This week started off with a meeting with Emma at Edinburgh Community Performing Arts. We are starting a new community choir in partnership with ECPA. It is an exciting opportunity and means that we will now have seven choirs free at the point of delivery. It is so important that barriers are not put in the way of people getting the support that they need. Having to pay for services when you are dealing with the whole new world of diagnosis and statutory services is just beyond emotional strength. It often means that people become lost and alone within a system that is meant to hold people up when things are falling apart.
I always love it when I can get along to All Singing and Dancing. It is my heaven. Seeing people whose different abilities mean they need the support of two people at all times shows just how complex these caring situations can be. When you see participants, carers and friends sharing music together, dancing and moving, it is simply beautiful.
Kenny and I were at Open Door on Tuesday and Kenny did some great work at identifying songs that fit the theme and then we did a great job between us by not organising who was responsible for looking out the songs. We had a bunch of songs in the cupboard at St Brides, so we were able to find enough songs that fit the theme. We had a great afternoon with people sharing stories that related to the theme. One of the best sessions ever!
I had a great chat with someone who we hope will become a great resource at Forget Me Notes. He has just qualified as a Music Therapist and is looking for experiences to extend his knowledge and understanding. He clearly comes with a bundle of experience and I am so glad that he reached out to us. We have a training day this Thursday so it will be good to introduce him to the rest of the group.
Trustee Meeting on Friday and we had a long discussion around the evolution of Forget Me Notes. Under John’s guidance I think we have cracked timings as we haven’t had a meeting that has gone on for much over an hour for months. I don’t think it is only me, but when meetings go on too long I lose track and my thoughts wander, so thanks John for your guiding hand.
I am looking forward to the training day on Thursday. We don’t get too many opportunities to all get together, so having so many experiences of Forget Me Notes in the room will be fun. I see training as learning from one another and facilitating that learning means active listening on my part to ensure that we each make a contribution that is helpful to our team's evolution. We are so lucky to have such diversity in our staff team and this diversity brings with it a rich understanding of relationships. At the end of the day whether it be staff or participants, our aim is to hear the experiences of people, bring them together and create a picture that shows the achievement and potential in us all. The husband of my supervisor when I worked with Cruise used to talk about “the mosaic that is humanity”. It is a wonderful phrase and if the mosaic is going to reach full colour then everyone’s story will need to find a place in the life of Forget me Notes.
Hope you have a colourful week.
