The Old library trust is doing it bit to support the new and innovative District of Hope initiative.
Keep an eye on our social media for more details.
Days to note are the district of Hope day itself and our programme of hope offered at the healthy living centre.
Health checks, relaxing sound bath and a talk delivered by Glen Hinds alongside giving staff access to the Hive cancer support service desk to help raise awareness and understand symptoms of cancer.
This session was part of the NI executive Office Communities in Transition Project – co ordinated and planned for our hardworking school community staff.
There are so many opportunities in our community to broaden our horizons and look after our own mental health and well being.
We encourage the staff, children and families to continue to engage n community life in to see the range of services available.
The DEEDS team from the Old Library Trust were in the Guildhall this week educating the city and district’s Mayor and local councillors in the Dementia Immersive Experience Tier 1 Programme.
The successful workshop was held to help the councillors “walk in the shoes of someone with dementia” and understand how it affects the person as well as their families and completed the training with information on the services that are available in the Derry and Strabane area.
This was one of many successful DEEDS training events held over the past year which includes training the first-year nurses and paramedics at Ulster University which is held annually.
The Old Library Trust’s DEEDS (Dementia Engaged and Empowered in Derry and Strabane) Programme supports people with dementia within the city and district to live well for longer within their own communities by giving them opportunities to be social, become active and engage in community life. Key projects such as social groups and activity groups help to extend quality of support to those living with and experiencing dementia and their families thanks to support from the National Lottery Community Fund.
Delighted with the success on Monday evening, the Old Library Trust’s Sinead Devine (DEEDS Co-ordinator) described the event as a very successful two-hours ‘experiential workshop’ and said she was delighted with the uptake from so many councillors across the city and district that took time out of their busy schedule to attend.
‘We were absolutely delighted with the turnout. All the councillors were active in their participation of the workshops and followed up with questions looking for more information. Indeed, it was wonderful to see the Mayor Patricia Logue also take part. Last year the council passed a unanimous motion to support dementia awareness training for council staff so it great to see Monday’s event highlighting and reinforcing our Council’s commitment to a Dementia Friendly City and District.’
In a final address to the local councillors at Monday’s event, the DEEDS co-ordinator Sinead Devine stressed that everyone, not just those in attendance, should look for the early signs of dementia among their older family members and loved ones, adding: ‘Maybe you have noticed a loved one with memory issues. Or have a family member with a recent diagnosis and need to know what support is out there. Maybe you are caring for someone with dementia and need support for yourself. I sincerely hope this evening’s event served as an ideal opportunity to see what services are available to you and your loved one. There is help out there. Please don’t feel you’re alone’
Anyone looking for further information should contact Sinead at 02871 373870 during working hours, Monday-Friday.
The Old Library Trust DEEDS project continues its annual training @UlsterUniSoNP with their student nurses.
Our interactive & immersive experiential training feedback is always extremely positive and crucial to the practical learning of the students before they embark on their placements.
Well done everyone!
Thanks to support from the NI Executive Office Communities in Transition project the Old Library Trust in partnership with the Bogside & Brandywell Health Forum was able to create a hive of activity for local people to engage in to help suggest ways in which they can get involved in order to improve their general health and mental wellbeing.
Activities included a large Spinning class showcase under lights, yoga, sound bathing, meditation, breathworks and much more.
Local people had the opportunity to try out some activities and get a sense of what’s involved. This was followed by some health food & refreshments and uplifting music in the Café area encouraging people to get together, catch up, chat and create friendships.
Thank you to everyone that got involved!
A year in video…
The Old Library Trust Healthy Living Centre’s chair Charlie O’Donnell paid a ‘massive thank you to the staff, directors, and service users for contributing to the phenomenal, continued support to local people during Tuesday’s AGM in Creggan.
Today, around 2000+ people come through the doors of the OLT Healthy Living Centre at Central Drive each week to avail of a wide range of physical, social, emotional, and mental wellbeing programmes, activities, and events.
OLT chairperson Charlie O’Donnell welcomed members, users, and public attendees, before giving an overview of the year’s activities, after which he went on to praise the board, staff, and service users for their continued commitment throughout what was another challenging but highly supportive year.
After the minutes were approved, the annual accounts were presented by James Nash (Moore Stephens), who congratulated OLT on great work that was evident at the AGM and highlighted a sound financial performance for the year ending.
Taking the floor to give his annual report, project director George McGowan gave an overview of the year’s highlights and challenges faced by the organisation and service users. Marking that it was his sixth AGM as project director, he paid tribute to the directors and staff for their continued valuable work and commitment while also acknowledging all the Old Library Trust’s funders ‘without whom the work and operation of the Health Living Centre would not be possible’.
Programmes Manager Sabrina Lynch emphasised the strategic priorities of the organisation and made special mention of the critical role that the whole team have played in supporting local people during another period of uncertainty and challenge with the impact of the cost of living affecting peoples financial, physical, and mental wellbeing.
She then called on individual service delivery summaries from the organisation’s programme co-ordinators including Sinead Devine, Jonathan Peberdy, Julie White and Sharon Doherty.
Positive service user stories and testimonials as well as voice messages from programme participants were recalled by co-ordinators during the presentations which painted a very encouraging light on how the organisation’s programmes have local people’s needs at the forefront of everything they do. Service users praised OLT staff for their help in making such a positive contribution to their lives. This concluded with a short video giving an overview of the year’s main highlights and activities.
Project Director George McGowan concluded the AGM by emphasising the organisations continued commitment to local people by stating.
“Everything we do here is for the benefit of the local community. We listen, engage, and design our programmes and services to address the health and wellbeing issues that this community face day and daily. This community deserves to, and has the right to, receive the proper support like anywhere else in the city & district or across the North. We will advocate on your behalf, elevate your voice, and continue to make sure that you, your loved ones, family, and friends are afforded every opportunity to improve your quality of life and general health and wellbeing.”
The Creggan neighbourhood will host a new festival, Equinox, on Wednesday 20th March. Equinox will be a time for creativity, sharing stories, cleansing and celebration and will feature a series of events taking place across Creggan from sunrise to sunset.
The equinox, or Cónocht an Earraigh in Gaelic, has held a special place in Ireland for thousands of years. The word “equinox” derives its name from the Latin term “eqi” which means “equal” and “nox” which means “night”. There are two equinoxes each year in March and September, when the day and night are approximately 12 hours each everywhere on Earth. Some speculate that the close proximity of the spring equinox to St Patrick’s Day is due to a merging of ancient Celtic traditions with more modern Christian rituals.
Congratulations to staff and volunteers from Reading Rooms at Verbal Arts Centre for completing the DEEDS Dementia Awareness Training.
Thank you for helping Derry & Strabane become more dementia friendly. If you would like more information on our Dementia Awareness Training or the Immersive Experience, please contact eilish@olt.ie or phone 02871 373870
