issue 99, march 2012 branching out - sense scotland€¦ · branching out spencer is getting out...

were gathered from disabled people, families and carers and represent the points you were asking local politicians to focus on in their local government roles.

There’s also a wealth of news and events including some fantastic exhibitions and performances coming in the next couple of months. We’re back just before the school holidays, so please contact me if there are any issues or stories you’d like us to focus on in future editions.

Graeme Thomson

Branching Out The Newsletter of Sense Scotland

www.sensescotland.org.uk

Issue 99, March 2012

Contents

Spencer is getting out & about 2

Local Election pledges 5

Fundraising 6

Across Scotland 8

Snippets 10

Policy and legislation 11

Children and Families 12

Dates for your diary 13

EditorialWhile there continue to be challenges for disabled people and their families in the ever changing landscape of service provision, Sense Scotland strives to support people effectively through a range of services across the country. This issue focuses on one of these services and in particular Spencer and his family, showing how we tailor our support to fit around each individual and their aspirations.

You’ll also find some news on recent funding successes which will help us develop and increase the reach of our services for people of all ages. And as you may know with the local elections fast approaching we present the Four Pledges that we are asking candidates to make, as they seek all our votes. These four points

Thursday 3 May1.30 and 7.30pm

Friday 4 May7.30pm

The Bridge1000 Westerhouse RoadGlasgow G34 9JW

Sense Scotland is a Company Limited by Guarantee.Registered in Scotland No: 147570 and a registered Scottish Charity No.: SC022097.

Tickets £8/£4.50/£3.50Box Office 0141 276 9696 (opt.1)www.platform-online.co.uk

Touch Tours available.For more information:

Tel. 0141 429 0294Email [email protected]

www.sensescotland.org.uk/arts

Home.

Supported by

What is Home?A place of sanctuary,

a place of warmth and family,a place full of memories and stories?

A place of chances takenand chances missed ...

Sense Scotland invites you toexperience

HOME.

presents

Issue 99, March 2012 page 2

Branching Out

Spencer is Getting Out and About

8 year old Spencer has just returned from school and is excited about his new purchase, a pair of boxing gloves, which he proudly poses with for photographs. A typical young boy then, except life can be a little more complicated and challenging for Spencer and mum Karen. Spencer is autistic and can find communication and mixing with other people difficult and overwhelming.

Karen has a lot to manage looking after Spencer outside school along with his older sister Nicole. Any support which gives Karen a little break while giving Spencer the opportunity to expand his social horizons is vital. This is where Sense Scotland’s North Lanarkshire Family Support Service comes in. The service supports over 30 disabled children and young people like Spencer, within the Airdrie, Cumbernauld, Kilysth and Chapelhall areas, to access opportunities and activities in the wider community for several hours a week.

Karen explained what it was like before she started to get appropriate support services:

“It’s just a total different way of life, if you’re dealing with somebody everyday that’s autistic. There have been times when I thought I’m not going to be able to cope. Times when Spencer wasn’t sleeping at all, so he was up all night. And it wasn’t the kind of a up all night where you can hug him and he’ll go to sleep, this was up screaming and not being able to hug him and not being able to touch him… and it would be all night long until he burnt himself out. It could be five in the morning, he would sleep for an hour and then he would be back up.”

At this point as Karen noted they were getting no support at all. Karen also had to care for her daughter Nicole who at the time was being treated for a hip disease which meant she had a cast up under her arm pits and down to her ankles. Eventually Karen drove to Airdrie to the social work office and phoned them from outside.

“I said you need to send somebody to the car to speak to me because I can’t manage and I’m not going to be able to manage through the summer,” said Karen.

The Princes Royal Trust also got involved and explained to the council how challenging things were getting for the family and that’s when Karen was given a new social worker who’s still with them.

“He’s been really very good, so he was the one that got Sense Scotland involved with Spencer.” Karen said. “He contacted Sense Scotland and


Branching Out

we had a few meetings and we were waiting on a worker, and he contacted Phew (residential respite). If you’re not managing and you can’t cope and you’ve got a little child like Spencer you need to take any help that’s available really there’s no point being a martyr.”

For the last few years Spencer has been supported by staff from our Children and Families’ services for a few hours every other week. For any parent putting your trust into a new service and in people to care for your child is a challenging process, especially when they have a complex disability like Spencer, which can make it very difficult for him to build relationships with new people. So while there were some initial challenges in developing the bond between our support workers and Spencer, the North Lanarkshire Family Support Service have now built a consistent and effective service to support him and his family.

