Creative Options in Southampton
A message from Creative Options:
‘Creative Options’ was set up by Frances Heather in October 2012 to meet the needs of people with mental health issues living in the community.
A drop-in facility is being run at the Ropewalk in Derby Road on Wednesdays from 11 - 2 p.m. We provide tea and chat, I.T. sessions, crafts, games etc., and a facility for people to work on their own projects and develop their own interests. We run a monthly ‘cook n’ eat club, a ‘make n’ mend club where we do all aspects of sewing, knitting and crochet with tutors, plus new crafts, repairs, recycling materials and lessons on D.I.Y. We are also starting a monthly self-help group.
We have bi-monthly themed days and have subjects such as health awareness, with pampering etc, and music sessions. We are particularly keen to foster people’s own ideas and vision. We are hoping shortly to start ‘with a song in mind’, a singing group for mental health, headed up by one of our service users who is a pianist and former music teacher. We also run ‘tasty options bakin company’ providing freshly home-baked cakes and run two workshop sessions each week. A baking group meets at Challis Court Community Rooms on Thursdays at 1.30 p.m. We hope to provide catering for corporate events in the future and run our own afternoon tea service.
Our longer term vision is to have our own premises and run a community cafe run for and by service users and serving the whole community. We particularly need people with skills and interests to come and volunteer and share; especially those with previous experience in the health or social field. We also welcome service users as volunteers. If interested in getting involved please contact Frances on 07850198069 frances.anne@btinternet.com
The Communities team help Make a Difference
Make a Difference Day in Southampton went very well recently with the Communities team coordinating and helping organise the event. 55 people including pupils from Oasis Mayfield Academy and residents from Weston Court sheltered accommodation jointly enjoyed activities throughout the day. Card making, surfing the web, cake making, bingo, lunch, singing sessions filled the day with laughter and learning.
Three other positives came from the day:
- The academy and Weston Court reps will meet to see if they can organise a monthly coffee morning where the academy will provide the transport.
-The academy is very keen on volunteering and will work on developing a buddy system where pupils will become a buddy to an older person and visit them to help them with shopping, washing windows etc.
-The academy volunteered to ship Weston Court residents’ handmade knitting and crocheted items to orphanages in South Africa (Oasis Mayfield Academy has good connections with schools in South Africa from a visit earlier this year).
Bike Doctor alert!
If you travel to Southampton Central Station by bike (or are even passing by), you can now make use of a Bike Doctor service which is available on the north side of the station every Wednesday morning between 0700 and 1100.
Instead of waiting until you get home, or for a free weekend to take your bike to a shop, get a free check, or low cost repairs at the station with Urge Cycles.
For more details contact hello@urgecycles.co.uk Tel: 07740 280 359 or just visit the friendly team on a Wednesday morning!
Does this count as volunteering?
Your community needs blood donors. To give blood call now on 0300 123 23 23 or for more information visit www.blood.co.uk
The Basics of Starting a Business - this course is aimed at people thinking about starting a business or who want to know more about what is involved. You’ll learn how to write a business plan, analyse the market and how to secure funding. Email asltrainingltd@hotmail.co.uk for more information.
COMMUNITY LITTER PICK Thornhill Tidy Titans Group invite you to join them to clear litter from the Hannay Rise area between 11am-1pm on Saturday 25th August. Meet 10.45am outside Costa Coffee, Antelope Park, Bursledon Road, contact sdavies-hart@hotmail.co.uk for more info.
Ropewalk’s Summer Buzz on Saturday 18th August, 12-3pm. Family activity fun day of bee-themed events including face painting, crafts out of scrap, bee hotel making and free wildflower seeds and information stalls. This event is to highlight the importance of our bees since they are in serious decline. http://bit.ly/NIJe4W
Loads of free unusual events with Tudor Revels inspired by the wealth of original documents in Southampton’s archives, they want to shed light on a turbulent but largely unknown part of Southampton’s history.
Sounds intriguing.
http://www.tudorrevels.co.uk/events.php
Free Environmental Photography Workshop tomorrow
Free Environmental Photography Workshop tomorrow (10/8) 12-2pm at Daisy Dip, Bluebell Road. It’s for everyone and any camera type. Learn about a variety of flora and fauna whilst improving your photography skills with hints and tips from professionals! For info Christopher.Smith@Groundwork.org.uk
CANCELLED Ejector Seat Festival which was supposed to happen in Southampton on 25 August due to unforeseen circumstances relating to an unsuccessful funding application http://bit.ly/OXerBb
Community Litter Pick in Freemantle
Join other local residents, community groups, Community Payback, Southampton City Council, a local business and church with a large community litter pick. Saturday 11th August 10.30am until 12.30, meeting outside Povey’s Dance centre. Please wear suitable clothing and gloves. Contact Debbie Edwards on 023 8083 2101 for more information.
