December 23 Newsletter

Tribute to Raymond Hughes

We are devastated that one of our service users Raymond Hughes passed away on 24/11/23. Raymond was a lovely man who was an absolute pleasure to support. He had an incredible sense of humour and a knack for fixing things (and taking them apart 😂) with his tools. He loved being out in his garden doing jigsaws puzzles which was a testament to his attention to detail. Raymonds family visited St Marys after he passed and could not believe how lovely his flat was on how he had been living. They decided to donate all of Raymonds furniture to other service users at Ashdown Care.

The staff team have been nothing short of amazing and our thoughts are with them as they grieve. Raymond had a beautiful send off at St Bedes church in Jarrow on 18/12/23, we hope you rest in peace 💔.

Birthday Celebrations

Some of the people we support have been celebrating their birthdays over the last month!

Scott turns 18
Scott who lives at 10 Tynevale has recently turned 18 years old! He has had loads of fun activities planned and has been so grateful for all the presents hes received. Scott is having a birthday party on the weekend and is looking forward to trying his first pint! 🍺

Craig turns 56
Craig who lives at Denmark Street had a fantastic 56th birthday. He enjoyed spending time with staff and his family. It sounds like the cake and food was the highlight for him! Craigs family also gave a fantastic compliment and thanked the staff for all their hard work and for throwing such an excellent party.

Ravenscroft Charity Raising

Ravenscroft staff have decided that they are not going to send Christmas cards this year. Instead they have decided to bring food and toiletry items to create a hamper in to give to the food bank in Gateshead.

They have also set up a ‘memory tree’ which is a pound per card to put your memory on for loved ones, service users and colleagues who have passed away. The money collected is going to be given to the salvation army and used to get little children gifts who have nothing.

This is an absolutely incredible idea which is so thoughtful and generous. Thank you to everyone who has taken part.

Michael Meeting the Mayoress!

Michael was attending the soup kitchen and met the mayoress of Gateshead. He had a great chat with her and advised her on what he feels the community need! Hopefully some of his great ideas come to fruition.

9 Tynevale Diwali Winners Enjoy The Prize!

Our Diwali competition winners decided to use the £50 to throw a Christmas party. The decided it would be a good opportunity to put the Christmas tree and decorations up and get party hats, party poppers and play games such as Christmas quizzes and bingo. They then ordered a takeaway which went down a treat!

Denmark Streets New Dog!

One of our long term staff members Lindsey Walters was on a holiday in Zante when she came across a stray dog who was in a bad condition. Although the dog had been abused she still had a lovely temperament and instantly bonded with Lindsey.

Lindsey loved the dog and named her Lara. She wanted to give Lara a better life so decided to take her to the vets in Zante then fly her home. This was heart warming to hear and Lara visits the service users at Denmark Street which they love!

Gary’s thought of the month

The serenity prayer by Reinhold Niebuhr states ”
God, grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change,
Courage to change the things I can,
And wisdom to know the difference. “

Reinhold Niebuhr’s timeless Serenity Prayer encapsulates profound wisdom, particularly resonant during the festive season. Christmas often brings a blend of joy and challenges, and Niebuhr’s words offer invaluable guidance. The prayer’s essence lies in embracing a mindset that balances acceptance and action—a valuable lesson during this time of celebration and reflection.

The prayer speaks to the power of acceptance, urging us to find peace in situations beyond our control. This acceptance isn’t passive resignation but a conscious acknowledgment that certain aspects of life, despite our efforts, remain unchanged. It encourages us to release the burden of trying to manipulate what lies beyond our influence, fostering a sense of serenity amid life’s uncertainties.

Simultaneously, the prayer champions the courage to enact change where possible. This calls for an active stance in addressing challenges within our control, fostering resilience and determination to make positive differences in our lives and the lives of others during this season of giving and goodwill.

Ultimately, Niebuhr’s words emphasize the importance of discernment—the wisdom to differentiate between what can be altered and what must be accepted. During Christmas, this wisdom can guide us in choosing where to direct our energies, helping us focus on nurturing relationships, spreading kindness, and cherishing the moments that truly matter.

In essence, by embracing the spirit of the Serenity Prayer, individuals can navigate the joys and complexities of the Christmas season with grace, finding solace in acceptance, strength in action, and wisdom in discernment.

Myles’ -Smarter not harder

I am currently reading a book called Getting Things Done by David Allen. One of the key topic areas discussed is stress and overwhelm, so I thought it would be worthwhile sharing a few tips, as it may be helpful over the busy Christmas period.

There are many reasons why you may be feeling overwhelmed. Some of the most common for many can include:

• Work-related stress
• Family-related strain
• General dissatisfaction
• Difficulties related to emotional and physical health

No matter what the root cause of your overwhelm may be, there are available supportive strategies that can offer some degree of relief. I have listed a few below for your consideration:

1. Define Your Priorities – The worst place to keep track of things is in your head. When you feel overwhelmed, it can be helpful to create a list and write things down. You can then break this list down further into smaller manageable tasks.
2. Exercise – Exercise reduces levels of the body’s stress hormones, such as adrenaline and cortisol. It also stimulates the production of endorphins, chemicals in the brain that are the body’s natural painkillers and mood elevators.
3. Be in nature – Go for a walk and get some fresh air. Research shows just twenty minutes in nature could significantly reduce your levels of cortisol (the stress hormone).
4. Manage your energy. It is important to get enough sleep, you should stick to a sleep schedule. Therefore you should pay attention to what you eat (don’t eat to close to bed or got to bed hungry), create a restful environment (don’t watch the TV or use your phone to close to bed). You should also consider using saunas as they trigger the release of melatonin which is a hormone that regulates sleep and wake cycles.
5. Maintain and develop hobbies. Overwhelm can be caused by moving from one demand to another without stopping for a breath. Making time for activities that are just for fun and relaxation can be an important part of a healthy lifestyle and can prevent you from feeling overwhelmed. Remember you don’t need to get everything done immediately. Ensure that you park tasks!
6. Clean your space. Simple cleaning tasks can help to force your mind to focus on the present, possibly helping you move away from overwhelmed thoughts. Many may use this technique as a form of grounding.
7. Delegate tasks – Sometimes when you feel overwhelmed, it can be helpful to delegate tasks to family, friends, and coworkers. They can help you to work through your to-do list while keeping you on track and goal-oriented—possibly reducing stress associated with the state of overwhelm you may be in.

Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year

As this year draws to a close, I wanted to take a moment to express our deepest gratitude to each one of you. Your unwavering dedication, compassion, and commitment have been the driving force behind our collective success and the positive impact we’ve made on the lives of those we serve.

Thank you for your tireless efforts that have elevated our company and the quality of care we provide.

Your compassion and dedication have not only impacted our organisation but have touched the lives of those we support. Wishing you a Merry Christmas filled with love, laughter, and moments of pure joy. Here’s to a New Year brimming with opportunities, growth, and continued success.