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BY SURVIVORS AND CARERS FOR SURVIVORS AND CARERS
FRANKLY SPEAKING
Our Indian Summer was lovely while it lasted but the dark evenings have crept in silently. Some people look forward to them but others yearn for the long bright evenings. The weather in Japan is quite different but we can’t blame it for the magnificent Japanese victory over the Irish team. Having done so well in the opening match when we beat Scotland and secured a bonus point we thought we were straight into the quarter finals. But all is not lost. We have just to beat Samoa and Russia. Fingers, toes and every-thing else crossed.
Kerry threw away their chance of depriving Dublin of their five in a row and it is hard to see how it wont be six in a row but we live in hope.
Trying to stay out of politics as most people are fed up but the situation with Brexit is amazing. Someone is going to make a lot of money from the book and the film of this blockbuster.
There are times in BIF when you have to feel huge compassion for the challenges our brain injury survivors and their families face on a daily basis and it can be hard not to lose hope but then you have wonderful miraculous and hopeful moments such as last week when one of our members who is a wheelchair user heard the diagnosis that she should walk again. Money just could not buy the excitement in herself and her family. The journey might be long but we have been blessed to see miracles.
ACCOMMODATION MEETING
We were very pleased to welcome senior representatives from the Southern Trust, Cedar Foundation and Head Injury Support along with some of our own members to the consultation meeting we held to discuss our plans for providing accommodation for brain injury survivors. Frank gave a short presentation and then opened the floor for questions and comments. A lively discussion took place which raised a number of queries and concern, all of which we undertook to take on board. Guests were generally positive in their approach to our ideas and will come back to us formally in the future. We undertook to keep everyone fully informed. Any member who wants further information should contact Frank in confidence.
FACILITY HIRE
We welcome enquiries, especially from voluntary and community groups, for the use of our facilities including our small meeting room, large activity room and fully fitted kitchen. Our pub with no beer is also available for hire for small functions, rehearsal space, meetings and so on. Ring us on 30839943 or email [email protected]
MEMBERSHIP ENQUIRIES
Membership is open to anyone over 18 with a brain injury and their carers and family members. Associate membership is also available to anyone with an interest in brain injury. To discuss membership call at Open House any Friday evening between 7.30 and 10.30pm or phone Frank on 07740823713 or Aileen on 07596639487 for an informal chat or to arrange a home visit.
OFFICE HOURS
Monday-Friday 9am to 4.30pm.Tel 30839943, helpline 07596639487; mobile 07740823713; emails: [email protected] ; [email protected]
STAY INFORMED
If you want to keep up with the news and keep people informed you can follow us on Facebook. You can also follow us on our website, www.thebraininjuryfoundation.com. Finally, we welcome any contribution you might wish to make to our newsletter. Email Frank at [email protected] Please also make sure Aine has your mobile number so she can include you in our texting service.
IF YOU HAVE FINISHED WITH THIS NEWSLETTER WHY NOT LEAVE IT SOMEWHERE WHERE IT MIGHT BE READ BY OTHERS OR PASS IT TO A FRIEND?
BY SURVIVORS AND CARERS FOR SURVIVORS AND CARERS
BRAINBOX
NEWSLETTER OF THE BRAIN INJURY FOUNDATION ISSUE 74 SEPTEMBER 2019
CONTACTS: 30839943 OR 07740823713 OR HELPLINE 07596639487
EMAIL [email protected] WEBSITE: www.thebraininjuryfoundation.com
OUR HOUSE, 23 Newry Road, Camlough, Newry BT35 7JP
Trustouse Charitable Foundation
MYSTERY TOUR
Committee member Aine McKevitt writes this report of our mystery tour
And so it was that time of year again for the BIF annual mystery tour. We all met at 10.30am SHARP and boarded the Rooney's bus, all 31 of us and the guessing started. We headed out the main Armagh road; Monaghan some people guessed. First stop was Milford, home of the penalty kick and now home to the BIF allotment. We got to see the wonderful work of our members down that neck of the woods and such work has been done by Caroline and her crew there. Some of us sam-pled their produce, others were in awe of the beautiful array of shrubs and flowers. Back on to the bus and where to now? It was Mel who guessed correctly when in a roundabout way we found ourselves entering Hillsborough and the bus pulled up outside the 18th century castle. Our guide got onto the bus to welcome us; we had time for a cuppa before the tour of the castle itself. When we finished this we then boarded the wee train to take us to the 100 acres of stunning gardens. Of course we didn't do it all but most of us took a walk through part of them. In all it was a very interesting and informative af-ternoon. Hillsborough castle has had many prominent visitors over the years.but today they had the most prominent visitors; THE BRAIN INJURY FOUNDATION! After the heavy shower subsided it was back on the bus; where to next??? Well, next stop was the Anglers Rest bar and bistro just between Katesbridge & Banbridge, it really is a hidden gem as the meal we were served up there was second to none. We ate like kings and queens. Not fit to move, it was time to get back on the bus for Newry. Such a regal day out. We're never disappointed with the BIF mystery tour. Many thanks to Frank for organising another super trip; Where to next???
