ReachoutYour twice yearly magazine from Peabody Winter 2018

Inside this issue

Windrush tribute»3Bexhill bookswap»5Prescott racers»6

Avalon athletes»7Brockley bounty»9and much more!

2 Peabody Reachout 2018 Peabody Reachout 2018 3

For a lot of people in the UK, this was the first time they had heard of Windrush. Marsh Hill decided Windrush’s 70th anniversary was a good way to tell the story.

Answering call for helpThe ship Windrush docked at Tilbury in June 1948, after sailing from the Caribbean with 492 passengers invited by the British government to ease its post-war labour shortage.

They came ready to work hard and, with most Caribbean islands still part of the then British empire, expected a warm welcome. Was that what they found?

In August, Marsh Hill in Hackney invited mental health and learning disability service customers to a one-off event to learn more about the Windrush generation.

News

Timely way to tell black history

Plastic fantastic?By Allan James Winstanley

One material widely used in the world is plastic, a by-product of crude oil. Plastic can be very useful because it cannot break or shatter.

But if it is not disposed of, by putting it in the correct recycling or rubbish bin, it can do great harm to wildlife on land and in the sea.

Tiny plastic microbeads are put in cosmetics and toothpaste. These beads can choke small birds like shearwaters if, after being washed down the plughole, they end up in sea water. Plastic lobster pots and plastic rope can both trap right whales and turtles. 

These are just two ways for you to use less plastic: 1 use reusable bags for shopping2 refill a bottle from the water

cooler each week at work instead of using a plastic cup.

It is very important that we do not throw plastic on the ground. Plastic is precious. Use it wisely!

The ‘Windrush generation’ have been in the news recently because of the shockingly sad treatment of some people who years ago came to the UK from the Caribbean, invited by the UK government

Who writes for Reachout?Some of the stories we run in Reachout are written by customers and some by staff. If you would like to write an article for Reachout, please tell your support worker.

The content for each issue is decided by an editorial panel made up of customers and a few staff. It meets twice a year. If you would like to join the panel, ask your support worker to contacteditor Alexandra Marshall.

First up for the guests was a talk by senior support workerJulius Adisa. Our guests were treated to a 30-minute video, including clips of some of the first people to arrive and how their lives here unfolded.

Julius was asked so many questions by the audience that he had to put the video on pause time and again.

‘People asked so many questions as it was new to many of them,’ Julius said. ‘They also learnt the government’s position now on Windrush, and what it is planning to do in future.’

After the film Marsh Hill’s guests were given a truly Caribbean treat, with reggae music, authentic food and drink (and some less exotic for more cautious tastes), and flags from all the Caribbean countries.

The real Saint Nicholas was a bishop of Myra, in Turkey... said to have dropped bags of gold coins through poor girls’ windows

W elcome to this edition of Reachout magazine, bringing you all the news,

events and projects that took place over the last six months in London, Essex and the south east.

The magazine’s ‘new look’ is to reflect our now being part of Peabody. Since we merged earlier this year you will probably have noticed the Peabody name and logo on signs, staff badges and paperwork, so hopefully this won’t be new to you.

As ever there have been lots of great things happening around your care and support services and I hope you enjoy reading about them as much as I have.

With Christmas fast approaching (where does the time go?!), it’s a good time to think about others so it’s lovely to see so many examples of people helping others because that’s what we’re all about.

I particularly enjoyed reading about Prescott House residents enjoying their local nursery sports day. If you have been watching the fantastic ‘Old People’s Home for Four-Year-Olds’ on Channel 4, you will have seen the benefits this brings to both generations.

I was also lucky enough to be invited to the opening event for Pioneer House. It was wonderful meeting new residents and speaking to neighbours about our work. Hopefully these relationships will continue and help everyone feel part of the same community.

So do enjoy this latest edition of Reachout and I wish you all a very Merry Christmas and Happy New Year – see you in 2019! Have a lovely Christmas!