Karen is very clear about the approaches people need to make when they are with Spencer:

“You have to have a special feature about you to be able to deal with Spencer and he knows if somebody can’t cope with him and he knows if somebody can’t be bothered with him…you’ve got to be very, very positive. You have to be like “hi” and make him think that’s everything is good in the world, one thing that’s negative and Spencer will act in a negative way.”

Nicola Collins, manager of North Lanarkshire Family Support Services helped Spencer’s support worker Vicky to develop the right communication approaches:

“We just went back to basics,” added Nicola. “We started again

and Vicky had to basically look at herself and think about how she communicated with Spencer, what she was saying, and what impact it would have on him. She went to training as well. So that was the way she’s changed herself.”

Spencer had been initially getting support at his house but he was still anxious about going to new places and trying out new activities. Recently there has been a breakthrough for Spencer and the North Lanarkshire Family Support staff. He has started going to a youth club.

“He was actually initiating with people, playing ball games and then some arts and crafts, Nicola explained. “I was really amazed at how well he dealt with interacting with other young people. He played ping pong with a young boy in a wheelchair and it was really nice to see him doing that.”

What kind of person can work with children like Spencer?

Karen: “They need to be very positive and they need to be

Branching Out


reassuring. Spencer needs to actually feel safe with the person. He’s got to have rules.”Consistency makes Spencer happy.Karen: “In the morning when Spencer gets up it’s the same. I go in the bedroom I say the same thing roughly every day. I switch the TV light on just to slowly waken him up and I say ‘do you want toast and a cup of sweetness and love?’…that’s tea. He says the same every day, he says, ‘oh no is it not the vacation?’ and I say, ‘no, school’ and he says ‘uhch’. Every day is the same and the same words and if you change that he just doesn’t like it.”

The benefits of the service.

Karen: “The good thing about Spencer having respite is, because he likes to be with me all time, for those hours having somebody that’s different dealing with him, that’s the important thing. He went out last week and he had a great time, he said it himself. Normally he’ll say ‘well it was ok but I didn’t really like it and I’m not going to do it again’. It’s good for him because he doesn’t like change, He likes his life to be in a fixed little environment.”

The family won a caravan holiday through Sense Scotland.

Karen: “I think it was a kind of turning point, he learned a lot of things..which is new for him because my partner Tam, myself, Nicole and Spencer went to the caravan.”

New experiences.“We thought Spencer would be very anxious meeting Santa at TouchBase. But he just went up to him and said…‘Hello Santa!’…”

Spencer’s future.Karen: “Well I’m thinking if he’s out and about, he’ll be more sociable and possibly it will help develop his play skills. It’s keeping a stability there and still keeping him on a level playing field but showing him that it’s ok outside, that’s there’s nothing to be anxious about. It’s kind of a pushing forward, taking him ahead and trying to get the most potential out of him so that he can do the best that he can with his life. I’m thinking that the sky’s the limit for him because there’s no good reason to say that Spencer can’t do a lot of things that everybody else does. Spencer said himself the other day, ‘I’ve just been thinking when I’m a big adult I’m going to have to get a job’. And I said, ‘what you going to do?’. He said, ‘I don’t know, I might be a scientist or a doctor or something as I’ll need the money to buy a credit card’…”

Nicola: “The good thing is that he looks to the future and he has his own aspirations.”

What the service meansKaren: “You think 4 hours isn’t a lot, but 4 hours is the difference between climbing the walls,” said Karen. “It’s an absolute life line, it’s absolutely vital. If I didn’t have those hours, the summer holidays, they become very difficult. When he’s getting out, he’s meeting new challenges, meeting new people and he’s building his interaction.”

To find out more about our Children and Families services Email: [email protected] Phone: 0141 429 0294

Branching Out


Scottish Local Elections 2012 Four requests for Scotland’s children and young people with complex communication needsSense Scotland has been talking to the children and young people who use our services and their families about what practical measures would help them to have the best start in life. Their four requests to you are about ensuring that families can support their children throughout their childhood to have the same opportunities as their non-disabled peers, and to develop into confident adults able to fulfil their potential in life.Together, we have identified four things that could make a real difference:• Provide all new parents with

accurate, up-to-date information about accessing support.

