Saturday 7th December 2019 - Sobell sessions going well

Posted 5:40pm

I am really proud of our indoor fitness studio sessions at the Sobell Leisure Centre every Saturday morning. They have been going for for over thirteen months and for a while we had no new people, despite us promoting it around the borough.

But over the last few months we have gradually built numbers, and the group is always inspiring and motivating each other.

This morning was quite cold - well it is December. But we still encouraged the group out.  Lazza ran the session this morning - and has done very well since September. This is down to listening and learning.

We run different exercise routines each week. It is normally a mixture of core, legs and arms, but we also do some cardio, balance, stretches, and have included boxability and high intensity interval training too.  This morning we started with kinetic stretches (movement based), followed by a Tabata (another HIIT routine - where we picked seven exercises and repeated each of them seven times for a set period of time before moving to the next one). Everyone pushed themselves well, and we sweated, laughed, and encouraged each other.

Our main focus is obviously helping people who would probably not get access to this kind of intervention. We demonstrate that everything we do in the studio people can do at home. But working together definitely helps us do more.  Very proud of what we are doing.  However, without seed funding next year it will have to stop.  We will wait and see.

Friday 6th December 2019 - a good week; 2020 calendar, more venue news

Posted 3:35pm

This is the first time for a long while that we have made blog entries six days on the trot. It is a sign that we have really picked up, are pushing hard, and doing all we can to focus on the coming year, and the success it can bring.

With that in mind, especially as we are doing 19 events between February and March, as well as all our walks and fitness sessions, Lazza has produced his own 2020 Calendar using Excel, with space for morning and afternoon entries, so we can keep a close eye on exactly what is happening.  It is very easy to accidentally put two things down for the same day.

We can also confirm that Lazza has now got venues either confirmed, or provisional discussions are going on, for all the days now. That is all in one week - and we are proud to have done that. We did not put any financial amounts into the applications so that will need a little bit of juggling, and we will have to inform the funders of that, but I am sure that they would expect some venues to charge, so we just have to find a way to make it work.

On a personal note - we wish Rosemary in Scotland a happy birthday for earlier this week. We also wish the best for Lazza who has two upcoming scans on his knees, plus a UCH appointment re his hernia. All that before the end of Jan 2020.

Thursday 5th December 2019 - Venues for Spring 2020 coming along

"one of our venues in Camden"

Posted 2:15pm

Lazza has been working flat out to get venues and dates for our interventions in Islington and Camden, as well as trying to get the best deals possible. We did not factor in any venue costs on our applications, so we are having to juggle our expenditure.

Thankfully we are doing well so far. We have managed to get provisional dates for fourteen of the nineteen dates, and know who we want to approach for the last five.

For Peabody - 2 dates - we have got a community centre in islington near to Old Street. We also have the dates arranged, and this could be a fantastic opportunity for us.  I have also managed to get a meeting with their Community Programme Director, at their London Head Office, for January.  They do have a fund we can apply to, but if we can get backing from the head office to any application you would hope that would have a favourable effect.

For Islington - 7 dates - i think we have managed to sort them all out - provisionally. For our three dates with the Barnsbury Job Centre we will be using a room at Voluntary Action Islington in March - this is a little expensive but a quality venue, and will look good in photos and feedback.  For our three dates with Finsbury Park Job Centre we are hopeful to be using offices of Better Lives in Seven Sisters Road, and in return we will use remaining date to do a one day intervention with their clients.

For Camden - we have 10 dates to arrange.  We have got five of them confirmed with the Living Centre, who have been very kind in their offer, although we will have to use Saturday afternoons. I am already looking at the client base, and will be using a Living Centre representative, Peter, to help, as well as approach a couple of medical centres in the area.  The last five dates - still to arrange - need to be in the Regents park area. I have found a large medical centre and will be seeing them tomorrow to try and use their space, for Job centre plus their clientele.