The group pictured at Hillsborough Castle
Other photos inside
BY SURVIVORS AND CARERS FOR SURVIVORS AND CARERS
MEMBERSHIP MATTERS
Members are reminded that annual membership fees were due to be paid by the end of September unless you joined between 1st June and then. The fees are staying the same as previous years—full members pay £25 and associate members pay £15. The committee considers that we offer fantastic value for money. A large number of members have responded very quickly to our request in last month’s Brainbox and we thank them for that. To the others who have not yet responded please do so as soon as you can. Failure to pay annual fees can mean you might not be insured for activities.
It would be very helpful if members could return their expression of interest form as soon as possible to Olive or Aine. Again, many members have done so but a few have not so please respond as soon as possible. In addition to our scheduled activities Our House is always open for members to drop in between 9am and 4.30pm daily. If you need to speak privately to Frank or Olive it is best to make a specific appointment.
IMPORTANT DATES.
The big news is that our annual carers weekend will be held this year in the four star Villa Maria Hotel, Main Street Ballybofey, County Donegal from Saturday 23rd to Sunday 24th November. There is absolutely no truth in the malicious rumour that certain ladies lobbied for this because it is beside McElhinney’s famous department store. We all know what they bought last time! The costs are the same as last year which is £50 per person to include luxury coach travel, all food and accommodation. We have quite a number of bookings already so please reserve your place as soon as you can by letting Olive or Aine know you plan to attend
NEW MASSAGE SESSIONS
One of our friends Naomi O’Hare is now a trained masseuse and she is very kindly offering a limited number of massage sessions in Our House every Friday morning between 10am and 1pm. She had a trial run recently when Martina, Rosemary, Trish and Olive Rooney were the lucky first takers. All of them have raved about the experience so we are now inviting bookings for the remaining Friday mornings between now and Christmas. Bookings immediately to Olive. For these sessions there is no charge but Naomi is offering private sessions every Monday and Thursday mornings between 10am and 12.30pm. For these sessions members must book directly with Naomi on 07703303080 and advising her they are members of the Foundation. All sessions are open to males and females.
HALLOWEEN PARTY
BY SURVIVORS AND CARERS FOR SURVIVORS AND CARERS
MYSTERY TOUR
Members started by visiting our new garden project in Milford, Co Armagh and then travelled on to Hillsborough Castle before dining in The Anglers Rest at Corbet.
BY SURVIVORS AND CARERS FOR SURVIVORS AND CARERS
ORLA’S RECIPE
Orla invites you to try her sweet and sour chicken for dinner tonight. You will need: 9 tbsp tomato ketchup, 3 tbsp vinegar, 4 tbsp dark sugar, 2 garlic cloves, 4 chicken breasts cut into chunks, 2 seeded red peppers cut into chunks, 1 chopped small onion, 8oz can of pineapple pieces (drained), 100g sugar snap peas, sliced and a handful of roasted cashew nuts.
In a large microwavable dish mix the ketchup, garlic, vinegar and sugar thoroughly with the onion chicken and peppers. Microwave uncovered on high for 8—10 minutes until the chicken is start-ing to cook and the sauce is sizzling. Stir in the pineapple pieces and peas and return to the microwave for another 3-5 minutes until the chicken is completely cooked. Leave to stand for a few minutes and stir in the cashew nuts, unless of course you are allergic to nuts.
SHELENE’S WISE SAYING
This month Shelene’s wise saying is “Stop your crying or I’ll give you something to cry about!”
COMMUNITY PHARMACY PROGRAMME
Need to improve your health? Most of us would answer yes to that question. The Community Pharmacy programme will help.
