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Diabetes UK Colchester and East Essex Voluntary Group |
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Diabetes UK Colchester and East Essex Voluntary Group |
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News Past issues of our newsletters can be downloaded here
NOTES FROM THE CHAIRPERSON
First
of all, I would like to wish you all a Happy New Year. I hope
that you have all coped with the snow and cold weather that we had over
the Christmas and New Year period. Unfortunately our Christmas social
was affected by all the snow, as a result the 100 club draw was postponed
until our January committee meeting when it was
I look
forward to seeing you at our meetings. Peter
Blackburn May 2010 Newsletter From Our Secretary First of all, I would like to apologise for the late arrival of this mini news letter to you. Unfortunately I have been quite unwell following an operation, making it a bit hard for me to do much, however I am now on the mend and raring to go again. Our AGM is on 20th May at the Hythe Community Centre, 1 Ventura Road, Colchester, Essex CO1 2FG from 7.45pm onwards. There will be refreshments available, annual awards presented along with the normal AGM business. The 100 club will also be drawn for the first time this year. The committee would like this year to bring the 100 Clubs' financial year in line with the Groups financial year. At present the 100 Club runs from May to April, with the financial year running January to December. This year we will be shortening the year to run for 8 months, May to December, at a reduced cost of £4 per entry. We also propose a change in the payouts from the current 1 x £10 and 2 x £5 prizes to 1 x £15 and 1 x £5, still retaining the extra £20 prize at Christmas. Furthermore, we have found, to make the 100 Club a more viable venture, we are proposing that for 2011, from January to December, the cost will be £6 for the year. After a review in the Autumn of 2011, a consideration will be made of a possible further increase in the unit price and/or the viability of the 100 Club in general. This review would then take place in the Autumn of each subsequent year to review progress. Finally, to make the 100 Club as viable as possible, we must have a minimum of 100 entries to the club. For the past couple of years we have been attracting between 90 and 95 which is borderline for survival. The next issue of the Newsletter will be with you in due course and we hope to see you at the AGM on 20th May.
DIARY
DATES Our remaining meetings are held on Thursdays on the following dates:
They are held at the Community Centre, Hythe Hill, Colchester. We start at 7.45pm and normally include a speaker and refreshments and drawing of 100 Club. (Click on the programme button at the top of the page for more details.)
EYE SCREENING There is still a problem with the Retinopathy (eye) screening service in this area. Last September the service underwent an audit review and failed to reach the standard required. The service, to hold photographic records of the backs of your eyes, was then suspended for two months to implement the required improvements. However,
5 months on, this service is still suspended. It may be worthwhile if
individuals write to the Chief Executive of the North East Essex PCT,
Turner Road, Colchester, Essex to ask when this service will be restored. The group meeting sceduled for the15th July will be entitled 'looking after your eyes' details to follow. N.B.
Since the newsletter has been published the eye screening service has
been resumed.
CHARITY EVENTS Our Secretary, Sarah, organised and hosted a Charity Evening in Colchester on Saturday 30th January in aid of Diabetes UK and Help for Heroes. She was ably assisted by her trusted friend, Mrs Tracey Vernon, who at the next committee meeting will hopefully come onboard to help arrange future fundraising events. Between the two of them, they laid on a children’s entertainer, disco, buffet, raffle and secret auction which went down very well with everyone who attended. The evening
raised a total profit of £623.23, which is being split 50/50 between
both charities. Sarah has her thinking cap on already for the next fundraiser
– all ideas would be appreciated. Diabetes
UK runs regular children’s and family holidays for people to meet
other people living with diabetes, to share and learn from each other
in a relaxed and fun environment. Through the group’s fundraising
efforts we are able to help fund the cost towards these care events. If
you would like any further information on this, please do not hesitate
to contact one of the members of the committee.
VOLUNTEERS Do you
have a passion about diabetes and want to get more involved in the work
that Diabetes UK does, why not volunteer?
To get involved, or for more information, contact Sam Morris, Volunteer Development Officer on 01376 505241 or sam.morris@diabetes.org.uk
100 CLUB This year we will be shortening the year to run for 8 months, May to December, at a reduced cost this year of only £4. We also propose a change in the payouts from the current 1 x £10 and 2 x £5 prizes to 1 x £15 and 1 x £5 every month, with an extra £20 prize draw at Christmas. The "100 Club" is open to those with Diabetes, their family, friends and neighbours. The draws take place at our bi-monthly meetings. To enter the "100 Club", please either download and complete the application form and return it to me, or contact me for more information. Multiple applications per person are welcome. onehundred@diabetes-colchester.org.uk Jacki
Blackburn DONATIONS SMS Newsagents in Colchester Town Centre and Jan and Phil's shop on the corner of Artillery Street and Barrack Street all have collection boxes for us. Will your local shop take a collecting box for Diabetes UK?
USING THE NHS What
kind of experiences have you had whilst using the NHS?
We would like to know if you
have had good or bad experiences with the NHS, not only with diabetes
care butusing any of the services. CONTACTING DIABETES UK Head
Office: Macleod House, 10 Parkway, London, NW1 7AA Eastern
Regional Office:
**Important Warning** From Andrew Barker the Clinical Head of Podiatry at Colchester Primary Care Centre "One of my team informed me of a scam in which 2 patients have been contacted and informed that somebody would be visiting them to offer them a vascular check as they were diabetic. One sensibly contacted the police, however, the other patient had someone turn up and paid £95 deposit for a £1,000 piece of equipment before cancelling the check later that day." FINALLY It has been brought to our attention that some people are neglecting to inform the Hospital if they are unable to attend appointments. If the appointment is not cancelled, the person concerned could be referred back to their GP who would have to start the referral process all over again. Please remember that the doctors and nurses need to know - if the Hospital is not informed, then patients who could have used the appointment are unable to do so.
We would also like your ideas on what you want in our programme of events and for fundraising. All suggestions will be considered and evaluated for future use. |