Fundraising Meeting

Wednesday 2nd December We all got very excited today about our proposed fundraising event! At our meeting we all took on the role of one or two of the events planned they include :- • February 2010 – Concert and Cake Stall • March 2010 – Sky Dive • April 2009 – Easter Raffle • April 2010 – Auctions • May 2010 – Yorkshire 3 Peaks Walk • May 2010 – 3 Parks Walk • June 2010 – Golf Tournament and Dinner • Summer 2010 – Valentines Ball Alison is to present a proposal to the Trust later this month to hopefully get the go ahead for the events.

Northcott's "Not" Got Talent

Today Emma, Robert, my Dad and myself attended the final of the "Northcott's Not Got Talent" competition. Pupils have for the whole of this school term been raising funds for our project and The Alzheimer's Society. The competition was just one part of the fundraising events. With the theme of memory loss in mind, pupils took part in a "sponsored memory game" a sponsored walk around the school grounds and the talent competition. We were treated to performances by Micheal Jackson singing Billy Jean, Movement to Star Wars, Willy Wonka's Pure Imagination and much more!!! The pupils proved that Northcott School does have talent indeed. Emma presented gift vouchers for 1st 2nd and 3rd prizes - the winners will be announced next week after votes have been counted. The four of us paid our £1s and made our choices - now we just have to wait!!!

Alzheimer's Society Fundraising Ball

On saturday 14th November, Emma, Hannah and I attended the Alzheimer's Society Ball at Willerby Manor Hotel. It was a great success, raising over four thousand pounds for the cause. The meal was lovely and we came away with lots of ideas for our Valentine's Ball! Hannah is going to be the lead in this project and has gone away from the event, head spinning and ready for action!

Quiz night and Planning Meeting 13th November

Our first quiz night was held at The Royal Oak Beverley on Thursday. We had around nine teams taking part and held a raffle. In all the night raised £120. On Friday 13th, the team met for a whole day to continue implementing the changes to our plans. The day also included an advisory session by Merv Simpson and Kate Kerr to discuss our fundraising plans.

Fundraising Meeting

At the meeting today we discussed some of our fundraising ideas. In order to adhere to the Trust Policy for fundraising we have scheduled a meeting with Mervyn Simpson, Financial Services Manager to clarify what is needed. Emma and Rob spent a day with the pupils at North Cott School. They took part with the pupils in their sponsored walk. Those who participated walked around the grounds - some of them completing 5 circuits! Emma and Rob both said the pupils are excited at being involved with the project and were very interested in how much we have acheived to date. Well done to the pupils and staff of North Cott School - oh and Emma and Rob!!

3D walk through of proposed plans.

Today the team met to begin the long process of making the changes using the comments made during the second wave of consultation. After two hours, we decided to postpone the meeting with the advisory committee scheduled for next week until later in November. With still a number of issues to address, the 13th November meeting to refine the design proposals at Willerby Hill HQ promises to be a long one!

Moving on - slowly but surely!

On Tuesday 27th October the Team met with Angie Mason to discuss our plans so far. She gave some great advice on how to present our proposal to the Trust Board in February 2010. Later the same day Suzi from The Big Studio visited the site to discuss our ideas for glass art which could be used in the scheme - she gave us lots to think about in preparation for our planning meeting next week. Suzi took away some of our tentative ideas for an art theme for whole project to enable her to develop our thoughts.

London Development Weekend

The second of our residential development programmes was held in London on 14th - 16th October 2009. We all stayed at the Strand Palace Hotel. We were promised a less intense timetable then the Cranage Hall event by the King's Fund Team - they lied!!! After meeting at King's Fund HQ on Cavendish Square, all the teams were split and visited a number of previous King's Fund projects.

We were all very inspired by what we saw. We were able to identify a few similar developments to our's as well as spot a number possible problems with our design. Some of the areas we need to look at again are our way finding solutions, indoor planting, seating in waiting room area, Rob was particulally taken by the wooden panelling at St George's Hospital. After a long day touring the London sites we arrived back at the hotel giving us just enough time for a quick shower then out the the theatre where we saw Wicked and dinner later.

Day two, a whole day at Tate Modern. Rob represented Humber Team in the juggling competition. Armed with the juggling balls provided on the grassy area in front of the gallery, all the team representatives were judged, X factor style, on their preformance. Rob was through to the final!!! We all wondered what the Tate Education Team had panned for us. Each team were asked to give resume of their project. Sue volunteered for this impromtu presentation. After this the team members were taken in various groups by the art experts who discussed art works, explored and stretched our understanding of art and even had us creating our own small artworks. We eventually had a little time together as a team to look reflect on how our ideas may enhance our project, or in fact swamp it.... we needed to re-think. Tired but inspired we returned to the hotel, bursting with ideas.

