Christmas Decorations

The Stafford Centre beginning to look resplendent for the Christmas Dinner and party on the 20 December, a huge thanks again to all our volunteers from the Lloyds Bank who took part in getting the Centre ready for a great Christmas time for all of us, thank you again

Walking Group - 16 December

Walking Group - 16 December

The Walking Group are out and about today in Portobello, we are still awaiting photographs of their walk, but here are a couple of photos from previous walking groups taken by Sam our walking group photographer!  Stay tuned to our blog for more news, and information about The Stafford Centre

Discussions....from the Printmakers  Exhibition

 Just had a great Art Group outing today to the wonderful Edinburgh Printmakers Workshop.

The exhibition  "The Written Image" is a collaboration between poets and printmakers creating  beautiful and unique pieces of art , some of which could be categorised as between sculpture and painting, and poetry!
Thanks to Natasha and Frank for giving us a fascinating hands on tour of the exhibition and of the workshop. The exhibition is  stunning with so many colourful, sometimes whimsical,intriguing and mysterious pieces and it was great to have so many of us together (10!)
Looking forward to trying some printmaking in 2014 and more art gallery visits- some people are raring to go!

Artist Frank Pottinger showing us how to do relief printing.

A Cartoon style adaptation of The Odyssey

Some of the group getting  technical advice

"Egor", one of the printmaking presses in the workshop seems to have a personality

Application for Grant Aid

News Announcement

Application for Grant Aid from the Self Directed Support Innovation Fund

Yesterday, Tuesday 10 December saw a momentous day in the life of Radio Stafford 103.  We (Michelle, Kevin from Support In Mind, Scotland, DJ Joe and Sir DJ Mog, Mike all gave a 'Dragon's Den' style presentation in front of a panel of CEO's from City of Edinburgh Council and other representatives from other organisations from NHS Lothian, and the news is that we have managed to secure the sum of £12,847 for The Stafford Centre and our Radio Station in particular, we will give you more news as it comes on Radio Stafford and in the Centre, thanks go to everyone who participated in this nerve wracking experience and to our colleagues at Support In Mind, Scotland for supporting us in our application, brilliant and well done all!!

Lloyds TSB - Christmas Decorations and clearup of garden

Lloyds TSB - Clearup of garden and Decorating

Volunteers from all branches all around the country descended on The Stafford Centre yesterday, the 10 December to do a wonderful job of clearing the back garden for the winter and donating Christmas decorations and were busy all around the Centre putting up decorations and getting our upper room ready for the great Christmas extravaganza.  Thank you to all of them for their time and commitment and look forward to seeing them all again, great work!!

Christmas Party - 20 Dec

Christmas is coming at The Stafford Centre

That's right folks, xmas party lights up nearly ready for our sell out xmas show on the 20 December!!

Picture Sale

Picture Sale

Elspeth's beautiful charcoal, life study was recently sold.  Here is Elspeth handing over the charcoal to the purchaser, one of our wonderful members of staff Karen.  Elspeth said, 'This is my first charcoal picture and I am delighted for it to be sold'.   

Walking Group - 2 December

Walking Group - Mon 2 December

The Walking Group were off again this week to Portobello Beach, it was a mildish day and great to get the sea air for a change, great times were had by all 11 walkers.  Coffee was enjoyed at the Beach Hut, and the table service was impeccable, they will definitely be returning soon.

The Stafford Centre Walking Group - Tuesday 25 November, 2013

The Walking Group all 12 of them went for a great walk through Juniper Green today, great time and exercise had by all, although somewhat chilly, looking forward to the next walk!

Stafford Centre - on the road

What a great day at the White House in Craigmillar.  We all had such a great time, met over 25 folk, nice food, great coffee and tea's.  Lovely relaxation group and a fantastic music group to end the day.  Thanks to all, our peer volunteers, staff at the White House and all the great people of Craigmillar for making our first 'on the road' so good!

Spring clean!

Everyone was very surprised today to come in to see John's in tray so tidy, and empty!  Well done John keep up the good work.

Chapatties

Well we are cooking up a storm today in the kitchen Mahboob is showing us all how to make a curry sauce and home made chapattis , it smells fantastic, can't wait to taste them!

Remembering Armistice Day, Walking Group in the Botanics

The Walking Group all went into the Botanic Gardens today to remember and have a two minutes silence on the 11th day of the 11th month and 11th hour, it was a very beautiful setting to remember thosewho have fought for our country.

Fabulous walking group

We think you'll agree just how good Colinton Dell was looking for the walking group this week, and thanks to Sam for the wonderful pictures

CEO - AGM talk

Can you please pass on my very grateful thanks to the staff and your members who contributed so much to making our event a success.   Those who came brought ideas, energy and enthusiasm and the support I felt for the organisation was really overwhelming.  I also read the newsletter where both Mandz and Mike spoke so positively about their experience and their optimism for what we can do next together.

 

I am   determined to follow up on this and not let the event be just a lot of talking with no action and we will be hoping that your members remain involved and keeping us on track as we roll out the membership work and the other ideas that came up on the day.