Best wishes,

Moira Griffiths Group Care and Support Director

ContactsEssex region

General enquiries01268 498 500

Visiting support servicesThurrock, Basildon,

Castle Point, Rochford, and Rayleigh

0800 288 8883Southend

01702 445 870Havering

01708 776 770

London regionGeneral enquiries

020 7089 1000Visiting support services

Hackney, Islington020 7241 7940

Kensington & Chelsea020 7351 2522

South regionGeneral enquiries

01273 468 010

talktous@peabody.org.uk

www.peabodycareand support.org.uk

Editorial panelAllan Winstanley

Andrew GwiltLynn Bannister

Bernie ForshawLouise Brindley

Peter Gee

Editorial

ReachoutYour twice yearly magazine from Peabody Winter 2018

Inside this issueWindrush tribute»3Bexhill bookswap»5Prescott racers»6

Avalon athletes»7Brockley bounty»9and much more!

Hello...

The Peabody Community Foundation supports many of the projects written about in Reachout. If you have ideas

for projects in your area, speak to your support worker to see if you can apply to the foundation for some help.

The Reachout ‘Santa’s Selection Stocking’with festive thanks to Allan James Winstanley

Money for good works

Queuing for an authentic Caribbean spread

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Pioneer House is a new support scheme for people with learning disabilities and it will be their home for as long as they need support.

New purposeNeighbours had raised concerns about the customers who used to live here so this time we want a happier relationship with the people who live nearby.

Pioneer House re-opened in summer and at our first house meeting we agreed we would hold an open day, inviting all the neighbours to help us celebrate Pioneer House’s new lease of life.

Invitations were sent out and everyone pitched in to get the house and garden ready. Bunting went up on the fences, the garden got new plants and our young people made some lovely cakes.

It was a lovely party and the neighbours were thrilled to be invited and told us they enjoyed looking around the scheme.

Earlier this year Hastings Furniture Service (HFS) asked if we would take part in its new Hastings and Rother book swapping network.

Drop-off and swapHFS’s plan was to have 10 places dotted across the area where people could drop off books they no longer wanted and borrow books donated by other people.

We thought it was a great idea but had to do some checks first, like making sure it was safe for our residents - all people with a history of mental health issues.

That done, we asked neighbours if they were happy with the plan. We designed a leaflet and posted it through letterboxes and found that everyone was in favour.

Good neighbours

Open for business

Book-swapping at Bexhill beach hut

Make your own bookswapRon from the Hastings Furniture Service came to our planning meeting to help us decide what type of cabinet to make for the bookswap. In September, he drove up with the HFS Workshop on Wheels and an old stereo cabinet he’d found. That, he told us, would be our beach hut.

We thought a better place for it would be the dump but worked hard on it for two days, finally adding and painting the roof.

Gloss paint takes a long time to dry so while it did that we dug a hole in the garden and cemented a post into the ground.

When Ron came back with the now dry beach hut it was time for the finishing touches: roof felt to make it weather proof and very delicately painted blue stripes. With a new Perspex sheet on the door you could see the books inside and we turned an old cup coaster into a plaque.

We collected and painted stones and threaded them with beads onto wire to decorate the hut. Ron then helped us attach the hut to the post out the front, we filled it with books and opened for business.

We’ve also learnt new DIY skills: how to drill, put in screws, paint, cement a post, make invitations and more. And we’re working on a new skill - keeping the library stock fresh and and the community book swap going.

People with learning disabilities at a new support scheme have started out on the right foot with the neighbours

Down in Bexhill, Pathways customers are also proving good value for the local community

Neighbour Robin sent team manager Cheryl a lovely message after the open day.

The note to Cheryl read: ‘Just a quick note to thank you, your team and your visiting manager for an interesting and very enjoyable couple of hours. Thanks and well done.’

‘It feels like a new lease of life and we’re all looking forward to our customers achieving their goals and living happy, independent lives,’ Cheryl said.

The next task was making a home for the books. Our grand idea of having a Dr Who Tardis got nixed so we settled for making our ‘library’ look like a beach hut - perfect for our seaside location.

