Sunday 7th July 2019 - Lots going on this week ahead

Posted 3:00pm

Well, the last few weeks have been dominated by our Lottery proposal. Quite a few drafts, changes, amendments, and so forth. We have changed tack, looked at outcomes, need, and value for money. It is amazing just how crucial this is, and we have probably done all we can possibly do. It is now in the hands of others, and we can only hope they like what they read, and see the potential.

But there is no point in worrying and stressing. We no longer have control on that. So we now need to concentrate on progressing.

This week in particular has some vital meetings and events.
On Tuesday, following our usual fitness session at Highbury Leisure, Lawrence is meeting with the Haringey Borough Relationship Manager for DWP, Phyllis. We want to talk about working with job centres, and suggesting a couple of pilot courses with the group (financed of course) to show what we can do. That way they can decide if we are worthy of further work. I am sure we can make a difference. Phyllis knows Pritty, with whom we worked at Haringey Well Being.

On Wednesday, Lawrence is attending the morning part of the Islington Voluntary Sector Conference at the London Metropolitan University. Again, this is an opportunity of suggesting we can come in at the start of next term and work with students on their mental health - a great time to show that we can be preventive on mental health - and we have not been able to get at that genre. I know a terrific contact will be there.
In the afternoon Lazza has his own personal job centre meeting, and he will look to see if we can run a program with them too in Islington. He then intends on visiting with the Eagle Project at King Henry's Walk - they do terrific work on activities with those who have gone through recovery on substance issues.

On Thursday, following our usual Izzwalkz in Clissold Park, Lawrence is meeting with the Hackney, Tower Hamlets and City of London Borough Relationship Manager for DWP, Stephen. Similar to the Haringey meeting on Tuesday, we are going to push for a couple of Ajani progammes to show our passion, ability and outcomes.

On Friday, Lawrence is first attending Moorfields for a check up following cataract surgery. Then he will hopefully dash to the Friday walk on Highbury Fields. And from that, he then heads to the Haringey Mental Health Well-Being event in N15. HMHB will have a small stall, and be able to push Ajani, and we are hoping they will give us a small 20 minute slot to talk mindset and exercise.

In addition, Lawrence will be completing last year's accounts and sending them to our Accountant to do the necessary end of year paperwork before sending to Companies House.  He also needs to complete the reports on the two tasters we have done (Haringey and Peabody) to go on the website.

Never a dull moment.

Friday 5th July 2019 - Lottery - SHP Feedback

Posted 1:20pm



Met up with the fantastic Joe from Single Homeless Project earlier, and we did a small video about our time with them. They were the people who gave us our first opportunity to work with service users, and without their help and support we would not be here at this moment.



This is for our Lottery proposal,  which is going off today. Fingers crossed!!!

Friday 5th July 2019 - signed up for two events

Posted 12:15pm

Getting noticed and networking has been vital for us, and will continue to be so. With that in mind, I am always looking out for events that can have a benefit for our advancement.

Next Wednesday, London Metropolitan University is hosting the Islington Voluntary Sector Conference for 2019, overseen by our friends at Voluntary Action Islington. Although I will only be able to attend the morning sessions, sadly, it would give us the opportunity to drop in some paperwork and get a contact for the University itself. Our courses are focused on both preventive and corrective mental and physical health issues, and I would love us to be able to take this into the University environment, especially as we have a lot of fun and interaction. It suits it brilliantly.

It is especially looking at how the wider Voluntary and Community Sector can get involved in keeping Islington safe - with particular emphasis in the area of preventative action, working alongside existing initiatives and agencies.

I have also signed up for the Funders Fair in Kensington Town Hall. This is in three months time in October, but I think it will be an interesting place to visit and see what is happening and available.  This is the annual funding fair for voluntary and community organisations looking to work in three boroughs - Kensington and Chelsea, Westminster, and Hammersmith and Fulham.

Wednesday 3rd July 2019 - Finished Weight Management - targets

Posted 4:15pm

I rather liked the accompanying graphic I found online for this blog entry. Trying to work out just which of these is the nest representative of myself!!

Our Lazza (moi!!) completed the twelve week Weight Management Course organised by the Camden and Islington NHS via Aquaterra, using the Better gyms in both boroughs. Was a terrific help in focusing on my weight issues - only hampered by the torn meniscus in my right knee (seeing the surgeon in a couple of weeks time).

