We run this project on a booking system with various community groups that we have expanded our services to.  Bookings are taken by our new project co-ordinator, Carol Dahl, who will contact the therapists once a booking has been taken, so there is no need for anyone to spend their time unneccessarily at the Bridge when there are no bookings. Each slot has time for 3 bookings and treatments take place in a lovely spacious room that was recently decorated just for us. There is also a very good cafe at the Bridge selling healthy food and drinks at very good prices.

If you would like to be involved in this exciting new venture, please let Carol know on dahl_c@rocketmail.com. Expenses are reimbursed as usual.

Slot 1:

26 April
3 May
10 May
17 May
24 May
31 May

Slot 2 (after half term)

14 June
21 June
28 June
5 July

Each Thursday involves potentially 3 clients: 10-11am; 11am-12pm; 12-1pm. Clients are all on means-tested benefits and previous therapists have found this project very interesting and rewarding. All clients receive 6 (4 in the second slot) consecutive treatments and are expected to participate in our evaluation process, i.e. fill in a Treatment Diary each time they come and a Final Evaluation form at the end of the set of treatments.

Although it seems a little early to commit anything into the diary that is that far ahead, this project needs to go into the WHINN brochure which is being printed mid January.

We shared our successes from the last year, discussed the values and pitfalls of recent projects as well as visions as to how we would like ALW to move forward. ALW at present receives a lot of mentoring support from NovaScarman Trust as well as the Working Together Project and is definitely on the cusp of new dimensions.

Our brainstorming session was very rewarding as it highlighted what therapists really appreciate about ALW and where and how they want to work within our team. Here’s what they said they appreciate the most:

• ALW is a platform to raise awareness of therapies and therapists
• The support and supervision that ALW offers to therapists
• ALW gives access to treatments to those who are really in need and cannot afford them otherwise
• Being part of a community of therapists as well as a larger community of people who are in need of what we offer
• The opportunity to learn from each other and receive feedback
• Working as a team rather than an individual
• The collective identity and the professional credibility that comes with this
• The variety of work available through the community projects and the challenge of working with clients who are challenging in terms of their health needs
• Satisfaction of being part of a project that makes a real difference to people

The wish list of the kind of work that therapists wanted to venture out to do included:

• Work at the Children’s Hospital
• Mothers and babies
• pregnancy
• Work with respiratory problems
• Depression
• Mental Health
• Stress
• Community Centres
• 4-6 month projects
• one-day pamper days
• old people’s homes
• projects with men
• voices in exile/asylum seekers
• victims of torture/trauma
• war victims

It looks like there will be exciting and challenging times ahead!

The day was rounded off with a relaxing and uplifting session of Biodanza gifted to us by Helen Mills, and a delicious lunch in the lovely company of a lovely bunch of people.

This would be particularly good for anyone involved in the Palmeira Practice project as the event is for carers and thus a good opportunity to promote our treatments there.

The treatments will be offered on a donation basis, and flyers for Palmeira Practice available. Donations will be used to pay travel expenses. You are also invited to promote your own private practice.

We need someone to be there at the start of the event to set up a table and chairs, etc. for tasters to take place, and someone to take responsibility to take things down again at the end. Anyone else who can come along for a couple of hours is also welcome.

When you respond please let me know which slot you could do:

Slot 1: (8.30am set up) 9.30am-11.30am
Slot 2: 11.30-1.30 (+ take down)

The event is organised by the Carers Centre and is a consultation for family carers looking at how they can be involved in shaping health services now and in the future. The day will comprise a presentation from local GPs and commissioners followed by a question and answer session and then some workshops aimed at getting people’s opinions. This will all be finished off by 4pm when they would like to have some health focused workshops or taster sessions. One of the workshop themes in the discussion part of the day is how to keep well and healthy in the home, so our individual 20 minute tasters or group sessions to teach people how to maintain their own health through simple reflexology, shiatsu, yoga, etc. that they can practise at home are meant to tie in with this. Please can anyone interested in participating in this let Sabine know ASAP.

The classes take place at The Happy Cell, 121-123 Davigdor Road, Hove, East Sussex, BN3 1RE. Arrive 7.20pm. Finish 9.15pm.

We have two therapists on board to deliver daytime sessions on a Monday and are looking for one more therapist who might be interested in offering treatments for 2 hours on a Thursday evening.

The centre is open for other courses on Thursday evenings and the commitment would be for this term initially.

If you are interested and want to find out more please contact Sabine.

Our therapists give treatments to the staff and patients at the Royal Sussex County Hospital and the Royal Alexander Children’s Hospital. We also maintain a presence at events such as the Greenwave Festival.

The project manager’s role also includes supervising existing projects at Whitehawk Inn, with Targeted Mental Health and NHS Southdown Trust. You will need to have good management and organisation skills. A sympathetic manner is desirable and an interest in holistic wellbeing a must. The role involves working around Brighton, so you should be prepared to bus or drive.

For further information, please contact sabine-dahn@activelightworks.org.

Following last month’s success of Kris’s self-help sessions on reflexology, Sabine held group sessions on yoga in both the morning and afternoon. Both sessions were well-attended and successful.

Sadly, this was the last funded Dementia Day, but people will be able to benefit from our treatments through our Palmeira Clinic space in future.