May 2009 Newsletter

-----------------
May 2009
NEWSLETTER
-----------------
From the Chair 10^thAnniversary Birthdays, Meetings Clothing Store Food Programme IT Suite Soccer Team
To the Editor News, Ads, etc. Positive Challenge May Day Festival
Diary Dates May Jun
Comment, Please! HOME

FOREWORD
BY THE
CHAIR OF THE DCRSC BOARD OF TRUSTEES

Dear Friends and Supporters,

The month of May will be a very busy month, not only with our usual day-to-day work with our clients by our caseworkers but also with the preparations for our 10^th Anniversary Day of Festivites which will be held on Saturday, 6^th June. This will include our Annual General Meeting. You will see the details of the programme for the day elsewhere in this Newsletter. But the Trustees hope that as many of you as possible will be able to come along on that day, or at least for some part of it. So please make sure you have this date in your diary:

SATURDAY, 6^TH JUNE
at
Sherwell Church Hall
North Hill,
Plymouth

I know you will want me to show your appreciation to our Editor, Geoffrey Read, who, despite of difficult circumstances in relation to his health, is carrying on with his Editorship of this Newsletter and, with the help of Christine Reid and other volunteers, the Food Programme.

Yours sincerely,

Lorna M Sewell
Chair Board of Trustees

10^TH ANNIVERSARY OF DCRSC

ENTH ANNIVERSARY OF DCRSC. DCRSC is continuing to recognise its 10^th Anniversary this year. Watch this column for continued announcements regarding the events to be held throughout the year!

ALLING ALL EARLY DCRSC MEMBERS! We are asking all DCRSC Newsletter readers whether they have any special memories of the past ten years and if so, to please get in touch with us. We are particularly looking to contact founder members and those with memories of our earlier days... but anyone can contribute! These will be included on our Display Boards at the Centre and at our Anniversary Events. Do please, please, please pass any comments, articles or photographs to the Editor, or to anyone at the Centre. Contributions can remain anonymous if that is what you would prefer.

N UPDATE ON OUR 10^TH ANNIVERSARY PLANS. An article by Christine R., Coordinator of the 10^th Anniversary Sub-committee.

Annual General Meeting. This will now take place at 11 a..m., during our Festival Day on Saturday, 6^th June at Sherwell Church Hall on North Hill in Plymouth.

Festival Day. This will take place on Saturday, 6^th June at Sherwell Church Hall on North Hill in Plymouth. A full programme of the day’s events will appear in the May Newsletter. We hope to have some dancing performed by a Ghanaian Dance Troupe between 10:30 and 11 a.m.

• Activities for the Children. There will crèche facilities and creative activities for children on the day.

• Catering. The Catering Team would welcome offers of some ethnic food. If you feel you are able to offer something, no matter how large or small, please contact Margaret Shinner (0175) 339435 or Marion Bennett gorben8924@tiscali.co.uk who are co-ordinating the catering arrangements. Alternatively contact Christine Reid, by leaving a message at DCRSC Office or by email: chrissie.reid@btinternet.com

• National Dress. To make the day more colourful, if anyone has a National Dress, could it please be worn on Saturday, 6^th June?

Gifts & Gizzits. Key fobs, Bookmarks are still being produced and taken to various functions. Ballpoint pens are also being given way. Occasionally pens and key fobs appear in the Centre to be taken. This all helps us to promote the services of DCSRC.

Interfaith Service. We are trying to schedule this for the afternoon of Sunday, 21^st June. However, the venue and time have yet to be confirmed.

Refugee Week: Monday, 15^th – Saturday, 21^st June 2009. This is beginning to move forward. The next meeting of the Steering Group is being held on Tuesday 28^th April, and any special announcements will appear in a later Newsletter. However, the arrangements made so far include:

• A Refugee Week Co-ordinator has been appointed and he / she will oversee all functions that have been planned or are being planned.

• Plymouth Community Services (Libraries) are holding a Tea Party for Asylum Seekers and Refugees on Thursday 18^th June from 3.30 — 5 p.m. DCRSC Staff and Volunteers have been invited.

Visitors to the Centre. Arrangements are in hand to compile a list of guests to be invited to the Centre during the course of this Anniversary Year. Here are some of those already planned:

• Peter Aley, Head Of Safer Cities & Communities, Plymouth City Council. Peter ALEY paid a visit to the Centre on Wednesday, 29^th April. Whilst he visited previously he wanted also to see how we were working with our Consortium Partners. He was greeted by the Chair of our Board of Trustees and invited to sign our 10^th Anniversary Card. He was then presented with a selection of our anniversary mementos.

