At the time of writing the Annual Report this time last year we were not sure how Weekenders was going to carry on, because limitations in funding streams meant that we didn’t have as much money to spend on the Project, and our long-term Coordinator Caroline Bowring was not able to continue for family reasons.
However at the time of writing this report, the new-style Weekenders Project is back on course, albeit a little different!
You will have already read in other parts of this Report that many of our Projects have been subject to new Service Level Agreements and Weekenders was included in the review of “social support/inclusion” schemes with Network. We already had concerns as to how we were going to continue with the Project because of funding being squeezed and our decision that for safety reasons, we would now need two people to run the outings, one to drive and one to be with the members. However the discussions with our Commissioners proved to be very useful and with help from our friends at Cherry Trees we adopted the model of a fortnightly social on a Friday evening, with the outings changing to about six times per year. Although existing older members can still attend the activities, the SLA for 2006-2007 requires us to aim at a younger clientele because the funding comes from the Adult Mental Health budget (ie under age 65).
We were lucky enough to recruit Emma Wiffen, a local counsellor experienced in work with other Minds, as our new Coordinator. Emma is spreading the good news far and wide. We are very keen to recruit a volunteer or worker to help with the outings, especially someone who has their MIDAS minibus licence!
I moved to the wonderful town of Maldon in 2005. I felt passionate about continuing my work in the mental health field and promoting independent living in the community and so I was delighted to have the chance to become Weekenders Coordinator. I feel this is both challenging and rewarding, a project that is essential to the Maldon Community and people with mental health needs.
I was appointed in late July 2006 and all the Mind team acted quickly in arranging the first social evening on 4th August. I was greeted by eight existing members who are also delighted that Weekenders is up and running again, even with the restrictions in funding at the present. We meet once a fortnight on a Friday evening between 5pm and 8pm in Cherry Trees and we are extremely grateful to them for this fine venue and their kind support. We have had four meetings to date which included a bring and share supper and we have already arranged our first outing on 21st October to ‘Dots Dance’ at Danbury.
I’m sure this will be an opportunity for everyone to let their hair down and enjoy the company and surroundings and this will be the first of many activities being planned by the members who are full of ideas for future events, the next being arranged for Christmas. We welcome enquiries from potential members and referrers on the Weekenders number at Villa 1.
I would like to take this opportunity to thank Myra, Linda and Shirley for their continued support in ensuring the smooth success of this essential Project and a special thank you goes from me to the members who have been so welcoming to me and accepting of change in the ‘New Weekenders’
Watch this space!
Emma Wiffen
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