AFH – Spring Update

What a wet and windy winter it has been! Thanks for all your support in the past six months. I have really enjoyed my time here so far and am looking forward to what the next year has in store
I hope you enjoy this update,

Lollie

Hello there folks, I’ve certainly enjoyed working with you all!

Art group

Well the group has gone from strength to strength and is about to finish after 4 months. They have worked so hard and have formed some great friendships as a result. In the next month the finished work will be displayed in the surgery. It will consist of 12 painted panels that together make one spectacular view of the bay. I have seen some of the finished panels and I am so impressed.

Coming from different background, a lot of the group said that said they couldn’t draw or paint,…its not true; they have come a long way with the help of artist and facilitator Kate Cocksedge. I well let you form your own opinions, but I think they should be really proud of their achievements

We are starting a 3D art group after Easter, if you are interested or have had a letter from your GP, then please do leave your name at reception. 

Walking group.

The walks are fortnightly on a Wednesday. These have proved to be really popular. Leslie Hallsworth and her colleagues who are both covered by public liability and are qualified first aider’s. To help her cover this expense we are asking members to donate £1 for each week they attend. Please contact her direct on 01872 573629 to book a place after you have registered your interest with the surgery.

We would like to some kind of display or booklet for the walking group, and are seeing if we can in some way combine it with art. When you arrive and register for the walk at the desk, Cassie (our Charming receptionist) will give you some information about collecting stories, pictures , photos and poems. If you feel able to contribute to this then it would be greatly appreciated. Please leave any submissions at reception. 

Crafting and embroidery group

We have been running this group for sometime, and although its only small its thriving and has produced some fine work. We started off the group in November with the help of Beryl Curnow from the W.I.

What are you doing now I hear you cry?! We are knitting the sea…using anything we can get our hands on ‘plastic wrap’, where we made bookmarks and coasters. For Christmas we made decorations for the surgery. We had the message tree tags and the present offerings on the boat. It was a nice way for visitors to make a promise to themselves or to write an anonymous prayer or message on our tree. Some of the responses were very touching.

We meet as from Monday the 11th Feb, we are collaborating with Perran Bay Care Home. We will be meeting at 10:30 – 12pm to continue the project. We are knitting ‘sea coloured’ strips with plastic, wool and fabric. We will attach them all together to form a wall hanging for the surgery.

If you would like to come please do, but please ring the Care home before hand on: 572275

Women’s body image

Ladies who have had body changing surgery have been asking about support groups at the surgery. There are a number of clients who might benefit form something tailor made to help them adjust to their change in body image.

Val Stagg, who is a voice and reiki and shiatsu therapist, works on helping women to express themselves and their womanhood. Val designed workshops for a small number of clients which will be movement and voice based.

The group will be small, no more than 10 and will be attended by myself and perhaps a counsellor from the surgery so that the group had someone they could identify with after the sessions. Val also talked about a group of follow up sessions of two hours or so on 2-4 consecutive fortnights to ensure that the group had a forum to discuss anything that had come up.

Over 70 patients from the surgery have been contacted to attend the taster session on the afternoon of 26th Feb. If you have had a letter, please do come if you can.

Gardening group

This group is designed as outreach for our clients with learning disabilities. The plan is to link them up with Glencarne Nurseries in Barkla Shop, where they can join together in a programme of learning and make new friends. If you have a learning disability or have a member of your family does, please contact for more information.

Writing Group

This is another possibility for the new year as many of the patients that are currently attending groups have asked for it. I do have some writers in mind, and will give it some more thoughts and get back to you.

Other News

Our thanks to Kate Cocksedge for running the art group. She has worked so hard to keep it going and has made it such fun for all involved. She has nurtured them and now with her guidance, the group is about to go onto other things.

Also another thank you, this time for Leslie and Katy for running the walking groups…whatever the weather! Hats off to them, rain, shine and loads of wind, they have been there. Leslie puts in so much effort to make the walks interesting, informative and varied and thanks to all the hard work they are a great and popular success.

Lastly thank you to all my hard working volunteers, you know who you are…without you these projects wouldn’t happen!

Have a good spring and enjoy the artwork and groups.

Lollie X