Dinner that evening was held at the King's Fund HQ, and was attended by Dr Gillard. Sue was asked to speak as the representative of the dementia projects. She spoke passionately about the project and expressed the commitment of our team. Day Three: Rob took part in the grand final of the juggling competition - he managed to win a bottle of wine to drink on the train home by coming fourth! All the teams were asked to present "their story so far." After a feedback session on our presentation skills (eekkkk) and lunch we were then asked to reflect on our own feelings on what we brought to the team - a sort of personal stregnths and weaknesses!! I personally found this very enlightening exercise, I think a lot of us in the team had got to that stage of asking "why am I here" By 3pm we were all ready to be heading home - it was as we sat on the train home we all realised how exhausting the 3 day programme had been. I for one slept fort most of the journey back to Hull!

User consultation of first design draft

24th September 2009 saw the launch of the consultation process to seek opinions on our first design brief. Our first group were the staff of the building who took the opportunity to comment on Rob's first, very detailed drawings, and some samples of glass art. The second wave of consultation will continue throughout October giving the team chance spend some time with all user groups, staff, clients and outside agencies who currently use the clinic. To date, the comments have been mostly favourable and constructive. We seem to have addressed all of the priority issues highlighted during our first wave of consultation. Positive remarks include :- - more ‘approachable reception.’ - seating to wait for taxi’s to stop them and the staff having to nip in and out. - very open feel to design. - like the idea of having technologies to play with they don’t seem so baffling then. - like the gallery idea- give something to look at. Additional ideas - a place to keep memories of people or mementos of people – perhaps by giving a donation to buy something little in memory of someone - a planting area / indoor garden

Fudge Fundraiser!!

Thanks to all those who supported us on the Fudge Benefit Day. A table of 10 attended from The Hull Memory Clinic to give Kelly, who leaves the Clinic this week, a good send off Our supporters ate and drank well, the 15% of the total spent throughout the day and evening equated to £100.54. Other Fundraising events so far have included a fashion show organised by Linda Monday and her family which raised an impressive £894.15! At a Soul Night held at the Piper Club on Newland Avenue £350.00 was raised through ticket sales. The Yorkshire Maintenance Company have donated £250. £25 has been raised so far from sales of greetings cards. These are available to buy in the reception area of the clinic. If you would like to support us in future fundraising events please keep checking this blog for updates on our "Whats On" section!

Humber Mental Health Teaching NHS Trust has recently been accepted onto the Enhancing Healing Environments (EHE) programme in conjunction with the King's Fund. The EHE programme has been set up to encourage and enable nursing led teams to work in partnership with patients to improve the environment in which they deliver care. Further information on the Enhancing Healing Environments (EHE) programme is available at http://www.kingsfund.org.uk/research/projects/enhancing_the_healing_environment/ The aim of this specific project is to enhance public spaces within the Coltman Street facility, and enrich visitors experience as a whole to the building. A Project Team has been assembled to implement the works, which includes:

• Dr Emma Wolverson (Clinical Psychologist and Project Team Lead)
• Alison Williams (Senior Occupational Therapist)
• Sue Whiteing (Community Nurse)
• June Cooke (Carer)
• Robert Atkinson (Senior Estates Development Officer)

Dr Emma Wolverson I'm a clinical psychologist and project lead on the King's Fund project. I have lived in Hull for 7 years now. Originally from a small village just outside the Lake District, I moved to Hull to study at the university, attaining a BSC in Psychology and then a Doctorate in Clinical Psychology. During my training I completed 2 placements at the memory clinic and enjoyed them both very much. So I have known the clinic for 4 years and started working there permanently in September 2008. I am very excited about the King's Fund Project. I hope that it will benefit both patients and staff at the clinic. I am very aware that people are often very nervous the first time they visit the clinic. They are worried about their memory, don't know what to expect or what we are going to ask them and they are often very scared that they might be getting dementia. I hope that by improving the waiting and entrance areas we will help people to feel more comfortable and relaxed when they arrive. Getting rid of the bars on the windows and getting some light in the building will look less intimidating and less institutional. June Cooke I was born and bred in Hull and have never really left, apart from for holidays! All my studying was done at local schools. When I left full time education at 18, I took a job on what was then known as “The Job Creation Scheme” ironically, at a social services day centre working with elderly clients suffering with dementia. I continued my education on a part time basis at Hull College Art and Design Faculty where I attained City and Guilds LI Fashion and Design to advanced level. When I qualified I took a job at Hull Health Authority as Sewing Room Manager. Though that sounds drab for someone trained in Fashion, I thoroughly enjoyed the hands on nature of the work, regularly helping with patient independence, altering personal clothing to enable them to dress themselves. I also designed a uniform maternity dress for the nursing staff to replace the impractical ones provided by manufacturers. I was often involved in full ward refurbishment projects providing soft furnishings. As carer on the King’s Fund Team, my role is to represent the needs of other carers who use the service and produce their wish list for the development and do a little fundraising along the way. I have experienced taking my Dad to the building; waited with him and my Mum all of us anxious about what the future might hold for the family; shared the Waiting Room space with a distressed family whose Mum had wandered in the night. Although I knew the building well from my days with HHA, I now saw it in a completely different light. Fortunately, once inside we now know that it is not a place where your whole world comes to an end. We know it is a place of hope and support. We know that there is a team of dedicated staff who are there for us at the drop of a hat. Our initial fears are gone. I hope that the project results in developments to the building which make those first uncomfortable visits more bearable, reducing anxiety and stress; most importantly to the patients but also to their carers. I hope we are able to create an environment which is comfortable but stimulating and that we provide a multi-functional, adaptable space, available to clients and carers, to help ease the pressures of living with memory problems. Alison Williams.

