February/March: What’s been happening at Ceartas?

• The advocacy team have been out and about working alongside people in a number of different situations, including; Mental Health Tribunals, PIP and ESA Assessments, social work reviews, and supporting people to access services/find out what’s happening in their local communities. (Tribunals, assessments and reviews info here)

• Roy and Ronnie hosted a consultation event for the new and improved East Dunbartonshire Asset Map – we are still looking for your views on this so please contact us on 0141 775 0433 or info@ceartas.org.uk if you would like to see the current version and have your say.

• Michelle, our Dementia Link Worker has been out and about providing Dementia Awareness Training to the crew at Bishopbriggs Fire Station; she has also set up a Playlist for Life drop in facility at Ceartas, this is a great opportunity to come along and find out how music can make a difference. For more information about this give us a call on 0141 775 0433 or email info@ceartas.org.uk

• Linda has been working with local care homes to pilot a new Welcome Pack for people moving into care, this is a great opportunity for residents to find out a little bit more about what we do and to have a chat with staff from Ceartas about ways in which we might help.

• Susie and Sharon continue to support our Creative Writing Group, we meet weekly here in Ceartas offices and it is a great fun and informal way for folk to come together and write for fun…absolutely no experience required, if you want to find out more then  give us a call on 0141 775 0433 or email info@ceartas.org.uk

• On February 6^th we celebrated Time to Talk Day: a national campaign designed to challenge stigma and discrimination around mental health and encourage people to talk more. Here at Ceartas we had some team events, including Mindfulness, A Quiz, conversation starters and of course some lunch – pics here!

• Gemma, our Senior Advocacy Worker has successfully passed her Professional Practice Award in Advocacy – well done to Gemma! We have another two advocacy staff just about to start their awards and Sharon, our Services Manager, will be undergoing the Assessors Award.

• Partnership work across East Dunbartonshire continues to flourish, we are working alongside DeafBlind Scotland to assist in their Information Day taking place on 24^th March 2020; it would be great to see you there, lots of useful information and advice about benefits, advocacy, Wills, Power of Attorney and available community supports. For more information on this event, click here.

We are looking at publishing Ceartas diaries on our website and social media on a more regular basis and we would love to know what YOU want to hear about…do you want to hear about a day in the life of an advocacy worker, or any other member of the team? Perhaps you would like some more practical information such as advocacy case studies, examples of the work we do, tips on how to self-advocate…the possibilities are endless…let us know and we will see what we can do!