Summer Trip

Thursday 30th July 2015

Southend

£20 per person

Contact the office for tickets

We are looking forward to Summer now although looking out the window it

does seem rather wet and grey and not at all balmy.

We have been working very hard making changes that ensure we can repre-

sent service users and provide services that are helping people and support-

ing people to help themselves.

There are some new things happening so read on and join in. Come and meet

us at one of the groups or come and volunteer and get involved.

We recently had our AGM, and we have some new Committee members who

will be wanting to meet members to ensure that EMU remains the mental

health service users voice for Enfield.

We have started some new groups and changed some old. We are looking to

recruit new volunteers and our training sessions are soon running. We will be

arranging some social events for the coming months.

We have updated our web page so please have a look on

www.emugroup.org.uk

This was paid for by a donation from ex students of St Ignatious School who

played a very valiant rugby match in memory of their chemistry teacher Zig-

gy Domogala.

We also have a Twitter account and a Facebook page so lease friend, follow

or like us!

One of the reasons we have done this is to allow us to send out information

in different formats and to let you know what is happening and available at

EMU or in Enfield or Nationally.

We are also conscious that money needs to be spend wisely to ensure we can

continue. It would help us if those of you who can access email could opt to

have their newsletter sent by email instead of post.

To do this please send an email titled NEWSLETTER:

Damian.loukas@emugroup.org.uk

Sara

Dear Volunteer and Supporter,

I Just wanted to take this opportunity to thank you for all that you have

done for EMU voluntarily . We appreciate people that have given their

time and talents that help this charity to go on, and help us to grow as a

strong presence in the community. Without that presence which volun-

teers help us to build, our fight against the stigma of mental health would

be weaker. As it is the volunteers brave and courageous acts that after

recovering or in recovery that strive to help others , strengthen EMU as

an organisation.

As you will know I came in to post in September, and I myself having ex-

perienced being a volunteer for various organisations including EMU know

how important it is that volunteers feel valued, respected and heard.

I also wished to say if there is anything I can do to help please do not

hesitate to contact me. My details can be found below. Your more than

welcome.

Once again thank you for all your hard work.

Kind Regards and Very Best Wishes

Damian Loukas

Some changes to our services

Complimentary Therapy:

We do have a waiting list for services and need to make it clear that we

provide 6 sessions for free. We ask you to fill in a base line survey at the

beginning of the service and then an exit survey when you have finished

the course. We use this to reflect with you if the sessions were of benefit

and what other services we can help you to engage with to support your

well-being.

Counselling:

We have 2 counsellors on placement with us, you can self-refer and we will

do an assessment with you to see if our service is suitable for you. The

counsellors are under supervision and will work with you for 6 sessions. At

the end of this time you and they will decide what the next step might be.

We do ask for a donation of £5 per session for this service to cover our

costs in providing this.

With both services we ask that you think carefully about engaging with

the service. If you feel you are not ready but might be later on we can

keep you on the waiting list. If you do not attend 2 sessions in a row we

withdraw the service and suggest you go back on the waiting list until you

are in a better position to engage.

PEER SUPPORT

Peer Support on the wards at Chase Farm Hospital is really rewarding, we are told our

presence on the wards has empowered service users and provided positive role models.

We are able to relate and build trust with service users on the acute wards having had ex-

perience of them ourselves. Service users are able to trust us and open up. Comments that

we have received are that we give them hope that they too can get well and many have ex-

pressed an interest in being trained to do Peer Support and voluntary work when they leave

the hospital.

On visiting the wards we have provided new games, books, newspapers, clothes and some

toilettes. Noting that the basketball court had not been used for about a year we bought

a pump for the wards so that the flat basket balls could be pumped up and they could go

and play outside in the sun. This has been very beneficial especially for Sussex ward as

their smoking court yard does not really get the sun and the exercise is really good for

them. We are thanked by them and they are always so very pleased to see us.

Ward managers have remarked on how beneficial Peer Support is and want to have more

sessions with Peer Support workers.

Sean Edwards ward manager on Suffolk ward Chase Farm Hospital has written: “Having

Peer Support Workers on Suffolk Ward for the last 2 years, I feel the patients have ben-

efited from good work. Having workers with lived experience of mental illness able to

spend quality time with inpatients can in still hope and optimism, help facilitate their recov-

ery. I feel the scheme promotes recovery values and there should be more sessions than

once a week on acute wards”

Patient quote “ I felt like I had a link to the outside world and there was someone who

cared. I thought if they can be well so can I and I looked forward to their visits”.

