East Somerset Community Support Worker

Hello!
What’s happening in community support??!
In addition to the groups and one-to-one support, I am now covering some of the helpline sessions - taking on some of Karen’s role. I am very happy to do this, and enjoying the extra contact with volunteers. I want to take this opportunity to say a big thank-you to Karen - for all her work as Volunteer Co-ordinator, and for all the support, friendship and fun she brought to SEDA. It has been great working with you, Karen, and I’ll miss you here, but wish you all the very best in your new job.

The first meeting of the new Glastonbury/Street group went very well - dates of further meetings on the back of the bulletin. The venue - Somerset Youth Voluntary Network building - is easy to find (opposite Clarks Village and next to the Caravan Centre on Farm Road, Street). It’s quiet and friendly. So far, so good! All are very welcome to come along - hope to see some of you there.

Groups at Ilchester, Frome and Chard are happening as usual. They are very small and informal, and you are welcome to bring a supportive companion along if you wish. Each group meeting is a “one-off” - so you can feel free to come regularly, or use it as and when you need. If anyone would like further information regarding groups/community support work in general, please call me at SEDA. I will be happy to talk - if I am out, please do leave a message, and I will call you back as soon as I can.

Take care, everyone - Love Dinah.

Community Support Worker - West Somerset.

I’ve been with SEDA now for eighteen months and throughout that time Karen has been a great support as well as fun to work with - I shall miss her but really wish her well in her new post.

For me, Karen going also mean some changes in my role at SEDA as I will be working more with the volunteers, covering some helpline and drop-in’s as well as doing volunteer supervision and monthly meetings - I am really pleased to be doing this and looking forward to getting to know you all. I’ll be doing this in addition to my current hours - so Community Support lives on! and continues to be really important.

Groups are small - usually around 5/6 people, and welcoming. Most evenings there is a mix of regular attenders and newcomers and you are welcome to bring along a friend/supporter if you wish to. Each session stands alone - there is no commitment to come regularly and people use the groups as and when they need to. We would love to see you.

Taunton
Wednesday evenings, 7-8.30pm, Somerset Counselling Service, Belvedere Road, Taunton.

Weston - Super - Mare
We have had some difficulties with venues in Weston. There will therefore be no meeting in October and the group will re-open in November.

Again on Wednesday evenings, 7-8.30pm, at North Somerset Crossroads, The Carers Centre, 1 Graham Road, Weston. See back page for dates of both group meetings, Hope to see you through the coming months,

Tricia continues to work with the Partnership Trust in developing proposals for improved services. Your feedback and the input from a wide range of people attending the ‘Eating Disorders Open Forum’ in the summer have helped to formulate proposals for a community service. This will include a specialist team of a nurse (possibly at nurse consultant level), a psychologist and psychiatrist offering clinics across Somerset and working with SEDA, Partnership Trust staff (community and in-patient) and GP’s practices to provide the kind of options for support and treatment that you want available.

The new posts will start in April 2001 and a survey of mental health professionals identified that the majority are positive about wanting to work with sufferers given more training and support. It sounds good, and we’ll keep you up to date on the progress.

HTV are making a new six part documentary series about families. They are looking for a family who are willing to talk about what it’s like to live with a teenager with an eating disorder.

For instance - how does it affect other members of the family, how do they cope emotionally, have relationships within the family changed, where have they found help?

If you would like to have a chat - fully confidential and no obligation to go further - and find out more then call Available Light Productions on 0117 908 4433 and ask to speak to

Firstly, the co-ordination of our travel arrangements to Woolacombe were a stroke of mathematical genius. I’m not sure which plan everyone else was given, but ours worked brilliantly. Erdmuté arrived at my house at 8.15 as arranged, and I drove us to Janette’s house in Bridgwater, where we sorted out our things and set off in Janette’s car to Woolacombe. The drive over Exmoor was spectacular. The weather, in spite of the forecast, was perfect sunshine, and we followed Tricia’s instructions to the letter (only having to turn around twice after a wrong turning!).