Wednesday 4th December 2019 - Lottery news on Communities Fund

Posted 7:45pm

I don't often post a pic with me in, but decided it was about time as I visited Voluntary Action Islington today for a session on the Lottery Communities Fund.

Regular visitors to our blog, and other social media, will know we made an application to that fund earlier this year and were sadly turned down. But the feedback was decent, and left the door open, as long as we managed to do a few things, which we are doing.

The application process has changed again, so we were shown the new online procedure. HMHB will look to put a new application in towards the end of January and hope we can get through this time.  Seed funding is vital to our progress.

Tuesday 3rd December 2019 - Peabody and venues

Posted 5:45pm

Been a busy couple of days, with several meetings and visits. But there is a lot to arrange before Christmas is upon us.  Thankfully things are going well.

We met with Better Lives, in Seven Sisters Road. We want to use their venue to run a three session Ajani with the local Job Centre (Finsbury Park), and in return we would do a day event for their clients. I met with a terrific guy called Barney, who is one of their managers, and he was very open to this. I am emailing over more details tonight.

We also met with the Living Centre and, after a little confusion with an error on our part, we managed to agree to a financial payment for the use of the venue for five events - but we will have to use the facilities on the weekend. They have been wonderful for us, and we are delighted to have them supporting us. I am very pleased with the outcome.

Finally, we spoke with Peabody today. This was in respect of the length of time it took for our invoice of £800 to be paid - which resulted in the two programmes we are delivering from them being changed from 2019 to 2020. The lady was apologetic and we had a very good chat. I cheekily asked about being set up with a manager of peabody dealing with mental health to discuss how we can do more work. I was happily surprised to hear they would be interested in chatting in January, and I am going to send them more details about us.

Tomorrow we are attending en event re the Lottery, and this week will be looking to tie down the other venues for January to March.

Monday 2nd December 2019 - What does December have in store?

Posted 11:35am

This year seems to have flown by. So much has gone on - and we have made further strides within HMHB, but next year has to be the one where everything comes together.

Not only will it be a new year in 30 days time, it will be a new decade. It is a time when many will be looking at what they can do to improve their lives, focus on living longer and happier, and will be a massive opportunity for organisations like us.

So December is massive. Really we have two weeks. From Monday 15th I expect a lot of companies to start slowing down for christmas. There will be parties and events, and contacting people (which can be frustratingly slow anyway) will be even more difficult.

Lazza has to arrange venues and dates for seven days in Islington, 10 days in Camden and 2 days with Peabody.

We have the Peabody done now. Very excited to be working with them, and there would be chances of more work if we do well, so I have been told.

I am speaking with Highbury Roundhouse about their venue for three days in Islington, and am in contact with Better Lives for the other four. No dates have been confirmed as yet.

In Camden I am speaking with The Living Centre re five days, and am searching around the Regents Park area for somewhere for the other five. Our small funding does not cover a venue sadly, so I am going out begging.

That is the main focus in the next two weeks. As a sideline I am looking to start our lottery application again, as well as try and get some money from Haringey.

It's all work!!!! 

Sunday 1st December 2019 - Accounts up to date

Posted 9:35pm

Like any other business, it is important HMHB have clear accounts, that can be seen by funders, and be correct.  It is lucky for us that I, Lazza, have done management accounts for over twenty years and, using Sage Software, I have been managing the accounts for the company.

It is also very important that anyone can see that our accounts are done correctly, are not abused, and we spend the money on exactly what we are meant to. No fraud. No bonuses etc.

We use an outside accountant to audit the accounts, as well as run payroll for us - although most months it is a zero (just twice have been been able to pay salaries, and we made sure we paid tax and national insurance correctly).

We handed over our second year of accounts (from June 2018 to May 2019) last week to the accountant to audit for the HMRC and Companies House. And this evening I have now got the current year up to date,k with postings up to the end of November all entered.

HMHB is proud to provide a quality product and service, and we have big ambitions. We also therefore ensure or foundation is properly overseen. It is better to get it all right from the beginning.