Continued on next page

From the Peer Support Volunteer Perspective

As Peer Support Workers

-we have the ability to establish rapport quickly,

- being fully trained we have awareness of how to maintain appropriate boundaries and

remain safe.

-We are non-judgmental toward service users, having a greater awareness of what it is

like to be unwell

- We have the ability to draw on personal recovery experience and relate to service users

with empathy and compassion.

We are able to sign post them to different organisations that they can get support from

including EMU but also other organisations outside of the borough of Enfield. Peer sup-

port promotes choice, self-determination, and empowerment, and increases confidence.

Richie “Peer Support is great, we are recognised as EMU, we build up a bond with patients

and they open up to us. We let them know about EMU and what Emu offers. Patients are

very pleased to see EMU Peer Support Workers. It would be great if we could get Peer

Support in the community I’m sure it would be a success.”

Sue “Peer Support means to me a success in my life. A move forward to learn and grow

and EMU has given me confidence which I can share with the patients”

One of the important things we do is liaise between service users and hospital staff, im-

proving communication and giving them feedback. As Peer Support co-ordinator I attend

monthly Acute Care Forum meetings. I have been able to relay the feedback and concerns

of the service users on the acute wards and be able to help to improve their conditions.

I have found a lot of respect from the staff who attend these meetings they are keen to

listen and give support and make changes where possible. I personally find these meet-

ings very rewarding and get a real sense of achievement.

Working on the wards we have all found the work rewarding, which is reciprocal with the

service users, we are approachable, relating in a conversational, friendly, trusting way.

Being able to be empowered as well as empowering service users helping with their recov-

ery, gives one a sense of wellbeing and purpose. All this is very valuable in moving towards

keeping people well within the community.

We all feel dedicated to doing Peer Support and believe strongly in the benefits to ser-

vice users and ourselves, We would like to continue working at Chase Farm Hospital and

would like to expand and be able to go on Dorset and Summer Villa wards.

We are hoping with funding we can move towards additional Peer Support in the Communi-

ty to help the transition after discharge and to help people to keep well and avoid crisis.

Shelley Graham, Lead Peer Support worker

Introduction To Mindfulness

Mindfulness is becoming very popular in mental health settings now. To

learn more I went to an event in Barnet run by a network called Eclipse.

They say that mindfulness is ‘all about learning to direct our attention to

our experience as it unfolds, moment by moment.’ This is in contrast to

how we often spend our time, finding it hard to focus on the here and now.

We are often distracted by other things – phones, people around us, back-

ground noise. Mindfulness is about concentrating on the present rather

than worrying about what has happened or might happen. They say ‘it

trains us to explore and respond skilfully to whatever is happening right

now.’

Jon Kabat Zinn, who is credited with bringing mindfulness to a Western

audience, said ‘you can’t stop the waves, but you can learn to surf.’ If you

would like to learn more they recommended a book called ‘Mindfulness – A

Practical Guide To Finding Peace In A Frantic World’ by Mark Williams.

Suzanne

New Group

We will be running a new group from June.

Tuesday Tea at 2 –3.30pm

(cos we love alliteration in the office)

At Park Avenue Centre

We will be replacing the original Speakers Corner to provide

Tea and coffee and cake (of course)

Speakers

Activities

Signposting and Information

Advocacy

Training

Self-help and well– being

Launching on the 2nd June 2015

Support GroupsSupport GroupsSupport Groups

Evening Support Group

This is a group for anyone who would like to meet other people dealing with a mental

health issue. People are able to talk about their mental health and what is happening in

their life. The group is friendly and supportive. We have a break part way through for re-

freshments.

Some people come to the group regularly, others come from time to time when they feel

they need extra support. You are welcome to come to a group and see if you like it. If you

would like to speak to me before coming to a group please give me a ring – I work after-

noons.

contact Suzanne.collins@emugroup.org.uk

Afternoon Depression Drop-in

A regular drop in held on the 2nd Monday of the month at 2-4pm. Coffee, tea and chat.

Access to therapies, counselling and support strategies. Mindfulness techniques and a

safe space to speak openly with other people who are experiencing the same feelings.

Depression Alliance

Self-help group supporting people with depression. Access to counselling and support and

strategies. Held on the 4th Wednesday of each month from 7-9pm at the Lancaster Cen-

tre.

Over 65 Thursday Club

Thursday Club, for members who are over 65 years of age, continues to meet each Thurs-

day afternoon at the Lancaster Centre. There are a mix of activities, quizzes and monthly

art and music sessions to challenge you. Refreshments provided.

