Tuesday 28th February 2017 - preparations going well

Posted 3:45pm

Just had a good couple of hours with my fellow program deliverer, Luke, and we spent a lot of it discussing various Team Games - an important part of our of delivery.  Participation, fun, and being proactive are crucial ingredients.  It was a lot of fun, and some good discussion too.  We need to be able to converse, as well as demonstrate we can be flexible.

We are also getting together various "extras" for the service users - these are events that will happen separate to the actual day of the program delivery.  For SHP we have a first aid event, a couple of free gym visits, and a couple of PT sessions too - and we are looking at a nutritionist talk as well as one on Oral Health.  I would love to find some kind of cookery event.

Today I will finalise the forms for the clients prior to the course - we need registration, waivers, and a couple of health questionnaires too.

With just over three weeks to go it is getting exciting.

Sunday 26th February 2017 - request for finance - days flying by

Posted 10:40pm

I cannot believe that February is almost over - the days are flying by, and the programs are getting closer and closer.

But our most pressing issue is that we are unable to do anything at all unless we can produce our insurance documents for the companies requesting the project.  And, naturally, we cannot provide th documents without us actually purchasing insurance with money - that we do not have.

On Friday, we met up with a journalist from the local Camden Islington Journal, and they are going to run a feature on us where we are asking for a small amount of sponsorship or donations to help us finance the pilot programs - just administration costs (especially the insurance).

Sp, apart from the small, but very important, finance issue, what else is pressing.

Firstly, I want to be able to finish the content at least a week before the first program date, so that we can concentrate on all the small registration issues on the two programs.

Secondly, we need to ensure the right paperwork is going out to the prospective users - various forms and waivers.

Thirdly, I want to make sure all the social media is up to date and ready for the 23rd March.

There are also a multitude of other issues to get through.  But it is still exciting.

Tuesday 21st February 2017 - at a crucial stage, but in a vicious circle

Posted 11:20pm.

There is a lot to be upbeat about at the moment.  We met with DAI again last week and a guaranteed pilot program with them will start on March 23rd.

We popped into SHP offices and they are signing off a pilot program to also start on March 23rd.

We have organised a free trip to the Emirates stadium for DAI.

We are in the process of arranging a free First Aid course day for our SHP users.

We have met and chatted to the Gym in St Pancras Square about three free visits for our SHP users.

Luke - who will be delivering the course with myself - and I will be getting together a lot in the next four weeks as we finalise the content for the programs.

Adam will be down before the programs start to film some more videos for Youtube, as well as go over everything we will be doing.

We are developing good contacts on Social Media.

Kacper has made adjustments to the website, and everything will be ready for the start of the programs.

Scott has been amazing as we focus on the important topics prior to the pilots.

But then comes the vicious cicrle - money!!! we cannot do anything without insurance - and although everyone we meet is "excited" about the pilots and outcomes, absolutely nobody seems to want to give us a penny towards administration (we are doing the pilots for no salary).

Oh the joys of starting a business.  The stress and frustration is causing big headaches.

Friday 17th February 2017 - stagnated a bit - pushing myself

Posted 11:10pm
So the end of the second proper week in February - and I must push on.  My report card from school would say I needed to focus more on what I am doing, and to put more hours in.  It would also probably say I had been distracted of late, and to stop allowing others around me to move my centre of attention from my targets.

So with all that in mind I was investigating other things we can recommend to our users when it comes to free opportunities to get fitter.  And this would help me too.  One of these if the Park Run - and we have one in Highbury Fields near to us.  So I have registered with the website (I did not realise I had to do that before being suitably prompted by Adam - thanks) and will be therefore doing my first official run tomorrow morning.  Looking forward. - my barcode above will help me get my time.

There is also a group called Our Parks.  They have free sessions in different parks around the country, and Clissold Park near me is holding a Yoga class tomorrow morning at 10am (the run above is at 9am and is 5km).  So I have signed up for that too.

I had a good preparation meeting with Disability Action Islington this afternoon, and it was good to look at the whole picture.  We went over registration, action plans, and he had a wonderful idea about running some kind of event the week after the program where we would invite other organisations and the press to talk about what we have done and the outcomes it has produced.  I love this idea.

Our biggest issue at the moment is Insurance.  We must have it in place.  DAI naturally want to see the documentation.  I am determined to get something - but involves money.  The stresses of being of the boss!!!!

Thursday 16th February 2017 - stagnated for a few days

Posted 12:45am.
Early hours of the morning, but time to update the blog - which has been left for nearly a week.

Things have stagnated a bit recently.  We are at a stage where we are very reliant on other people to assist us.  Yes, I am doing research on the actual delivery content and building that up, but for actual programs and money we have to wait on others - and patience is definitely a virtue, but not much help when you need to hear things now.

So I will do a lengthier blog entry later today, as I am in the process of doing a lot of follow up work at the moment.

Friday 10th February 2017 - good meetings, energised

Posted 4:30pm

It has been a busy few days - so a few things to put on here.  But it is all progress.

Next week I have a meeting with AGE UK; they have a quarterly magazine in Islington (GT Islington) - and we are hoping to persuade them to do a proper feature on us - with photo and write up.  If that happens that will be great.  In the meantime: they have promised to put a small block about the walks:

This is what they suggest:

Healthy walks - with Healthy Minds, Healthy Bods.  

Meet outside Highbury Grange Medical Practice

Every Thursday at 11am.

