Dartmouth Caring Parkinson’s Café Extends Scope – Becomes Positive Café

 

Dartmouth Caring – the charity that looks out for the elderly and vulnerable in the Dartmouth and district area – is extending the scope of its Parkinson’s Café – and is renaming it the Positive Café to include and help other individuals.

The Parkinson’s Café has been running since September 2011 – held in the newly renamed ‘Community Corner’ in the Old Market Square on the third Thursday of every month. It aimed to create a support group for those with Parkinson’s – a progressive disease that creates muscle tremors and other physical problems.

The charity has made the decision to increase the scope of the group as it has been such a success in helping Parkinson’s sufferers and their families, who also all thought it should be broadened to include others who had similar problems.

It will now be extended to include those with other illnesses that effect mobility and agility, both mentally and physically; some of these for example are Multiple Sclerosis, Chronic Fatigue Syndrome, Fibromyalgia, Myalgic Encephalomyelitis and Post Viral Fatigue Syndrome

The group with expanded scope will now be known as the Positive Café and is very much a social meeting place as well as providing any support or advice that they need in their day-to-day life. Anyone who thinks they might benefit from advice or support for a condition they or a loved one might be dealing with are welcome to come along.

The Positive Café will also feature occasional visiting specialists at certain points during the year who can update members on news and information concerning treatments or long-term management of the conditions.

Dartmouth Caring Manager and Coordinator Alison Stocks said the group was open to all who were in some way affected by these conditions.

“It will be a regular place for them as well as any of their friends, family and carers to come and meet others in similar situations as well as discuss any concerns they may be having” she said. “Everyone is welcome. Regular meetings like this can be very helpful and encouraging as well as socially supportive. Chatting with those who can understand exactly what you are experiencing through their own similar situations is helpful and at the same time light relief.”

The next Positive Café will be held in the Community Corner of the Dartmouth Old Market on Thursday August 16 from 10.30am to 12.30pm.

If you would like more information or to advise Dartmouth Caring that you would like to sometimes take part contact the Dartmouth Caring office on 01803 835384 or email enquiries@dartmouthcaring,co.uk.

Dartmouth Caring Reveals its Workload is on the Up – and is “Helping More People” by Working with Others

Dartmouth Caring has revealed an increasing workload and how it works with other organisations at its annual meeting.

The AGM – held on Thursday June 28 – featured a presentation from Dartmouth Caring Chairman Dee Nutt, who highlighted how it works with local orgnaisations and continues to innovate with the services it offers, to allow it to help more people.

The charity has offered nearly 10,000 people services over the last year – up from 8,000 the year before. It’s revolutionary Bridge Workers – who are about to celebrate their second anniversary in post – made more than 1,500 visits during the year – up from just over 600 the year before.

Each year since 2007 the charity’s workload has significantly increased – on average by a third each year.

This increase in demand is one of the reasons Mrs Nutt said she felt that partnership working was key to the charity’s future.

“This is a challenging time for any charity,” she said. “But we are a strong organization which is helping increasing numbers of people in the Dartmouth Community – because we work so well with others.  Our staff, volunteers and trustees all help to achieve this.

“We have been incredibly lucky in the past few years to develop relationships with key health professionals and social services personnel so that we can now signpost our clients or work on behalf of other agencies to ensure that our client needs are met,” she said.

“The future for me will be working in partnership with the massive changes occurring in 2013 in the health service with commissioning it is vital that the charity works particularly closely with Dartmouth Medical Practice. We have an extremely good relationship with the Medical Practice and are now working closely with the doctors on some initiatives such as dementia and end of life and this will be growing in the future.”

Mrs Nutt highlighted the work done by the charity’s bridge workers and its volunteers.

“The Bridge Workers work very closely with the office on following vulnerable discharges from hospital and with clients that we feel need a little bit of extra help for a very short time to ensure that they can be maintained in their home environment rather than be an admission into the NHS. This role was a two-year pilot project and I am pleased to say that both partners, this being Dartmouth Caring and Dartmouth and Kingswear Community Hospital wish to continue.

“Our volunteers are an essential part of the charity’s success. Without them we would find it very difficult to continue.

