February / March 2002 Newsletter

Welcome to the February/March issue of Newsbridge. We have had a number of new members join us in the last month, so we have a few new articles for you to read. We hope you all had a lovely St. Patrick's Day, and went to see some of your local parades.

Easter weekend is just upon us now, so have lots of ester eggs and fun this weekend as well. Hope you enjoy all the articles and puzzles we have for you in this issue.

Poetry Corner

EVEN UP THE SCORE

Work and play go together
Well as everybody can tell
But even the score can be such a bore
Gambling, drinking and smoking all cost a lot
Especially when one has not got a lot
But cash in ones pocket can go
Like a rocket
When one is trying to even up the score
I’ve been all around this world
And seen a lot but there’s nothing like
Trying to even up the score.

Martin

FOOTWEAR

Imagine if you made shoes,
That would fit a cow that moos,
First you’ll make two, and then make more,
Because a cow, of legs has four.
Imagine if it were an elephant,
The shoes would squeak
wherever he went,
And I suppose if it were slippers,
A dolphin would wear them on his flippers.
What would you do with a pair of boots?
A tree could wear them on its roots,
A hundred socks would take some knitting,
If it were a centipede you’re fitting.
If an octopus went to the shops,
She’ll have to buy four pairs of flip-flops.
Thank God for my feet that are covered in skin,
It’s the best ready-made footwear for feet to be in.

Stephen

Fun Page

WORD SEARCH:

Please note that words occur in all directions, including diagonal, we hope you enjoy the 'search', let us know how you get on!!!!!!

JOKES AND GAGS

Q. How many nines are in a hundred?
A. None, a hundred is wrote as 100.

‘He who laughs last - Thinks the slowest!’
Two cannibals were eating a clown. One says to the other: 'Does this taste funny to you?'

‘When everything is going your way - Your in the wrong lane!’

Two cows in a field: "Are you worried about that Mad Cow Disease?" "Why should I be worried? I'm a chicken."

Admin Unit

Employment Unit

Congratulations to Ray in his new job at Customwood Ltd., and best of luck.

The employment unit and the members have been busy over the last two months preparing for the accreditation. We would like to thank Ray and Declan for their information and expertise on employment issues.

Over the past month various employment sites have been sourced and relationships have been built up. The results of these visits is we have been successful in securing an interview for one of our members. We would like to congratulate and wish her the best of luck. Congratulations also goes out to Pierce on his success of receiving an award for ‘Perfect Attendance’ in Atlantic Homecare.

I would like to take this opportunity to thank employers for their support during our accreditation visit and their good will toward our employment programme.

Mary

Social Report

On Wednesday the 6th of February we went to the cinema, the name of the film was Shallow Hal. It was very good and very funny. Karin, Aidan, Breda, Dara, Andrew and Patsy were all there. We had planed to go to the 6’0 clock showing but, when we got there we found out we were actually 2 hours early.
So we went down to Rose Earley’s for a drink.

We sat with Dara who came on his first social with the Clubhouse and then we all ‘eventually’ went up to the pictures. We went to room 2 and we all got going when we saw the first clip of the film. It was very funny at the start because the man got stuck in the lift with a psychic healer, and when he got out of the lift he could only see inner beauty. So larger and not so good-looking woman appeared beautiful to him.

At the end of it we all went laughing with our TALES between OUR LEGS (You’ll have to go and see the film to get that joke!)

Andrew

Catering News

Everything continues to go well in this unit. Few members take interest in this unit, but those who do work well together. Our dishwasher was out of order for a few days but thankfully it is now repaired and all systems are go. One change in this unit is that staff members now work a day a week in the catering unit. This has brought a change to menus and both members and staff are pleased with the way things are going.

We also had the pleasure of having David from the U.S.A. working alongside us for a day during our accreditation. We all enjoyed his company.

RECIPE OF THE MONTH

HOME-MADE BEEF BURGERS

Serves 4

People What you will need:
1 lb/450g mince beef
2 small onions
1 egg
2 tbsp oil
Salt and pepper
Tomato ketchup
Mixed herbs
Preparation time: Approx 10-15 mins
Cooking time: Approx 40 mins

Method: Put the oil into a frying pan and put onto a hot heat. Dice the two onions into small pieces and fry for a few minutes. Mix the onions in with the mince in a large bowl. Beat the egg and mix into the mince also. Finally mix in a sprinkle of mixed herbs, some salt and pepper and a dollop of tomato ketchup.

Pick up a handful of mince, using slightly wet hands, and shape the mince beef into burgers. Slightly oil a tray and place the burgers onto it. Cover the tray with some tin foil and place the tray into a preheated oven at 180ºC. Leave for about 30 mins and then remove the tin foil and return to the oven for a further 10 mins to brown.

Serve the burgers in baps with lettuce and onions and vegetables of your choice.

Newbridge Parish Newsletter

Last month a journalist from the Newbridge Parish newsletter came out to Platinum. She interviewed a number of the members and staff and had a look around our Clubhouse. Below is part of the article she wrote about us in the March issue of the Parish newsletter:

“A Clubhouse is a mutually supportive community of people whose lives have been affected by mental illness. Clubhouses are effectively extended families, which offer complete acceptance and create a sense of belonging.