Keep an eye on the website for new walks near you! www.hmhb2016.org.uk

Free

That coincided with our twelth walk yesterday morning which we can officially put down as the coldest so far - it was a bitter wind.  But we still managed to get five people - and that, sadly, despite a large local funeral for a very popular lady - and I know some of our regular walkers attended.

Last night, I went along to the local library where one of my three local area councillors had their surgery.  I chose this guy because he is the "mental health champion" on the council.  Fortunately, I was the only resident to attend, so we were able to chat for over 50 minutes.  He was incredibly "excited" to see the outcomes from our two pilot programs starting in March, and was quite enthusiastic about the project itself.  He did say money was very tight, and that is nothing new, but urged me to continue with what we are doing, as potential for the council to get involved.

Today I attended an event being run by the DWP at Barnsbury Job Centre.  It was centred around contracts with the DWP and services they get in to support their clients.  It used to be covered by the Flexible Support Fund - but now it is the Dynamic Purchasing System.  The application is still slightly complicated, but they do cover full funding (including salaries), and I know that we are offering something that is not currently available, but has got a lot of people excited.  I will have a good look through the websites this weekend, and discuss things further with Scott next week.  Funding is also found for small start ups - and I came away from the event upbeat and excited.  I would like to get applications in as soon as possible.

I also hooked up again with the Kings Cross Better Gym in Pancras Square - behind Kings Cross Station, and opposite St Pancras Station.  A really nice gym, and I finally got a tour.  I sat down and went over a few things with them, and I asked if we could meet up with the manager on the 20th February with Adam as well.  All came across in a promising manner.

Kacper and I are getting together on Sunday to tie down the last changes and tweaks to the website, which is encouraging.  So it is all coming together.  A lot of hard work still to do though.

Tuesday 7th February 2017 - Push hard every day

Posted 9:45pm

It's funny how just two good solid days at the gym - interspersed with project work - can reenergise you.  Feeling really good and it lifts the whole mood.

Tomorrow I will be going to visit SHP to try and drum up support for the program in March with users.  I also had a call from them about one of their users who is a Personal Trainer, and he is interested in doing some voluntary work with us.  That could be great timing.

I have been slightly adjusting the 9 week program to make it relevant to different organisations: for example, Disability Action would be looking for different outcomes from the DWP, or even SHP. We are also looking to see how we can maybe approach companies to work with Graduates.

Monday 6th February 2017 - small steps

Posted 10:30pm
Feeling very energised again - maybe back to myself once more. I hope so.

Still doing a lot of research for the content of the program delivery - which is great fun - but also has demonstrated to me just how awful a lot of the information is that is available to people.

Had contact through the website for the first time - which is fantastic.  Camden and Islington NHS emailed in regards to Izzwalkz - and it is great seeing how things work - a lot of thank to Kacper for ensuring the website works properly.  We are meeting this weekend to get the final tweaks right. I am very grateful.

I have a lot of email chasing to do tomorrow - and need to update the Access database of contacts as I realised recently that I had not been doing that - and that could be essential in the future.

On the 1 March we will be launching our News Blog. This will be the one we will be recommending to clients.  This blog will remain for talking about the company, programs, and projects and all that development.  Clients will not be interested in our philosophy and company progress, what they need is proper information on the critical subjects we are covering - mindset, fitness, health, routine, and nutrition.  I am gathering more info for the new blog too.

February is a crucial preparation month.  Onwards!!

Thursday 2nd February 2016 - glad it's a new month - feeling rejuvenated

Posted 2:10pm

Waiting in Canary Wharf to chat with Scott at the moment.  But feeling quite good at the moment after a tricky and sticky January.  I could, and maybe should, have done a lot more, but got stuck in a but of a rut.  However, one of the points of the program is to deal with challenges and face them head on and staying positive.

We presented a 13 week program last December, and it is something I would prefer to keep, but for the pilots we are providing a 9 week program (the DWP have said that they feel a 9 week would be better for them too, so this is a good chance to try it out).  So I have finally managed to incorporate most of the 13 week into the new 9 week program, but I was aware that I did not want to compromise quality - and I am confident that I have done that.

The 9 weeks will be for SHP and DAI, both aiming to start on the 23rd March - so this month is crucial in getting everything in place, as we want to get forms out to users at least two weeks prior to the course.  We want to get permissions slips, waivers, and health information prior to the first day. This saves time on the 23rd, as well as making our Personal Trainer aware of issues.

We have created a flyer for the courses, and both organisations should be giving them out from the end of this week.  Very exciting.

We had our eleventh Clissold Park walk today, and delighted to have had 7 people, including our first other gentleman. It was only the second time it rained, but I was delighted with the company, and we all seemed to have a good time.  I have asked some of my regulars to do a small testimony, as we are trying to get funding and being able to produce "positive outcomes" is paramount.  A couple of the ladies have told me they look forward to the weekly walk - and that makers it all worthwhile.

Had a terrific boost from Arsenal in the Community today for our DAI course.  The fifth week we are unable to use their offices as they are closed over Easter.  But it appears we will be able to get a tour of the Arsenal Stadium as an outing instead - which is brilliant.  It could also be good publicity for both ourselves and DAI, as well as Arsenal themselves.

Personally 2017 has been tough - but I would imagine that a lot of the clients we will be delivering too will all also be going through some hard times and issues, so again I need to focus on doing what we are preaching.