Author: Stephanie.mcarthur

NEWS FOR YOU
November Edition Welcome to our Winter Edition Newsletter
April 2014 Edition Welcome to our Spring Edition Newsletter

Drop In
The drop-in is your opportunity to meet with others, and gain peer support in a safe and relaxed setting.
PLEASE NOTE
Our Drop Ins are now Peer Support Led and we need everyone’s input to make this work.
an appointment for a Wednesday or Thursday.

Opening Hours
We are still open Tuesday,
Wednesday and Thursday.
We are still working on the rota for drop ins so please be patient over the next couple of months.
Monday & Friday—Admin Days

Emotional Wellbeing - Appointment Only
Zumba—Wednesday or Thursday 12.15 to 13.15
Food Bank—2 weekly - these will be onTuesday and Thursday drop ins

NEWS
SPH Important
As you are all aware we have had quite a traumatic year where we have had to wait until nearly the last minute to see if we received any funding for the ongoing future for SPH. We are no longer funded for statutory work but have funds for the next 2 years to provide peer led support. We received funding from People’s Health Lottery and The Henry Smith charity. We are also applying for other funding which will be ongoing.
We are holding a meeting at the end of January 2018 and are inviting Lisa Andrews Commissioner for Sexual Health from Surrey County Council in order that we can keep her informed regarding the changes and impact of the CCG changes of priorities. There is now a Service User Forum of about 5 users who will attend these meeting to act or update information and feedback the impact on everyone’s behalf.
Kristi Adams a Coaching Consultant has been invited to provide and some peer support training. We
will be holding 2 co-production workshop in February and hope as many of you will attend. This will give you the opportunity to have your say about how things could change moving forward. Nick and Richard will be hosting the workshops along side Kristie. If you have ideas that you would like to see in workshops or anything at all please let the Service User Forum know or let Steph know and she can pass on the information to the group.

Retiring from SPH
After 13 years of working for and with SPH, I have decided it is time for me to retire.
I previously worked for another HIV charity for 9 years prior to SPH. Therefore including my role within SPH this has amounted to 22 years, which has permitted me to see the best and the worst of HIV/AIDS. However it has been fantastic to be a small part of the significant changes that have taken place which have improved people’s lives, health and wellbeing. These advances have had a positive effect on people who have been affected by HIV, either through advanced treatment in medication leading to
much improved changes in people’s health.
I have seen many people come and go for a variety of reasons the list includes; team members, trustees, service users and external professionals. Many of whom have been around as long, if not longer than I, and continue to work within the profession or maintain their health condition. Of course there have been some people whom we have lost or have left us through the years, but their memories stay with me and I am sure with
others.
SPH has experienced many changes during the time I have been here. Sometimes it has felt like riding a roller-coaster; with its highs, lows and changes in direction when local health priorities changed. However these challenges have kept me on my toes, and in some ways has been the driving force behind why SPH has managed to survive whilst other have not.
Working in the third sector is not for the faint hearted, I believe you need to have commitment and determination and a thick skin to battle through many of the twists and turns that take place, especially as funding priorities change against a backdrop of ever shrinking funds.
Being made Project Director has been the highlight of my career, and it has been a privilege and an honour to hold this position. Therefore I would like to say thank you to all the people I have come into contact with over the many years, who have made my position worthwhile.
May I wish you all well for the future.
Stephanie Phillips

PAST AND ONGOING EVENTS

BRIGHTON DAYS OUT
We have had 2 days out in Brighton this year. As it was so popular you asked for more than one day out to Brighton and all agreed that it helps everyone feel better in themselves and socialising with others outside our normal environment.

WORKSHOPS
Please note we will be holding 2 co-production workshops in February. Dates to be confirmed. We hope as many of you will turn up as possible as this will give you the opportunity to look at how the new service will look like and have your say on the way the new peer support service goes forward.
This is your service and we need you to support it.

FOOD PARCELS
We will be holding 2 food banks a week and if you have any time to spare please speak to Steph and help run the food bank. Whether its putting the food away when delivered from Fare Share or handing food out to clients who need some support.
We are also going to trial collecting fresh vegetables, fruit and bakery items from a local Tesco store on a Monday evening. At the moment it will be another service user and Steph who will be collecting items on a Monday evening but if anyone else has a car and wants to put their name forward please let Steph know. These items will then be handed out from Tuesday to Thursday.

FUTURE EVENTS

CHRISTMAS PARTY
12th December 2017
5pm to 9pm

Christmas Party will be held on
12th December 2017 starting at 5pm to 9.00pm
We look forward to seeing as many of you as possible, come along and join in the fun. Please let Steph know if you are attending. This is important as we need to know how many to cater for.
We will start selling raffle tickets from the beginning of December until the 12th December. Winners will be announced on the 12th December at the Christmas Party

We would like to say thank you to Heather (The Chair) and Stephanie P for working hard towards gaining funds for St Peters to remain open. Without the hard work of other members of staff we would have closed as some other charities have.
Again please remember we need your support.

CHRISTMAS CLOSURE
We will be closed from the 22nd December 2017 and re-open on Tuesday 2nd January 2018.
Please note there will be no drop in on the 21st December 2017 and on Tuesday 2nd January 2018.
We will be holding the first drop in for the New Year on Thursday 4th January 2018 from 11am—4pm.
WE WISH EVERYONE A MERRY CHRISTMAS AND A HAPPY NEW YEAR
FROM ALL THE TEAM AT SPH