Issue 7 October 2008
Here we are 12 months later when I thought it would be a good idea to volunteer to help publish and produce a newsletter for ourselves, after all I had been on a course for 12 months learning all my computer skills, little did I know what I was letting myself in for, “never volunteer” words from my dad stretching back to the days he had a holiday abroad all paid for from 1939-1945!! His days were a lot different and volunteering meant extra guard duty or more spuds that needed peeling. How times have changed but have they? There is still fighting all over the world, not so very different from my dad’s day. So back to volunteering in the present, I suppose you could say that I enjoy my role as a volunteer and as I will be reporting later in this news about our AGM that 10 years have passed since I set foot through those doors to become a volunteer, by the way are we all enjoying our new reception area it makes a lot more sense to be near the door, why did it end up behind a post and wall in the first place? (Answers on a postcard please)
So have I enjoyed the last 12 months sitting typing away? You bet I have!! Even though some times in the early days when I wanted to throw the computer through the window and mumble to myself where did that go? That happened a lot, I still make mistakes, but not as many and I wish I could type using all my fingers, but that will come in time (I have found a programme for typing done by the BBC for children, I’m up to age six now and on stage 3)
Now to thank a few people who have helped along the way in no particular order? Isabel, John, Wendy, Ameena, Jessie, Keith, David, Alan, Waddy, Malcolm and Brenda & Gordon and if I have missed anyone I am sorry but in some way everyone has helped to produce this along with of course the staff a mention for Danny Start for his encouragement at the beginning and his continued support and last but not least Maureen Kelly our manager.
Speaking of 12 months it was the AGM last year that started the whole thing off so here are the highlights for those who missed a good day out!!
AGM 15/10/08
The day started with a surprise birthday cake for a certain John Waddicar, a recently featured volunteer in our newsletter, his age; well let’s say that the candles were put out with the help of the local fire brigade. Staff and visitors joined in the traditional “Happy Birthday “ song, I did notice words on his lips as he tried to blow out the candles something about cars, proper and small, I couldn’t make it out my lip reading skills are not what they were since I retired from “The Government” although I was only licensed to serve ale.
Speaking of which the new James Bond film will be out soon, would anyone like to write a review?Speaking of birthdays I myself reached a milestone as they say 60, where have all the years gone and 10 years as a volunteer at Neurosupport, but more of that later.
When I was presented to my dad by the midwife he was heard to say “Can we fit shutters on’t pram mother” All those years watching Ken Dodd have paid off.
Prior to the meeting we all dined well with our buffet supplied by your friend and mine Mr Tony Bonner, take a bow Tony, once again keeping us fed and watered and also the guests, someone else who works in partnership with the centre, keeping our visitors happy a very important part of our business that is the Neurosupport Centre.
Now on to the AGM itself, Maureen Kelly opened the meeting and explained how the centre was about the importance of partnership, raising awareness and quality of life and that the AGM was about a celebration of everyone involved in the centre. Now, 14 AGMs later, 2 as Neurosupport. Maureen then went on to introduce our Chair of Trustees, Nick Pyne who told us that after 8 years of being involved in the centre, 5 as chair he was standing down and Ken Morris of Liverpool Women’s Hospital Foundation Trust who has as been involved since 2003 will be the new Chair. Nick then explained the changes that he had seen over those 8 years. How the” Working Life Service” has developed even when funding ran out and how the trustees supported it, to where it is now having been awarded the Section 64 grant recently for the next 3 years and the new Neuro Life programme. He then mentioned the library and how over 1 year we had had 700 inquiries covering 100 conditions, it now also being web enabled. Nick explained how room income was important and the 2 exhibitions that we had in the foyer by disabled artists and also the presentation to Ian Williams of a sculpture by Tommy McHugh, whose work that was featured on a television programme is now hanging in the foyer. Nick then introduced our new chair Ken Morris who presented Nick with a parting gift, thanking him for his time and support over the years. Ken explained how he was involved in the centre and its name change and how he is looking forward to the new challenges as chair. Ken then introduced Sir Bert Massie MBE, patron of Neurosupport who explained that after retiring from the Disability Rights Commission, how he was asked to take on the role of Commissioner for “The Compact” and then went on to explain about “The Compact” established in 1998 is an agreement between Government and the voluntary sector in England. It recognises shared values, principles and commitments and sets out guidelines for how both parties should work together. (Pinched from the website) Bert explained how they were raising the profile and made some interesting comments along the way one of which stuck which was about money for charities he suggested we change our name to Neurosupport Bank LTD and Gordon Brown would send us lots of money!!! As you can imagine this brought a few laughs. At the end he was asked to present the
