Windermere Trip on 17th May

 

 

 

Due to the new floor being laid in anticipation of the opening of the extension, we closed the centre for a day.

We treated everyone to a trip to Windermere, hired a mini bus and subsidised the boat trip from Bow ness to Ambleside.

We had lunch in Ambleside, walked around and explored, then hopped back on the boat again for the 45 minute leisurely ride back to the mini bus.

 It was a lovely warm spring day.

 

John and the Swans!

 

 

Claire and David  waiting for everyone to finish their snacks
so we can catch the boat to Ambleside

Sarifa, Muntaz, Joan, John and Claire queuing for the boat

Lawrence enjoying the view!

 

The stairs up to the roof level. Arty photo!

Sarifa, Mary and Muntaz looking out over the lake
 

Some rowing boats for hire on the shore

 

 

 

 

Alan, Leanne and Emma on the boat

Everyone enjoying  a cuppa on the deck

 

 

Good enough to eat

 

 

 

 

 

Art Projects at The Helm

The Art for Relaxation classes are continuing to produce beautiful pieces of work.
Some like the one below are based on a famous original which is then divided into segments, then painted by different individuals. The difference in styles really adds extra magic to the final piece. We then glue it to a hardboard painted background and fix it up on a wall.

The Cottage by Vincent Van Gogh.
 We chose this particular piece as we thought it was an interesting textural painting
with plenty of scope for exploration

Finished Result!
Up in the Cafe currently on the wall above the signing in book.
We think it's better than the original

 

This is the third large piece that has been created by the group.

As they have been easy to produce we have been thinking of perhaps offering our  services to produce creative comissioned pieces to enliven public buildings to help further generate funds for The Helm. This in turn will help to increase awareness of the The Helm and what we offer to the community.

 

 

Helm New Sessions as from 1st April 2013

 

Monday

 

Games/Social Session 2.00-3.00pm

 

Nice opportunity to catch up and have an informal relax playing a variety of games of your choice

Including a free cuppa and snack

 

Baking Session 2.00pm till 3.30pm

 

Gentle cooking session baking pies or cakes to take home for tea!

Small cost for ingredients payable on the day.

Limited places available so ask a member of staff for more information.

 

Tuesday

 

Art for Relaxation 11.00am till 12.30 then 2.00pm to 3.30pm

 

A good opportunity to unleash your creative talents through any medium you like, including painting, crafts or mixed media. We also work towards annual Helm exhibitions such as our seasonal craft fairs, mental health exhibitions to celebrate world mental health week.

 

The Helm Ramblers 10.00am return tba on the day

Every 1st & 3rd Tuesday of the month

 

Wednesday

 

Sewing for Fun 10.30am till 12.30am

 

Surprise yourself and create something new from materials donated to The Helm. This friendly and informal group will help you build up confidence and work on a project at your own pace. Professional input and support available from our skilled volunteers and friendly staff. Options to help towards creating work to sell at our popular craft fairs also available.

 

Relaxation and Meditation 2.00pm till 3.00pm

 

An opportiunity to take some time out to do gentle stretching exercises, listen to a guided meditation along to music. Come and join in and relieve your worries in this informal group.

 

Baking Session 2.00pm till 3.30pm

 

Gentle cooking session baking pies or cakes to take home for tea!

Small cost for ingredients payable on the day.

Limited places available so ask a member of staff for more information.

 

Thursday

 

Photography/ Walking Session 11.00am till 1.30pm

 

Local walks combined with an opportunity for a cafe break and photography with ongoing IT support on digital imaging and editing as well as discussions on layout and short projects.

 

Weekly Service User Meeting 2.00pm till 2.30pm

 

An important opportunity to come along to voice and be involved in decisions made as to the running of the service and present ideas as to future progressions. Also to be up to date on current plans in the weekly schedule! Free cuppa and cake!

 

Quiz / Bingo 2.30pm till 3.30pm

 

The fortnightly quiz/bingo on alternating weeks stirs a lot of excitement at The Helm. The quiz is free. The winning team has a complementary free drink/biscuit from the cafe!

Bingo is  £1.00 a strip and there are many great prizes to be won.

