Charity No. 1106520

 

Community Information and Drop in Centre

First Focus needs you

We are currently in search of volunteers to help with the expansion of our activities.  We have already added another opening day to our programme of events which means that,we are now open on Tuesdays as well as Thursdays. We shall be open all morning from 10am 1.00pm.

To become one of a caring, dedicated and helpful group of people, ring us on:

01328 855083

or go to our website, or send an e-mail to:- info@firstfocus.org

Fakenham drop-in centre praised

CHRIS HILL

01 April 2009

Government officials visited First Focus in Fakenham to discuss issues about elderly, isolated people in the community. Pictured: far right are The Social Exclusion Task Force (LtoR) Robin Hewing, Bonnie Whang and Tim Crosier.

Statutory bodies should "put their money where their mouth is" and help sustain a Fakenham drop-in centre that has earned the praise of a government task force, it was suggested yesterday

The cabinet office's Social Exclusion Task Force, headed by Tim Crosier, has been travelling the country to form proposals for the government's new "ageing strategy", expected to be published soon.

Yesterday, the team visited the community information centre at First Focus, which was set up in 2003 to give elderly people and those with disabilities access to a range of social, health and voluntary services.

Since then, the service has expanded, and it now opens twice a week, drawing up to 80 people on Thursday market days.

The drop-in centre in Cattle Market Street also gives visitors the chance to join art and gardening groups, use computers, make new friends and chat.

Mr Crosier was told that transport was a key problem in rural Norfolk and that the successful centre could be in danger of closing unless funding support was given by bodies such as the NHS and adult social services. He said: "One of the issues we are looking at is how we learn from the good practices and people around places like this, dissimilate that information and translate it to other places.

"There is obviously a need here for people who are not eligible for statutory services but have a low- level need where they are not getting support. This resource is able to plug that gap, and it is a really exciting development."

Terry Read, a development worker with Norfolk's adult social services, conceived the First Focus project in 2003. He said the centre was run by two full-time employees and a team of volunteers, but the Big Lottery grant that made up nine-tenths of its funding had almost run out.

He said evidence gathered over the past six years showed that it was very much needed and welcomed.

"But, while we are still looking for independent funding, we feel it is now time for the statutory services to recognise the fantastic job that is going on and put their money where their mouth is.

"There is a danger it may not be sustainable unless we can get the money," he added.

The task force also visited Wells and Cromer before meeting council officers and other age-related agencies at County Hall in Norwich.

 

 

NO HANDS MASSAGE

WITH KAREN CLARKE

PEOPLE WHO HAVE STROKES OR BRAIN RELATED

INJURIES, THEIR

CARERS, THEIR FAMILIES AND FRIENDS

ARE ALL WELCOME

THE NEW MASSAGE

NO HANDS MASSAGES IS DEEP RELEASING, REJUVENATING AND

NOURISHING.

THIS IS A DYNAMIC NEW FORM OF MASSAGE THAT IS SWEEPING ACROSS THE WORLD AS ONE OF THE MOST POWERFUL NEW THERAPUTIC MASSAGE THREATMENTS AVAILABLE.

IT WAS CONCEIVED AND DEVELOPED BY UK THERAPIST GERRY PYVES

AFTER 20 YEARS OF

CLINICAL TESTING.        IT IS A MASSAGE THAT WORKS ON EVERY LEVEL.

16TH MARCH 2010

10:30-12:00

 

Stroke group

A meeting of the stroke group was held on the 16th march when Kim Peach from the stroke unit at the queen Elizabeth hospital came to explain her role to us.

We all found it very enlightening and thanked Kim for coming.  We were very pleased to have Karen Clarke bring her ‘no hands’, massage which several members found very beneficial.

Our next meeting on is 20th April at 10.30 when our speaker will be Pat Dykes from the Stroke Association.  Please come along and put your questions to her. All welcome.

 

HOBBIES DAY

We held a very successful Hobbies Day on 25th March, attended by well over 90 people.  Many thanks to all those ‘hobbyists’ who gave up their day. These included model railway, jewellery, art, woodworking, flower arranging and quilting.

 

Report on M.E./ Fibromyalgia Theme Day May 13th 2010

Attending;

Evelyn Crick Fibromyalgia UK, Sara Brook, Action for M.E., Caroline Brookes, Arthritis Care, Lupus UK (leaflets supported by Sandra Ormerod), Kinesiologist, Kate Willis.

Apologies; Debbie Edwards, reflexologist, Justine , acupuncturist.

The day was based around M.E. and Fibromyalgia and associated illnesses. The reason for inviting the other alternative therapists was that the kind of pain experienced by patients with this type of illness is quite similar and one of the therapies might offer some relief in lieu of or alongside traditional medicine.

Sara Brook from Action for M.E. came all the way from Bristol to be here and we were able to arrange suitable overnight accommodation for her. She enjoyed her morning at First Focus and really took a liking to North Norfolk.

Evelyn Crick from Fibromyalgia UK was thrilled to come and has offered to help with setting up a Fibromyalgia support group when we are ready .She wished there was an organisation like First Focus in Beccles, where she is situated.

Caroline Brookes from Arthritis Care was busy. She told us of courses offered by Arthritis Care about Managing Your Arthritis, which are free to organisations who can get together a group of at least 15 people with Arthritic problems. We are working on it.

The kinesiologist, Kate Willis was very popular and all who received her ministrations gained significant benefit. She has agreed to come again to a similar event.

Sandra kindly gave time to man the Lupus stand as no-one from Lupus UK was able to attend.

The morning was busy and several people said they were very pleased to have come to the event. Some testimonials were sent.

 

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