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Hello everyone, this is the fourteenth edition of the Clubhouse Network Newsletter. Thanks to everyone who made contributions to this issue. We aim to include as much of your content as possible. Please let us know what you would like to see included in future issues. Six Towns, One City Carnival On 8th July members had a day out at the Six Towns, One City Carnival. This impressive event has become an annual fixture in Stoke-on-Trent’s cultural calendar. First held in 2011 the Carnival has grown in size and popularity.

Amazing colourful costumes everywhere The carnival included a funfair! We are not sure how many members braved the rides though.

Come to the carnival! A popular attraction was the Caribbean food. Jerk chicken and rice and peas were popular with many people. This lion isn’t sleeping There was a carnival costume parade which did a lap round . At the end of the parade everyone in costume Paratrooper in the park congregated in the centre of the Other attractions included a park for a celebratory dance to variety of craft stalls selling their some funky Caribbean style wares. music. We will certainly be returning Chicken Tonight? next year. Have fun with this Sudoku Puzzle! KIDSGROVE

Members visited Kidsgrove Party in the Park at Clough Hall on 7th July. Lots of fun was had by everyone.

(The solution is on the clubhouse notice boards ) Zig-zag on the sizzler Fun for all was to be had at the funfair. All your The Newsletter Online favourite stalls and rides were there. The current newsletter and back issues are now available online. Scan this QR Code to be taken to the webpage where you can view the newsletters.

Use the QR code or type in this URL

Duck, try to hook a duck http://www.brighter-futures.org.uk/clubhouse- Despite the sugar tax, candy floss and popcorn network-newsletter were very popular. Newsletter availability Photography group As well as the print edition, the newsletter is Learn to take better photos! Our available in other formats. From The American an photography group meets every Tuesday audible version of the newsletter is available on CD from 10:30am at the American Clubhouse. to borrow, listen and copy. In addition an audible Howard and Dave run this group. mp3 version and text version are on the desktop of Colouring group the customer computers at The American. If you The Colouring Group meets at the American would like to receive the Newsletter by email (as Clubhouse (in the main room) on Thursdays text or audio) ask Gary, Howard or Mark. You can 2:00pm – 4:00pm. All members are welcome. also send a request to This group is facilitated by Charlotte and Jean. [email protected] to be Please come along and take part in this put on our emailing list. creative and relaxing activity.

Your monthly Newsletter is created by: Reporter: Gary Dutton Reporter: Howard Dexter Editor: Mark Gilbert Proofreader: Jean Sturgess Proofreader: Pete Wynne Approval: Nicola Brophy Printed at Whittle Court And all the members who made contributions to this issue.

THE DIRECTORY Places members may like to visit Name Where What Impact Boxing Brocksford Street Fenton Boxing fitness classes Root and Fruit Trubshawe Community Learn how to grow your own food Allotment Kniveden Leek Gardening and growing, , woodwork, Jewellery and Partnership alternative therapies Growth Point Shelton Allotment Site Gardening, growing. Tutor Led Cultural Squatters 51/53 Merrial Street Cafe, Table Tennis, Art Newcastle under Lyme One rule. Our rule. #bekind ST5 2AH http://culturalsquatters.uk/ Over 55 Lunch Club Centre Are you 55 years or older? If so come and join our Luncheon Club Monday from 1:30 pm. Activities, including gentle exercise (1:30 – 2:00 pm), follow by lunch and three games of bingo. All for £4.00 Echo Art Workshop Swan Bank Methodist Group Art Session. Art co-ordinator facilitated. Open door Church membership policy, no booking required - for Brighter Futures Clubhouse members experiencing self harm. If you have questions about any of these venues, activities or events ask Mark on Tuesday or Thursday afternoons at the American for further details. This directory will expand as we visit or learn about new venues and activities.

Arts and crafts play a big part in the Clubhouse Network. Making art and crafting are effective therapies for people with mental health difficulties and are enjoyable in their own right giving a tremendous sense of achievement

when completed.

