The Wee Blether - Befrienders Highland

Spring 2010
Volume 5, issue 4
The Wee Blether
VOLUNTEER & FRIENDS NEWS
Page 4
The Wee Blether
VOLUNTEER TRAINING DAY
20 MARCH 2010
Our new offices were certainly put to very good use on
Saturday 20 March when 18 of our new volunteers met
together for a training day.
The training days are always a valuable way of bringing
people together, to meet and blether and hopefully to learn
some interesting and useful information along the way. There
was a packed programme of sessions which successfully
engaged everyone and allowed us all, staff and volunteers to
get to know each other a little bit better and finally put names
to faces.
We were joined on the day by two of our very experienced
volunteers, Margaret and David, who both gave excellent
accounts of their befriending experiences. These were highly
valued by all and at times, quite moving. Our grateful thanks
go to both Margaret and David for giving us such a great
insight and for giving us yet more of their valuable time.
We were also fortunate to have a talk from Margo Neilly, CPN
(Community Psychiatric Nurse) who provided a broad range of
information concerning mental ill health and the effects this
can have on people. Everyone gained a great deal from this
talk and indeed, have requested additional sessions.
So ...... by popular demand please „watch this space‟ and we
will arrange further training for later in the year.
Thanks to all of the volunteers for attending the training and
we hope that you enjoyed it as much as we did.
Volunteer & Friend
Outing
Seagull Cruises
The Seagull Trust is a
charitable organisation that
provides boat trips. We have booked a cruise
on the Caledonian Canal with them for Friday
23rd July from 2.00pm-4.00pm. Their boat can
take a maximum of 12 passengers and the trip
offers a different outing to the normal for
friendships that would like to do this. Please
contact the office as soon as possible (01463
712791) to express your interest. If there is a
large demand we will look at booking the boat
again.
T H E
C L O U D S
The clouds are soft rainy grey,
I look at the clock and say: Time for breakfast, the sun will come
out,
Office Opens Officially
Despite being in the throes of an election, Charles
Kennedy our President, came along to officially open
our new offices in Church Street, Inverness. It was a
excellent day which started with Gary piping up
interest out in the street for a good half hour, until
Charles came along to officially cut the ribbon.
Ribbon cut, we all proceeded upstairs to the offices
where Charles talked about his long involvement with
Befrienders, the pleasure he feels about so many
people helping each other and the valuable work that
Befrienders does. Once he had munched on a
Befrienders Highland official bun, he sat chatting to
everyone and anyone about everything and anything
until he was once again whisked back to the world of
electioneering.
Throughout the day people kept coming in to say
hello and give their best wishes to us. It was lovely
to have so many well wishers. Moray Firth Radio
came along and interviewed staff, and volunteers,
then played the interview extensively across the day.
Tricia, JJ and Lizzie all brought lovely housewarming
presents to hang on our walls, which help make the
offices look homely.
Others brought nibbles of one sort or another.
Volunteers and friends came, representatives from
the management committee, representatives from
other charities, the Council and the NHS. Thank you
to everyone for coming, it was a great day.
And I hear the milkman is about.
The clouds turn silver, the sun shines
through
This day I will not rue.
By Keith Murdoch
Befrienders Highland Next Official Event is our Annual General Meeting
On June 10th from 7-9.00pm at Inches Church, Inverness
Befrienders Highland, 19 Church Street Inverness IV1 IDY 01463 721791
www.befriendershighand.org.uk
Befrienders Highland Limited is a Scottish recognised charity (number SCO29386) and is a company limited by guarantee, registered in Scotland
(number 199867). Its registered office is c/o Ledingham Chalmers, Kintail House, Beechwood Business Park, Inverness. IV2 3BW
Befrienders Highland Limited is a Scottish recognised charity (number SCO29386) and is a company limited by guarantee, registered in Scotland
(number 199867). Its registered office is c/o Ledingham Chalmers, Kintail House, Beechwood Business Park, Inverness. IV2 3BW
The Wee Blether
Volume 5, issue 4
Page 2
Page 3
From the Management Committee
At our Management Committee meetings I hear
about the valuable friendships provided by you, the
volunteers. And “The wee Blether” tells me more
about the activities that bring you together.
I‟ve had the pleasure, too, of meeting some of you
at AGMs and other BHL events. On behalf of the
Management Committee, I wish to thank all of you
for the many ways in which you enhance the lives
of your friends. From what I hear, your lives are
enriched too by the new friendships you've made.
Wishing you all rewarding continuing friendships.
Claire and Jane chatting at the Open Day
Claire Geddes, Secretary Management Committee
Funding News ££££££££
Last Autumn, the Big Lottery recognised that certain charities were experiencing increased
demand on their services as a result of cutbacks and recession. Befrienders Highland is a
charity that has been so affected and the Big Lottery has awarded us additional money to help
us deal with this demand. The award is for 4 years and will allow us to employ another part
time member of staff who will principally focus on the backlog of referrals in the Inverness area.