• Meet the additional costs of skilled childcare required by disabled children.

• Provide support to disabled people and their families based on need, rather than age.

• Each local authority to appoint an elected member as “Champion for Disabled People”.

We’re asking candidates to pledge their support for these requests which you can read more about in the full version of the pledges on our website at:http://www.sensescotland.org.uk/media/402474/sense_scotland_manifesto_2012_final.pdf

For more information on this email Megan Wilson at: [email protected] her on: 07919 526 830 or write to her at:Megan WilsonHead of Public AffairsSense Scotland43 Middlesex StreetKinning ParkGlasgow G41 1EE

Please make sure your local candidates know about these pledges in the lead up to the elections on the 3rd of May.

Hustings at TouchBase – meet Glasgow local election candidatesThursday 26th April: 10.30am - 1.30pmMeet the Glasgow local election candidates: This will consist of half hour slots for each politician to meet with parents as a group, providing you with the opportunity to ask them questions on the issues relevant to you. There will be politicians there from a number of different parties. Please let us know if you plan to attend by calling 0141 429 0294.

Branching Out


FundraisingThe Sense Scotland fundraising team has raised over £4 million since 1 May 2010 to end February 2012. We could not have achieved this wonderful target without the support and service users, families, staff and donors. Without you, this wouldn’t have been possible.

Our Christmas mailing featuring David and unique snowflakes raised an amazing £62,062. The fundraising team were snowed under with gifts and a flurry of messages written on snowflakes decorated the walls of TouchBase during Christmas.Rolls Royce in East Kilbride donated £332 towards David’s snowflake appeal.

Our Spring mailing features Amy who works in our admin team at TouchBase on reception. Amy’s a real tea jennie and asked our supporters to put the kettle on and read her story. So far, Amy’s letter has raised over £9,000.

Share a Craft in Grangemouth donated £70 from proceeds of their coffee morning. The Montrose Operatic Society donated £217.25 towards our Dundee Support Services. Discovery Line Dancers in Dundee held a raffle and raised £70.

29 people took part in the ghost hunt in December and raised £4,650.

A group of Dundee golfers were in the swing for charity after presenting three good causes with cheques. A charity golf day in the summer raised £600 each for Cash For Kids, Sense Scotland and Kick it Kick Off. Elizabeth Matthewson and Jenni Tait met to receive cheques with other charity representatives and club captain Raymond Bennett. Elizabeth was asked to submit a letter about Sense Scotland to the club and was chosen as one of the three charities to benefit from the club.

Make every home a happy one (with one of our Happy House boxes!) Our Happy House boxes are a fantastic way to raise funds from your small change and in 2011 donations totalled a wonderful £78,035.70. That’s a lot of pennies! If you or someone you know could give a Happy House Box a home, contact Kate Dunan on 0141 429 0294.

LUV FeteAnother year and another great Luv Fete. Hundreds of people kept the stalls busy on 12th February at TouchBase in the event which is organised by Children and Families and partners from across Sense Scotland. The event raised around £1400 that’s a lota love folks, thank you to everyone who contributed, gave their time before and after the event, baked cakes, bought cakes and helped make the event the success it was.Iron Mountain raise thousands at our Bathgate charity shop An ‘Apprentice-style’ team challenge across the UK saw staff from the Livingston offices of information management company Iron Mountain

Branching Out


take over our Bathgate charity shop. They then beat their English rivals, also from Iron Mountain, who ran the Sense Loughton shop in Essex.“We’d like to thank the Iron Mountain team from Livingston, who put a massive effort into this task, raising thousands of pounds on the day of the challenge,” said Annemarie Devlin, our Head of Fundraising. “Not only did they raise the most money out of the Iron Mountain teams, they also won overall in the percentage uplift category with an impressive 347.71% uplift.”

Caroline McCafferty, Iron Mountain’s Customer Service Manager at Livingston said: “We are delighted with the result. Our team were highly motivated to take part in the Battleshop challenge for Sense Scotland. We put everything into this event in support of what we all feel to be a very important cause.”

The Scottish team proved to be highly resourceful and entered into the spirit of the day by donning bunny ears and in one instance a full rabbit costume, which helped them leap to the front in the charity challenge. The event attracted the support of shoppers across the UK, as they poured through the doors of Sense Scotland and other Sense shops to raise funds for our services. As well as the Bathgate shop located at 89/91 South Bridge Street, we have charity shops across the country.