We all helped build the hut (see right) and as soon as it was finished we made and sent out invitations to use it to all our neighbours.

There has been lots of interest in the bookswap and we love finding new books in it and meeting the people using the beach hut.

The neighbours seem pretty pleased as well. One knocked on the door to tell us she thought the book swap was the best thing Pathways has ever done for the community, and that it showed how well Pathways is run.

On St Nicholas’ Day in the Netherlands he gives children who’ve been good a gift. If they’ve been naughty, his friend Black Peter gives them a piece of black coal

Commitment to the job

Pioneer House in Chelmsford has eight self-contained two bedroom flats where people with learning disabilities get support from us so they can live independently.

Their support is given by a team of staff so dedicated to their jobs that they even volunteered to give the flats a lick of paint and some TLC before anyone moved in.

New support worker Emma said decorating was quite a challenge, but added: ‘It was fun working and laughing together - some of us got covered in paint!

“Thank you, your team and visiting manager for an

interesting and very enjoyable couple

of  hours.”

One scruffy old cabinet starts to

look the business

Getting to know you: the Pioneer House open day

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Prescott House residents had a fantastic time cheering and clapping children racing for the finishing line at Tudor House nursery’s sports day earlier this year.

It was another great opportunity for older residents at our Burgess Hill extra care scheme to have fun with much younger children.

It was a much bigger event than our team had expected, attended by over 400 people including some who’d come to Leigh on Sea from as far away as Aylesbury and Hertfordshire.

Eight years runningPreparations for the event had kicked off after one of our staff spotted a flyer. Held now for eight years running, the event gives people with a disability a chance to compete in a broad range of sporting activities and games.

But first customers and staff agreed a name for our athletes to fill the competition with dread - Team Avalon.

Sporting heroes

And they’re off!

Team Avalon’s sporting triumph

Pictured from top:

B support worker Euphrasia with Michael and Wayne

B support worker Patrick beside Paul

B Barbara getting her medal, with support worker Elizabeth seated behind

“It was wonderful to see our customers

doing their utmost best and cheering for their

team mates.”support worker

Euphrasia

Prescott House residents caught up with their friends at the Tudor House nursery again during summer

Customers from our Avalon care home took home an impressive haul of 13 medals from their local Lions Club Midsummer Sports Day

Ringside seatsAfter covering the short distance from Prescott House to St John’s Park, residents and staff found nursery workers had reserved them a special seating area, with excellent views of the races.

Despite scorching temperatures, the children put on an outstanding

Staff sent off vital info about customers who’d be competing for Team Avalon. Barbara and Susan, with support from Kim, customised T -shirts to read: ‘Team Avalon’.

Michael and Paul, with a hand from Patrick and Innocent, sorted out the team’s logistics: getting there on time, packed lunches, water and emergency supplies.

And off they went. Each athlete handed over their own score card to the umpire for marking after competing in an event.

Between them, Team Avalon won 13 medals across a range of events. They are determined to do even better next year, to bring home the coveted team trophy.

The most famous ‘Santa’ films have been the Clause trilogy with Tim Allen, the two Miracle on 34th Streets and an 1985 film with Dudley Moore. In another Santa Claus met up with Martians!

performance. Prescott House added their pennyworth, cheering and clapping the athletes.

Ice creams, cream and jam scones and cold drinks rounded off a lovely afternoon.

Prescott House resident Netta Jenkins thinks the day could be even better. ‘Can we go again next year,’ she asked. ‘And can we do the races next time?’

’It was great to see so many smiling faces,’ said scheme manager Lisa Peters. ‘It’s lovely for us to join the children’s activities and helps us feel like we’re part of the local community.’

“Can we do the races next time?”

Netta, 68

Susan prepares to score a goal for Team Avalon

Michael before the show

Ringside audienceAvalon resident Michael is a huge fan of wrestling so jumped at the chance to see a live show at Thurrock Civic Hall.

