Director's Welcome
A very warm welcome to the February issue of our EAHSCP newsletter – now called ‘The Tea Break’, as chosen by you!
We have a great selection of stories and updates for you this month, including the launch of our brand new Living Well website. It contains a wealth of information on how you can start living a healthier, happier lifestyle – all with a vibrant, colourful new look and engaging style. We hope this will be an invaluable resource for everyone in East Ayrshire and I encourage you to head over and check it out as soon as you can.
No-one Dies Alone
This month we spoke to Linda McCurrach, who told us all about the work of her charity, ‘No-one Dies Alone’ and why she wants to change our perceptions of death. It’s certainly a thought-provoking and enlightening read, and very much in line with our strategic priority of living well. As Linda says, “unless we accept death, we’re not really living”.
Scotty the Magician
We also spoke to Sina Currie, Senior Nurse Manager for Children’s Services, about the ground-breaking work of ‘Scotty’, a Glaswegian magician whose performances and magic lessons are transforming the wellbeing of children across East Ayrshire. Reading the feedback from school teachers, nurses and advocacy workers is just brilliant, and having seen Scotty in action, it’s no surprise that Scotty’s work has had such a real and lasting impact.
(ASIST) Courses
In this issue you can also find details of upcoming Applied Suicide Intervention Skills (ASIST), details of the ScotSpirit holiday voucher scheme providing breaks for unpaid carers, and information on Chatting Matters, a peer support group from Ayrshire Independent Living Network (AILN) which offers guidance to anyone receiving self-directed support.
Welcome Jo!
February also saw the arrival of Jo Gibson, our new Head of Wellbeing and Recovery, and I’m sure you’ll all join me in giving Jo a very warm welcome to East Ayrshire. Jo will introduce herself in the next newsletter once she’s had time to catch her breath!
Without further ado, I’ll let you get stuck in and enjoy your February ‘Tea Break’.
Until next month,
Craig McArthur
Director of East Ayrshire Health and Social Care Partnership
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Our Living Well website has landed!
Want to take steps towards a healthier lifestyle?
We’re delighted to announce the launch of our new Living Well website – a fresh, friendly resource which will help you do just that!
Whether you’re looking to get more active, get a better night’s sleep or improve your mental health, our brand new site has everything you need to get started on your journey.
It’s jam-packed with tips and advice on everything from physical activity, stopping smoking, reducing stress and even how to grow your own vegetables!
We can also support partner organisations through the website’s ALISS directory, ‘What’s New’ section, case studies and our very own Living Well Blog.
Make the Living Well website your new ‘go-to’ and get ready to meet a healthier, happier version of yourself.
See you there!
Visit the Living Well website
ScotSpirit Holiday Scheme for Unpaid Carers
East Ayrshire Carers Centre has been awarded funding from the Scottish Government to help provide short breaks for unpaid carers.
The ScotSpirit Holiday Voucher scheme, created by Visit Scotland, aims to help Scottish tourism recover from the impact of Covid-19 while giving unpaid carers a well-deserved holiday and the opportunity to explore Scotland.
The centre, which has branches in Kilmarnock, Cumnock and Dalmellington, has received over £25,000 to support unpaid carers, including young carers, to enjoy a 2-3 night subsidised break or day out in Scotland.
Breaks must be booked before end of March 2022, but can be taken up to 31st December 2022.
For more information, contact East Ayrshire Carers Centre on 01563 571533 or see our full length article.
Webinars offer chance to chat with leading pain experts
Do you or does someone you know suffer from chronic pain?
Public health campaign, Flippin’ Pain, is hosting three webinars with presentations from leading pain experts. There will also be a dedicated Q & A session at each one.
Two webinars are scheduled for the following dates:
Professor Cormac Ryan - Wed 2 March at 5pm
Associate Professor Tasha Stanton - Wed 23 March at 12pm
Book your place on Eventbrite.
Visit the Flippin Pain website.
Children and carers raise money for Christmas toy appeal
Montgomery Place Children’s House raised £120 for a charity Christmas toy appeal, thanks to the fantastic efforts of its carers and young people.
All the children and young people at the Kilmarnock-based children’s unit took an active role in helping to buy toys and gifts for the Barnardos Christmas Toy Appeal.
They also collected over £100 worth of items for East Ayrshire Council’s Local Food Bank Appeal just before Christmas.