Kilmarnock Shop themed displaysWell done to staff in the Kilmarnock charity shop who presented some fantastic wedding and Valentines day themed displays. It was a great success generating interest and support from local shoppers.How to donate:• Direct to a shop: We welcome

donations direct to their shops. • Donation Collectors deliver

collection sacks to your door.• Furniture Collections: door-to-door

service for collection of valuable, delicate or large item, including furniture. Call 07717 133 531 (West of Scotland) or book a collection via email: [email protected]

find your nearest Charity Shop at:www.sensescotland.org.uk/fundraising/charity-shops/shopfinder

Fundraising Events We have a have a number of events, runs and activities which you could take part in. These are just a few to get you interested. For more information and to organise entry forms and fundraising packs email - [email protected] the 4th Be With You!Friday May 4th 2012: Star Wars evening at TouchBase – An evening of Star Wars themed fundraising, fancy dress and trivia will culminate in a free, big screen showing of Star Wars Episode IV: A New Hope. For more details contact Erin Leggate on email [email protected]

Saturday 19th May – Zip Trek 24

Sunday 26th August & Sunday 2nd September: Team Rapids, River TummelDate TBC – Big Swing, Titan Crane

Branching Out


Across ScotlandLegacy Income Supports Major TouchBase InvestmentTwo years ago we purchased a building adjoining TouchBase, our flagship day resource on Glasgow’s southside. The building requires full refurbishment and we are delighted with the reward of a grant of £170,544 from the Enterprise Growth Fund toward the cost of the renovations. The full costs will be in the region of £450,000 with the remaining balance being met from a major legacy which was gifted to Sense Scotland in 2011.

The project is due for completion by the end of January 2013 and once refurbished, the building will become an integral part of TouchBase with a large events space, exhibition gallery and visual arts studios. The expanded TouchBase will allow us to increase the range of services and activities on offer and enable more people to receive the opportunities which TouchBase offers. The investment will also offer the prospect of more jobs and volunteering possibilities.

The project is what the Scottish Government calls ‘shovel ready’, in other words we could start very quickly, and this met the very tight timescales of the funder. However we’re already looking at funding options for developments that might require more work in advance but bring the TouchBase idea to families and service users right across Scotland.

Lori’s blog for Branching OutHi I’m Lori, I’m in my twenties, and I am a Sense Scotland service user. I have secured a part time post working at Sense Scotland Hillview resource centre in Dundee for 3 hours a week, where I advise staff and service users on various apps for the iphone that can be accessed using voice over, so they are suitable for people with visual impairments. I aim to update you all in each edition of Branching Out with new apps varying from games to social networking or apps that may help you with your daily routines. In this edition, I have five apps that I have come across on the iphone and android.

Heytell: Free app available for iphone and android. Social networking app that allows you to send voice messages to your friends, ultimately replacing text messaging.

Siri: Only available on the iphone 4S and it allows you to say a message into the phone, for example a contact name and brings up the name. You can also check the weather and how many days until Christmas.

oMoby: Free app available for iphone. It is a visual search which allows you to take a photograph of an object then tells you what it is. This can be used for supermarket shopping, choosing clothing, identifying objects around the house etc.

Branching Out


Infinite Relaxation – Michael Schneider: £2.99 for app on iphone. An app which allows you to set volume of music and voice for relaxation to put you to sleep or wake you up. When you set it up, it gives you a different listening experience each time.

Moxie: Free app or chargeable ones available from £0.69 on iphone. A word game similar to scrabble

For more information contact me at Hillview Resource Centre on Thursday mornings Tel: 01382 834681 or email: [email protected] or [email protected]

Scottish Night in DundeeOn Saturday 28th April from 7pm till late at the Queens Hotel in Dundee why not join staff, families and people we support for a fantastic Scottish themed night of entertainment? Featuring a buffet, raffle, traditional Scottish and modern music from a range of acts, it’s a chance to raise some money while having a great night out. Tickets are £5 and you can order or reserve them by contacting Lesley Christie on - Mobile: 07919526916 or Tel: 01382 206124

New Musical Developments in the East ‘Figurenotes’ is a musical notation concept designed and developed by Markku Kaikkonen and Kaarlo Uusitalo of Resonaari School in Helsinki. They have replaced the conventional musical notation system with shapes and colours to allow children and adults on the autistic spectrum to learn how to read music and play an instrument. It has been shown to help

develop concentration, listening skills and confidence.