On our arrival at Woolacombe we were immediately into the swing of the beach/surfing/sun atmosphere as we met up with Tricia, Peter and Steve at the Surf Hire Shop. After grabbing a quick coffee from one of the mobile vendors, those of us who were planning to join the surfing team were measured up for our wetsuits, and then we trundled off to find the Beach Hut, number 37 Grace. Sarah and I unpacked the hut of its chairs and quickly set up camp amongst the rest of the sunbathers and swimmers. Into our swimming gear, towels at the ready, sandwiches and cans of coke emerged, all in the heat of the sun –wonderful! Paul, Erdmuté and Abby arrived at the hut and joined with the sandy group. Pauline, Janette, Sandra and Paula all sat relaxing on chairs looking out to sea whilst the rest of us got sand with everything. Anita, Ashley, children Kieran and Nathan plus family dog all set up camp nearby – by this time we were beginning to take over our bit of the beach.

Karen arrived and had keys to an additional Beach Hut, number 39, Arabella. Karen’s children, Josh and Naomi, with their friends Victoria and Will, got into their wetsuits straight away, so did Karen and Paula, and Sarah joined them as off they all ran with their bodyboards towards the sea. Abby and I joined them a little later on and had fun jumping in the waves, the sea was warm and it felt great.

Meanwhile, Pauline, Sandra and Tricia disappeared to have a look round the shops and snook into the Red Barn for tea and cakes. Mmmmm. After an hour or two of swimming, sunbathing and exploring, those of us who were keen to partake in the surfing lesson assembled at about 4.30 to put on our wetsuits (a tad uncomfortable in the heat) and collect our surfboards.

We made our way, two by two, down to the beach, feeling rather conspicuous as a troupe, and set up temporary camp for our first initiation into the joys of surfing. Sandra and Janette were taking photos of us at this point and we were laughing nervously for the camera. Well I was. Then Peter began to explain all the health and safety issues to us, and how to hold the board, what to do with it and what might happen. I felt at this point a mixture of anticipation and trepidation. Would I be really no good whatsoever? All those sorts of questions which run through my mind when attempting something totally new (and a bit scary!). However, I needn’t have worried. As soon as we were all in the water with our surfboards lashed to our legs (its true!) we began to really enjoy throwing ourselves onto the boards and catching the waves. When we did manage to catch a wave it was very exciting and we were whizzed into the shore at great speed. Some people, including Paul, Karen, Ashley, Kieran and Nathan (I think) managed to stand up on their boards and look like Hawaii Five-O! (not me). Peter was great and very encouraging and enthusiastic throughout the whole session. It became very compelling to keep going for the next wave- just one more! After an hour or so though it was also becoming quite tiring and I began to realise how fit you have to be to keep up the pace. Eventually it really was ‘the last wave’ and we all made our way back up the beach with our boards to the encampment to join all the rest of the group.

Peter and Steve were busy fanning the barbecue charcoal in action with a Frisbee and a toy spade, and Tricia was organising the food. ‘The fruit is in hut 37’ is one phrase I recall well from the evening, and we all had a delicious barbecue in the sun.

Some people had brought tents and stayed overnight. I was in the returning party, and we set off back at about 8pm, after a truly wonderful day, feeling suntanned, relaxed and happy. I remember one person saying that it had been the best day of the year 2000 so far and I agreed. It really did turn out to be the perfect day.

Many thanks to Tricia, Peter and Steve for all their efforts!
Pam Johnston-Price.

SEDA has now been in existence and based at Street for 4 years. During that time we have grown in many ways and each stage is recorded through Annual Reports, prepared for the Annual General Meeting. This year’s AGM will be on MONDAY 4th DECEMBER 2000, in the Crispin Community Centre in Street starting at 6.30pm. Reports and Accounts are presented, Trustees elected, major decisions debated and decided, speakers listened to and questioned, and everyone has a chance to meet up together generally. All welcome - it’s a chance to give your views on how SEDA should move on into year 5.