 

Many thanks from me, Frances Simpson, to all of you for your time, effort, energy and support.

 

 

 

Happy Birthday!!

 And as well as everyone at the Music and Karaoke groups it was John's birthday so 'Happy Birthday', fab chocolate cake and a great day!

Busy day!!!

Well, what a busy day at the centre, over 40 folk in today some for the music group, and our Karaoke

Spider Cakes

Here's Robbie with some wonderful cupcakes with Halloween spiders on them, made by his sister Manda for all the centre users at the Halloween party, thanks so much from everyone at the centre they taste amazing, all we need to do now is persuade Manda to make some  Xmas ones!

A very frightening time!!!!

Think you'll agree everyone is looking very frightening- at our Halloween Party, can't make up my mind who the winner of the fancy dress will be we might need to take a vote! 

Wood Group - V- Art Group

Here at the centre we do a lot or collaborative work so here John has made a frame, using the band saw, cutting mitre joints , then cut the class and sealed the frame.  Meanwhile Jackie,the artist has been working on this for the last two weeks. 

And you can see it now hangs above the fireplace , I think we are all agreed and wonderful job from both.

Support in Mind AGM

What a great day Friday the 25th was.  Support in Mind's AGM, great turn out form the member, lovely lunch and a nice venue.  Thanks to everyone who help make it a great day.

The 17th Edinburgh Independent and Radical Book Fair 2013

Out Of The Blue Drill Hall, 36 Dalmeny Street (off Leith Walk)

At 7 pm - Mad Matters - yes it does! - to you, me, and all of us

Peter Beresford,  a long term mental health service user/survivor introduces Mad Matters which offers a twenty-first century view of madness and distress, and discusses how we can move from stigma to first hand experience to develop new social understandings to challenge our emotional difficulties and distress in a maddening world.  He is Professor of Social Policy at Brunei University and the author of many publications on social and community care and inclusion.

wonderful band session

Great band session today folks, we'll be releasing our own single soon.  Listen out for our tracks on Radio Stafford 103!

Wonderful Open day @ The Stafford Centre

As part of See Me mental health week - The Stafford Centre had a wonderful open day on the 9th of October  thank you to all who visited us for the first time, around 40 or you, which is just fab!

And didn't our display board look great thanks to the  Centre Users fundraising committe

Walking group

 Fantastic morning walking round the Botanic gardens this morning !

The Stafford Centre was invited to participate in the recent Mental Health Community Information Event which took place in the Calton Centre, 121 Montogomery Street, Edinburgh on Tuesday 8^th October from 1-4 p.m.  This event, co-ordinated by NHS Scotland and Advocard, aimed to provide anyone affected by mental health issues, and their carers, with a wide range of  information about the services and community resources that are available to them.  Joe, a Stafford Centre service-promotion volunteer, played a vital role on the day by helping us to set up our stall, hand out leaflets and answer lots of questions from people who wanted to know more about the Centre.  It was a very busy and enjoyable afternoon – as a result of our work, we made lots of new contacts and expect lots of new referrals.  Thanks again to Joe, and also to Mike, another of our volunteers who helped to prepare our display-board.

The Stafford Centre open day

The Open Day was a great sucsess,  lots of people popping in to find out more about the centre.  Lots of people signing up to become members and giving great feedback about the place.  Thanks to everyone involved in making the day so much fun.

Baking for the Open Day

Ann,Jenny and James baking for the open day tomorrow! So come along and have some fun

The water of Leith

Lovely walk along the Water of Leith to the Shore followed by coffee looking over the water ! 

smile

By Alex Penman


Friday music group makes everyone smile !!! Good music - Great Fun !!!!

walking group 30th Sept 2013

Good walk today from colinton to juniper green along the water of leith the weather was fine went for coffee at the deli

Fab fun Friday

As usual the centre very busy for our Karaoke keep the good turns playing folks!

Open Day

Get Ready for the Wednesday 9th October for our open day, everyone welcome 12-4.  Home baking, Art exhibition, Poetry and information look forward to seeing you all.

Hibs v St Mirren

The match on Sat was fun !  Hibs were very lucky Two goal nae bad .  Thank you to the Stafford Centre for the fre tickets

From Tommy and Ann

University of Edinburgh

Many thanks to Catriona from the University of Edinburgh who visited the Stafford centre as part of a research project on peoples views of nicotine replacement therapy and E cigarettes.  All those that took part received a £10 gift voucher which as you can see Stuart was delighted with.  We look forward to seeing the results of the research.

Football Fans

Many thanks to Hib's football club who gave the 'Still Caring project' a donation of tickets for Saturday's game, looking forward to the match report guys, on a 2-0 win for the Hib's.

Karaoke friday!

Another great Karaoke session her at the centre, some fab tunes being sung today, including some classics, well done guys takes me back to my youth!!!!

A bit of self advertising never hurt anyone! http://www.staffordcentre.org.uk/#!radio-show/c1hks