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
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