Support worker Megan went with Michael to the LDN Wrestling show and both were soon booing, cheering and chanting from their front-row seats. Michael really enjoyed a match with former WWE wrestler Joe E Legend.

Six matches later, Michael was grinning from ear to ear. Megan says she asked Michael if he’d enjoyed the show. ‘Yes!’ he said.

LDN Wrestling paid for Michael’s ringside seat. Megan paid for her own ticket to the show.

8 Peabody Reachout 2018 Peabody Reachout 2018 9

Ivydale Road customers have been learning from each other ways to make better decisions and enjoy life more on a course specially designed for people with learning disabilities.

Specially designed course‘Peer support’ training teaches them to think about lessons life has taught each of them. They then discuss what they learnt with others to see if they might find it useful - with or without a few tweaks.

The goal is to make everyone happier and more content and feeling part of the community.

Princess said she especially enjoyed the training. ‘It allowed me to think about different situations. I like to talk so was able to contribute a lot of information.’

Everyone said the sessions were helpful. Support worker Kell says he has really noticed a difference in them. ‘Our customers got to open up about situations in their life and the sessions were very relaxing.’

Feel good

Learning from each otherIvydale residents have been drawing lessons from their own experiences

Sharing ways to a happier lifePeer support can be done as part of a community group, by befriending other people or with a support group.

Two parts of peer support are always the same: it has to be properly organised so you can ‘measure’ the effect, and what happens to you is just as important as things that have happened to other people.

Ten customers from Ivydale went on the course run by project officer Chris Barker. Among the things they talked about were dealing with bullying, eating a balanced diet and finding ways to relax.

The sessions ran once a week for two hours and Chris brought treats to encourage them to turn up early!

At session one, they made a poster setting out the ground rules, like turning up on time and not talking when someone else is talking.

At the start of every session, Chris asked each person how they felt and what they’d been getting up to. When everyone had had their say, Chris told them that day’s topic.

The group made lots of beautiful collages to illustrate things they talked about and things that made them happy or cheered them up.

At the end of each session, everyone had to come up with one positive thing they would do next week. They came up with lots of different answers, such as saving money, cooking a nice dinner, relaxing with friends or having fun.

A fourth name for Santa used in North America is Kris Kringle. Jiminy Cricket sings a song about Kris Kringle on A Disney record album

Ivydale residents show off some of their collages

The gardening group has grown some gorgeous flowers but also an abundant crop of vegetables.

Support worker David Attridge says their achievement is little short of spectacular. ‘I thought they’d plant some things, water them, watch them grow and maybe get some nice produce at the end.

‘They cleared the space but found the soil was no good so had to make planters - all that before anything could be planted. They have shown creativity, hard work, dedication and enthusiasm.’

Former customer Maneesha got involved in April. ‘It’s been amazing building the planters and planting and harvesting the fruit and veg. We’ve grown fresh herbs, celeriac, aubergine, sweetcorn, beetroot,

Nature’s bounty in BrockleyA glorious garden has been created by customers who use our mental health support in Lewisham

melons, carrots and courgettes. ‘I’ve found friendship, learnt new

skills and Deniece has been a real joy to be with. She’s helped me get back my confidence. I’m a different person to six months ago - happier, healthier and enjoying life again.’

Greengrocer’s delight As well as the vegetables listed by Maneesha, the group has grown gooseberries, runner beans, garlic, parsnip, grapes, broccoli, potatoes, garlic, red onions, jalapeno chillies, butternut squash, raspberries, chard and spinach.

The vegetables have been used for meals, barbecues and delicious fresh salads. Small wonder that one of the Brockley gardening group is now working as a chef!

Cornucopia: Brockley’s magnificent harvest

Hurdling obstaclesThe Brockley Park garden wasn’t always this lovely. When the group first took it over it was overgrown with bindweed, which is extremely hard to remove, and the soil was heavy with clay.

Then there was a dense bed of stinging nettles. They turned the nettles into a tasty soup.