Senior Residential Child Care Worker, Bernadette McCann, said the charitable drive gave the children “a great sense of achievement” that had helped bring them “feelings of goodwill towards others”.
That’s what Christmas is all about!
Well done everyone on this lovely effort to bring a smile to others.
Wellbeing fund for adult social work and social care announced
The Scottish Government has announced £1m funding to support staff wellbeing for those working in adult social work and social care.
In partnership with Inspiring Scotland, they strongly encourage staff and organisations across the country to apply for one of two grants.
These can be up to £5,000 for short-term wellbeing initiatives or up to £10,000 for more sustainable impact solutions.
See our full length article for eligibility details and how to apply.
Kindness of Ayrshire charity ensures that no-one dies alone
The concept of death fills most of us with dread, fear and sadness.
Whether comforting a bereaved friend or family member or experiencing a loss ourselves, we associate death and dying with painful emotions and usually do our utmost to avoid mentioning the topics at all.
Changing perspectives
Linda McCurrach, founder of Ayrshire charity, No-one Dies Alone (N.O.D.A.), wants to help change that.
Volunteers with N.O.D.A. go into people’s homes and care homes and sit with people nearing the end of life, providing comfort and reassurance and achieving the organisation’s main goal: that no-one should ever die alone.
Find out more in our full length article.
Visit the N.O.D.A. website.
NHS announces new professional development award
A new qualification is being offered by the NHS which aims to equip health and social care workers with a deeper understanding of using technology in care settings.
The Professional Development Award (PDA) in Technology Enabled Care will be delivered by NHS Education for Scotland and is designed to “help employers meet skills gaps and provide continuing professional development for staff”.
The course qualifies as Level 7 in the Scottish Credit and Qualifications Framework (SCQF) and has been designed and developed to support Scotland's National Digital Health and Care Strategy, as set out by the Scottish Government in 2018.
Read more in our full length article
Alternatively, speak to a member of the Smart Supports Team at smartsupports@east-ayrshire.gov.uk
Scotty’s magic casts a spell over children and young people
An Ayrshire magician is helping to improve the emotional wellbeing of children and young people through his magical performances.
Known as ‘Scotty the Magician’, Glasgow based entertainer Scott Cuthbertson has wowed young audiences at Whiteleys Retreat, foster homes, schools and within family homes across the breadth of East Ayrshire, and is offering an alternative path for children and young people struggling with confidence and self-esteem.
 Funded by the Scottish Government’s Children and Young People’s Mental Health and Wellbeing Services Framework, Scotty uses his strengths, skills and “jolly” personality to support children in East Ayrshire and to identify the root cause of issues affecting them.
Senior Nurse Manager for Children’s Services, Sina Currie, says Scotty is “changing mind-sets” towards children’s care.
Read this story in our full length article.
ASIST courses can help us all save lives
We're delighted to be able to offer three more courses of Applied Suicide Intervention Skills Training (ASIST). These courses will be delivered face to face over 2 days:
- 11 and 12 April
- 12 and 13 May
- 16 and 17 June
If you wish to become a Suicide First Aider, please contact Health and Safety.
Please note these courses will fill up quickly so if you don't manage to get a place first time around we'll put you on a waiting list and will contact you directly once we have more dates.
Suicidal thoughts? Reach out today.
If you or anyone you know is struggling or expressing suicidal thoughts, please reach out. You can find details of our Suicide First Aiders and contact information for Mental Health Practitioners in GP Practices on our dedicated suicide prevention webpage.
Alternatively, email Health and Safety for an urgent referral.
Chatting Matters group offers peer guidance through self-directed support
Chatting Matters is a diverse group of people with disabilities, long-term illnesses or carers who are involved with the Ayrshire Independent Living Network (AILN). They meet virtually to share their lived experience of independent living, self-directed support (SDS), AILN and its services.
They are volunteers, known as peer mentors, who provide guidance within the AILN mentoring framework, supporting people embarking on their own SDS journey and meeting regularly in a peer support group.
The group aims to provide an opportunity to meet others in similar situations, to ask questions or just share in the conversation.
Interested in becoming a peer mentor?
AILN is always looking to recruit new peers, willing to share their life experiences to help and support fellow self-directed support users and promote AILN and its services.
This would be as little as two hours a month, with training provided.
See our full length article for more information about the Chatting Matters group, upcoming meeting dates and how to become a peer mentor.
Visit the AILN website.
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