News & Project Progress

Details of our forthcoming Education and Awareness Programme 7.30 to 9.30 (ish) to be held in Dove Cottage
8th September - Louise Diss - Age UK
The Role of Age UK in Dementia Care in Suffolk"
Stephen Dean - Suffolk County Council (ACS)
"HomeShield" and "Financial Inclusion & The Advice Visiting Team"
6th October - Jacqui Martin - Suffolk Family Carers
"Supporting Family Carers in the Community"
Sue Nicholson - Suffolk Libraries
"Accessing Quality Information and Advice - Information on Prescription"
18th November - Maggie Walker - Alzheimer's Society
"Our role in Tackling Dementia"
Alan Reynolds - Suffolk County Council (ACS)
"Dementia Care - The Future for Adult Care Services?"

Newsletter – August 30th 2010

Hello everyone, as I start this newsletter it has the feel of autumn now – a nip in the morning air! – we are fast approaching the first anniversary of our project launch. So, perhaps, I might just recap on how far we have come and where we are heading.

The Debenham project is now a well established feature of the community and respected by the local authorities, the NHS, and the charities for what it is trying to achieve, and for its potential for the future. Today, with the goodwill and great support of everyone we have now managed to establish:

3 Food ‘n’ Friends lunch clubs (more on the way) working with Age UK
Fortnightly Activities and Social sessions working with CAMEO
High quality sources of information and advice working with Suffolk Libraries
Linking to respite care working with Suffolk Family Carers
The Carers’ Club and Info Café working with Alzheimer’s Society and Age UK
Medication management working with the Debenham Pharmacy
A referral system working with Debenham Group GP Practice

This has only been possible through the efforts of a large number of volunteers - today we have about 80 in Debenham and the surrounding villages who are already helping or who have offered to “do whatever we can” – thank you to you all.

This coming year we shall be seeking to bring services such as memory clinics and other assessments to Debenham, so that it will no longer be necessary for carers to travel 7, 10, 14 miles to access them and, more importantly they can be carried out in familiar circumstances. The aim is to make the best possible care available on a local basis.

An important element in achieving this lies in all of us being well informed and trained in a wide range of topics. So, the autumn Education and Awareness programme will start on Sept 8th at Dove Cottage, 39 High Street, Debenham at 7.30 pm. All are welcome.

Sept 8th:        Louise Diss            Age UK
                       "The Role of Age UK in Dementia Care in Suffolk"
                        Stephen Dean    Suffolk County Council (ACS)
                       "HomeShield" and "Financial Inclusion & The Advice Visiting Team"
Oct 6th:        Jacqui Martin        Suffolk Family Carers
                      "Supporting Family Carers in the Community"
                       Sue Nicholson     Suffolk Libraries
                     "Accessing Quality Information and Advice - Information on Prescription"
Nov 18th:      Maggie Walker    Alzheimer's Society
                      "Our role in Tackling Dementia"
                        Alan Reynolds       Suffolk County Council (ACS)
                       "Dementia Care - The Future for Adult Care Services?"

We are very grateful for the overwhelming offers to give talks and we are now planning the spring programme. Please do come – it will be very informal with full opportunity for discussion (and refreshments! - of course!).

In a slightly different vein, we are co-hosting with Suffolk County Council (Adult Care Services) a seminar for the professional agencies who have a role in supporting Carers and those they care for in our area. The idea is to tell them about The Debenham Project and discuss how their activities and ours may be drawn together and so ensure close relationships. A number of our volunteers will be participating.

At this stage of the letter I usually turn to funding, and this month is no different. No community project can be immune from the concerns of “where will the money come from”? Therefore we are continuing to seek support, and funding proposals have been prepared and submitted. I know that the UK and World financial crisis has made things very difficult for the local authorities, and also the NHS also faces some significant changes, but I am confident.

That said, I am finishing with a special thank you to Ruth and Jamie Monck-Mason for their offer to organise a special fundraising concert at their home, Tawny’s Barn in Aspall Green IP14 6PB.

The internationally renowned
Auer Quartet
From Budapest
Play

Beethoven String Quartet No 12 Op 127
Wolf Italian Serenade
Lajtha String Quartet No7

6.30 pm Sunday October 3rd 2010

Tickets from: Webster’s Newsagents, Debenham
Ruth Monck-Mason 01728 860509
boswellox@clara.co.uk

Please look out for posters and the article in the Parish Magazine. Do come, it will be a wonderful evening for us all.

As always, thanks to all in Debenham, the surrounding villages, the local authorities, and our partners for all their support.

If you would like to know more please see our display in the Post Office, ring 01728862003, call in at the Library Resource Centre, or visit www.the-debenham-project.org.uk where you can access all our newsletters, and much more.

With best wishes and kind regards

Lynden