Here is Frank’s stellar collection of starships and aeroplanes. These models are made from a

material called Depron a type of dense plastic foam which can be be cut without it splitting. Things have moved on from the days of balsa wood and tissue paper. Crafts Frank takes inspiration from various science fiction shows and real life aircraft and blends it with his imagination to create these excellent

models.

&

Arts

Wenda’s T-Shirts Using a series of pictures that art co-ordinator Chris made, Wenda has created hand drawn T-Shirts showing scenes of Stoke-on-Trent from the bottle oven era. Once Wenda has the outline of a drawing she shades in the picture according to her imagination. Wenda says some of her pictures are of tattoos but without being permanent and then when the shirt wears out it can be framed and hung on the wall. Wenda would like to sell her t-shirts but it’s not very lucrative considering the Wenda amount of work and time it takes to make a shirt.

Mike Moors Garden Here are some great pictures showing the delicious crop of vegetables we are harvesting from our garden. The volunteers are making a great success of this project. The vegetables are being sold to members with the money made going to the members’ fund.

Radishes are popular at the moment

The tomatoes will soon be ready

Beans and beetroot

Look at those thriving vegetables!

Eat your greens

MAN UP 21st - 24th August Restoke presents MAN UP, a ground-breaking performance about masculinity and mental health. Created with and starring men from Stoke-on-Trent.

Expect real-life stories, furious dancing and an unforgettable soundtrack as they take to the floor of a Working Men’s Club… cash, bar and comfy seats included. Venue: Working Men’s Club - Kidsgrove Road, Stoke-on-Trent, ST6 5SH Dates: 21st, 22nd, 23rd, 24th August - Doors open: 7.30pm. Performance: 8pm Ticket price: £12.50 / £10. Age guide: 16+ www.restoke.org.uk/man-up

Ten Pin Bowling Walking Group Talk To Us! You can give any Would any members be Want some gentle exercise? contributions to Gary, interested in going to have a go There is a walking group every Howard or Mark. You can at ten pin bowling? Talk to Jesse Tuesday starting at 1:00pm also send ideas or stories to if you would like to come along. from 24/7 Clubhouse. Football volunteeringlande@brighter-

Football for everyone. Don’t futures.org.uk Events forget Walking Football is still on. Tuesday from 2:00pm to If you would like an 3:00pm. This activity is at event publicising in the Dimensions on Scotia Road and newsletter please let us is free to take part in. know. If you are over 50 and would like to play regular football then there is a weekly group starting Please can people begin Day Trips at the YMCA (Hanley) donating items for the There are lots of day trips Wednesdays 11:00am – Christmas Tombola? Any throughout 2018. Go along on a 12:00pm, Thursdays 6:00pm- reasonable items accepted. trip, you will have a great time. 7:00pm. See Jean, Claire or a member See Howard or Gary for latest Play football with Brighter of staff to donate. details. Futures on Mondays 2:00pm – 3:00pm at the YMCA Hanley.

Shrewsbury Trip Changes – 413 101 you, friends or family. Please th Headway House –280 952 On 28 June members took a trip let us have any recipes you Greenfields – 0300 790 0236 to Shrewsbury. Everybody enjoy making. This recipe Sutherland Centre – 0300 123 enjoyed this picturesque serves 4 – 6. 1162 Shropshire town. GrowthPoint – 0300 123 0907