“They work directly with some clients as befrienders and also on our fundraising events. They also help with all our various groups and are essential part of lunch club. Transport would be impossible without them. I know the team in the office and the trustees are very appreciative and thankful to our wonderful volunteers and at the present time we are always looking for more volunteers particularly with regard to befriending and transport.”

Dartmouth Caring Chairman Dee Nutt and its Manager and coordinator Alison Stocks

Dartmouth Caring Manager and Coordinator Alison Stocks said that the charity had put planning in place to deal with an increase and that staff could achieve so much because of the different groups they worked with in the community.

“This growth in demand could be considered worrying for one looking at Dartmouth Caring as an outsider,” she said, “but it has been planned for and developed in a considered approach with appropriate staffing and volunteers to meet the needs of those who are in need and vulnerable in our community.

“Dartmouth Caring succeeds in linking our area with the main groups beyond and we work in official partnership with Department of Work & Pensions, CAB, Benefits Departments, Housing Groups, Age UK, the Alzeimher’s Association, Parkinson’s UK, Devon Carer’s, Call 24, Care Direct plus many more.

“There is also our important ongoing relationship with the community itself, friends and neighbours of those in need, and families away or near, who all look to the charity with concerns or worries about those who need help.

“This year we were pleased to receive funding from local organisations such as Dartmouth United Charities. We are so grateful to them and all who support us through donations and fundraising.”

Dartmouth Caring Information Day Gives New Insights into Charity’s Work

Dartmouth Caring Chairman Dee Nutt and its Manager and coordinator Alison Stocks at the Information Day held at Dartmouth Yacht Club.

Dartmouth Caring’s special Information Day at Dartmouth Yacht Club on Tuesday June 26 was a huge success.

The day brought together invited members of the Dartmouth community to find out more about the charity  – which aims to help the elderly and vulnerable adults in the Dartmouth and district area.

The charity’s Chairman Dee Nutt gave a special presentation to start the day giving an overview of the charity and how it helps its target groups. These include the long-established Lunch Club, its Parkinson’s Café for those with Parkinsonian symptoms, its Memory Café for those with short-term memory loss and their carers, its home visits, Visually Impaired Book Club, as well as its transport, befriending and counseling services.

Alison Stocks, the Manager and Coordinator of the charity then described the way the charity’s five members of staff work to support its clients to live independently in their own homes for as long as possible. She described them as “the core of all we do – without the staff in the office, Dartmouth Caring simply couldn’t function.”

Finally one of the charity’s unique and revolutionary Bridge Workers, Jackie Mclean, who started on a job share in the role at the beginning of July 2010, outlined exactly how the role saves the NHS hundreds of thousands of pounds in hospital admissions each year – whilst improving patient care.

Dee said: “The Information Day was a huge success – we are trying to let people know everything we do and why. It’s vital that the community can see and understand how we work and how it helps people they know in this community every day of the year. We are successful because people come to us for help and we do all we can to do that.

“One of our strengths as a charity is we have adapted and offered new services when a need has become clear – this is why we started many of our groups and why the Bridge Worker role was created.

 

“We hope to continue this work, developing our services to meet the needs of this community.”

VOLUNTEERS KEY TO SUCCESS SAYS DARTMOUTH CARING CHAIRMAN

A group of Dartmouth Caring volunteers at a recent social event organised by the charity thank them for their help and dedication.

Dartmouth Caring is on the lookout for new volunteers to help it in its mission to support the elderly and vulnerable in Dartmouth and district.

 

The work done by the charity includes a huge variety of activities including its support groups for those with Parkinson’s Disease and Memory Loss, its befriending service, a transport service, its weekly social Lunch Clubs, its Bridge Workers helping the charity to further improve care in the community, its home support service, Carers Health Checks and Carer’s Support; and its advice service for those trying to obtain the correct benefits.

 

Volunteers assist in many of these services, and the charity depends on volunteers to work with its permanent staff to ensure Dartmouth Caring can always respond to the needs of the community.

 

Volunteering does not need to be a huge commitment in time – many give just a few hours a month, and Dartmouth Caring benefits from every minute volunteers spend helping out.

