The Centre has undergone many changes in the last few months, new UPVC double glazed windows and new front door. The feedback has been positive for the windows, cutting out noise, ease of opening etc. but the door has produced some problems. The main problem is the accessibility, due to a drainage lip on the base of the frame. The locking mechanism has also come in for some health and safety issues because of having to use a key to lock the door each time it is shut. As a temporary measure, hazard tape has been placed on the step and a warning sign to “Mind The Step” on the door. I have been in touch with the planning department and the contractors to try and rectify the situation. I will keep you posted on developments. Help needed Due to a number of DIY jobs that need doing in the Centre I am looking for some volunteers to help me get them done. Please ring me if you have the time and the inclination to do them. If we cannot get enough volunteers to do the work, we may have to pay for an odd job person to do this. Complimentary Therapies Theresa, Jean and Betty are busy doing even more sessions at the Hanley Centre, home visits and the Stafford complimentary centre. The complimentary therapies questionnaire is now complete and the results will soon be known. Jean is co-ordinating this so we will soon know what people want from complimentary therapies. Drop in Drop in attendance continues to be high with up to 15 people attending in any one session. This can sometimes cause some problems with space for other meetings such as private one to one sessions. Peter Butler and Georgina Paget have agreed to do another informal question and answer session that will be in the near future. I will keep you posted to developments. The Garden The Garden at the back of the centre is being transformed with help of the service users and a volunteer. We have decided to have a competition for best planter judged by Anne Webster, our green-fingered expert. Anne will mark each planter every fortnight starting on May 23rd until October with a prize for the overall winner. Good luck to you all and may the best green fingers win.

I hope that after a whole 3 months in the job I have managed to meet many of you who read Positive Lives. If not then I am sure it will be very soon! I would like to thank Neil for allowing me to share this column and hopefully I will have a regular input. Much of my work has been developing the Women’s Group and Children’ Activity Scheme. Both have kept me very busy! But I’m not complaining-I have really enjoyed it! The Women’s Group meet up on a fortnightly basis on a Tuesday at 11.00 a.m. The regular drop in begins at 2.00 pm and the women often stay onto enjoy the company of other clients. The women who come along have suggested they meet every week, although they haven't confirmed this officially as yet. Watch this space! (I’ve always wanted to type that!] We have many activities planned for the forthcoming months, including picnics, therapy days, social events and maybe even a trip to a theme park! Why should the children have ALL the fun? Recently, many clients both male and female have expressed a wish to learn more about the computers and the Internet. Two women’s group members have not only come up with a clever and appropriate name for the children’s scheme, but also designed some new headed paper for it! It is this kind of activity that we want to not only encourage but also hopefully provide some proper training for. This is one of many things that Neil and I intend to work on together. Many of the events and workshops will, we hope, be joint ventures with our male clients. All are welcome! The Children’s Scheme is also up and running smoothly. With the unflagging help of our wonderful volunteers, we have already this year: Taken them to the Pantomime in January, The museum and Park in February, and the first After School Club session has also taken place. At Easter we organised an Easter Egg Hunt through the grounds and woods of a local residence. Thanks to Signal Radio we had 10 boxes of Roses chocolates to ‘hide’!