Monday 6th September 2021: Papers off to CCG

Posted 12:10pm

Yep, that picture is how I feel sometimes.  lol

I have just emailed our finance spreadsheet and accompanying report to the CCG in regards to our request for funding so we can work with the DWP Un employment, mental health organisations in Camden and Islington, as well as keep providing our plethora of active ongoing work - exercise sessions, walks, zumba, quiz, health pack, social events, outings.  I am keeping everything crossed that dialogue can continue.  Otherwise we will have to stop.

I didn't mention in the previous posting that three of us (Georg, Jazz, and myself) took Rosie's ashes to her mother just over the border in Wales in August.  In fact, it was a lovely way for us to say goodbye, and we stopped off at the Severn Bridge too.  I miss her a lot, as do others.

 

Friday 3rd September 2021 - A terrific month for HMHB

Posted 1:05pm

I am having a quiet chuckle to myself as I read the headline from the last posting at the start of August, where I say that I have to update this blog a bit more.  Oh, the best intentions can sometimes wander off.

So, I say again, I must do better this month.  And it has to be said that August was actually a pretty good month for HMHB.  I will tell all.

Firstly, and most importantly, we had a crucial meeting on my birthday, August 16th, with the local Camden and Islington NHS Trust.  This was us pleading our case for full salary and resource funding.  Something that is becoming more and more vital.

The local Job Centre, my one is Barnsbury, has been fantastic, in that they know we want to be working with their clientele, that we have worked with astonishing feedback, with Kentish Town Job Centre in Camden, and therefore have not been hassling me about looking for work and applying.  That, though, will inevitably change the longer I go without a salary.  And in the end I will have to find a full time job and give all this up.

Thankfully, the meeting went well.  I know we are small, and I can imagine that makes us a risk with the NHS, but we have proven ourselves over and over again, and deserve our chance.  I prepared well for the meeting - which I attended alongside our PT Dean - and there was good vibes at the end.

I have today completed a report to accompany the funding spreadsheet I have finished, which determines salaries and expenses.  I can only hope that we can continue with the dialogue, to start funding at the next financial year.  Wow, that would be amazing, and the culmination of so much work.

But that is not all that was good in August.  We supplied the fourth of our health packs at the start of the month, and have just released number five (September) too.  36 pages of information, news, and encouragement over Mind-set, Nutrition, Exercise, and Health (plus quiz, games, news, classes, recipes, etc).

Our indoor and outdoor exercise sessions are getting new members, and we are even getting people referred to us from the NHS!!!   Wow!!!  To my knowledge, the exercise on referral scheme is on hold due to Covid, so we are the only organisation taking exercise referrals in Islington and Camden.  Not bad for voluntary!!

All in all, we are progressing.  Naturally, the most crucial is the funding conversation.  The be all and end all for us!!  So please cross your fingers and continue to support us. :-)

Monday 2nd August 2021 - I must work on updating this more often

Posted 5:00pm

I am not sure what it is that makes me forget to use the blog.  Every time I remember to update it appears that I have not done for a while.

And so much is happening at the moment.

I will do a proper update tomorrow, but I just wanted to let people know that August is a crucial month for HMHB.  We have an upcoming meeting that is probably the most important we have ever had.  It is with the local CCG around the new fresh approach to mental health in North London - something that we have been doing for the last five years!!!!!!

We need to get salaries and resources.  They clearly have a huge budget as much preparation work has already been done, and they are going to be employing 165 new front line workers - all of whom will need training.

So, we have to be in a strong position.  I am preparing papers for the meeting, and will be very disappointed if we do not end up with at least one year of funding.

Friday 9th July 2021 - Lots to report - I must update this more often!!! :-)

Posted 11:20am

How is it I forget to update this blog so often??  It has actually been a whole month.  And lots has happened.  I am going to try and discipline myself to ensure I add more entries.

Still no news from the DWP re a meeting - despite promises and good words.  However, there is a meeting being arranged with the local NHS Trust and commissioners.  It is all frustratingly slow.

We have secured some small funding from Islington Giving Fund, through Cripplegate and Islington Council, to do another fitness session with Dean, do a year of our monthly health packs, and get a very decent camera to produce online provision.  Very exciting, and we are extremly thankful for their ongoing support.

On a down side, the Lottery turned us down saying we had not involved the "community enough".  I think it has to be how I worded the application, as we are very community based, so I will reapply and adjust my wording.

Our wonderful Rosie, so cruelly taken from us in May by cancer, was featured in the Islington Tribune this week, which was fantastic and fully deserved.  At 45, she was far too young.  We hope it will inspire others to not sit back and wait for things to happen, but to push themselves forward at every opportunity as life is too short.

More news to follow. :-)

Wednesday 9th June 2021 - A Zumba problem solved

Posted 2:35pm

We love our outdoor Zumba sessions on Sundays on Highbury Fields.  They really bring people together, we have a lot of laughs as we sweat, and we even have a picnic afterwards that is very social.  Everyone who walks passed is smiling, some are dancing, and some even join in.

Apart from one couple who live on Highbury Park road, and they have not liked us from the beginning.  Well, last week they made an official complaint to the council, and we received an email from the parks department saying that if we are playing amplified music we need to make an official event application and pay a fee.

I wrote back explaining who we are and what we do,  I also said we knew about the couple who had complained and, in fact, every week I do a sound check, which I video, from outside their property and they cannot hear the music.

Anyway, the parks people came down on Sunday to see us.  The bloke was fantastic.  He said the sound levels were fine, we had a terrific group, he loved what we were doing, and he would report back that he could see no issue with our continuing.  I got an email yesterday saying that we were fine.  No events applications, and no fees.

Absolutely delighted.  I know the good it is doing our users, and within the local community.  Fun things like this need to be encouraged, not cancelled.

Yay!!!

Wednesday 2nd June 2021: Outdoor exercise sessions going well

Posted 12:35pm

 With the good weather upon us, I am delighted at the people coming along to our outdoor exercise sessions, and our walks.

The picture above was from a circuit training we did in Highbury Fields last Saturday, with 10 separate pieces of equipment.  Was a huge amount of fun.

Outdoor exercise is really good.  It has been shown to help people work harder, push themselves further, and also help with their mental health at the same time as they are working on their physical health.

Working in a group is also fantastic.  We are always supportive.

Wednesday 2nd June 2021: Lottery Funding Application:

Posted 12:30pm

We have just completed an application for the National Lottery Awards For All Fund, asking for money to pay for six Ajani courses in four London Boroughs.

We are still waiting to hear from the DWP following our pitch in March (I have followed up a couple of times and will again after this), so what we want to do are four DWP courses, one each in Islington, Camden, Haringey, and Hackney, to demonstrate our outcomes and show we can help improve esteem, confidence, and energy levels in people who are unemployed.

The other two courses we can do with a couple of mental health organisations or local community projects, which would be fun.

We ate hopeful of success as we have people wanting to work with us, as well as the incredible feedback we have received.  But the whole purpose must be opening dialogue with the DWP about our aims and courses.  Fingers crossed.