 

Volunteers also have social events and make new friends whilst working in their community. The other week the charity gave its annual Volunteer Thank You Tea Party at The Royal Castle Hotel as a small token of their appreciation for their volunteers work.

 

Dartmouth Caring chairman Dee Nutt said; “Volunteers can give their time in many ways: drivers are always needed for the transport service (who we reimburse at 45p per mile); befrienders can make a huge difference by just popping in to see the someone; our Lunch Club, Memory Café, Parkinson’s Café, Thursday Club, Visually Impaired Reading Group are always on the look out for new helpers; plus there are always new initiatives in development as well as all the fundraising activities that the charity needs help with. Any time you have at all can help us to be more effective and help more people in our community.”

 

The combination of volunteers from the community and highly trained professional staff is what makes Dartmouth Caring so successful, said Dee.

 

“Our staff are incredibly hard working and professional,” she said. “Our strength is we have so many dedicated volunteers who work with the staff in the office to make sure we are helping in the right places and in the right way. If you have any time to spare at all each month, please get in touch and see what you could do to help. You get so much out as a volunteer – I know, I am one!”

 

If you would like to volunteer for Dartmouth Caring, or would like to find out more, please contact the office at 35 Victoria Road, Dartmouth, call 01803 835384, email enquiries@dartmouthcaring.co.uk or check out the charity’s website: www.dartmouthcaring.co.uk.

DARTMOUTH CARING ‘VITAL’ AS TOWN’S ELDERLY POPULATION GROWS TO 35.8 PERCENT – REPORT

Dartmouth’s elderly population will increase to 35.8percent by 2024, making the role of Dartmouth Caring all the more important according to a new independent report.

A report from the Council for Voluntary Services Commission in Devon on Dartmouth Caring and the services it offers said that the increase the elderly population people in Dartmouth made the charity’s role in the community increasingly important.

This increase will be more pronounced in Dartmouth than elsewhere in the country –which is predicted to have an elderly population around 25 percent in 2024.

Dartmouth Caring offers services which aim to help people in the Dartmouth area live independently for as long as possible.

The services they offer include a weekly Lunch Club at the Community Café, a Memory Café for those suffering short term memory loss, a Parkinsons Café for those suffering Parkinsonian symptoms, a shopping service, a befriending service, health and well being checks for carers, a free counselling service and the much-lauded Bridge Workers.

The report states that Dartmouth Caring’s importance thanks to the wide range of services o it offers, is increasing. It has seen 30 percent increases in demand for many of its services for the last three years, and this trend is set to continue and, according to population predictions actually increase.

The report paints a rosy picture for Dartmouth Caring’s work: ‘Dartmouth Caring is undergoing a rapid expansion of its services- a reflection of both demand and the quality of its services. [It is] helping older people remain socially active and remain in their own homes for longer. The charity is innovative – developing new services in response to changing demands.’

Dartmouth Caring Manager and Co-ordinator Alison Stocks said: ‘We are delighted that this report has shown our services are making a positive impact on the lives of people in Dartmouth and the surrounding district. The population of Dartmouth is older than most and our volunteers and staff are making a difference every day.

‘We provide services which Government agencies wouldn’t – and we want to help everyone we can who needs us. We are almost completely supported by our fundraising activities and will continue to do so. This report shows why it’s so vital we continue to provide the services we do.’

MEDIA RELEASE – DARTMOUTH CARING – SPICY FUNDRAISER BRINGS IN CASH FOR TWO DARTMOUTH CHARITIES

Representatives of Dartmouth Caring, the Dart Music Festival Foundation and performers from the special event with Spice Bazaar owner Shahar Lashkor.

A musical fundraiser at Dartmouth’s Spice Bazaar restaurant has brought in valuable funds for Dartmouth Caring and the Dart Music Festival Foundation.

The event, held on November 11, raised £2,300 to be shared equally between Dartmouth Caring and the Dart Music Festival Foundation.

The event was the third fundraiser held at Spice Bazaar organised by the restaurant’s owner Shahar Lashkor, Rob Lyon, musician and Dart Music Festival founder, and Dartmouth Caring.

Each event has always raised funds for two good causes: Dartmouth Caring and one other, and this year the Dart Music Festival Foundation was selected as the other deserving cause.

