On the 19th October two new additions to the Welcome garden arrived. Two small Bantam chickens were introduced. This would not have been possible without the help of the Social Action project carried out by members of the conservative party the week before the Conservative party conference in Birmingham.Working on site with some staff and service users they were able to construct the hen house in just two days.
Colin Bartlett SIAS service User representative had the job of pulling out suggested names from a jar on which resulted in them being called Bubble and Squeak. The girls are settling in well.
On 30th September staff and service users from Welcome took part in the Solihull together sponsored walk. The money raised by this event organised by SUSTAIN, will go to local charities in the borough. Joanne Mackinnon CEO said it was a wonderful day with beautiful scenery and a great atmosphere, It is the third walk I have done and I will definitely take part again next year.
A series of four exciting fashion shows marked the launch of the first ever Welcome Charity Shop in Shard End on Saturday 1st September.
Councillor Marje Bridle, representing the Shard End Ward, cut the ribbon at the shop before joining locals to watch the shows, featuring Welcome clients, staff and volunteers as models.
The lively catwalk, expert commentary, and stunning outfits selected by the models themselves from the shop made for an entertaining day – and proved how easy it is to dress well for less.
Joanne Mackinnon, Chief Executive of Welcome said: “We have been overwhelmed by the response to our call for donated goods. The shop looks amazing and has a wide range of items for sale from toys and bric a brac to books and clothes. The quality of the goods people are recycling is fantastic.”
We are still looking for volunteers and donations for the shop. For more information see our Charity Shop page.
Welcome is pleased to be a part of the urban village development in Shard End. We are planning to open a charity shop opposite the new library – and are looking for donated goods and volunteers to help us get started. If you are interested, we have more details on our Charity Shop page.
The Welcome team is delighted that the SIAS Family Representative has been shortlisted in the ‘Carer Contributor of the Year’ category of the Royal College of Psychiatry Awards 2012. Winners will be announced at the Awards ceremony in November.
Welcome has launched a Daycare and Detoxification service, which means the following courses are now available:
STAYING STOPPED
Tuesdays 1.30pm – 3.30pm (Alcohol only)
6 weeks in duration
Suitable for clients who are abstaining, or trying to maintain abstinence
Teaches skills around relapse prevention
Clients need to have been alcohol free for a minimum of 48 hours prior to attending the group
CANNABIS & YOU
Wednesdays 2.00pm – 3.30pm
6 week course
Suitable for clients who would like to understand the effects of cannabis and learn new skills to help them reduce usage, or work towards abstinence
Latest Dates for Family and Friends Information Programme Published
Recognising the impact that problematic drug or alcohol use has on families and friends, Welcome runs a programme to help them understand and cope with their situation. Here are the dates for the latest information sessions:
Session 1 – Understanding My Situation Thursday 12th July 2012 7.30pm – 9.00pm
Session 2 – Drug and Alcohol Awareness Thursday 9th August 2012 7.30pm – 9.00pm
Session 3 – Understanding Addiction Thursday 13th September 2012 7.30pm – 9.00pm
Session 4 – Exploring Coping Strategies Thursday 11th October 2012 7.30pm – 9.00pm
Session 5 – Learning to Accept What You Cannot Change Thursday 15th November 2012 7.30pm – 9.00pm
Session 6 – Supporting my Loved One Through a Treatment Programme Thursday 13th December 2012 7.30pm – 9.00pm
If you would like further information on the programme, or wish to book on to one of the sessions, please contact Bernie Oldbury or Lauren Lovatt on 0121 678 4730.
The Barston Association elects to give a donation of £1,000 to Welcome. Collecting the cheque at the Association’s AGM and thanking members for their generosity, Chief Executive of Welcome Jo Mackinnon says: “This will enable us to offer important additional support to clients and their families.”
SIAS partner the Birmingham & Solihull Mental Health NHS Foundation Trust entered the Guardian Public Services Awards 2011 and has been shortlisted in the ‘Innovation and Progress: Partnership Working’ category.
The Awards, which have been running for eight years, set out to showcase innovation and best practice in the public sector. In the Innovation and Progress: Partnership Working category, the judges were looking for ‘truly integrated planning, commissioning and delivery of services’ and evidence of ‘how collaboration is improving outcomes’.
The SIAS partners will be attending the awards ceremony in London on 22nd November, hoping to hear the Birmingham & Solihull Mental Health NHS Foundation Trust announced among this year’s winners.
On 21st October Jo Mackinnon, Chief Executive of Welcome, and six other volunteers from Welcome take part in one of Solihull Council’s Environmental Champion projects.
Alongside three other volunteers from the community they plant 1,000 bulbs for the Spring of 2012 in a raised bed next to Woodbrooke House, a warden-controlled block in Chelmsley Wood for the over 55s.
On a gloriously sunny day in August local singing group Kiss The Ceiling Acappella Singers entertains passers by in Kings Heath and Birmingham City Centre with their repertoire of songs in four part harmony from around the world.
They donate the money raised to Welcome to help supply meals through its Drop-in Centre.