• By The Reverend Martin Warren, Shebbear & Sheepwash Churches. Reverend Martin WARREN will be visiting the Centre during May. This visit is being organised by John S., in conjunction with the Chair of our Board of Trustees. Reverend WARREN will be bringing some of his parishioners to hear further of our work at DCRSC.

• Linda Gilroy, MP. An invitation has also been extended to the MP for Plymouth Sutton, to visit during our Centre during the Easter recess from Parliament. This has yet to be confirmed so please so watch this space!

The Future. The Trustees at their next Board Meeting, will be looking at various documents to plan the way forward and to look beyond 2009.

CRSC FESTIVAL DAY: SATURDAY, 6^TH JUNE 2009. A message from Christine, the 10^th Anniversary Coordinator... It was decided a Meeting of the Board of Trustees 20^thMarch to incorporate the Annual General Meeting into our Festival Day. The programme for the day has been planned and it will appear in a later Newsletter. I need now to put some arrangements into place.

•Trish B. will be coordinating the visual displays, etc., with a Volunteer Team already indentified.

•Margaret S. has kindly agreed to help coordinate the catering arrangements and I am looking for somebody to work with her on this, as well as a team of willing helpers and volunteers to prepare the food.

•Liz H. will be looking after the tea and coffee.

•I am anticipating that there will be a few children in attendance and Victoria has offered her assistance although I feel sure she would appreciate some assistance.

•I am also looking for a couple of Receptionists and some Stewards. And someone to look after the stall of promotional goodies.

•Will also need a few people who on the day will beprepared to do anything... to troubleshoot problems as and when they arise!

A sign-up sheet will also be available at the next Volunteers’ Meeting, but if you feel you can help with anything outlined above, please let me know. Just email me at chrissie.reid@btinternet.com. It should be remembered that this Festival Day is an acknowledgement of all that has been put into DCRSC over the last ten years.

Event Table

EDITORIAL COMMENT

ONTRIBUTIONS. We welcome all contributions from anyone to our monthly Newsletters. Do you have something to include? Please pass your article or comment to the Editor whose contact details are at the foot of each page. News, gossip, information, notices, advertisements, photographs… anything will be considered for inclusion! Ed.

deadline

DISTRIBUTION

ISTRIBUTION. We would like to publicise our monthly Newsletters far and wide. Unfortunately, due to financial constraints and to avoid postal charges, we can only send copies to those on email. A few spare copies will be available at the Reception Desk at DCRSC. The layout is designed so that it can be printed back-to-back, so do please print off a copy and pass it to your friends. If you are reading this and not already receiving a copy then please get in touch with the Editor. Ed.

GREETINGS & BEST WISHES!

APPY BIRTHDAY to Liz HARDINGE for Thursday, 7^th May. Liz is one of our Trustees and has special responsibility as our Personnel Coordinator which includes both Volunteers and Staff. Liz gets involved in all aspects of running the Centre including running of the Women’s Development Group (although this is now on ‘hold’). You deserve a day off Liz!

APPY BIRTHDAY to Pat JOYCE for Monday, 25^th May. Pat is our part-time employed Administrator and Financial Officer. Enjoy your day Pat!
Happy Birdthday

HANK YOU each of you for all the work and support you have given. We hope you all enjoy your special day! By the way... have we missed anyone? Do please let me know. Ed.

DCRSC GENERAL MATTERS

NNUAL REVIEW FOR 2008. We are now preparing our Annual Report in readiness for issuing in this, our 10^th Anniversary Year. If anyone has any snippets, articles or photographs for inclusion then do please send them to the Newsletter Editor. Copies of our earlier Annual Reports can be seen on our website at: http://dcrsc.cfsites.org/
We would particularly appreciate receiving articles, pictures, etc. from our volunteers and clients.

OARD OF TRUSTEES. The Board held a meeting on Thursday 23^rd April 2009. The next Board Meeting is scheduled for Thursday, 21^st May 2009. If there is something of concern that you would like the Board to discuss then please mention it to the Editor who will pass it on to the Board Members.

LOSURE. Please note that the Centre will be CLOSED on Monday, 4^th May for the May Day Public Holiday and again on Monday, 25^th May for the Spring Bank Holiday.