Dartmouth Caring is a charity which looks out for elderly and vulnerable adults in the Dartmouth and district community – it runs social clubs, information cafes for those with short term memory loss and Parkinson’s Disease, runs a book club for the visually impaired, co-funds two healthcare workers who visit members of the community that have recently  left hospital or are at risk of going into hospital to reduce unnecessary hospital stays, gives well-being checks to carers, funds counselling sessions for community members and helps people make benefits claims.

The Dart Music Festival Foundation is a charity which aims to promote young people and their musical endeavours. It was set up after the success of the Dartmouth Music Festival, which was started in 1998, to help more youngsters from the Dartmouth area succeed in music.

An auction of fantastic prizes was held, with local marketing guru Alan Depledge as the auctioneer and, along with a fantastic raffle and the ticket price – because Shahar donated the restaurant and food for free – £2,300 was raised to be split between the two charities.

Music was a huge part of the evening, with performances by Rob Lyon with Dr Phil Braakenburg – husband to the Dart Music Festival chairman Pam –Jonathan Hughes-Jones, James Harris, and a number of other performers to create a fun, carnival atmosphere.

The fantastic food was provided by Shahar and his team for the 50 hungry guests, and as always the quality was superb.

Dartmouth Caring chairman Dee Nutt said: ‘Yet again Shahar and his team have given us an amazing night with fantastic food and a brilliant atmosphere. Rob, as always, helped to create a wonderful evening. The funds we have raised will help Dartmouth Caring – which is helping the elderly and vulnerable adults in our community every day – immensely. We get almost all our funding from events like this and donations from the public, so thank you to everyone who came down and supported us, every single penny really does make a difference.’

Pam Braakenburg, Trustee of the Dart Music Festival Foundation said: ‘We were delighted to be part of what is now a regular and much-loved event. The music was fantastic, as always, Shahar and his team did a marvellous job, as always! It is great that there are events like this bringing in funds for the Dart Music Festival Foundation. We believe our festival is the best small music festival in the country because we have such a wide range of music on offer – the foundation supports the young people of Dartmouth in their musical endeavours, and we will hopefully be seeing some of them performing at the festival itself.’

Shahar said: ‘I am always happy to support Dartmouth Caring, a charity which helps people around us in the Dartmouth community every day. And as a Dartmouth businessman I’m delighted to support the Music Festival Foundation, which does so much good work helping young people to follow their dreams of playing music. This event helped the community in two very real ways, by supporting those who need help to live independent lives, and a group which promote the cultural life of Dartmouth.’

MEDIA RELEASE – DEVON COUNTY COUNCILLOR JONATHAN HAWKINS DONATES £2,000 TO DARTMOUTH CARING FROM COUNTY FUND

Alison Stocks, manager and coordinator of Dartmouth Caring and Dee Nutt, chairman of the charity accept a cheque for £2,000 from Devon County Councillor Jonathan Hawkins

Dartmouth Caring has received a huge boost thanks to the kind donation of £2,000 by Devon County Councillor Jonathan Hawkins from his special county community fund.

Cllr Hawkins donated the funds, he said because he believes so strongly in the good work that Dartmouth Caring does around the area.

‘There are many worthy charities,’ he said. ‘But I am always pleased to be able to support Dartmouth Caring because it does so much amazing work with people right here in the Dartmouth community, day in, day out.’

Jonathan was donating money from a fund each county councillor is given to aid community projects in their area. Dartmouth Caring does huge amounts around the Dartmouth and district area for the elderly and vulnerable adults.

The charity runs a special transport service, weekly social lunch club, a memory café for those with short term memory loss, a Parkinson’s café for those suffering the effects of Parkinson’s Disease, a special book club for the visually impaired, a befriending service and co-funds two posts with the local NHS to signpost those in need of health or social services – and prevent them from developing more serious complaints.

Charity coordinator and manager Alison Stocks said: ‘This is an incredibly generous contribution from Jonathan which will go towards all the good work we do in the community. ‘We would like to thank Jonathan for his continued and immensely valuable support over the years. As a charity which is almost totally supported by fund raising, every single donation makes a big difference and helps us help the elderly and vulnerable adults every day.’