With the worst out of the way, the group turned their hand to making vegetable planters and building a shed, a bird house and trellises for the garden.

Their produce list kept on expanding but then started to go missing. The culprits turned out to be light-fingered squirrels and foxes. Covering the planters with chicken wire has helped solve the problem of hungry wildlife.

The group was funded by the Peabody Community Fund.

“I am a different person - happier, healthier and

enjoying life again.”

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St Paul’s Staging Post is proving a life-saver for people who suddenly find themselves homeless.

No alternativeImagine how frightening it would be to be told by your landlord you were being evicted - now. Or if you broke up with the person you lived with so had to leave, but had nowhere to go.

Some people can fall back on help from the council. But many more cannot. It’s those people that St Paul’s aims to help.

From their base near Highbury & Islington tube station, a team of staff from Peabody and Hope Worldwide offer short-stay housing

for up to nine adults, on their own and looking for a new home in our capital city.

St Paul’s Staging Post is a one-of-a-kind emergency service. It answers to a partnership - North London Housing Partnership - representing six London boroughs and helping people left homeless in any of the six: Barnet, Camden, Enfield, Haringey, Islington and Westminster.

Customers who are single, homeless, and otherwise able to look after themselves without support, can stay for up to 28 days. During that time the St Paul’s team helps them find a new home with a private landlord or even, if they’re

under 35, in a hostel. Pamela, who had been at St

Paul’s for two weeks, said she was so thankful for the help.

‘I was born in the UK but sold up and moved to the Caribbean for six years. When I had to come back I had nowhere to go and was just sofa-surfing until the council told me about this place,’ Pamela said.

‘I’m now looking for somewhere more permanent to live. I think it’s great here. It’s homely and clean and the staff are really friendly.’

Sleeping on the streetLionel had arrived just a couple of days ago after ending up street homeless: ‘My caseworker from The Passage Homeless Centre referred me. It took a while before the call came to move to St Paul’s.

‘It’s been good so far and the staff are really helpful. I’m hoping it will all work out fine and I will find somewhere permanent to live soon.’

Around 85% of people who pass through St Paul’s Staging Post manage to hold down their next tenancy. How highly they rate St Paul’s is clear from the number who continue to call in from time to time after finding their new home. One even came back to clear the garden, unpaid.

‘It’s a safe place for people faced with homelessness,’ says team manager Irene Adeyinka. ‘We give them their own space, they can interact with people in the same boat and, with help from our friendly team, they find the security of a new home.’

The St Paul’s team is made up of staff from two organisations: Peabody and Hope Worldwide.

Short stay Natural remedyThe names of most of Santa’s reindeer first appeared in a poem, The Night Before Christmas by Clement Clark Moore

Arriving at Pathways was at first extremely hard and very upsetting, writes Claire Woodley. But after 20 years living in an unsuitable home and after the initial shock I started to come out of my room and ventured into the garden.

And there it was - a garden pond full of intrigue, excitement, purpose and at last a project that needed my attention. Even with no experience, I asked if I could start to bring this pond back to life.

Boatmen were skating vigorously along the top of the water and as I started to scoop out old debris and leaves with my net the deeper part smelt quite stagnant. My net was full of silt, so I kept sifting and removing the mud and black sludge that stunk.

The next day, to my surprise the water was clearing. Not only did we have pond skaters but also mayflies and water beetles.

Sparrows, swallows and house martins will pick off insects above the surface and use the mud for building nests. At Pathways we also have foxes who like to drink from

Pond life opens up a new world

Pond care tips from Claire‘To keep our pond water clear I put small sacks of sweet barley hay in the centre. The barley draws out blanket weed and any poisonous toxic algae and the sugar removes toxins that may be harmful to our precious pondlife,’ writes Claire.

‘I keep water levels up as fish like a ledge to lay their eggs on and you will find your babies under the plant leaves, hanging on until they find their fins so can start swimming. I also add soaked bread - a big treat for the babies who can only suck.’