First session for carers will be at 12.30pm on Thursday 10th October for one hour
First session for survivors will be at 1.30pm on Tuesday 8th October for one hour.
Please confirm your attendance to Olive or Aine
RECOVERY COLLEGE PROGRAMME
The Recovery College is an initiative of the Southern Health and Social Care Trust and has a base in Newry. If offers education rather than therapy as an aid to coping with mental health challenges and will be offering 6 short sessions in Our House which are open to all members and to others who may be interested. The details are:9th and 16th October, Being there for people; 23rd October: 5 ways to wellbeing
FUNDING
Thanks to Olive our administrator who has secured grants recently of £8,000 from the Public Health Agency and the Esme Mitchell Trust which will be used to support various activities and we were also successful in securing a grant of just under £3,000 from the Mercy Sisters to enable us to continue our very important art therapy classes. We also received a magnificent donation of £2,450 from Ronan Bradley and his mates in the Newry Premier Slagging Club and a further £1,000 from Marty Carville who donated a prize he won at a darts championship. Finally, during the month we received the second annual instalment of our grant from the Henry Smith Foundation.which, together with our ongoing People and Communities Grant from the Lottery gives us a secure base over the next couple of years.
Ronan Bradley presents Aine and
Frank with cheque for £2,450
Marty Carville presents Tony and Marrita with cheque for £1000
BY SURVIVORS AND CARERS FOR SURVIVORS AND CARERS
ARMAGH PAGE
ART THERAPY CLASS
Delighted to see the way in which our new art therapy class has taken off. We have a full complement of 8 survivor members enrolled including our very first member from Portadown. Tutor Oonagh Campbell was paid a lovely compliment by a carer who said she had never met anyone like her and loved the sense of peace she created in the room.
HORTICULTURE The two groups are doing well with six survivors
attending each group. Many thanks to Cedar
Foundation for working with us on this venture.
Tutor Caroline showed how resourceful she can
be when she sourced a donation of a load of
scaffolding planks which we will now use to
build more raised beds. Alex Bodel is our lead
joiner so the beds will be up in no time. Very
many thanks to Kevin Halpenny of LU-BIT
Limited from Forkhill for his kind donation and
to member Tom O’Hanlon from Meigh who used
his van and trailer to deliver the boards to Milford.
Newry members were very pleased to receive
some of the fruits of the labours of our Milford team;
the tomatoes, spinach, chard and runner beans all
went down extremely well.
CONSULTATION MEETING IN ARMAGH
We had a very successful public meeting in the City Hotel Armagh when we facilitated a discussion on how we might develop our services in the Dungannon, Armagh, Portadown area and as a result have been joined by 7 new members. Here is new member Lucy Coughlan from Portadown with proud dad Philip. Members will have a treat from Armagh on 1st November when Jack Wilson from Loughgall will give a presentation on his honey and natural products in Cam-
BY SURVIVORS AND CARERS FOR SURVIVORS AND CARERS
PROGRAMME OF ACTIVITIES, OCTOBER 2019
Once you book for an activity you MUST inform Aine or Olive if you are unable to attend.