We hope to have someone in post by mid July.
Inverness
Brrrrrrr! Pretty well sums up this winter. December and January were full of
snow and this took a toll on befriending in Inverness, since many friendships were
unable to meet up due to icy pavements, lack of transport and all the other
problems associated with snow and ice. The cold also brought more than the
seasonal sniffles and quite a few people struggled with coughs, colds, flu and
bronchitis and so many meetings were cancelled as people hugged the fire and
nursed themselves back to health. What a pity I had not patented Granny‟s cureall, I could have made a fortune this winter.
Every cloud has a silver lining and the break in befriending schedules was no exception.
Several people have said to me that they had not realise the importance of their friendship to
them until after the break and how delighted they were to meet their friend again. .
Although hesitant, it looks as though Spring is on us. The nights are longer and lighter and
there is much more chance to be out and about. Many friendships are looking forward to doing
something in the fresh air again – a walk along the river islands, or along the canal. Some
people are more ambitious and are looking to forests and hill walks, or a cycle in the country.
We are so lucky living in the Highlands with opportunities that people in big cities really envy.
Why not let us know what you and your friend have been up to recently with an article for the
Wee Blether and perhaps other people will have a go too.
Congratulations to Alan and Catherine for qualifying as Befrienders from The Befrienders
Highland Academy. I hope to match you up with a friend soon.
Graeme
Befrienders Highland Limited is a Scottish recognised charity (number SCO29386) and is a company limited by guarantee, registered in Scotland
(number 199867). Its registered office is c/o Ledingham Chalmers, Kintail House, Beechwood Business Park, Inverness. IV2 3BW
Distance
Nairn and Ardersier
Distance Befriending is growing steadily. We
now have 43 volunteers and 39 befriending
matches. We get lots of feedback about how
good it is to have regular contact even when
you have never met your „friend‟ face to face.
In Nairn, like the spring flowers,
friendships are blossoming with 14
matches and reasons to celebrate as two
more friendships have reached 10 years of
befriending. Congratulations to Joan and
Yvonne and Alistair and Willie. We hope you
have many more years of friendship to come.
Since last newsletter Inverness College have
made us a brilliant visual aid! It‟s a map of the
Highlands with different coloured lights showing
where there are phone, letter and email friends
and volunteers. You can set it to light up
randomly or press particular buttons to show
the individual types of contact. We‟ll use it
when we go out giving talks about what we do
and it is a „must see‟ if you visit the offices. A
big thanks to lecturer David and his students for
all their hard work and creativity in doing this for
us!
The WISH group has published its fourth
newsletter and that issue has had the most
contributions from members so far. It was a
brilliant read with a great variety of articles
which included patterns, Top Tips, and even
how to photograph needlework. From
knitting to crochet to quilting to embroidery,
in fact any sort of stitching at all – if you are
a distance friend or volunteer and are
interested just let Yvonne or Sally know and
we‟ll get you involved too!
We have had articles in many different
newsletters and publications in the last few
months. A big thanks also goes to our friend,
„Sue‟, in Skye. She wrote a very honest article
of her personal experience of having a
befriender. It was printed in the HUG Spring
Newsletter and was excellent publicity for us!
Sally and I are enjoying our new office space –
we now have space!! And the luxury of having
a window that the sun actually shines through –
well, let‟s just say it‟s the best!
We do like showing off our space but do
let us know if you want to pop in as we
are out and about a bit, or if we are in,
often have appointments booked. Then
we can make sure one or other of us is
available to get the kettle on!
This year so far we have been fortunate, as
three more volunteers have come forward and
it is only April, so I am hoping that this has set
the president for the year ahead. We have
also had two friend referrals who have been
accepted onto our register.
As you are all aware the office here at Barron
House is only temporary until December of
this year. Time will go very quickly and before
I know it, it will be December, so I am actively
looking for new premises now. So if anyone
out there knows of premises that would be
suitable for an office in Nairn please contact
me on 01667451444.
A Wee Blether
This is something you can‟t beat,
When you feel like a chat,
You always enjoy one to one
And happy to be like that
You can mix in a crowd
But not the same for you
To meet for a coffee or tea
How you do with a few
Good speaking to people on holiday
And on a train or bus
If only they want to bother
Then you‟re not causing a fuss
Some are more confident than others
With a strange face they meet
They know will be made welcome
So their day is a treat.
By Susan Kelly
Befrienders Highland Limited is a Scottish recognised charity (number SCO29386) and is a company limited by guarantee, registered in Scotland
(number 199867). Its registered office is c/o Ledingham Chalmers, Kintail House, Beechwood Business Park, Inverness. IV2 3BW