LGBT Support Group

This is a safe place for people form the LGBT community who are experiencing mental

health problems. Signposting, information and referrals to support services and a chance

to socialise with the main group for film nights, social events and chat, We meet on the

4th Tuesday of every month from 6.30-8.30pm.

Richie’s Football Group.

Tuesdays - 4.15p.m. - 5.15p.m.

Enfield Playing Fields.

Donkey Lane. EN1 3PL.

Opposite Enfield Town FC.http://www.emugroup.org.uk/

E.M.U. Office: 0208 3666560

Mobile: 07760 434405

£1.00 per session.

Have fun, make friends and keep fit.

Assertiveness TrainingAssertiveness TrainingAssertiveness Training

"too nice for your own good"

Starting 13th July

6.30pm start at the Lancaster Centre

This course is designed to help you explore and understand issues around as-

sertiveness.

A practical assertiveness training course delivered by a MH professional and

co-facilitated by service users,

The course is designed to leave the participants feeling more confident in

their ability to handle every day situations and feel better about themselves

when setting personal boundaries or making needs clear.

We will be covering areas such as

Setting boundaries for others

Presenting clear messages

Gaining increased confidence

Tools you know you can use

Handling difficult people and situations

Practicing The Art of Saying No

6 session 1 hour 30 minute sessions for £20 per

person for the course.

Limited places please contact the office to regis-

ter.

Other Very Important Dates

Speakers Corner :Weds 27th May 2-3.30pm Coping with Low Mood by

Helmi Van Leur Community House, 311 Fore Street, Edmonton, N9

Speakers Corner:Weds 24th June 2-3.30pm Speaker tba Community House,

N9

Service User Forum Friday 3rd July 3.30-4.30pm For anyone using commu-

nity mental health services in Enfield Community Mental Health Centre, 58-

60 Silver Street, EN1 3EP chaired by Suzanne from EMU.

Volunteer Training—contact for dates

Introduction to EMU and Service User Groups

Mental Health Awareness

Volunteering rights and responsibilities

Personal Development Goals and a Celebration!

GET YOUR WALKING SHOES ON & JOIN

OUR SPONSORED WALK

EMU are having a sponsored walk and would love you to be in-

volved

We will be meeting up on The 20th June at Lancaster centre

at 2pm

making our way to Enfield Town Park then back again this is

an easy walk, no hills about 30 mins there and 30 mins back.

All are welcome for this fun day out. If you would like to pur-

chase an EMU T-shirt to proudly wear on the day and keep.as

your own, please let us know as soon as possible as it would be

cheaper doing a bulk order.

Those that take part will receive a certificate to say that

they have successfully taken part and a special thanks from

EMU

If interested pick up a sponsorship form from the office be-

ginning of May or ring for more information on 0208 3666

560

Look forward to seeing you all on the 20th June

'Review of 'Madness at Midnight'.

(Extracted from my daily journal entry of February 18th 2015.)

As I was on the point of doing at the close of yesterday's entry, and I guess

that time is of the essence in this regard if I should return it as is my inten-

tion to EMU's little library later today,

I will now try to sum up my feelings about 'Madness at Midnight' by Bianca

Benjamin, although having said that, I feel very poorly qualified, and am not

sure that I can offer much.

But I am clear that what came across most strongly for me in this at times

sublime, but mostly horrific, tale, are on the one hand, the author's daring cu-

riosity, and wish to make sense of what she is going through, and on the other,

the sheer intensity of experiences often so painful and terrifying that no one

could conceivably have wished them upon him or herself; a rollercoaster of

such stupendously vertiginous peaks and troughs as to make the acute rock

faces of the Dolomites seem akin to the humble grass slopes of the downs of

southern England, and to render my personal experiences of psychosis, which

I had hitherto thought quite arresting, very pale and mundane indeed.

If there are a couple of questions I would put to Ms Benjamin they are first-

ly, how did you make a distinction between certain profoundly unsettling and

intense experiences and what you considered to constitute your periods of

psychosis; ie, there seem to be a lot of things you went through that might

strike one as truly mad, but which you chose not to include under this head

(could it be that you felt that to do so would have somehow diminished the

sense of authenticity of certain experiences that you have felt to have been

seminal moments in your personal history?), and secondly, do you think you

would have gone through nearly so much horror had you not taken such an in-

terest in the occult, and in particular Carlos Castaneda?'