Ingredients: 650g/1lb 7oz boned shoulder of lamb, cut into 2cm/¾ inch Brighter Futures QR Code. Scan to be cubes Members pictured above near taken to the Brighter Futures website 2 tbsp plain white flour, or use: Lily’s Tea Garden seasoned http://www.brighter-futures.org.uk/ Lily’s is only open in the Summer 1 tbsp olive oil months as it is prone to flooding 25g/1oz butter in the Winter. Community Walks 1 tbsp tomato puree 600ml chicken and beef Come along on a gentle walk stock from The American. There will 1 dstspn Worcestershire be walks at 1:00pm on 2nd and sauce 16th August. 1 sprig of fresh rosemary, This month’s recipe finely chopped or 1/3 tsp dried We hope you had a go at 1 garlic clove, crushed making the ragu in issue #13 of 1 carrot, cut into coins Water levels sometimes rise as the newsletter. Here is another 1 onion, cut into eight pieces much as twenty feet! easy to make and very tasty ½ swede, cut into cubes recipe. Useful Contacts 1 tbsp redcurrant jelly Clubhouse Network: Method The American - 835 220 Preheat oven to The Observatory - 272 799 180C/350F/Gas 4. Put cubes 24/7 0300 1231535 Ext. 1470 of lamb in a plastic bag with Brighter Futures Helpline - seasoned flour and give bag a good shake so meat becomes 0808 800 2234 well coated with the flour. Echo - 07500 444 4116 Lamb casserole Heat large frying pan until Safe Spaces Network - 811 815 This luxury lamb casserole is full very hot. Add oil and butter North Staffs Mind - 262 100 of flavour. Whether you are a and then the lamb and over high heat, stirring now and Citizens’ Advice Bureau – would-be contestant on Master then, until lamb is well 0344 411 1444 Chef or ‘can’t boil an egg’ please give this a go! Cooking yourself browned. Don't crowd the [email protected] a nutritious meal can be very pan; cook in www.snscab.org.uk rewarding whether it is just for

batches if necessary. Transfer to Caroline Foottit. She trained After the publication of a casserole dish and set aside. herself in mathematics by several research papers for Add tomato puree, reading her brother's textbooks. the Royal Astronomical Worcestershire sauce and stock In 1875 she was sent to a Society, she was elected as a to pan, bring to the boil, finishing school in Kensington fellow in 1916. She was one scraping up all the little bits that where she studied algebra and of five women to be elected have stuck to the bottom. Pour German. She later worked as a simultaneously, the first this into casserole dish, add Sunday school teacher. women to become Fellows of rosemary, garlic and diced that society. vegetables. In 1920, she joined the Lunar Add a little seasoning, cover with Commission of the newly tight fitting lid and bake for 2 formed International hours. Remove from oven stir in Astronomical Union. They the redcurrant jelly return to the tasked her with continuing over for a further hour or until her work on standardizing the meat is tender. the nomenclature. For this Serve with buttery mash and red Celebrating Mary in cheadle task she collaborated with cabbage if you like. By middle age she became Karl Müller (1866–1942), a Local History interested in astronomy. She retired government official We hope you enjoyed reading was particularly keen on the and amateur astronomer. about the Victoria Hall in Issue problem of developing a Together they produced a #13. This month features Mary uniform naming system for the two volume set in 1935, titled Adela Blagg. features of the moon. Named Lunar Formations, In 1905 she was appointed by which became the standard the newly formed International reference on the subject. Association of Academies to The crater ‘Blagg’ on the build a collated list of all of the Moon is named after her. lunar features. In 1913. Her Album of the month work produced a long list of This month Music Man discrepancies that the reviews a live concert association would need to featuring Sheena Bratt at resolve. Hanley Museum.

Mary Adela Blagg as a young woman Mary Adela Blagg (17 May 1858 – 14 April 1944) was an English astronomer. She was born in Cheadle, th Staffordshire, and lived her On Friday 29 June I had the entire life there. Mary was the pleasure of watching Sheena daughter of a solicitor, John Bratt at the Charles Blagg, and France Museum Café in one of their The armillary sphere In Cheadle Twilight Concerts.