 

Friday

 

Confidence through Craft 11.00am till 12.30pm

 

A chance to socialise and learn new skills through a variety of creative activities involving mixed media, card making, up cycled jewellery and many other mediums

 

Baking Session 2.00pm till 3.30pm

Gentle cooking session baking pies or cakes to take home for tea!

Small cost for ingredients payable on the day.

Limited places available so ask a member of staff for more information.

 

Creative Writing 2.30pm till 3.30pm

 

Inspired creative thoughts in poetry, verse and short written pieces, discussion around ideas from penning memories to writing a book.

 

Activity & Well Being Session 1.30pm till 3.30pm

 

An oppportunity to get out and do some exercise. This course will involve walking, cycling, swimming, tennis and other relaxing activities.

 

 

 

 

Mural created during our Art Sessions on Tuesdays for the new extension at The Helm.

 

 

 

Recently we have been given the opportunity to expand the Helm's premises which means now that in addition to the already existing centre, we  have a further couple of session rooms, a sewing room where textiles will be made towards craft fairs and an open seating and meeting area. This has caused quite a lot of excitement  at The Helm and everyone has been very keen to get involved in the decorating of the new extension.

 

 

 

We had wanted to create a calming mural of a natural scene so we decided on The Olive Trees By Van Gogh. The image was divided into 12 sections and during our Art For Relaxation we spent a few sessions fine tuning the paintings

 

 

   



By the end of the first session the canvases looked like this
 and you can start to see the image take shape

 

 



   

The Final Result!!



 

The piece of artwork in the sitting area.
 The new big room in the extension.

Music Sessions running on Mondays

During the recent events towards the end of last year, several people accessing The Helm were also attending a series of  workshops run through The Dukes.
These were music classes specifically for people suffering from mental health problems. 

We contributed to this event by working in partnership with other local projects and supporting service users who performed, as the classes culminated in a Concert to raise awareness for World Mental Health Week.  An Infamous local musician, Owen Saunders whom we’d hired to perform at the opening night of our Mental Health Art Exhibition running at the same time in late September is now volunteering kindly at The Helm, running music workshops with the same people who were involved at the concert and a couple of others.

       There is a small group of around 4/5 people who meet weekly to play together in the group and we have noticed that the routine of this activity has contributed to a focus and productivity in those involved.

Sessions incorporating Volunteering and Skill building Opportunities

Hanging heart decorations made by Dawn Williams

•Baking

•Art for Relaxation with support from our Artist in Residence

•Creative Writing

•Confidence and Motivational Skills                     

•Relaxation and Meditation

•Photography and Walking Session

•Social Enterprise at The Helm Allotment

•Fitness and Wellbeing Group

•Music Group run by a Volunteer

•Poetry Writing

•Volunteering in the Café / Cooking

Helping with daily tasks around the centre

•Weekly facilitation of The Helm Service User Meeting

•Contribution towards Creative Support’s Magazine/ Newsletter

•Working towards Helm Events ie: Craft Fairs,  Exhibitions & Promotional Events

•Feeling of mutual responsibility and pride over the service

•Flexibility tailored towards individual need and as a whole

•Assistance with communicating with other Services (telephone/ meetings)

•Esucceed  Online Computer Course, IT Support (as and when)

•Financial Budgeting Support

•Form Filling Skills                                         

•Peer Support towards newcomers

•Showing visitors around

•Social Enterprise

•Promotional Work/ Raising Awareness

New Venture Community Allotment in Fairfield

Before any tidying

Once the land had been turned over potatoes and other veg
was planted to be harvested later on in the year!

    The community allotment is now up and running based at Fairfield, just around the corner from us. There is a lot of tidying up to do so each Tuesday afternoon, anyone willing to join us at the allotment came come with wellies or boots, and sun hat if we’re lucky enough with the weather, and help us tidy, plant and turn over the plots. We need to water the vegetables regularly and weed out every few weeks.

 

 

Steven and David working hard

Once the vegetables and fruit have grown and can be picked, we intend to bring them back to the centre to be used in the café.

So far we have done two sessions in the allotment! It has been dug over in rows for potatoes and vegetables