Ayrshire Mental Health Conversations

We’re working in partnership with East Ayrshire Health and Social Care Partnership and South Ayrshire Health and Social Care Partnership to develop a mental health strategy for Ayrshire and Arran.

We’re engaging with a wide range of voices in the design and content of the new strategy. Our aim is to ensure the Ayrshire Mental Health Strategy includes the views of people who use services, their family members, carers, the local workforce and people and communities in Ayrshire. We welcome everyone’s input and opinions.

• The engagement period is from Wednesday 1 August until Monday 17 September 2018.
• We are keen to hear your views, you can access the online questionnaire by clicking here
• Paper copies of the questionnaire are available at your local North Ayrshire library.
• If you live in North Ayrshire and would like us to send you a paper copy of the questionnaire, please email gavinpaterson@north-ayrshire.gov.uk or call 01294 317843.
• We’re having public face-to-face conversations with local people about mental health services on:
  • Tuesday 11 September at 2-3.30pm and 5-6.30pm     in Volunteer Rooms, Irvine
  • Thursday 13 September  at 2-3.30pm and 5-6.30pm     in Walker Hall, Kilbirnie
  • Friday 14 September  at 2-3.30pm and 5-6.30pm     in Saltcoats Town Hall
• Partner organisations will also be hosting their own conversations with people who currently access mental health services, their carers and families.

If you’d like to hold your own mental health conversation, please email gavinpaterson@north-ayrshire.gov.uk or call 01294 317843, for a copy of our engagement pack. This includes how to host a conversation and how to capture people’s responses.

For more information, click here

We will use all of the feedback to inform the final Ayrshire Mental Health Strategy.

Jiggy Wrigglers

Jiggy Wrigglers offers a well-articulated dance and movement class for you and your child.

Jiggy Wrigglers classes are a musical wonderland intended to introduce your child to music, develop their sensory capabilities, and become sociable. Classes are all about using awesome music to learn as well as for games and other forms of activity for kids between the ages of 0-5years.

They let Kids be Kids while helping them grow, learn and socialise using special songs and the Jiggy Wriggler Puppets.

For Ayrshire class details click here   or visit the Facebook page.

Please note that new class will be running in Garnock Social Club, Kilbirnie,  from 15 August 10am.

Volunteer Telephone Befrienders Needed

Volunteer positions are coming soon for telephone befrienders with Beith Community Trust.

They aim to reach out to those who don’t have someone to talk to regularly to help beat their loneliness and isolation.

Beith Community Trust are looking for volunteers who are friendly, chatty, good listeners, interested in the wellbeing of others and able to spare a couple of hours each week.

If you are interested or looking for more information please contact Alison Berry on 01505 800758 or private message their Facebook page with your email and telephone number.

New Gaelic Classes In North Ayrshire

Do you live in North Ayrshire and would like to learni Gaelic? Yes….well here’s your chance!

New beginners class commencing in Stevenston Library, Main Street, KA20 3AB, Tuesday 4 September 2018, 10.15 – 12.15.

For further information contact telephone 01294 475900, email  focuscommunitylearningcentre@north-ayrshire.gov.uk

Exam Results Day

Wishing everyone good luck today on their exam results!

Remember, if you don’t get the results you were looking for there are other pathways to get to the careers you are aiming for. Check out the #nowrongpath campaign on social media where people in Scotland are sharing their career stories to help spread the message that you don’t need to take a straight obvious path to get the career you want to do.

Skills Development Scotland has set up a free helpline to offer advice, information and support for pupils and parents, including information on college and university courses, apprenticeships, employment and volunteering. The number is 0808 100 8000. It will be open from 8am until 8pm on 7 and 8 August and from 9am until 5pm from 9 until 15 August. Calls are free from landlines and some mobile networks.

Are You Looking For Advice Or Help With Your SDS?

The Scottish Government introduced The Social Care (Self Directed Support) Scotland Act 2013. It was introduced to allow anyone who is eligible for social care to have a range of choices over how they receive their social care support and gives as much or as little control over their individual budget.

People who are eligible for support for their health and/or social care can get Self-Directed Support. This can be children, adults, elderly, anyone who needs a social care service. To check if you are eligible then you would have a chat with your local authority social work team about how you live your daily life and where you feel you need support with. They will discuss which way you would like your care/support and whether you need any help with this. If you decide to take your budget directly then Ayrshire Independent Living network (AILN) are here to help you.

Ayrshire Independent Living Network is a 3^rd Sector organisation funded by the Ayrshire Councils to provide free, impartial information and advice about Self-Directed Support.

They can assist you with everything you need to know about employing a PA or finding a Care Company. Their advisors who work throughout Ayrshire are there to help at every step of the way. They assist with, opening a new bank account for the funding, planning your SDS support and work out costings, advise about employing a PA, making up job descriptions, advertising the post, interviewing PA’s, references, PVG’s, employers insurance, contracts of employment, PA inductions, paying your PA and keeping details of your budget, Health & Safety, PA training and PA’s leaving.

They can also put you in touch with their peer support volunteers, who are people that already have SDS and are available throughout Ayrshire to discuss any questions that you may have about becoming an employer.

AILN are there to help you lead the life that you want to be living.

Watch some of their videos for more information about SDS and the work they do.

13 Places To Get Help

Following on from their 1st blog, North Ayrshires Year of Young People Ambassadors have released their 2nd blog inspired from the Netflix series 13 Reasons Why.

Here is their 2nd blog that talks about where young people can go for help when they are struggling with their feelings and mental health.

Volunteers Needed For Archaeology Dig

Do you fancy taking part in the next archaeology dig at Ardrossan Castle in September 2018?

If so contact Martin on 0734 128 6151 or email mkostigovs@gamil.com