Dear DEEPers
Hoping you have all had a restful summer (not quite over) but just beginning for me as I head off for a couple of weeks holiday in south Snowdonia. I intend to bury my head in books and have beautiful walks in an area I love with my dog, Megan. My 84-year-old Mum will be glued to the US Open tennis in our (rented) log cabin overlooking the Mawddach estuary which she loves.
I just wanted to write to check in with you about a few things. it has been a really busy year and there are going to be another busy few months ahead with our DEEP 10th Anniversary celebrations.
Take a look at the DEEP 10th Anniversary events pages with films of what has already taken place and information about the events to come. https://anniversary.dementiavoices.org.uk/deep-festival-events/
Sadly, I have lost the admin support of the lovely Anna a day a week. Anna has moved on to a very good full-time job in York. For now, I will pick up what Anna has been doing – so any website updates or anything please do come to me. As we will be planning the future of DEEP going forwards it feels sensible to not recruit anybody else just now. But please bear with me if I don’t reply straight away.
For a while you won’t get the usual weekly update emails so, please do keep in touch with latest news and Taking Part opportunities by looking on the DEEP website www.dementiavoices.org.uk
https://www.dementiavoices.org.uk/deep-groups/taking-part/
https://www.dementiavoices.org.uk/deep-news/latest-news/
Facilitators Zooms – we have been holding facilitator Zooms every Wednesday between 12.30 and 1.30 up until the summer break. We have also run themed sessions and sessions which gave professionals a chance to discuss issues in confidence. The facilitator sessions gave people an opportunity to share, learn and support. They have also been great opportunities for people to connect with each other across the UK – which for me has been priceless.
My concern is that these sessions are not that well attended, and I am not sure why as so many speak of the value of them. So, I would really value your thoughts. With all good intent I am unable to host any facilitator sessions until October now anyway due to the events schedule. It would be helpful to know if you would attend a session if it were:
1) a different day (please suggest)
2) a different time (please suggest)
3) frequency (please suggest)
4) structure/format of session (please suggest)
5) I tried a calendar of subjects in the last few months which wasn’t very successful either.
6) Is everybody just Zoomed out??
I welcome any suggestions/ideas – they will continue, but I just want to get it as right as we can.
Our DEEP News – please let me know if you are not receiving copies of our DEEP News (or enough) and want to. Or if you are receiving them but don’t want so many. They are really expensive to produce, but we know how much people like having a copy in their hands – so want to make sure they land in the right places.
Did you know Our DEEP News is available in audio version too – recorded by DEEPers – https://www.dementiavoices.org.uk/deep-news/deep-updates/
Please also let me know if you want anything updated on your website page. It is you page to shut out loud and proud and be a resource for everybody out there!
If you have any stories to tell or pieces of work to share, please do send them my way. In December there will be a virtual event 10172a DEEP – Virtual Anniversary Poster 2022 V4 and we want to make sure that as many of you are represented in this event as possible. The resources created for this virtual week will be permanently available on the website for people to watch in their groups or homes at any time.
Finally (phew I hear you say)….
THANK YOU to all you DEEPers. The celebration events have been amazing so far – the power of people coming together is what this is all about. Nobody – whether you have dementia or a facilitator, or both or are a supporter, should feel alone. I remind you of the DEEP values which you can find here: https://www.dementiavoices.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2021/07/DEEP-Values-2021-1.pdf
It does feel like they really do sum up everything our network is about. Thank you for ALL you do.
My out of office will be on from the end of the day on Friday 26th and off from Monday 12th September. I will get back to you as soon as I can.
Go gently DEEPers xxx
Rachel
