT YEAR
13TH MARCH 2012 AN AMAZING JOURNEY BACK IN TIME PART 2
On Tuesday 13th March 2012, in Brain Awareness Week12th March-16th March (BAW), Neurosupport will be hosting “A Head Matters Tea Party” between 11.00am-3.00pm. As part of the celebration Joe Paton, family and friends will make the second part of his journey from The Walton Centre to Neurosupport, a journey of around 7 miles, passing both Everton and Liverpool Football Clubs, helping raise funds for The Brain Tumour Support Group and Neurosupport. If you would like to support the walk go to http://www.justgiving.com/JoePaton2 Textgiving HMWA £? To 70070. To join in the walk, obtain sponsorship forms contact Carolyn Garlick at Neurosupport.
Joe is an active member of the Brain Tumour Support Group that meet every month at Neurosupport supported by Brain Tumour UK, BT Buddies and The Walton Centre, for details of future meetings contact Neurosupport 0151 298 2999. Joe’s association with Neurosupport started in 2005 when he first started attending support group meetings, since then Joe has been a regular visitor to the centre, walking through the Mersey tunnel 19th July 2009 to help raise funds, as well as recent events The Great Brain Ride 3rd September 2011. His love of photography, painting and wildlife can be seen at Neurosupport, where his paintings are for sale, which he again donates to help raise funds.
PART 1 OF HIS AMAZING JOURNEY 17TH MARCH 2011 SOUTHPORT HOSPITAL TO THE WALTON CENTRE
As part of Brain Awareness Week (BAW) 2011 Joe Paton, family and friends walked from Southport Hospital to The Walton Centre, a journey of 17 miles to celebrate his discharge from hospital in 2010 to help raise funds for The Brain Tumour Support Group and Neurosupport where the group meets.
Joe started his medical journey in Southport Hospital in 1997 and was transferred to The Walton Centre in 1998 where a brain tumour was diagnosed for the start of a long journey. One part of that journey was to learn to walk again. Over the years Joe has had many obstacles to climb but has managed to overcome them all.
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