LYMOUTH ASYLUM SEEKERS & REFUGEE CONSORTIUM (PASRC). The Consortium held a meeting on Monday, 20^th April 2009. The date of the next meeting is unknown. (No recent input received by the Ed).

TAFF TEAM MEETINGS. Staff Team Meetings are usually held on a Wednesday every other week. The next meeting has yet to be scheduled. (No recent input received by the Ed).

TATISTICS. Geoff R. has produced the monthly statistics for DCRSC for the past few years and has now handed the task back to the Trustees. More about this in the next issue. Geoff will however, continue to be responsible for producing the Food Programme statistics as he’s the Coordinator of the programme! If anyone wishes to have sight of any statistical information then do please contact the Editor directly in the first instance. The 2007 statistics are included in the 2007 Annual Report which is available on our website: http://dcrsc.cfsites.org/

ALKS AND PRESENTATIONS. Volunteers from DCRSC would be more than happy to visit any school, faith group or organisation to give a talk about the work of DCRSC. These are usually supported by a PowerPoint Presentation. We’re prepared to come to your own venue at a date and a time convenient to yourselves. No fees are charged for such talks but should the audience wish to make a small donation on the day to cover the cost of photocopying, etc., then that would be more than welcome!

Are you a School, Group or Organisation that wouldwelcome a
Talk about the work of DCRSC?
Please get in touch with the Editor in the first instance.

OLUNTEER'S MEETINGS

April 2009 Meeting. This was held at on Thursday, 30^thApril and was chaired by John J. John J. took the minutes and and copies will be distributed in due course.

May 2009 Meeting. This is scheduled for 10 a.m. Thursday, 28^th May and will probably be chaired by Liz H. This information will be confirmed in the April Minutes. All volunteers are encouraged to attend.

OLUNTEER'S ROSTER FOR May 2009. John J. is responsible for producing the roster. The roster includes the names of volunteers for the Reception Desk, the Food Team, Auxiliary Caseworkers, Clothing Store, Internet Suite and ‘Floating’ Volunteers. Just the one hard copy is displayed at the Centre... in the Kitchen. Do please add you names to the list!

EBSITE. We would welcome any suggestions, criticisms and / or comments that you have regarding this site so do please forward them to the Editor. Please also make a note of this link in your diaries, etc.: http://dcrsc.cfsites.org/. When did you last take a look at our website?

THE DCRSC CLOTHING STORE

MPORTANT NOTICE! Lorna Sewell, the Chair of the Board of Trustees, has announced that Charlie Taylor has submitted her resignation as our Clothing Store Coordinator and also as a Co-opted Member of the Board. Charlie has expressed her regrets at making this decision but circumstances in her private life currently do not allow her sufficient time to cope with these additional tasks just now. Lorna has reluctantly accepted Charlie’s resignation and will be thanking her personally for her efforts whilst in these posts. Lorna hopes that Charlie will continue as a DCRSC Volunteer and Supporter.

EW CLOTHING STORE COORDINATOR. Margaret Shinner, a long-standing Volunteer and Supporter and even a previous DCRSC Trustee, has very kindly agreed to take over the responsibility of Clothing Store Coordinator. We are sure that Margaret will making her plans known to all the Clothing Team Members in due course and we’re sure that they will continue to give Margaret their full support. Thank you Margaret for jumping into the breach with so little notice!

ONATIONS. The Clothing Store would welcome any donations of clothing, etc., but are currently in need of: Clothing Store items

It would be most helpful if all donations were clean and of reasonable quality. All contributions will be gratefully received and put to good use.

HANK YOU, CLOTHING STORE TEAM. Charlie Taylor would like to give a special thank you to the Clothing Store volunteers for all their hard work over the last few months. The Clothing Store team provide a valuable service for the clients at DCRSC and some of them give so much of their time that they deserve this special recognition and thanks. Clothes

ANTED! The Clothing Store is in need of a vacuum cleaner which is in good state of repair. The one they currently have is well past its sell-by date and another one is desperately needed to keep the Store in a clean and tidy state. Can anyone help? Please, please, please!

ELCOME BACK. We welcome Joan Preston and Janice Lyons who are returning to DCRSC after short breaks. They are both welcomed back to the Clothing Store where their help will be very much appreciated at a time when volunteers are needed most.