The Clubhouse (non-medical) model sets itself apart from Day Care services by implementing a framework that does not perpetuate dependence or lay emphasis on illness, but instead concentrates on member’s strengths and values their abilities. The members stress that in Clubhouse they are not patients but people. There are no clinical services within the Clubhouse. If a member needs to see their doctor or Community Psychiatric Nurse, Clubhouse will arrange this at the member’s request. The Clubhouse has its own identity and is located in it’s own physical space. It is designed to facilitate the work-ordered day and at the same time ‘be attractive, adequate in size and convey a sense of respect and dignity’. It is located in an industrial estate and the members say that when they set off each morning ‘we could be going anywhere’.

The model is based on equality—everyone, staff and members are equal. The members tell me that when the building, that they currently occupy, was being built, the architect consulted with both staff and members on the design. As did the furniture supplier and the decorators. The end result is a building which is bright and cheerful and has a sunny aspect.

The partnership model operates in all areas of the Clubhouse. All work involved in running the house is shared equally, be it in administration, kitchen and dining, maintenance or social units.

A very important element of the clubhouse is the morning meetings at 10am, where members get the opportunity to decided in which area they wish to work for that day. Members are also encouraged to become involved in making decisions which affect the Clubhouse.

Once a week there is a house meeting to discuss how things are going and discuss any topics that arise. If a member wants a topic discussed it has to be written on the notice board in the General Office prior to the meeting.

An important element to the Clubhouse is it’s social programme. The members organise outings for meals and entertainment. They attend the cinema, race meetings in the Curragh and as they say ‘ordinary social outings in the evenings like anyone else’. Member’s partners or family members are also welcome to attend these social events.

The Clubhouse liases with the wider community to obtain employment for it’s members. They can take part in Transitional Employment and Supported Employment Programmes. Details about both of these schemes are available from the clubhouse (tel: 045 433229).

Some quotes from members:

• You are seen as a valuable part of the clubhouse.
• I like the partnership approach and that those within the clubhouse are asked their opinions.”
  

The Accreditation Visit

Below are a few accounts of how the members of Platinum Clubhouse found the whole accreditation visit:

“On Monday the 18th February, Ralph and David, from the I.C.C.D. (the International Centre for Clubhouse Development) arrived at Platinum Clubhouse. I had the great pleasure in giving them a tour of the clubhouse. I found the experience very interesting and a little over wrought. It was a very stressful few days for myself, as Ralph and David were very thorough with their questioning. I had to explain a good deal about our clubhouse, as in the different areas and units and what happens in each one.

Overall I enjoyed the experience as I feel I learned an awful more about the clubhouse and especially about the Transitional Employment programme.”

Patsy

“Monday the 18th of February our accreditation began. Don’t talk about sweat pouring out of staff, but members were on their toes also. Ralph and David were the inspectors. They began their scrutinising by a tour, which was led by Patsy. I have to say she was well prepared. They asked a lot of questions, everything was answered in detail. They had lunch with us two days.

On a more personal note they asked me about Clubhouse and what I felt it had done for me. They asked me about work and what I hope to achieve in the future, both from the Clubhouse and work. On Tuesday 19th we had a social and, Ralph and David were both invited. They didn’t stay long as they had to return to their hotel to do some more evaluating. “I offered David a free interest loan if he gave us A’s in everything!” I also gave my opinion that it’s hard to judge a place within 4 days. Personally, I feel you need to live in an environment before you can make a judgement. However, that’s neither here or there. Overall I reckon we did well and ‘touch wood’ in a few weeks we’ll be the best Clubhouse in the world! And I think we are.”

Cathy

Employment Dinner

Ralph and David two gentlemen from Fountain Clubhouse in America visited Platinum Clubhouse to assess and make recommendations to Platinum Clubhouse. We had an employment dinner, in Swifts, with Ralph and David on the Tuesday night of their visit and it went very well. David had a traditional Irish drink – Guinness, before the meal, which he tried his best to finish off. There were over twenty members from the Clubhouse attending, sitting at seven or eight different tables. Ralph and David sat at a table together with other staff and members. The menu consisted of; roast chicken and ham followed by chocolate fudge or apple tart, it was a lovely meal. As usual Swifts provided a lovely vegetarian option as well. After the meal everybody went from table to table chatting to each other. All in all it was a good night out for everyone.

Dara

Announcements:

Welcome to all our new Members:
Des.

Member (attendance) of the Month:
Ray & Patsy.

Get Well wishes to:
All our members who are unwell at the moment.

Birthday Wishes to:
David, Richie, Bob, Paddy, Patricia, Annette, Tom, Peter and Ita.

Disclaimer:

The views, opinions and beliefs expressed in this newsletter are not necessarily the views of Platinum Clubhouse. Any articles, items or pictures in this newsletter may only be reproduced following permission from Platinum Clubhouse.

Contributions:

Michael McD, Bob, Ray, Martin, Stephen, Cathy, Breda, Patricia, Richie, Dara, Stephen L., Patsy, Andrew Editorial Team: Karin, Cath.