awards for 
10 years service to 4 volunteers and as you may have guessed I was one of them along with Jessie Allerston, Sandra McKenna and Margaret Milner, Jessie and I receiving them on the day see pictures. Sorry a certain Julia got hold of mine. Our budding David Bailey of the day a certain birthday boy had some problems with the camera not enough instructions from the camera owner he said so pictures courtesy of Carolyn Garlick and others. Maureen then introduced Charlotte Green of the Media Trust to talk about the Trust’s work and introduce a short film on Neurosupport and its volunteers. Charlotte explained that the Media Trust was a communication charity were people from the media offered to volunteer their services to charities; the film shown would normally cost £20,000 when we were only charged a flat fee of £1000. They are also a community newswire where articles for the press can be made to into press speak to make it suitable for press release; they also help with training and website creation and also the community channel where our very own film has been showing. She then introduced Neil of Shadow films who filmed and produced ours and then the film was shown. Maureen then introduced Liz Sayce, Chief Executive of RADAR, a national network of Disability organisations and Disabled people which campaigns for equality for Disabled people. Liz went on to tell us of the work of RADAR, mentioning lots of subjects, child poverty, if the parents of that child are disabled, disabled groups sharing experiences that lead to change. Quality of housing suitable for disabled and older people, how the social care package offered by one authority may be different from area to area. Liz covered lots of subjects’ peer support, access needs, disability equality, welfare reform and how someone with autism became a school governor. One statement she made which I thought said it all was “A just and equal society whose strength is human difference”Liz then took questions from the floor, which led to a very lively debate.
Maureen thanked everyone for coming and the meeting was closed for another year.
A PILGRIMAGE TO LOURDES I’m Dave Johnston; I help in the library at Neurosupport on Tuesdays. I’ve been a volunteer at Neurosupport for nearly ten years and apart from enjoying the work in the Library
I really appreciate the friendship and support of fellow volunteers and staff. I had to leave work at the end of 1997 due to lifelong problems with depression having been in the N.H.S. for most of my working life doing various ancillary jobs. I live in Thingwall on the Wirral and belong to Holy Family parish. I recently went on a Pilgrimage to Lourdes with a group from church. This was doubly special as 2008 marks the 150th anniversary of the Shrine. I
would like to find a little part-time job but I hope to continue as a volunteer at Neurosupport. Here is an account of my trip. Most people have heard of this little Pyrenean town and the story of a poor peasant girl Bernadette Soubirous who saw a ‘Beautiful Lady’ in a grotto by the River Gave which flows through the town. The Grotto of Massabielle was in fact the site of the town rubbish dump! The ‘Lady’ was The Virgin Mary who came with a message of reconciliation, conversion, solidarity with the poor and a request to ‘come in procession, drink and bathe in the waters’. The wonderful story can be found in the many books available on Lourdes. I just want to share my feelings on what it is like to respond to this request. The town was packed with people from all over the World, China, Vietnam, South America, every country in Europe and a very large African pilgrimage. The atmosphere was one of friendship, togetherness and good humour which were just as well with thousands in the town and the ‘Domain’, the area of the Grotto and churches. The pilgrims who have first priority are of course the sick, and Lourdes over the years has been a place of cures which have defied logic and science but perhaps an ever present ‘miracle’ is the love and devotion of those who help the sick, many of whom are young people who work very hard but whose reward must he great both here and in eternity! To see the sick pilgrims made me count my blessings. During my short but wonderful stay I visited places in the town associated with Bernadette and her family, The Boly Mill, her home and the Cachot, the disused prison which poverty had forced the Soubirous family to eventually live in, but it was the Grotto, beautiful churches and superb devotions and ceremonies such as the Torchlight Procession, Blessed Sacrament Procession, Masses and the peace of the Grotto together with the friendship of those I travelled with and those I met from all over the World that I will remember. On a lighter side, I slipped backwards in the baths (trust me!) but was caught in time. Other good memories were of having a cold beer in the street café’s, watching the world (literally) go by and reflecting on how it really is possible for us all to get on together.Competition time (only joking no prizes on this newsletter) I have added another picture from a trip to Lourdes Can you recognize anyone 2 pals together maybe it’s a clue. Please see newsletter on noticeboard for picture
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