Supporting elderly residents Mind’s new older persons’ advocacy project offers support to older residents, who may feel isolated or fed up, to access support and advice services and resolve issues. see story below Positive moves The Jack Petchey Foundation was established to recognise the positive contributions made by young people. www.jackpetcheyfoundation.org.uk News News in brief Volunteers wanted by child charity A CHILD protection charity needs volunteers to deliver assemblies and workshops in primary schools. According to NSPCC research, an average of two children in every primary classroom have suffered abuse or neglect but most do not seek help until they are much older. The charity launched its ChildLine Schools Service for primary aged youngsters, to help them understand abuse and how to protect themselves. Volunteers will help them gain an understanding of child abuse and raise awareness about the support available in their own schools, at home and in the community. Schools service volunteers will need to dedicate two days a month at varying times between 9am and 3.30pm, Monday to Friday, during termtime and make a minimum commitment of one year. They must be 16 or over and will be provided with training and support. To find out more, log on to YouTube and search for a short video entitled Volunteering for the ChildLine Schools Service, or to apply visit www.nspcc. org.uk/getinvolved and search with job reference CLSVSL29. Have your say on health services RESIDENTS are being invited to help design community health services by giving their views in a survey. Tower Hamlets Clinical Commissioning Group (CCG) will use responses to choose an organisation to run the services and then monitor how well they are performing. Services include speech and language therapists who visit children at home, a stroke rehabilitation team that helps people recover after they have left hospital, specialist diabetes nurses and community nursing teams. Dr Osman Bhatti, GP and clinical lead for community health services for the CCG, YOUNG people from 14 Tower Hamlets secondary schools received awards for their hard work at the People’s Palace, Mile End. The Jack Petchey Foundation Achievement Awards honoured 115 young people aged 11 to 25, who each received a cheque for £200, a medallion and a certificate. Their peers and leaders nominated the winners for a variety of achievements but mostly for doing their best. Four adults who have shown an outstanding ability to motivate young people received leader awards. Winners included Viktoriya Nacheva, 16, from Bishop Challoner Catholic Federation of Schools, who was praised for “tirelessly helping” others who are struggling. Viktoriya spent her award on headsets for the school business and enterprise faculty. Abdullah Seraj, 11, a form representative at Stepney Green Maths and Computing College, received an award for contributing to school improvements for all students. He spent his grant on new PE football shirts. Abdullah Seraj Viktoriya Nacheva Help for isolated or anxious older people BY JESSICA ODUBAYO OLDER residents who are feeling isolated, anxious or concerned about their welfare are being offered support from a new project run by mental health charity Mind in Tower Hamlets. Advocates working for the charity will be able to offer advice on accessing services and resolving issues of concern. Michelle Saunders, older persons’ advocate for the charity, told East End Life advocates were not experts in any particular area, but investigated matters such as housing problems, discrimination at work, access to medical records or care on behalf of an older person. They can also help, where necessary, find expert advice. The older persons’ advocacy project works on a one-to-one basis over six to ten weeks. For longer-term support, referrals will be made to befrienders, support workers, health services and community groups. The older person will agree any actions with their advocate. Appointments with the advocacy project can be held in the community or at the Mind office in Whitehorn Street, Bow. ■ Mind is looking for volunteers to support the work of the older persons’ advocacy project. The role may include attending events to promote the service, holding stalls in community centres, attending meetings, taking part or providing support at workshops and visits. Volunteers should be sensitive to issues affecting older people with mental health problems, and respect equal opportunities and other Mind policies. The charity offers training, travel costs and experience. Email michelle.saunders@ mithn.org.uk Zarina Rimbaud-Kadirbaks Dutch Girl blog in awards final WHEN writer and project manager Zarina Rimbaud- Kadirbaks moved from the Netherlands to Tower Hamlets in 2012, she felt immediately at home in the borough. To share her love for the capital, and east London in particular, Zarina started a blog entitled Dutch Girl in London. Now, the site is in the final of the UK Blog Awards, in the arts and culture category. Zarina, who lives in Bethnal Green, says her blog celebrates local people and events with the emphasis on arts and culture. Personal topics, such as how it feels to live in London as a Dutch national, are also covered. “There were hundreds of entries for the UK Blog Awards and I can’t believe I made it to the final,” Zarina said. She will be attending the awards ceremony in London this Friday, April 17. Go to www.dutchgirlin london.com to read her blog. says giving feedback will help to change people’s lives. “Community health services are used by people in Tower Hamlets more than 300,000 times every year. They are crucial to a successful NHS,” he said. “If more people can get well and stay healthy without having to visit a doctor or hospital, they will be happier and healthier and it will reduce pressure on our health system.” Complete the survey at http://tinyurl.com/o3k8u2n call 3688 2500 or email info@towerhamletsccg.nhs.uk Grants for young abuse victims A GRANT-giving organisation is offering individual grants of up to £2,000 to families with children who need help to recover from domestic abuse. Buttle UK, a charity which directly supports children and young people, is running the Anchor Project with the City of London Corporation’s charity, City Bridge Trust. The project has a specific aim to support children in families who have to re-settle as a result of domestic abuse. Grants can be for items such as children’s beds, counselling, play therapy, swimming toys or school support. For more information call 7828 7311 or email anchor@ buttleuk.org Apprentice awards EMPLOYERS and apprentices are being encouraged to show how apprenticeships have made a difference to them by entering this year’s National Apprenticeship Awards. Run by the National Apprenticeship Service, the awards recognise businesses that grow their own talent with apprenticeships, and apprentices who have made a significant contribution at their workplaces. An information workshop will take place in central London on Tuesday, April 14, to help entrants to apply. Entries for the awards should be submitted by May 22. For further details, visit www.apprenticeawards.co.uk 10 NEWS FROM TOWER HAMLETS COUNCIL AND YOUR COMMUNITY 13 – 19 APRIL 2015
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