Jonathan said: ‘I try and make sure every pound I give from this fund makes a positive difference in the community I represent – I am sure this is the case with Dartmouth Caring.’

MEDIA RELEASE – DARTMOUTH PARKINSON’S CAFÉ LAUNCHED AND A GENEROUS DONATION ANNOUNCED – ON THE SAME DAY!

Alison Hughes presents a cheque to the Parkinsons Cafe, alongside David Merriman with Sarah Farnsworth and Celia Stevens of Dartmouth Caring.

Dartmouth’s new support group for those suffering from, or affected by, Parkinson’s has held its first meeting – and was given its first donation!

The Parkinson’s Café, which will be held in the Community Café in Dartmouth’s newly renovated Old Market, aims to give support to those suffering from the degenerative disease Parkinson’s, which affects the body, and creates tremors and other problems.

There is no cure, but founder of the group, David Merriman, is living proof it can be managed long term. His friends, Alison Hughes and Richard White have donated £250 towards the café – which it is hoped will give support not only to those suffering from the disease, but give support to their carers too.

David, 62, was diagnosed with the disease in October 2005. He only stopped working as a civil engineer after Christmas 2010.

‘The aim of the group is to ensure that those affected by Parkinson’s can get support and not feel isolated,’ he said. ‘We hope that the group will feature talks, support and activities which keep the minds of those who come along active. This is a physical condition and it’s important for people with it to keep their mind stimulated – it really helps. I’d like to thank Alison and Richard for their very generous donation – which will help us to get established over the next few months.’

The first talk to the group – which meets on the third Thursday of every month in the café at 11am – is on November 17 and by Parkinson’s Nurse Sian Day and the Parkinson’s Society. Sian, who will be visiting the group regularly, will be speaking about treatments and how to manage the disease both as a carer and a sufferer.

For more details on the Parkinson’s Café call Dartmouth Caring on 01803 835384 or email enquiries@dartmouthcaring.co.uk.

MEDIA RELEASE – DARTMOUTH CARING – PARKINSON’S CAFÉ OFFERS SUPPORT AND ADVICE FOR SUFFERERS AND CARERS

A new ‘Parkinson’s Café’ in Dartmouth will help to support those suffering from the degenerative disease, and will also help their carers.

Held in the new Dartmouth Community Café in the Old Market Square on the third Thursday of every month, the café will hold activities, offer support and hold information presentations. Its first meeting will be held on Thursday September 15.

The aim is to create a support group for those with Parkinson’s – a progressive disease which creates muscle tremors and other physical problems. One of the challenges of the disease is that although it causes great physical problems, the patient’s intellectual ability is not impaired.

There is no cure, though new treatments to help manage its symptoms are being developed all the time.

The café is being facilitated by Dartmouth Caring after a suggestion from Dartmouth resident David Merriman, who is a Parkinson’s sufferer.

David, 62, was diagnosed with the disease in October 2005. He only stopped working as a civil engineer after Christmas 2010, so is living proof that managing the disease is possible in the long term.

‘The aim of the group is to ensure that those affected by Parkinson’s can get support and not feel isolated,’ he said. ‘We hope that the group will feature talks, support and activities which keep the minds of those who come along active. This is a physical condition and it’s important for people with it to keep their mind stimulated – it really helps.

‘This group will also hopefully be a great place for the carers of sufferers to get some respite and support from others in similar positions. My wife Sylvia has been immensely supportive and it will be a great thing for her to meet other carers and chat about her experiences.’

At the café each month will be Sian Day, a trained Parkinson’s nurse who is an expert on the disease. She will be able to give advice on treatments and help sufferers to access the right healthcare for them as the disease progresses.

Dartmouth Caring chairman Dee Nutt said: ‘We are helping to facilitate this café because we think it will make a massive difference to the lives of those touched by this disease. It is welcoming to all, and we will run it according to the wishes of its members – if they want information on a certain subject, then we will arrange it. The important thing about this group is that we make sure it is run in a way that its members like and respond to.’

The first Parkinson’s Café will be held in the Community Café in the Old Market in Dartmouth on Thursday September 15 at 11am, and will run till 12.30pm. For more details or to arrange transport call Dartmouth Caring on 01803 835384.