I qualified as an occupational therapist in 2000 and for the majority of my career I have worked with people with dementia. Although I am a relatively new team member at the Hull Memory Clinic, I have worked in the Coltman Street building for 9 years on and off. As an occupational therapist, I appreciate the impact that our environment can have on how we feel and our ability to do things so I am excited about the opportunity to make a big impact on the environment for clients, carers and staff. Sue Whiteing.

My background is Mental Health Nursing for over 20 years. During this time the main focus of my work has been as a Community Psychiatric Nurse (CPN) with people over the age of 65. I have seen and been part of many health service changes during this time and a great change in the way people with dementia are treated and cared for. Over the past 5 years I have been part of the Hull Memory Clinic team working specifically with people who have memory problems pre and post diagnosis of a dementia. I have been able to underpin my practise by completing a diploma in dementia care. I am excited about the King’s Fund Project and see this as a great opportunity to make a difference to the environment for the people who use our service and their families. Robert Atkinson My title within the trust is that of Senior Estates Development Officer, and my background is architectural. I hold a BA in Architecture together with a Postgraduate Diploma in Participatory Design, attained from the Hull School of Architecture. Having worked for architectural practices in Manchester and Hull, I have experience within various sectors, such as; healthcare, education, industry and leisure. As the representative from the Estates Department on the Project Team, it is my role to assist with the practicalities of project, together with the development and procurement of a design that will meet all aspects of the brief. Due to the specialist and specific needs that range throughout Humber Mental Health Teaching NHS Trust’s premises, it is vital that new building works reflect this. I’m sure that the opportunity, which has been afforded to us by the Kings Fund, will enable a meaning intervention to take place within a building that already provides an acclaimed service. I am greatly looking forward to this project, and anticipate a fruitful journey ahead. The Launch Event 13th July 2009

The Memory Clinic has been awarded some money to improve our building. We want to know what you think of the building and how we can make it better. Please come to our launch event on Monday 13 July 2009 11 to 4 pm The Memory Clinic, 39-41 Coltman Street, Hull, HU3 2SG The event will be officially opened by David Snowdon, Trust Chief Executive at 12 noon but you are welcome to drop in at any time in the afternoon. Refreshments will be available. If you would like to know more but are unable to come along on the day, please ring 01482 336617 and we will send you further information.

The launch day was attended by over 60 people including a large percentage of service users and their families, Trust staff, representatives from The Alzheimer’s Society and Hull City Council Social Services, an number of people living in the area plus a visit from the York EHE Team! Visitors were asked to share their opinions with us in a number of ways:

• Complete a questionnaire. To get an idea of how the building made our users feel the questionnaire focused on first impressions asking clients to rate the facilities with a score of 1 -5, specifically the waiting area, reception, access to literature and the seating areas. They were also asked to consider what changes to the building they would like to see.
• Comment on what the perceived to be the “The Good, The Bad and The Ugly” parts of the building as it is now. Using a flip chart for each category visitors added their comments.
• Look at the “Reality and the Vision”. Using 3D drawings of the building visitors were asked to mark a point on the plan they felt needed improvement with a flag. They then added their suggestions to a flip chart.
• Think about Colours and Furnishings. Using paint and fabric swatches, people were asked to consider which clours made them feel welcome, comfortable and relaxed; pick suggestions for furnishing texture and colour; plus which colour they would definitely not want to see!
• At the Fundraising and Volunteers stall, visitors were invited to leave their contact details if they felt they could volunteer their time and skills to help with the project. There were also photographs displayed of recent fundraising events. A number of suggestions were made for future fundraisers.

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