North West Somerset Parkinson's Support Group
About us:
The North West Somerset Support group was set up in 1994 to help those living with Parkinson's and those caring for them in Nailsea, Backwell, Clevedon, Portishead, Yatton and the surrounding areas. Membership is free to all.
We are part of Parkinson's UK (parkinsons.org.uk), the national Parkinson's support and research charity.
Monthly General Meetings are usually held on the second Saturday of each month from 10.30am to 12.15pm. These are social gatherings, often with a speaker on a subject of interest or curiosity to be enjoyed by those living with Parkinson's, those who are caring for them, their families and friends. Tea and coffee and biscuits are served!
We hold Singalong sessions twice a month to help with loss of voice or with speech problems due to Parkinson's.
We publish a magazine, "Connections", with information and news - this is available to all members.
For more information about our local group, please call Marie on 01934 742091 or 07800 815262
See below for monthly meetings, singalong, announcements, other information and useful contacts. Please also check nearer the date as some dates may be subject to change.
General Meetings
We look forward to seeing you soon.
Saturday 9th December 10.30 am - 12.00 pm as usual. Time to chat, plus carols with Singalong, Quiz and raffle.
Saturday 13th January 10.30 am - 12.00 pm. Bob Buck talking about Birdwatching (?)
Our volunteers do a wonderful job in the kitchen, serving our teas and coffees, but they could do with an extra pair of hands. If you'd like to help out with this, either regularly or when you can, please let one of the committee or the kitchen team know. Thank you!
Singalongs:
Tuesday 12th December 2.30 pm Singalong
Tuesday 9th January 2024 2.30 pm Singalong
Tuesday 23rd January 2024 2.30 pm Singalong
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The Singalong group usually meets every 2nd and 4th Tuesday of the month.
Singalong is an opportunity to sing along to popular songs and old-time favourites led by Chris Coppin, our keyboard maestro. This can help with loss of voice, a common Parkinson's problem.
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General meetings and Singalong take place at St Francis Church Hall, Little Meadow End, Ash Hayes Road, Nailsea, BS48 2LP. A voluntary fee of £1 is collected to help finance room hire.Use Singalong to help with loss of voice due to Parkinson’s. No skill required !
For more information please contact Pat Kington on 01934 834060 about Singalong.
(The "YOUR VOICE" vocal therapy project has been postponed for the time being.)
EXERCISE GROUPS:
The NW Somerset Support Group funds supervision provided in the POWER joint supervisory sessions.
THURSDAY Exercise group:
A Parkinson’s exercise group open to all. Run by physiotherapist Amanda Burroughs at the Scotch Horn Leisure Centre, Nailsea. For information or for Amanda to ring you back, call the Scotch Horn, on 01275 856 965.
POWER “Warrior” Parkinson's Exercise Groups:
Backwell: Mondays 10-12 Cuppa at 11
Portishead: Mondays 10.15-12.00
Tickenham: Mondays 10-12
Yatton: Mondays 10-12 Cuppa at 12
Joint Supervisory Sessions are held at 12.30 - 2.30 at Scotch Horn Leisure Centre, Nailsea, usually on the 1st and 3rd Wednesdays of the month.
For further info about the POWER exercise groups contact stephenfischer1@googlemail.com
To join one of the POWER groups first contact Amanda Burroughs at the Scotch Horn Leisure Centre on 01275 856 965 by leaving a message for her to ring you back. You will first attend an "Academy" group to learn about the exercises.
WEDNESDAYS Parkinson's Exercise group
Clevedon 11am at the Everyone Active Stadium, Clevedon Town Football Club. For further info contact: 07825 033741
alistairmacfarlane@everyoneactive.com www.everyoneactive.com
Parkinson’s UK North West Somerset Branch became Parkinson’s UK NW Somerset Support Group on 1st September 2022. The group is run entirely by volunteers and the change to a support group will reduce administrative demands. We are nevertheless keenly seeking more volunteers. We need you for everything from making tea and coffee to becoming a future coordinator to relieve Marie in summer 2023. Please do get in touch with Marie, Pat, or one of the other Support-Group contacts listed below if you can volunteer in any way.
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Please contact Vicki e.g. on vbworldwide@gmail.com or Robert on puknwsmem@gmail.com with any changes to this webpage that are needed.
SPECIALIST ADVICE
Parkinson's UK has a specialist adviser team who can provide information about any aspect of living with Parkinson's, managing symptoms, medication, social care, employment rights, benefits and much more. They can offer emotional support and liaise with health, social care and other local professionals to get you the support you need.
Call the Helpline on 0808 800 0303 or email hello@parkinsons.org.uk, the Helpline Advisers will deal with any general enquiries and you will be put in touch with someone in your area if more local knowledge or in depth support is needed. Our particular Local Adviser is Caroline Craig, she is contactable via ccraig@parkinsons.org.uk
If you haven't already, we would love you to properly join Parkinson's UK and our local support group .
To do that, please email our membership secretary on: puknwsmem@gmail.com for joining instructions.
CONNECTIONS
If you would like to have a look at past copies of our Newsletter, Connections, please click on the copy below and fully "double" download it. Or email the membership secretary Robert on puknwsmem@gmail.com and he will email them to you.
Nov / Oct 2023 Sept / Aug 2023 July / June 2023 May / April 2023 March / Feb 2023
Useful North West Somerset Support-Group Committee Contacts:
Coordinator: Marie PEARSON 01934 742091 - 07800 815262 pearsonm7014@gmail.com
Treasurer: Pat JAMES 07801 865057 pat.jms1@googlemail.com
Connections Newsletter: Kevin YOUDE 01934 824400 - 07855 936762 Kevin.youde@gmail.com
Publicity: Sally-Ann KODURAND 07966 759950 sally-ann@kodurand.co.uk
Membership Secretary: Robert BROWN 01275 603146 (No messages) - 07751 606670 puknwsmem@gmail.com
Fundraising: VACANT
Deputy Fundraising: Wendy GIBB 01275 394124 prwgibb@mypostoffice.co.uk
Social / Events Secretary: VACANT
Resources: Richard (Rich) JENKINS 01275 394989 - 07854147895 richbj2@gmail.com
Personal: Joyce JENKINS 01275 394989 richbj2@gmail.com
Secretary and Local Website: Vicki BREWER vbworldwide@gmail.com
Meet and Greet: Don BREWER dvbrewerworld@yahoo.co.uk
OTHER USEFUL CONTACTS:
Singalong (NWSomerset) - Pat and Belinda Kington 01934 834060, 07779819513, kingtonfamily@btopenworld.com
Parkinson's UK Specialist advice - see above - Caroline Craig etc.
Local NHS Parkinson’s specialist practitioner (Sirona): Mel FALK 0300 125 5550 Sirona.parkinsons@nhs.net
Local NHS Parkinson’s Specialist practitioner (Sirona): Emily MORRISON 0300 125 5550 Sirona.parkinsons@nhs.net
Parkinson’s UK:- 0808 800 0303 parkinsons.org.uk
Parkinson's UK National membership issues:- see parkinsons.org.uk > About us > Supporter enquiries
Parkinson's UK Facebook:- en-gb.facebook.com/parkinsonsuk/
Parkinson's UK Twitter:- twitter.com/ParkinsonsUK
Privacy notice: See page on menu at the top.
Parkinson’s UK is the operating name of the Parkinson’s Disease Society of the United Kingdom. A company limited by guarantee. Registered in England and Wales (00948776). Registered office: 215 Vauxhall Bridge Road, London SW1V 1EJ. A charity registered in England and Wales (2518197) and in Scotland (SC037554).