The discovery of a neglected garden pond at Pathways helped give recently arrived Pathways resident Claire a new sense of purpose

the pond and birds that like to bathe in it.

Now when I look out of my window, the sun once again peeps through the clouds and the water becomes an oasis in this beautiful garden for those who are recovering like myself.

New residentsAfter a few weeks, our manager Kate introduced some fish from her own garden pond into our pond.

After a year of tending our pond, and at times neglecting it, a miracle happened! I went to feed the fish and yes!!! We now have at least 30 baby fish, making it hard to pull yourself away.

At night I turn the pump off so my fish - and I - can have a quiet night. We start our day at about 6:30 or 7am each morning. It’s a beautiful start to your day and with pond life every season is beautiful.

Finding the Pathways pond has changed my life. There is a purpose for everyone and every wandering being that walks and swims in our universe.

Safety net for single homelessA London housing service gives people who find themselves suddenly homeless a place to stay and a helping hand to find a new home

New source of funding revives Cranbrook traditionA welcome new offer of funding has revived the annual summer BBQ for Cranbrook Road in Ilford.

Happily Kevin had been keeping a small bag of coal in the shed since the last barbecue, just in case. For two years!

Customers worked hard to get the place ready, first helping to clear up the garden. They also helped staff prepare food and at last Kevin’s supply of coal and sticks got the fire burning steadily.

Five staff joined 10 customers from Cranbrook and our sister scheme in nearby Valentines Park in the food queue - with Kevin first in line. There was lots of choice and plenty of leftovers so everyone got a doggy bag of food to eat the next day.

We’re hoping the barbecue will become a regular event again and residents have also asked for a trip to the seaside next summer. Watch this space.

“I had nowhere to go and was sofa-

surfing until the council told me about this

place.” Pamela

From left: managers Irene (Peabody), Yvonne (Hope Worldwide) and Charlotte (Peabody) with customers Salah, second left, and Lionel

Watchful eyes: the pink flamingo ‘stands guard’

Spawing: the fish family

12 Peabody Reachout 2018

As a confidence-booster for young parents at our Newhythe scheme we all set off together for Colchester Zoo,10-minutes away by car. Parents, little ones and even a grandparent left in a two-car convoy, armed with everything we might possibly need: waterproofs, nappy bags, prams and lunch.

Our plan was to let everyone do

Travel

Convoy for Colchester zoo

Brighton rocks

Travelling with a baby or toddler - or two of them - is not for the faint-hearted. So we set off with eight

their own thing but most stuck with us, which was rather pleasing!

After breaks for lunch and ice-cream, and a train trip to the Lima compound, we found we’d missed the goats in the petting zoo.

One more circuit and we’d covered the lot - some parts twice. The zoo’s staff were impressed by our leg power.

We spent more time at the zoo than planned but it was worth it. We arrived back at Newhythe with some very sleepy children.

’I can’t wait to tell my boyfriend our son has had the best day ever,’ Adi said. ‘My daughter has been so happy all day,’ said Chantelle.

We’re already planning another fun trip with our customers.

A trip to Brighton in August was our answer to requests from customers of our Kensington & Chelsea floating support. Six adults and three children met staff at Victoria Station to catch the train to Brighton.

Once we arrived, everyone was free to explore on their own or with staff. Some joined us for a walk along the pier and beach. We all met up for a lunch of fish and chips, kindly paid by Peabody, and the children enjoyed their seaside rides.

‘It was a great opportunity to get outside London,’ said Beverly. Olena said it was fun meeting new people. ‘A wonderful day at the seaside. More please!’ agreed support worker Ione.

Clement Clark Moore called the reindeer Blitzen, Comet, Cupid, Dasher and Dancer. Rudolph came later in a song by Johnny Marks

Long-distance toddler

The adults walked at least a couple of miles at the zoo but nearly

matching us step for step was toddler Finn.

There were lots of laughs and posing for photos

Alana roars ahead on one of the zoo’s fun rides