THE DCRSC FOOD PROGRAMME

OOD. We have still been able to supply food parcels to our needy clients each week despite the the recent demand which was such that some of the items that we supply had to be severely rationed! A most welcome and certainly, a much-needed budget increase was recently awarded to the Food Programme and this has helped us considerably. We still rely very much on donations for our Nice-to-have Items — details of these can be found on our website: http://dcrsc.cfsites.org/.

OSPITALS SPEND LESS THAN PRISONS ON FOOD! It was recently reported in the national press that some hospital patients have less money spent on their meals than criminals. Last year, ten hospitals spent less on breakfast, lunch and an evening meal than the £2.12 a day allocated for food by the prison service.
£2.12 per day? The Food Parcels we issue to our clients cost us £3.88 PER WEEK!

OILETRIES. Our stocks of toiletries are beginning to grow now that we have started to receive some very generous and most welcome donations. Some small bottles have been donated and Shampoo and Shower Gel can now be decanted from the larger economy bottles. Please keep them coming in! We would very much like to receive the following items:

Toileteries items

HANK YOU! The volunteer Food Programme Coordinator would like to express his especial thanks to all those who gave their time and / or who made donations during recent months. It is work that is so often unseen but very much appreciated and... very necessary! Thank you also to all those who have donated goods this past month.

THE INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY SUITE

UPERVISION. Volunteers are currently required to help assist in the day-to-day running of our Internet Suite. No computer experience is necessary at all although of course it would be useful. Please pass your names to Liz H. or to the Newsletter Editor.

THE MEN’S DEVELOPMENT GROUP

EN’S DEVELOPMENT GROUP. We are currently trying to build a group to cater for the requirements of our male clients to include such things as sports, English conversation, visits, etc. Moira H. and Bill B. are currently attempting to get this off the groundand if you think you could be of any assistance do please get into contact with one of them.

OOTBALL SESSIONS. DCRSC and START (Students & Refugees Together) are jointly running football sessions every Friday afternoon from 12 noon. Report to Central Park (behind the Railway Station). Come along and make new friends! All abilities are welcome. For more information or directions to Central Park, please contact:

START: (01752) 255200
DCRSC: (01752) 264952

OCCER TEAM. An article by DCRSC Volunteer, David FEINDOUNO:

DCRSC aim to provide and implement the integration of their clients, Asylum Seeker & Refugees (ASR), many of whom are destitute. So, with the backing of the Trustees, the Staff and some of the volunteers, the football activities have re-started effectively for the Men’s Development Group.
Working with the START (Students & Refugees Together) on the same project, we have been holding football sessions every Friday since the 3^rd April. By doing so, we will also bring some benefit to the clients and to the community.

• Help an effective integration of young people in the community.

• The health benefits of regular exercise are well documented and include risk of cardiovascular disease, high blood pressure, Type-2 diabetes and enhances mental health (reduces anxiety). All these health benefits are beneficial to the country in the long run. (i.e. reducing the cost on the Health Service).

• Help to take young unoccupied people off the street, thereby reducing unnecessary activities to avoid getting them in trouble (violence, fight, and other bad behaviour).

• Help pass the message across of what is happening or going on within the community.

• Reduce isolation. Most of our new-comers often face isolation when they first arrive in the country, so by creating a football club and getting them involved, it will help integrate into our society.

• The research¹ on Sport & Inclusion with ASR in the UK shows that sport can break down barriers between new-comers and local host populations and improves relations between asylum seekers of diverse ethnic backgrounds and helps build self-esteem and confidence. By doing so, we will also join the government in encouraging and developing sporting activities to reduce the obesity of the population.

• We will also participate with the local authorities in an effort to make Plymouth safer by reducingisolation and taking young people off the street.

The sessions will be continued to be held every Friday between 2.30 – 4.30 p.m. We invite everybody to get involved and support in prayers, refreshments, equipments (boots, shirts and any other football equipment). You are also welcome to come along to support us during our sessions and support our friendly football matches.

Thank you,

David FEINDOUNO
START / DCRSC Football Activities

THE WOMEN'S DEVELOPMENT GROUP

HE WOMEN’S DEVELOPMENT GROUP. Sessions are usually being held from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m., every other Thursday. It was announced at a recent Volunteers’ Meeting that all activities of this Group have been suspended until further notice due to difficulties with attendance. Further information can be obtained from any Staff Member.

¹ The True Sport Report, 2008.
www.truesport.ca/files/tsreport/TS_report_EN_webdownload.pdf