Daily Message of Recovery

Daily Message of Recovery

Minutes of NUCF

Date: 16/04/2015

Location: Lifeline Outlook

Chair: Chris

Apologises: Gary, Kevin

Update on Client Advisory Groups and Events

Trading Places – On every Sunday now. Dave gave an explanation of trading places to the new members of the forum and confirmed all is going well with no issues and it’s a great place to volunteer. Anyone is welcome to drop in and see what happens but if you want to volunteer let Andy know.

Monday Plummer Court – New group Monday 11.00-1.00 in the day centre with forum members sharing their experience with people on their first day of alcohol or drug detox. Well received by clients in Plummer. Gillian and Alison to be added to the list for Mondays.

Wednesday Plummer Court – Group continues on a Wednesday and is well established now and well attended by forum members. Pam gave an update on the last Plummer group and feedback that there was a good balance of volunteers to clients and a lot of interaction. Dave to be added to the list to volunteer on Wednesdays.

Recovery Clinic – Generally all going well. Important for the forum to maintain a presence there. No update was available on the Tuesday group.

Guest speaker – Jonathan Lewney Specialty Registrar Dental Public Health

Jonathan introduced himself and gave a brief background on his work from working in a standard dental practice to moving to a more open dental practice and now to his work within Public Health. Jonathan wanted to talk to the forum about the problems people with issues such as homelessness or drug and alcohol issues have in accessing dental care.

Question – “what makes it difficult to get appointments and why won’t people go to the dentist?”

Positive feedback from the forum about the Molineux walk in centre but there was a need for more signposting to centres like this.

People in addiction just take drugs to get rid of the pain rather than go to the dentist

More people are going to the dentist now after having a positive experience

Things are getting better

There are free walk in centres for homeless now such as Saville Row

Historically there has been discrimination against people with addictions e.g. unwilling to give dental care to people on methadone.

Discrimination against the unemployed who don’t pay for their dental care

Positive feedback that it was easier to register now and less form filling

Some people won’t go die to the cost of dental care and would rather spend the money on other things

Opening times are to fixed and make it difficult for people with children

Would help if NHS could pay for treatment in instalments

Question – “What makes it more difficult to get an appointment?”

Location due to population density i.e. lack of dental surgeries

Jonathan has a list of all practices that are currently taking on new patients and he will email Andy the list to circulate to the forum.

Sponsored Event

Specifically around Age UK fundraising. Kev wasn’t able to attend the forum so we had limited information around this. But Chris fedback that it would be a joint venture with Changing Lives in the form of a relay Tri-Athlon. The forum wanted more details e.g. is a NUFC team needed or is it individuals, are their opportunities to get involved on the day, what are the dates etc. Andy to get more information from Kev.

Additional Sponsored Events

Forum is keen to do some fund raising this Summer for itself and local causes. Idea initially included NUCF unity day (picnic and/or BBQ), bag packing at a local super market, bike rides, walks, talent competition and many more. Next forum will be around putting some details onto these ideas and assigning who wants to take responsibility for each one.

These will be for a number of charities with members putting forward their charity of choice.

AOB - None

Next NUCF 30/04/2015      

Chair: Richard

Location: Plummer               

Minutes: Terry

Daily Message of Recovery

Daily Message of Recovery

Daily Message of Recovery

Daily Message of Recovery

Sadly missed along life's way,

quietly remembered every day...

No longer in our life to share,

but in our hearts, you're always there.

A message for those we knew and lost

NUCF Minutes 2nd April 2015

Minutes of NUCF

Date: 02/04/2015

Location: Plummer Court

Chair: Terry

Update on Client Advisory Groups and Events

Trading Places – On every Sunday now. The service is going really well with no issues or problems to report. The volunteers are happy with everything and working hard as ever and enjoying giving back to those in need. Confirmed that TP would be open Easter Sunday with Easter eggs for all!

Monday Plummer Court – New group Monday 11.00-1.00 in the day centre with forum members sharing their experience with people on their first day of alcohol or drug detox. Well received by clients in Plummer.

Wednesday Plummer Court – Group continues on a Wednesday and is well established now and well attended by forum members. Chris asked to be added to the rota for this group.

Recovery Clinic – Generally all going well. Depending on the days and times the numbers of clients can vary, seems to be much busier on Tuesday. Important for the forum to maintain a presence there. Mac to take over from Gary on Tuesday, thanks to Gary for the time and effort he has put into the Recovery clinic

Parent’s Session at Trinity College – The planned sessions on 26^th and 27^th March had to be postponed and will be rescheduled for after the Easter break.