Drake Music Scotland currently has a programme set up to support this in schools around Scotland. Using the ‘Figurenotes’ concept, I am in the process of redesigning it to suit people who have a mild visual impairment, working in close partnership with RNIB in Kirkcaldy. So far we have used the piano, percussion and hand-bells, which can work both in a 1:1 and group setting.

Thanks to local funding from TESCO, we can now develop it further, as we can buy a wide variety of instruments that can be used in sessions in the East. Using the ‘Figurenotes’ concept, we hope to build a further partnership with Drake Music Scotland, the Royal Blind School, Edinburgh and local schools around Fife.

Another project that I am currently working on in music sessions in the East is using varying degrees of pitch (notes) as a form of communication. I have started a research project that I hope to develop over the next year, to investigate why and how various levels of pitch can alter the mood of someone. This appears to be particularly prominent with service users that I work with, who have MSI and/or profound physical disabilities.

If you would like more information on either of the projects mentioned, please contact Fiona Sharp on:

Email: [email protected]

Tel: 07901535852

Branching Out


Rare Award to Joyce WilsonJoyce Wilson, recently retired from Sense Scotland, has been awarded the coveted Sense Scotland Award. It’s only been given three times before, in 1989 to Ailish Massey (former head teacher at Carnbooth school) and in 1991 to Dr John Tulloch and Sheena Tulloch, who played a significant role in establishing Sense Scotland.The award for Joyce recognises her tireless work over 25 years in supporting and guiding the organisation, always making sure that the people we support remained at the very heart of the organisation. I’m sure families, staff and people who use our services will wish her all the very best in retirement and congratulate her on this much deserved award.

Snippets

NetbuddyParents and carers of people with a learning disability are using a new website to share tips and support each other. Netbuddy is an award-winning site for swapping practical tips and information on all aspects of supporting people with special needs.

With over 1,000 tips from people with first-hand experience of learning disability it includes advice on anything from challenging behaviour and constipation to brushing teeth. Go to: http://www.netbuddy.org.uk/

Tribute to Doreen Woodford on BBC’s See Hear: Series 31 - Episode 36BBC iplayer’s See Hear has a programme available which includes a tribute to the late Doreen Woodford who worked tirelessly for the deaf and deaf-blind communities and was a good friend of Sense Scotland. The item starts just after 19 minutes 35 seconds into the programme, although all the articles in the show are interesting. The show is available until 2:29PM Wed, 27 Jun 2012.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episode/b01dlj3l/See_Hear_Series_31_Episode_36/

Branching Out


Policy and LegislationFamilies with disabled children exempt from Working Tax Credits changesThe government has announced that families with disabled children will now be exempt from the changes to Working Tax Credit rules. The rules due to come into effect from April, required couples to increase their working hours from 16 to 24 to continue to receive Working Tax Credits. Now, regulations published by the government yesterday, say that a couple will continue to receive Working Tax Credits so long as one partner works 16 hours a week and their partner is entitled to Carer’s Allowance.

The government has also amended the rules on getting help with childcare costs. From April childcare costs can be included in a tax credit claim where one partner works 16 hours a week and their partner is entitled to carer’s allowance. This opens up childcare to a group that weren’t previously entitled.If you have any questions about these or other changes to benefits please contact our Family Advisers - Email: [email protected] or Phone: 0141 429 0294

Self-directed Support (Scotland) BillThe Scottish Government is planning to introduce a Self Directed Support Bill later in 2012. The draft Self Directed Support (SDS) Bill concentrated on ensuring people were offered Self Directed Support by their local authorities, through emphasising different ways people could receive, or get support to manage, individual

budgets. We believe that SDS is about much more than that, and welcome your views.If enacted, the Bill will:• introduce the language and

terminology of self-directed support into statute;

• provide a consistent, clear framework in law;

• impose firm duties on local authorities to provide the various options available to citizens - making it clear that it is the citizen’s choice as to how much choice and control they want to have;

• widen eligibility to those who have been excluded up to this point, such as carers; and

• consolidate, modernise and clarify existing laws on direct payments.

