Items of Interest
- Welcome
- Recent Changes
- Charity
- Fontilles
- Fundraising & Charity
Events
- Next AGM
- Thank You
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Welcome |
Hello Everyone,
I hope you have all enjoyed a wonderful summer and coped with the heat if you remained here or enjoyed cooler climes if away.
I can hardly believe that Christmas is just around the
corner closely followed by another New Year.
I trust those of you who attended the Volunteers Meeting in
October found it interesting and informative and I hope you
enjoyed the different format. The emphasis for this and for
future October Volunteers Meetings will be to keep you up
to date with what has been happening, and also a way to
say ‘thank you’ for the effort you all put in; I hope you felt
this was so. The feedback has been positive and those who
participated enjoyed being involved and sharing their
experiences either as a volunteer or a ‘receiver’ of our
services. |
Recent Changes |
As I mentioned at the Volunteers meeting, the last six months has seen the committee address several issues. Our Respite Care service began in June, and is now managed by me.
The La Xara Charity shop has undergone a new structure and is now being co-ordinated by Stephen Lemon. Our second Charity shop opened in Moraira in July and Rita Greenwood recently took over as the co-ordinator.
Jill Porter-Smith has been involved with HELP for many years as co-ordinator for interpreters. She managed the transition when the service moved from the old Hospital at La Pedrera to its current site in La Xara, but has now decided to step down as co-ordinator although she will continue as a volunteer interpreter. Jill’s efforts over the years have been much appreciated by all who have come in to contact with her. James Hodgkinson has also stepped down as co-ordinator for the Hospital Shadows team, and this allowed the structure of our team on the Help Desk in the hospital to be reviewed.
The Interpreters and Shadows have been combined into
one team which is called the Hospital Help Desk team,
they are co-ordinated by Candy Wright with George Arthur
as deputy – the service they provide has not changed!
Our Benitachell co-ordinator, Paul Pruden wanted to devote more time to his other
interests in the U3A and with “Friends of Avinenca”, and Mary Haydon-Rowe has
stepped in to the breach. Thank you both for what you have done and what I hope you
will do in the future!!
The sad and unexpected loss of Pamela Kershaw in August left another care coordinator
position vacant, and after some thought I am pleased to welcome Sally
Atkinson on to the team as the new Teulada/Moraira co-ordinator. Sally was a
trained nurse in the UK and her experience will be put to good use in the role.
Projects for next year will focus on developing the possibility of a
Parkinson’s support group and Diabetes support group – as I write
this article I note that a Spanish Parkinson’s support group is hoping
to open somewhere in the Denia area as well. This all needs careful
consideration and an understanding of what we want to achieve so
that we have the involvement and commitment of relevant and
appropriate professionals.
We recently identified additional space, next door to the ‘Help’ Centre which will
give us good storage facilities for our oversized items such as beds,
stairlifts, and hoists etc. We are also critically examining our current
stock with a view to replacing some worn out and beyond repair
items by the end of the year, ensuring that when loaned out, the
equipment is in good working order.
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Charity |
As a caring organisation, we cannot help but be touched by the economic plight
that families of all nationalities are finding themselves in at the
moment and it is with this in mind that the committee have decided to
make a donation of food vouchers to the Social Services departments
in Denia, El Vergel, Pedreguer, Javea, Benitachell, Teulada/Moraira,
Benissa and Calpe.
This will allow the departments to distribute them to the most needy families and
individuals in their areas, and I’m sure you agree that it will be a very worthwhile
gesture and much appreciated at this time of the year.
Once again we will be supporting Raquel Paya School in Denia, a school for
children with learning disabilities, to provide equipment so that the best and most
appropriate aids are enabling each child to reach their full potential.
Incidentally there are a number of British children attending this
wonderful special school.
Pat Lee- Patton has continued encouraging and receiving donations of dried food
and tinned foodstuffs for the Caritas box situated in the Help Centre and this is
regularly passed on to Caritas where it is very gratefully accepted and as we know
desperately needed. |
Fontilles |
Catherine Perez-Pinto regularly liaises with the Sanatorium San Francisco de
Borja, better know simply as ‘Fontilles’, the famous leprosy research centre. It is
also a residencia for the elderly, and the home and hospital is set in the most
beautiful grounds.
This year Fontilles has opened a new health facility offering short term care at the
incredibly low price of €35 a day. This includes all food and medical care. Short
term care can mean anything from one week to two or three months.
It is ideal for patients recovering from operations, illnesses or falls and who have
nobody at home to look after them on their discharge from hospital.
It is also useful as an emergency measure while other arrangements are being put
into place, especially in the case of those patients whose families live in another
country or those who have no families at all.
HELP has been able to make use of this new facility on several occasions already. |
Fundraising & Charity Events |
Our recent Christmas Fayre at Casa Holanda raised approximately €1500 even
though it clashed with a similar event put on by Jalon
Valley Help. Attendance was slightly down compared to
the previous year but we did receive positive
comments such as ‘What a happy and relaxed
atmosphere’ and ‘We really enjoyed the
Christmas Carols’. We also received some
suggestions for the future – a plant stall, more craft stalls, fewer small
raffle prizes and more emphasis on a Christmas Draw - all these
thoughts and comments are welcome and will help us plan for a bumper,
successful Fayre next year.
For fundraising in 2013 we intend to have three or four quite large events rather
than lots of smaller functions, and we hope you will all be able to support them
because Gail and her small team work really hard on your behalf.
On or near Valentine’s Day a tea dance is planned, possibly with dance
teachers!
In April we plan to have another walk with a difference. Last year we had a very
interesting and informative mountain walk with a local expert – next year wait and
see!
Following the success of our Charity Golf Day earlier this year, we hope
to plan a similar event in May or June, the venue will depend upon where
and when we can get the best price for the golf.
We also want to have a couple of quiz evenings, one in the south and one in the
north of the area these will be more of a social event for members.
Just before next Christmas, the Montgo Chorale will provide us with a
festival of carols at Pedreguer Church on15th December 2013.
BUT we do need more helpers – ideally a team of about five or six people to work
on each event with support from Gail Horler, our fundraising co-ordinator.
So, if you are interested in helping do please contact
Gail : 965 757 659 or 689 412 172 or
Judith : 634 345 014.
Fundraising & Charity Events |
Advance Notice |
Our AGM will again be in March 2013,
this will be a formal business meeting
for members only and we may need to
look for a larger venue in Denia if
attendance continues to rise. |
THANK YOU |
Our minds are drawn to family and friends as the festive season
approaches, but our Help volunteers will still be active in the Hospital,
in the Help Centre, in the community and in our Charity Shops so
may I thank you all for your efforts and assistance – all this is only
possible with your ongoing support and commitment – my heartfelt
thanks.
May I wish you all a warm and healthy winter, and a jolly and happy
Christmas and New Year ,
Best wishes, |
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