Author: Julie White

Sabrina and Sinead were joined by the amazing Alison Bristow – a Learning Disability Dementia Nurse WHSCT to present their new training to the lovely people at the Tuned In Project. Tuned In uses the digital and creative arts, media and music to support people with Learning Disabilities to build independence, skills and confidence. DEEDS presented what it is like to have dementia and about communication including an experiential element within the workshop. Alison enhanced this by focusing on learning disability and dementia and presented on why those with learning disabilities are more likely to develop dementia as well as what to look out for specifically and how then to make a referral. The group were wonderful, enthusiastic and well engaged in the process. Feedback was brilliant and the door is open for more engagement for staff on this topic going forward.

 OLT Biggest Improver Programme 

 OLT are delighted to be extending our Biggest Improver Programme this Monday 24th April.
 So, if you fancy a wee challenge as we run up to Summer, get signed up.

Delivered by our experienced team of Instructors and will include full health assessments & nutritional support.

 Registration this Monday 24th April from 4:30pm until 6:45pm.

10 weeks – 3 exercise sessions per week, weekly weigh ins, nutrition support.

 Classes run Monday, Tuesday & Thursday from 7pm each week.

*£50 signup fee (Initial deposit required at registration).

 We will be giving PRIZES for our MOST IMPORVED!!!

Anyone interested has to be willing to commit to the full 10 weeks and must have deposit payment on registration.

 If interested please contact Conor/Julie on 028 71373870 or send us a message for more information.

With Football being a great way to stay in shape and keep active, we have launched our Dander Ball session where anyone that has an interest can come along and join in the fun.

With walking not running being the hardest part of the game, this is a very inclusive activity as it can suit all levels.

A big thank You to the Bogside & Brandywell Health forum’s Team for giving us a great game and plenty of laughs.

get in touch with Jonathan For More information jonathan@olt.ie

The DEEDS team were in Ulster University for two days last week training the first year nurses before they went out on their placement.

“What will you bring from the Dementia Education Programme Tier 1” asked Dr Deirdre Harkin of her students. Deirdre is a lecturer in Adult Nursing in the School of Nursing and Paramedic Science.  

The students were led through an immersive experiential session learning how the five senses can impact on dementia. 330 students and 3 DEEDS volunteers were trained and learned to walk in the shoes of someone living with dementia. Out of one group 89% strongly agreed that the training met their expectation. 93% agreed that the experiential exercises increased empathy and understanding of dementia. 89% felt confident to put this learning into action. “Course was fantastic” wrote one nurse.

“Opened my eyes” wrote another. “Absolutely loved this training” and “Such passion in the volunteers/Staff” were two other comments in the evaluations.

” We really welcome this partnership we have with Ulster University” said Sinead Devine Deeds Co-ordinator . “Everything we do in DEEDS helps us to take one more step towards a dementia friendly region for Derry and Strabane. Training the nurses in Tier 1 is certainly helping us to achieve this as these young nurses represent the future support for those with dementia in our hospital and community care settings”.

A big thank you to Dr Deirdre Harkin and Aoife Conway at Ulster University for all the support on the day to help make the training such a success. And also to our amazing volunteers – we couldn’t do this without you!

Highly acclaimed mental health & resilience programme

Science of the Amber Approach

Each programme is based on the AMBER resilience and wellbeing approcah, a comprehensive evidence based curriculum that underpins all activity and learning outcomes. It is based on the latest evidence based research from the fields of neuroscience, psychology and social science and is currently being delivered to local families and children.

This weeks session ‘M’ of the AMBER approach introduced the kids to MOVE! Learning and understanding we all need to move to help unblock stuck energy and calm excess hyper energy!

The children really are enjoying it & the parents feedback is amazing

Huge thanks to Dessie Lynch

We would like to thank Dessie Lynch from Fairytale Wedding Cars Derry for his very kind and generous donation of £1,000.00 towards our DEEDS project. Dessie made the presentation to Sabrina Lynch and Sinead Devine  from OLT alongside presentations to Foyle Down Syndrome Trust, Foyle Hospice and Foyle Search and Rescue who also received £1,000.00 for each organisation.

Thank you so much Dessie and all at Fairy tale Wedding Cars Derry. your donation will be put to great use supporting local people and their families experiencing dementia in their lives.

Yesterday DEEDS hosted 77 members living with dementia and their families for a St Patrick’s Celebration with amazing entertainment from the wonderful Mickey Doherty. The event kicked off with our marvelous Mellow DEEDS Choir led by Anna Nolan accompanied by James Anderson on the guitar. Everyone joined in for their rendition of “The Wild Rover!”

Mickey asked Mellow DEEDS member Willy Barrett to entertain us with a couple of songs. His rendition of Town I Loved So Well had us all moved. There wasn’t a dry eye in the house.

Husband Barry is serenaded by wife Sylvia celebrating 52 years of marriage.

Fun was had by all – Gerard enjoying the moment

John and mum Mary enjoying a cuppa and sandwich together

Do the Huckle Buck!

Thank you to all our volunteers for helping to make this such a fantastic event!

Support Worker Wendy thanking the fabulous Marie who volunteers with DEEDS.

Old Library Trust AGM 2023 in pictures…

We took our Step Forward Dander Ball Team over to the Foyle Arena to play against other people living across the city and district presenting with one or more of a combination of long term conditions.

They all played a few mixed group matches. This was a great way to get both groups introduced to each other, to share experiences, talk about solutions and options to manage their condition, socialise and have a bit of craic!

There was some great football played by all teams and a couple of red cards handed out too. The Referee was obviously inexperienced! lol

A Big thanks to Ron McGowan, Rosie O’brien & Sean Hargan for being great hosts. Over to our Pitch Next time 😉

#community #CommunityDevelopment #healthylifestyle

#Sports Development #DerryCity&Strabanedistrictcouncil

#Foyle Arena MoveMore NI