The Bill (as introduced) is now available on the Scottish Parliament website.http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/parliamentarybusiness/Bills/48001.aspx

Pat Onions e-petition to review cuts to disabled peoples’ benefitsYou can still go online at:http://epetitions.direct.gov.uk/petitions/20968Pat Onion’s petition is to stop and review the cuts to benefits and services which are falling disproportionately on disabled people, their carers and families. Pat says:“We ask the government to stop this massive programme of piecemeal change until they can review the impact of all these changes, taken together, on disabled people and their

Branching Out


Children and Families Parent’s group at TouchBaseAs many of you will know, we have a parent’s group that meets at TouchBase in Glasgow. Below is the schedule for what’s happening at the group up until June 2012, put together around the requests from parents who have been attending. The group runs from 10.30-12.30 on the dates below. All Sense Scotland parents are very welcome, so do join us! April: Due to school holidays we won’t have a parent’s group meeting in April, apart from a chance to meet Glasgow local election candidates.Friday 11th May: 10.30am - 12.30pm (12.30 – 1pm coffee & chat) Ian Noble and Anne Sutherland from Sense Scotland’s Training and Learning Centre will join us to provide information on how Service Users can access ASDAN through Sense Scotland’s Services. ASDAN is a charity which provides curriculum programmes to more

than 6,000 schools, colleges, training providers and youth centres. ASDAN’s wide range of curriculum programmes and qualifications offer flexible ways to accredit personal and social education, skills development and enrichment activities. Find out more at: www.asdan.org.uk Tuesday 22nd May: 10.30am - 12.30pm (12.30 – 1pm coffee & chat) Ian Hood from Learning Disability Alliance Scotland will be joining us to give an update on the Self Directed Support (SDS) Bill.Tuesday 19th June - Carers Week event, TouchBase Glasgow: Event for carers with information and relaxation sessions and much more. We will send out information on the speakers and stalls that will be there nearer the time.If you have any questions, or plan to attend any of these events contact Rachael Tonge Tel: 0141 429 0294 Email: [email protected]

carers. We ask the government to stand by its duty of care to disabled people and their carers. At the moment the covenant seems to be broken and they do not feel safe. Illness or disability could affect any one of us at any time, while many more of us are potential carers.”

Try the Personal Independence Payments (PIP) test online Benefits and Work have produced a PIP self-test which allows you to score yourself for the daily living and mobility components of PIP with a few clicks of your mouse. Find the PIP self-assessment test online at: http://www.benefitsandwork.co.uk/pip/indexxx.php

It will do the maths for you, tell you what components you assess yourself as qualifying for and even email you a copy of your results if you want it to.

The Government is changing DLA to become Personal Independence Payments. If you currently receive DLA, and are of working age, you will have to undertake a new assessment, which will determine if you will receive the new benefit.

Find out more about welfare changes on the Sense Scotland website at: http://www.sensescotland.org.uk/resources/public-policy/dla-reform.aspx

Branching Out


Dates for your Diary 2012Until April 2012 - Sense Scotland artists at TouchBase: Start of a new series of exhibitions at our TouchBase resource in Glasgow which celebrates the recent work of some of Sense Scotland’s most talented artists.

Scottish Night in Dundee, Saturday 28th April7pm till lateQueens Hotel, 160 Nethergate, Dundee DD1 4DUTickets: £5Join staff and families and people we support for a fantastic Scottish themed night of entertainment in Dundee’s Queens Hotel. Featuring a buffet, raffle, traditional Scottish and modern music from a range of acts, it’s a chance to raise some money while having a great night out. You can order or reserve tickets by contacting Lesley Christie on: Mobile: 07919526916 or Tel: 01382 206124

‘It is Is it’: Friday 20th April – Monday 7th May Exhibition part of Glasgow International Festival of Visual Art (GI), Kelvingrove Art Gallery & Museum, Argyle Street, Glasgow G3 8AG Artist works are currently on display at Kelvingrove Community art space until Mid-May 2012

Live event, Kelvingrove: Mon 30th April, 11.30am - 12.30pm A group of artists we support have been exploring, sharing and responding to the vast range of spaces and objects found at Glasgow’s Kelvingrove. Part of the Glasgow International Festival of Visual Art (GI), ‘It is Is it’ is building a visual archive of the artists’ experiences in Kelvingrove. Since February the group have been discovering and rediscovering Kelvingrove via ‘live happenings’


Branching Out

which map individual movements and sounds, through time and space. Another group of artists, the studio group, have created artworks based on their rituals and collections and these pieces are now on display.