Local singer Sheena has been on The lovely ballad by punk band the music scene for a number of Greenday came next, Time Of years. In 2015, with her band Your Life. Then followed Eternal Venus Rising the song Lazy Daze Flame made famous by the was championed by Mark Bangles. Another sing-along Radcliffe on BBC6 music. favourite These Boots Are Made The performance was a chance For Walking followed before the to see her perform a stripped final song Dreams by the back set with just an acoustic Cranberries. guitar and small amp. At the end Sheena was only too happy to chat to people and I She set the tone for a very good noticed her infectious little night with Big Yellow Taxi by Joni giggle that she did at the end of Mitchel. every song was more apparent. Saying she would do a mixture of So, a great night was had by all. her own songs and covers. Fire in Sheena said she liked the venue Janice Eyes, Everfree and Rainbow Child which she had previously Once I was settled in I felt were for me the pick of her own performed in last year. very comfortable. material. These being All the staff and members The Twilight concerts are held interspersed by some great have been friendly and many times a year at the covers, including: How Sweet It Is supportive when I’ve needed museum.. The concerts are by Marvin Gaye, Top Of The help. World by The Carpenters and always free and feature many I really enjoy crafting and am Stuck In The Middle by Steelers genres of music. a member of the craft group. Wheel. Finishing the first set Having seen Sheena for the first I enjoy making cards and with a rousing version of Ring Of time I would definitely jewellery. I have helped with Fire by Johnny Cash recommend her and hope that craft stalls at events. she makes a return to Hanley After a short interval the second I helped run tombola and next year. half got underway with a song raffles where prizes included Music Man that needed no introduction, craft items. Valerie made famous by Amy I have been on bus trips and Winehouse . The 60’s classic Son Clubhouse Stories days out. I particularly like Of A Preacher Man went down Please give us your stories of the trip to Chester. very well with me and other what the Clubhouse Network Overall my experience of The older members of the audience. means to you. American Clubhouse has Then followed her band’s single This Month We Have Janice been extremely positive and I Lazy Daze, even on first listen a I have been attending the wouldn’t hesitate to very catchy song. She made us American Clubhouse for around recommend Clubhouse to all smile with the next one She four and a half years. anyone who feels it could be Will Be Loved, saying that she It’s a long time ago now but I useful to them. had forgotten who made it think I remember seeing a Outside of The American famous! I must admit I had as leaflet about Brighter Futures Clubhouse I do volunteer well but checked it out on my which is how a came to attend work at the Salvation Army phone and it was Maroon 5. the American Clubhouse. shop in Hanley.

I also attend Work Routes Then Carl, one of the support Karaoke through which I access useful workers at the time, asked if I The Karaoke Nights at 24/7 training. would like to help out in a are great fun! All Clubhouse Health and Safety role. This members are very welcome. Volunteering included testing the fire alarm There are many different and checking fire extinguishers. volunteering opportunities I did this until 2017 when I within the Clubhouse Network. became a formal volunteer. In Volunteering can be very my volunteer role I help out in a beneficial and help develop skills, range of activities, I help in the such as communication, money garden group, help with general Don’t worry you do not have handling, organising, events, pool cleaning and anything else that I to sing, just go along and tournaments or working in the can help with in the Clubhouse. enjoy listening to the tunes. cafes. This takes place on the first Wednesday of every month from 4:30pm till 7:30pm. Sunday Lunch Did you know you can get a delicious Sunday lunch at 24/7 from 12:00pm-1:30pm and 2:00pm – 3:00pm? The cost is £4.25 with proceeds going back into the catering network. Astley’s Astounding Volunteer Stories Adventures Do you volunteer with Brighter At The New Vic

Futures? We would like to print On 10th July members visited Phil your story about how you came the New Vic to see a play to to volunteer. I enjoy my volunteer role commemorate the life of the If you feel that you would like to because it feels like I am giving founder of the modern circus try volunteering then please back something to a place and Philip Astley. The large cast contact Mel McClure at Brighter people who have helped me. included actors and circus Futures. 24/7 clubhouse performers. This month’s volunteer is Phil Nail Art takes place on the first who tells us about his voluntary Sunday of every month from work for Brighter Futures. Phil I have been accessing the Clubhouse since late February 2016. The story showed how the After about twelve months I circus evolved from nothing started to help staff clean up at more than an open field to the end of the day. the big top that we are 12:00pm till 2:00pm at 24/7 familiar with today. Everyone (Hillcrest).

enjoyed the performance which relaxing walk or bike ride. the past. But you are still concluded with a standing There are birds in the air and grounded in the present ovation from the audience. fish in the lake. Anglers’ pit moment. their wits against the fish and Thích Nhất Hạnh judging by the number of fish This month’s Mindful I’ve seen caught the fish are Moments Find Brighter winning. Everything is created twice, Futures on Social first in the mind and then in Media reality. Robin S. Sharma facebook.com/ It’s difficult to think anything brighterfuturesNW/ but pleasant thoughts while eating a home-grown @BFNW tomato. Lewis Grizzard Mark Tries Out A Machine