NUCF Charter and guest speakers

There is an existing Charter for the Newcastle User side of the forum. This has been around for a number of years and has not had input from any existing member of the NUCF. The forum went through the existing Charter and suggested amendments to the wording and content. The charter will be re-visited at the next NUCF with the amendments made. This can be made public but will be an ever changing document that the forum will update when necessary.

CRI Questionnaire

CRI asked in advance of the forum if the members could fill in a questionnaire around SU involvement. The document was circulated during lunch and members were given the chance to fill it in.

UKRW 2015

The next planning session of the UKRW 2015 will be in Durham on 24^th April @ 1.00pm. There will be attendance from the forum. There is opportunity to get involved in the planning and on the day with sub groups including; volunteer stewards, fund raising, creative arts, entertainment, festival and events. There is a conference on the Friday before the walk and a football tournament. There is also the opportunity for a camp out in Durham Cathedral.

Men in Recovery Event

A men’s recovery event is being planned for July and to be held at the Hancock Museum in Newcastle. The theme is around men’s health and all the forms this can take. It will be open to men in recovery and more information will follow closer to the event.

AOB

Museum event. Feedback was that initially there was a lack of organisation and communication and people didn’t know what they were doing. However, there is a blank canvas there for the forum to be involved in and develop.

Rota for Plummer. Suggestion that the rota should change so the same people are there on a Monday and a Wednesday to build rapport with the clients. Concerns that some people may not be able to make Monday and Wednesday and so may miss out on the opportunity to attend. Rota to be revisited after Easter.

Bike Ride. Kevin confirmed that the forum can have access to bikes for use in sponsored event.

PHE Conference. Taking place at the Sage Gateshead 23^rd and 24^th June. Event includes stalls to show case smaller organisations that are active in the community. NUCF will have the opportunity to be there contact Andy if you would like to be involved on the day.

Next NUCF 16/04/2015

Location: Outlook in Jesmond

Chair: Chris

Minute taker: Nasir

Daily Message of Recovery

Daily Message of Recovery

A LIFETIME PROCESS

We were having trouble with personal relationships, we couldn't control our emotional natures, we were a prey to misery and depression, we couldn't make a living, we had a feeling of uselessness, we were full of fear, we were unhappy, we couldn't seem to be of real help to other people. . . .

— ALCOHOLICS ANONYMOUS, p. 52

These words remind me that I have more problems than alcohol, that alcohol is only a symptom of a more pervasive disease. When I stopped drinking I began a lifetime process of recovery from unruly emotions, painful relationships, and unmanageable situations. This process is too much for most of us without help from a Higher Power and our friends in the Fellowship. When I began working the Steps of the A.A. program, many of these tangled threads unraveled but, little by little, the most broken places of my life straightened out. One day at a time, almost imperceptibly, I healed. Like a thermostatbeing turned down, my fears diminished. I began to experience moments of contentment. My emotions became less volatile. I am now once again a part of the human family.

From the book Daily Reflections
Copyright © 1990 by Alcoholics Anonymous World Services, Inc.

Daily Message of Recovery

Happy Easter All and have a Safe and Peaceful Bank Holiday Weekend

God Bless

UK Recovery Walk Durham Saturday 12th September 2015

For more information please visit the UKRW website via the link below.

UKRW 2015

Daily Message of Recovery

Daily Message of Recovery

April 1

Love and addiction

“Some of us first saw the effects of addiction on the people closest to us.  We were very dependent on them to carry us through life.  We felt angry, disappointed, and hurt when they found other interests, friends, and loved ones.”

Basic Text, p. 7

Addiction affected every area of our lives.  Just as we sought the drug that would make everything alright, so we sought people to fix us.  We made impossible demands, driving away those who had anything of worth to offer us.  Often, the only people left were those who were themselves too needy to be capable of denying our unrealistic expectations.  It’s no wonder that we were unable to establish and maintain healthy intimate relationships in our addiction.

Today, in recovery, we’ve stopped expecting drugs to fix us.  If we still expect people to fix us, perhaps it’s time to extend our recovery program to our relationships.  We begin by admitting we have a problem—that we don’t know the first thing about how to have healthy intimate relationships.  We seek out members who’ve had similar problems and have found relief.  We talk with them and listen to what they share about this aspect of their recovery.  We apply the program to all our affairs, seeking the same kind of freedom in our relationships that we find throughout our recovery.

Just for today:  Loving relationships are within my reach.  Today, I will examine the effects of addiction on my relationships so that I can begin seeking recovery.

Copyright © 1991-2015 by Narcotics Anonymous World Services, Inc. All Rights Reserved