HOME: Thursday 3rd May Matinee 1.30pm Evening 7.30pm & Friday 4th - May Evening 7.30pm: Following the acclaimed production of PARK, the performance group from Sense Scotland are set to embark on the creation and performance of another groundbreaking piece of theatre. The play will focus on the subject of home. This may mean many things to many people, a place of sanctuary and safety, a scary new venture, a place of staff and routines, a lonely place, a place of warmth and family… This home has a twist though. A place full of memories, of repetition, of stories and of chances both missed and taken… Join Sense Scotland to experience HOME. This production is supported by the Esmee Fairbairn Foundation.

Festival of Colour 20 March to 20 April: TouchBase, Glasgow. A fantastic array of colourful works by Sense Scotland artists form a new exhibition. In the spirit of the recent Hindu festival Holi, artists have been celebrating colour, creation and renewal.

For more information on any of these events contact the Arts Team on Phone: 0141 429 0294 Email: [email protected]

Carers Week EventTuesday 19th June: TouchBase Glasgow. Event for carers with information and relaxation sessions and much more. Details to follow soon.

In the spirit of the recentHindu festival Holi, service users have been celebrating colour, creation and renewal

in TouchBase43 Middlesex StreetGlasgow, G41 1EE

20 March- 20 April

www.sensescotland.org.uk Sense Scotland is a Company Limited by Guarantee. .

Registered in Scotland No: 147570 and a registered Scottish Charity No. SC022097...Patron: The Duchess of Sutherland. Honorary Patron: Mary, Dowager Countess of Strathmore LLD DL...

ColourFestival of

Exhibition


Branching Out

The views expressed within Branching Out are those of the authors and do not necesarily reflect those of Sense Scotland. If you have any comments to make about the content of Branching Out or any other aspect of the work of Sense Scotland, please contact us. Copy for the next issue should be sent to: Graeme Thomson, Sense Scotland, 43 Middlesex Street, Kinning Park, Glasgow, G41 1EE by the end of May 2012.

West of Scotland (Head Office): Sense ScotlandTouchBase43 Middlesex StreetKinning ParkGlasgow G41 1EETelephone: 0141 429 0294Fax: 0141 429 0295Textphone: 0141 418 7170

North East of Scotland Sense ScotlandThe GatehouseQuarry RoadNorthfield Aberdeen AB16 5UUTelephone: 01224 789 940Fax: 01224 789 945

East of Scotland Sense Scotland11 Edison HouseFullerton Road Queensway Industrial EstateGlenrothes Fife KY7 5QRTelephone: 01592 750 005Fax: 01592 751 121

Advisory Pat Brown (Family Advisor West)Telephone: 0141 418 7154email: [email protected]

Jackie Reid (Family Advisor East)Telephone: 01382 834 682email: [email protected]

Service User Consultation GroupMeets first Thursday of the month.

Information contacts: Steph ClarkTelephone: 01307 468 334Yvonne Larkin Telephone: 0141 429 0294

Trustees Area of Interest Roy Cox Chair Neil Farquharson Vice Chair Douglas Smart TreasurerDavid Newton Legal Norman Ritchie Business Duncan Tannahill Business & Fundraising Isobel Allan Family Issues Usman Rehman Family IssuesEileen Henighen Family IssuesGary Simpson Family Issues

Editor: Graeme Thomson Telephone: 0141 429 0294email: [email protected]

Branching Out is available in other formats on request.

Sense Scotland is a Company Limited by Guarantee Registered in Scotland No: 147570. Registered Scottish Charity No: SC022097 Registered Office: 43 Middlesex Street, Kinning Park, Glasgow Tel: (0141) 429 0294 Fax: (0141) 429 0295 Text: (0141) 418 7170 Patron: The Dutchess of Sutherland. Honorary Patron: Mary, Dowager Countess of Strathmore LLD DL

Registered Office England & WalesSense, 11 - 13 Clifton Terrace, Finsbury Park

London N4 3SR. Telephone: (0207) 272 7774U.K. Patron: Her Royal Highness, The Princess Royal

issue 99, march 2012 branching out - sense scotland€¦ · branching out spencer is getting out...

Documents