Another attraction is the Life is all memory, except for City Places To Visit outdoor gym. The gym the one present moment that Bath Pool is a pleasant park with comprises a number of very goes by you so quickly you a number of trails to walk or sturdy exercise machines which hardly catch it going. cycle through. Situated near are in excellent condition and Tennessee Williams Kidsgrove there is a car park at great fun to use. Fortunately either end of the park. your editor is in tip-top Crafting at the The west coast mainline runs by condition and breezed through the park and the Harecastle canal the exercises. American tunnel runs the length of the The park is a great place to Clubhouse park under the hills. spend a couple of peaceful There is a craft group every hours away from the busy Tuesday between 10:00am towns. and 14:00pm at the American Mindfulness in the conservatory. Enjoy What is Mindfulness? making all manner of crafted To dwell in the here and now items. does not mean you never think The group is open to all about the past or plan members. Please come along responsibly for the future. and take part in this enjoyable activity. Claire The idea is simply not to allow leads this group. A View Of The Lake yourself to get lost in regrets More Crafting… Facilities include a children’s about the past or worries about playground a basketball court the future. If you are firmly Memory Boxes With Ange and rugby pitches. Also a dry- grounded in the present The craft group will be slope ski center is hidden away in moment, the past can be an making Memory Boxes on st the woods. object of enquiry, the object of 21 August with Ange The main attraction though is the your mindfulness and Gamble. lake, round which you can take a concentration. You can attain many insights by looking into

Words With Paige Or on the Web: Big mistake! To Be Still They Say The Darkness Everything was going well Within Consumes Us All, forabout half a mile when we For They Say We Let Our Demons saw a small jetty ahead and Within Rise Up, decided to moor up. I was up A Fight We Shall Never Give Up on deck and thought that we On They Say Can Only Hold Us were approaching too fast. Back Safe Spaces QR Code. Or use: Rather than cut the main They Say We Shall Not Be http://www.brighter- engine off and drift in, Melv Victorious In A War We Fought futures.org.uk/safe-spaces was trying to drive the boat With Our All, in! For We Shall No Longer Be Howard’s Way Seconds later the inevitable Afraid, (Boating on the Broads) happened, our very To Be Still In A Battle That Shall expensive boat crashed into Back in the late 70’s six friends Soon Be Over Is The Way the jetty. Forward, and I took a two week holiday In hindsight maybe we should To Be Still Is Bravery Unknown To on the Norfolk Broads. Have spent more time Many, Our journey started at Stoke learning how to stop. To Be Still In A Fight Is To Let All Station where we caught the To this day I can still vividly Be Free, first of the three trains needed recall the sound of splintering To Be Still In A Battle Is To Free to get to our boatyard in the wood and paint as almost in All Emotion, small village of Somerleyton. slow motion our beloved To Be Still In A War Is To Let Go On arrival we were taken to our boat became embedded in Of All Anger, large boat Dazzling Water. A the jetty. To Be Still Is To Love friendly boat man then took us Unconditionally..... all for a short river trip to show Paige Roberts us how to handle the craft and also to run through the control panel which which was fairly straight-forward.. A wheel to steer and a throttle to adjust the speed. Safe Spaces provides a safe, The hole was LARGE, supportive environment for meaning that when I went people in mental distress. below deck and opened the How can Safe Spaces help me? kitchen cupboard the corner Safe Spaces offers a safe space of the jetty was now next to during the week and weekends the pots and pans. when you’re in mental distress or Our first course of action was crisis when a hospital admission to put the throttle in reverse is neither wanted nor needed. to try and pull ourselves free. How do I contact Safe Spaces? One of our crew, Big Melv Maybe not a good thing to do For more information and to claimed he had piloted a boat because if the hole had been speak to a member of the team before so was happy to take the below the water line we call 01782 811815. wheel for the first stretch. would have sunk! To Be Continued…