But I also organised for two of our service users to join the course - Rosie and Marie - and both have agreed it has been good for them.

It certainly helped me get back into daily exercise, which I needed - I just need to control these bloody eating urges I get. Part of me still responds to stress by heading to the kitchen and seeking just how many foods I can stuff into my mouth!!! Lol.

The ladies and I have formed a bit of a partnership and have set some weekly and monthly goals - as well as thinking it is 26 weeks now till the start of 2020. By losing just 1lb a week (or half a kilo) in that time, that then means 2 stone. That is so so so achievable, but I have been there many times in the past. I think they will keep me focused.

I know this has been a bit more of a personal entry, rather than HMHB. But actually, through this course, this is how we have started to build a great partnership/friendship with Aquaterra, which can lead to significant possibilities in the future for HMHB.

Tuesday 2nd July 2019 - JCP Meetings with DWP

Posted 1:00pm

We have already established solid links within Islington - with the Borough Relationship Manager for the DWP, Ian Smith. He has been vocal in support - without being biased. He has encouraged us onwards, and they have been wonderful for me, allowing me to focus on HMHB whilst receiving Universal Credit.

On the back of the taster last week we have now managed to get meetings in two other areas with their Borough Relationship Managers.

Firstly, we will be meeting with the Haringey manager, Phyllis, next Tuesday. We are very excited about this as we are already going to work with the well-being service, and this can really boost our opportunities.

Secondly, we will be meeting with the Hackney, Tower Hamlets, City of London manager, Stephen, next Thursday. This is an opportunity to push us in a borough (TH) that we have not worked in as yet.

Both these opportunities are as a result of the taster last week - which could have gone better I felt. So maybe I am being a little hard on us. It is great to be recognised though.

Monday 1st July 2019 - Increase our social media content - website

Posted 12:30pm

We have two blogs - this one was originally set up on the 2nd August 2016 - so we are coming up to our third birthday. It was meant to bring people on our journey as we developed HMHB, grew from nothing to what we are now, and what we hope to become.

It is also a diary for people to look back and see where things have gone both right and wrong. We have been brutally honest on our business - from meetings and programmes - to funding and stress.

We aim to use it a bit more in July - another pivotal month (they all seem to be now) - as we only made 14 entries in June. 

Our other blog - www.healthymindshealthybods.blogspot.com - we started on the 14 January this year - so only five and a half months ago - yet we already have over 200 entries - was set up to pass on information on research and studies focusing on our HMHB values - mindset, health, exercise, nutrition and routine. We make our own comments, but we just want to put the information out there for people to make up their own minds, and make their own choices.

We will again look to revamp our website over the summer, trying to grow with our development. We have some exciting ideas, but a lot will come down to finance.

Finally, we do use Twitter and Facebook a lot, and will see how we can utilise these better, grow followers, and build up content. - as with Youtube!!

Monday 1st July 2019 - J Corbyn, Feedback, Lottery, Meetings

Posted 12:00pm

Had a terrific one hour meeting with my MP, Jeremy Corbyn, and his representatives last Friday. Really good chat about where HMHB is, and what we need to do to continue - mainly open some doors to some finance. He was attentive and understanding. It's great having him on our side.

With the government announcing that "preventive" intervention is the "next great revolution in mental health", this is when people need to listen to us, as we have been saying it for several years, and have designed and developed our programmes to do just that.

We have had feedback from our Taster we did wit Peabody last week, which was attended by multiple agencies from four London Boroughs. On reflection, I was unhappy with some of our delivery, and we definitely could have been more professional in places, as well as more interactive. In fact, that is one of our major plus points, the way we bring everyone in on the course. Maybe there is a lot of self-criticism rearing its head, but that is always a good sign, as it shows we want to be the best at what we do.  People liked what we are doing, but they also made a few constructive suggestions around presenting and structure we will take on board.

I am finishing the lottery bid today, will get approval, and send off this week. I have re-written it a lot to stress the need, that we fulfill that need, and the partnerships we have developed in the community.

Finally, on the back of the taster we have a couple if great meetings arranged, one of which is for a borough we have not worked in - Tower Hamlets.