Thursday 16th November 2017 - knocked back by a cold

Posted 4:25pm

It seems like November is my "cold" month - I always seem to come down with something. And this year has been no exception. In fact, the last few days have been very difficult. And this is not a good time to be suffering - as there is just too much work to be done.

I really wanted to be working on applications this week - instead I have been losing control of an awful cough!!

It meant I had to cancel our feedback session on Tuesday, which was a serious knock back.  I will be arranging to meet everyone next week - and hopefully I'll get everything done. We have our forms to complete, as well as getting some video.

I want to be starting to plan 3 starting in January, all in the same week. But this very much depends on getting hold of some kind of funding.  We cannot continue without it!!

Saturday 11th November 2017 - reflecting on a pivotal week

Geoffrey, Dean and Luke at the back

Lawrence, Marie and Lee at the front

Tour of Emirates Stadium - 10th November 2017

Posted 1:00pm

It seems poignant to be looking back on events today - the 11th November - poppy day. All our "issues" and "problems" look insignificant when you consider the selfless sacrifice made by our ancestors over many conflicts.  We remember them!

It has been a terrific week for HMHB.

On Monday, Scott, Luke and myself attended a meeting with the Islington CCG - with Clare, Kay and Imogen (a GP). We knew it was going to be a tough meeting - money is tight all over the place and cuts to mental health funding is abundant. But we feel we have something new, exciting and a project that enhances any current provision.  I had prepared a PowerPoint with some excellent slides - in particular some tremendous quotes from our current service users.

The result was positive. We were not laughed out of the building. We were not told that it was impossible.  We had said out main objective was to see how it was possible we could continue.  There are serious time constraints. I will be forced off of benefit soon - and Luke is working part-time - and with Christmas approaching, and money tight, we need some salary money.  They are aware of where we are.  I hope that something can happen.

Grant from the Red Cross teaches

Rosie, Lee, Marie and Geoffrey

Tuesday saw our last full session on our current Ajani program. It has gone better than we could possibly have imagined or hoped. We had our "Big Fat Ajani Quiz" - which went over various parts of the course, including nutrition, mindset and fitness. It was great fun. We always start with a couple of funny videos to get us smiling - which this time backfired slightly as you cannot please everyone's sense of humour. We dealt with it very well though, and overall everyone had a great time.

We are running a feedback session this coming Tuesday - with forms and some video. But we already know that this program has gone down very well with everyone.

After the session we provided lunch - and then Grant from the Red Cross came along to do a first aid course. That is so special of them - and the time seemed to fly by. We are so lucky that organisations such as Red Cross can see what we are achieving and want to be part of that.

Friday - we had our trip to the Emirates - shown around by the fantastic Jack - a pic at the top shows us sitting in the media room.  It was the third successful trip of the course - we only had two on the pilot.

This coming week I need to concentrate on getting all paperwork up to date, as well as funding. It's the biggest thing for us now.

Sunday 5th November 2017 - CCG, and GoFundme

Posted 2:20pm

Well, we almost have arrived at the biggest meeting of HMHB's existence. Everything I have done over the last 9 years (on and off), with over a thousand meetings and many many hours, has come down to this.

We have prepared a powerpoint presentation, and have people with us - I fear that the CCG will come into the meeting with their minds already made up about no funding - but I feel we have a terrific argument. It is impossible for us to continue without funding. Especially as we are now being chased to get off benefit - which I hate being on anyway. I want to work and earn my money.

We updated our GoFundMe page with more videos and more info re the programs. Surely someone somewhere will like us?

Friday 3rd November 2017 - 5th week, CCG, DWP, Will Norman

Posted 4:15pm

Our fifth session last Tuesday was very good - some great interactive discussion and even a Tabata HIT session for fitness. 

Our group at Halloween

We then headed up the canal, had s sandwich lunch, before heading off to Islington Museum where a very knowledgeable man, who could remember dates extremely well, gave us a fantastic guided tour, for which we were very thankful.

I met with Ian, the DWP guy, and we discussed how we could get some programs going with people from the Job Centre attending - and we came to a great understanding. I really feel we can start a terrific opportunity.

We have had contact from Will Norman's office at City Hall - he is the walking Czar employed by the London Mayor.  I had rang them around our Izzwalkz initiative and want to see if he can help us expand what we are doing.  It will brilliant if we can hook up.

Finally, and probably most importantly, we have our most vital meeting ever on Monday - with Islington CCG. If we are to continue we must get some funding. I have prepared a presentation and have to say the stress around this is incredible.