Space like an armadillo was let loose on the keyboard. Up to the darkness here I go leaving Earth so far below - I was watching the London for I'm a spaceman exploring marathon and saw one space: no longer living with the runner dressed as a chicken human race. and another runner dressed as an egg. I thought this With a sonic boom my boosters could be interesting. go: floating down to earth, Louise, Andrew, Nicola and Centaurs shop at TopMan far far below. Charlotte entered this year’s and BottomHorse. Glow In The Moonlight event for Now I really am all alone: just 24/7 Timetable Douglas MacMillan starting and me, my suit my skin and bone; Monday Social Space – Craft, Art, finishing at Newcastle High no muscled gravity to hold me Pool, Board Games, Chat 9:00am – School. Participants took part in down I float around like a 9:00pm. either a ten or five mile walk with human clown. Tuesday Social Space – Games and entry fees going to Dougie Mac. Quiz Afternoon 9:00am – 9:00pm. Past the moon I quickly pass Walking group starting at 1:00pm. into the mixture of stars and Wednesday Art Workshop 10:00am gas... – 2:00pm.Arts and Crafts 11:00am – The walk started at 9:00pm and 2:00pm. Karaoke Evening 4:30pm – the first finishers came in from Something is wrong; my 7:30pm on the first Wednesday of every month. (24/7open 9:00am – the ten mile walk around 12:15. instruments show They all light up with a deadly glow... 9:00pm as usual) Louise finished in fourth place in Thursday Social Space – Art, Pool, the 10 mile category which is a My body shakes from head to Board Games, Chat 9:00am – great achievement. foot; a sickly feeling screams in 9:00pm. my gut... Friday Hand Massage by appointment only 12:00pm – Will I see another day? 2:00pm. As I fly up to the Milky Way... Saturday Open 9:00am – 12:00pm. Please don't cry for me, don't Breakfast Club – Toast and your first drink free. Open 9:00am – 9:00pm. shed a tear:

For I'm not gone, I am still here ... so when you gaze up to the stars at night, just think of the Andrew,Charlotte, Louise and astronaut still in astro-flight... Nicola with their medals Adrian This was a brilliant event to take Jokes part in and it was well supported by the public. Better tighten your corset because these jokes are going Observatory Timetable to split you sides. Monday Women Only Service Poets’ Corner I think the worst thing about Art and crafts, Relaxation, Bingo – This bit is for you. In each issue 10:00am – 4:00pm. driving a time machine is your Art Workshop – 6:00pm - 8:00pm. we like to include your poetry or kids moaning in the back saying Tuesday Art Workshop 10:00am – creative writing. Any “are we then yet?”? contributions will be appreciated. 2:00pm Massage therapies by Without the beat in the appointment only 12:00pm – Jokes (clean ones) are also 2:00pm. welcome. background, jazz basically feels

Wednesday Jam Factory. Guided music workshops. Electric and acoustic instruments, digital track recording, karaoke. Referral required. Call Steve Rhead on 07540 673 560 for an appointment to view the project. Thursday Closed. Friday Man Days. Bookable guitar lessons, Music studio bookable practice sessions 10:00am – 12:30pm. Photography Club 10:00am – 1:00pm. Art. Informal band performance/rehearsal 1:30pm – 4:00pm. The American Timetable Monday Open 9:30am – 4:00pm. Pool Tournament 12:30pm – 4:00pm. Social 1:00pm – 4:00pm. Tuesday Open 9:30am – 4:00pm. Craft Group 10:00am – 2:00pm. Social 2:00pm – 4:00pm. Wednesday Open 9:30am – 2:00pm. Thursday Open 9:30am – 6:00pm Art Workshop 10:00am – 2:00pm. Help with computers, phones and tablets 1:00pm – 3:00pm. Friday Open 9:30am – 4:00pm. Training when available. Creative Writing 1:00pm – 2:00pm. Games and Quiz afternoon 2:00pm – 3:00pm.

Thanks to everyone who Contributed to this issue of the Clubhouse Network Newsletter.

Mindful Colouring Express yourself in colour with this mindfulness colouring picture from the Art Group At The Observatory. The picture is a Tree Of Life drawn by Harmony.