Tuesday 1st 11am– 3.00pm TTT Club including movie matinee Our House
Tuesday 1st 10.30.– 4.30pm Horticulture (two sessions) Milford, Armagh
Wednesday 2nd 11.30-1.00pm Art therapy Our House
Wednesday 4th 7.30 Pool Biffers
Thursday 3rd 10.00– 1.00pm Computer classes Our House
Thursday 3rd 11.30—1.00pm Art therapy class Dobbin Street Armagh
Thursday 3rd 1.30pm—2.30pm Pilates Our House
Friday 4th 10.00-12.30pm Massage with Naomi O’Hare, appointment only Our House
Friday 4th 7.30pm—10.30pm Dance lessons 7.30pm Boccia 8.30pm Our House, BIFFERS
Monday 7th 11.30 - 1.00pm Picture framing Our House
Monday 7th 1.00pm—2.00pm Water aerobics Infinity pool, Bessbrook
Tuesday 8th 11.am- 3.00pm TTT Club armchair aerobics, Community Pharmacy Our House
Tuesday 8th 10.30– 4.30pm Horticulture, two sessions Milford, Armagh
Wednesday 9th 10am—12.30pm Being there for people Recovery College Our House
Wednesday 9th 11.30– 1.00pm Art therapy class Our House
Wednesday 9th 7.30—10.00pm Committee meeting; Pool Biffers
Thursday 10th 11.30-1.00pm Art therapy class Dobbin Street Armagh
Thursday 10th 10.30– 2.30pm Computers, Community Pharmacy, Pilates Our House
Friday 11th 10.00-12.30pm Massage with Naomi O’Hare, appointment only Our House
Friday 11th 7.30pm—10.30pm Dance lessons 7.30pm Boccia 8.30pm Our House, Biffers
Monday 14th 11.30—1.00pm Picture framing Our House
Monday 14th 1.00-2.00pm Water aerobics Infinity pool, Bessbrook
Tuesday 15th 11.am- 3.00pm TTT Club including armchair aerobics Our House
Tuesday 15th 10.30-4.30 Horticulture, Two session Milford Armagh
Wednesday 16th 11.30– 1.00pm Art therapy class Our House
Wednesday 16th 10am-12.00pm Being there for people Recovery College Our House
Wednesday 16th 7.30—10.00pm Pool Biffers
Thursday 17th 11.30-1.00pm Art therapy class Dobbin Street Armagh
Thursday 17th 10.30– 2.30pm Computers, Pilates Our House
Friday 18th 10-12.30pm Massage with Naomi O’Hare Our House
Friday 18th 7.30pm-10.30pm Dance lessons 7.30pm, Boccia 8.30pm Our House/Biffers
Saturday 19th Rod Stewart Tribute Canal Court Hotel
Monday 21st 11.30—2.00pm As above, picture framing, water aerobics Our House, Infinity
Tuesday 22nd11.am- 3.00pm TTT Club including armchair aerobics Our House
Tuesday 2nd10.30-4.30 Horticulture, Two session Milford Armagh
Wednesday 23rd 11.30—1.00pm Art therapy class Our House
Wednesday 23rd10.00-12.30pm 5 Ways to well being (Recovery College) Our House
Wednesday 23rd7.30—10.00pm Pool Biffers
Thursday 24th 11.30-1.00pm Art therapy class Dobbin Street Armagh
Thursday 24th 10.30– 2.30pm Computers, Pilates Our House
Friday 25th 10.00-12.30pm Massage with Naomi O’Hare, appointment only Our House
Friday 25th 7.30-10.30pm Dance lessons 7.30pm Boccia 8.30pm Our House/Biffers
Saturday 26th 7.30pm Night on the Town To be arranged
Monday 28th 11.30—2.00pm As above Our House, Infinity
Tuesday 29th TTT Club including armchair aerobics Our House
Wednesday 30th Art therapy class Our House
Wednesday 30th Pool Biffers
Thursday 31st 11.30-1.00pm Art therapy class Dobbin Street Armagh
Thursday 31st 10.30– 2.30pm Computers, Pilates Our House
BY SURVIVORS AND CARERS FOR SURVIVORS AND CARERS
CONGRATULATIONS
Warmest best wishes to members
Julie and Ally Wilson of Loughgall who celebrated their 23rd wedding anniversary during the month and to member Siobhan Rice from Killeavy who (believe it or not) celebrated the big 50!
Don’t they all look well!
Congratulations to Olive and Tommy Hawthorne who are grandparents for the ninth time so they nearly have the football team, to members Peter and Carmel Legge who have become grandparents for the first time, a little boy, Oisin Peter and to our Donegal supporters Mary Grace and Cathal Boyle who have been presented with their second grandson.
Congratulations to member Aidan Creamer from Banbridge on his success as a one-armed
golfer recently at Trim County Meath and to Tony Dolaghan who won a cup at the Fit 4U Boccia in
Newry Sports Centre
.NICE TO BE APPRECIATED
Member Julie Wilson of Loughgall posted this lovely message on facebook:
“To all the caring carers and supporters in this amazing group of people…. I cannot thank you enough for all your support, love, commitment sacrifices and continuous guidance you give as we take this journey together through the good and the happy memorable moments tough times, frustrations, sadness and all the tears.I thank you all. We would not be survivors without you. Be kind and care for yourself too.
Lily Margaret Adams Baby Tyler Aidan Creamer with A proud Tony
Granddaughter of with big brother his golf trophy Dolaghan with
Olive and Sean in Dungloe his trophy for
Tommy with big sister Mia Boccia