Dettol Disaster: When My OCD Started

When I was 8 I spilled Dettol

Couldn’t get the- smell off my hands

I fell into a panic

And my mum didn’t understand

I became scared of being poisoned

Or dying a horrible death

My heart would start beating faster

I felt alone and scared

Mum shouted at me

Dad took her side

Nobody ever listened to me

The story of my life

I became scared to use toxins

I couldn’t bear the smell

I thought that I would be poisioned

And die and go to hell

Its like living a nightmare

Going round and round in my mind

I just want it all to stop

So I can get on with my life

Volunteer

Roles

GROUP FACILITATORS

We are looking for someone with lived experience of OCD or Bi-polar

Disorder or Depression who feel they can share their expreiences of

their recovery journey to help support other.

As facilitator you will:

· Listen to the experiences of others and be able to empathise

· Share experiences

Admin and Receptionist

We need a receptionist for occasional

evening duties, Thursdays and Friday

mornings.

Or are you hoping to move into an ad-

ministration role? Have skills you feel

might need refreshing? We can offer

you training and support and a friendly

office to work in.

Treasurer Needed!

Our small but vibrant

Committee needs a Fi-

nance eye! Experience or

interest in mental health

an advantage but not a

necessity (only MH ser-

vice users can be Trus-

tees but you can be co-

opted). Looking to add to

your CV, time to spare.

We really need your

skills and experience.

Advertisement for VOLUNTEER HEARING VOICES GROUP FACILITATOR

The Hearing Voices Group at the Clarendon Recovery College is a self-help support group for anyone

who is hearing, seeing or sensing something that others around them aren’t. These experiences can

include all five senses, hearing, sight, smell, taste and touch.

We are looking for someone with lived experience of their own voices/visions, etc, to facilitate this

weekly open group.

As facilitator you will:

Listen to the experiences of others

Share experiences

Share coping strategies among the group

Seek any further training that might help improve delivery of the group sessions

The group meets every Wednesday, 2-3pm, in the Wellbeing space next to our café.

The Clarendon supervising worker will support you in your role and provide weekly de-briefing time

after the session as and when you request it.

The Clarendon Recovery College will support you to attend any suitable training, as funds permit, in

addition to the London Hearing Voices Network free group facilitation training which we will arrange.

We are members of the national Hearing Voices Network and the London Hearing Voices Network.

Volunteers receive a free sandwich lunch and travel expenses.

To appy for this role please contact the above number.

Clarendon Recovery College

Clarendon Road, London N8 0DJ

Tel: 020 8489 4872 Fax: 020 8489 4879

www.haringey.gov.uk

BlueCircle IT BlueCircle IT is an independent I.T. consultancy company based in Enfield providing IT support & consultancy for small/medium sized businesses. Having recently worked with The EMU Group at The Lancaster Centre assisting them with their new website and email set-up, we would be delighted to offer our services to any other groups needing IT support within the North London area. Some of the main services we offer are:

Hardware & Software Sales (servers, PCs, printers etc.)

Network Support & IT Consultancy (advice on how best to structure your network, how to keep the network secure, and recommendations on the best /latest IT solutions, antivirus programmes & data backups)

Website & Email Hosting

If you would like to find out more, then please do not hesitate to contact us, we’d only be too pleased to help. Jonathan Mann

BlUECIRCLE IT ● Jonathan Mann +44[0]7957 634023 ● jonathan@bluecircleit.co.uk ● www.bluecircleit.co.uk

Contact DetailsContact DetailsContact Details

EMUEMUEMU

Lancaster CentreLancaster CentreLancaster Centre

53 Lancaster Road53 Lancaster Road53 Lancaster Road

Enfield EN2 0BUEnfield EN2 0BUEnfield EN2 0BU

0208 366 65600208 366 65600208 366 6560

info@emugroup.org.ukinfo@emugroup.org.ukinfo@emugroup.org.uk

Volunteer or admin : Volunteer or admin : Volunteer or admin :

damian.loukas@emugroup.org.ukdamian.loukas@emugroup.org.ukdamian.loukas@emugroup.org.uk

Outreach, advocacy and information:Outreach, advocacy and information:Outreach, advocacy and information:

Suzanne.collins@emugroup.org.ukSuzanne.collins@emugroup.org.ukSuzanne.collins@emugroup.org.uk

Peer Support:Peer Support:Peer Support:

Shelley.graham@emugroup.org.ukShelley.graham@emugroup.org.ukShelley.graham@emugroup.org.uk

CEO: CEO: CEO:

Sara.litchfieldbrown@emugroup.org.ukSara.litchfieldbrown@emugroup.org.ukSara.litchfieldbrown@emugroup.org.uk

Summer 2015

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