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Mindfulness

September presentation- The role of the physiotherapist in eating disorders

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Prior to our sharing session at the September meeting, Sandra Philip-Rafferty, Highly Specialist Physiotherapist with the Adult Outpatient Service in Aberdeen, came along and gave us a very interesting insight on the physiotherapist’s role within the multi-disciplinary team. She highlighted the different ways physiotherapy could be used, such as for relaxation, tension management and breathing, the unity between body and mind, posture correction, exercise management, and the improvement of body image. Body size estimation can also be improved. Sandra took us through what happens when you eat, how food travels physically through the body, and also how food can  sometimes affect the brain with fears causing tension. She also explained topics discussed in groups on body awareness which promote body acceptance, using relaxation, touch/massage, mirrors, mindfulness and enjoying exercise again at an acceptable level. Sandra then discussed the different stages of change when someone is affected by an eating disorder and how service users can be supported through these stages. There was an excellent attendance for Sandra’s presentation which was very informative and well received by everyone. We really appreciate Sandra giving up her free time to come along and speak to us.

Body and Mind Well-being Classes

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  • Venue

    Aberdeen Sports Village, Linksfield Rd, Aberdeen AB24 5RU

  • Date and time

    Every Tuesday 3PM – 4PM


Aberdeen Sports Village is now running a Body and Mind Well-being Class every Tuesday between 3PM and 4PM. Cost is £3 per class per person.

For more information, contact reception on 01224 438900.

Aberdeen Body and Mind Well-being classes

Mindfulness

Wellbeing Day 3 success

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Here are some photos from our recent Wellbeing Day held at the Inspire Building on the Beach Boulevard.

Workshops were Bodytalk with Francine Dulong from BodyGossip and Laughter Yoga with Helen Spence. Claire from me2you nails created some very stylish nails. Taster complementary therapies were also available including, Shiatsu, massage, reflexology, and reiki.

This was a free event, the result of Albyn School’s winning presentation in their YPI competition resulting in a £3000 donation to NEEDS(Scotland).

The photos include some of the group mimes of situations which help us read, and situations where we feel stressed and uncomfortable.

There are also photos of the timeline we created together of happy and sad events in our lives.

You can also see photos of Helen Spence leading the Laughter Yoga session and an example of Claire’s nail painting skills.

It was a great day, which left everyone very relaxed, chilled and looking forward to the next Wellbeing Day!

Recovery Is Possible

Self help at its best

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NEEDS(Scotland) is a self help group. It has been around for 22 years now in one form or another supporting those affected by eating disorders and also carers, friends and families. Many group members have come and gone and appreciated the support they have had.

Over the past few months I have witnessed our group working at its very best with volunteer facilitators, members at all stages of these horrible illnesses and carers too, really showing how self help works. I commend everyone involved for their empathy, their compassion and willingness to help those in need.

Living with an eating disorder is a constant struggle. Our group members understand that more than anyone. Recovery IS possible!

coffee care and share

Support for those caring for adolescents with eating disorders

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NEEDS(Scotland) have now held two very successful Coffee Care and Share sessions within the Young Peoples’ Department at Royal Cornhill Hospital.

Two volunteer facilitators led the groups, one held in the morning, and one in the evening, to gauge interest in developing a self help group specifically for those caring for youngsters affected by eating disorders. Both groups were very well attended and had very positive dynamics. Everyone contributed in some way, and supported each other.

We hope to repeat these sessions in 2018, and hopefully recruit a couple of carers to lead the sessions along with us. We do understand how scary and difficult it is to cope with a young person challenged by these horrible illnesses, but we also see the benefits of coming together in a safe setting to share and support others in similar situations. If you think you can help, please get in touch with our administrator via our contact form.

Initially we would hope to run Coffee Care and Share sessions, perhaps quarterly, depending on interest and availability of volunteers. Each session lasts for 90 minutes, and is basically an informal coffee and chat. However, we must stress the importance of confidentiality as always. Watch this space for our first 2018 date!

 

Crafts Paint

Arts & Craft Group – 2017 Meeting Dates

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NEEDS (Scotland)

North East Eating Disorders Support (Scotland) Reg Charity no SC043640

Arts & Craft Group 2017 dates

  • January 17th
  • February 14th
  • March 14th
  • April 11th

7-9pm

Free admission, refreshments provided. All group members/carers welcome.
You can register on the night.

Crafts Paint

Art Room M5

Rosemount Community Centre Belgrave Terrace Aberdeen AB25 2NS.
Parking available through barrier. Code to exit.

 

Arts and Crafts

Arts & Craft Group Tuesday 11th October 2016

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NEEDS

Arts & Craft Group

  • Tuesday 11th October
  • 7-9pm
  • Free Admission
  • All group members and carers welcome

Crafts Paint

Art Room M5

Rosemount Community Centre Belgrave Terrace Aberdeen AB25 2NS

Wellbeing Day 2

Wellbeing Day 2 Saturday 22nd October 2016

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Sat 22nd October 9.45 – 4pm
Please Arrive at 9.30 to Register

 

Positive Body Image Creative Workshop

positivebodyimage

Francine Dulong is an interdisciplinary performing artist who hails from Nova Scotia, Canada. She recently completed  an MA with distinction in Applied Theatre from the Royal Central School of Speech and Drama, holds a Double Major in Theatre and French from the University of British Columbia, and has a background in physical theatre and art education (International School of Jacques Lecoq). Francine is passionate about the exploration of positive body image and gender equality in our current society. Working with Body Gossip and all the young people involved with the Performance Project is both a daily source of inspiration and a life changing opportunity. When she is not facilitating and designing educative adventures for Body Gossip, she is working for her participatory environmental theatre company, Blooming Ludus.  You can see her portfolio here: francinedulong.weebly.com

 

 

The Feel Good Factor

thefeelgoodfactor

Eveline Nicolette is a Body Oriented Psychotherapist who integrates body-mind approaches to creatively help people step into their lives more fully. In this work, she draws on trainings in Dance Movement Psychotherapy, trauma treatment models, meditation, the arts, and her personal life experience. Currently, her practice includes individual and group work with children, young people, adults and families.

Eveline has a particular interest in working with people with eating issues. An important aspect of this is collaborating with a person to find the body-mind tools that help make a positive difference to how they feel and cope with life.

In The Feel Good Factor taster session, Eveline’s warm and easy-going manner will invite you to get creative with others and have fun through movement, music and art. Come and play with possibilities and discover what the Feel Good Factor is for you!

 

Complementary Therapy Taster Sessions

aromatherapy

 

  • This is a free event  with a light lunch & refreshments included.
  • Cafe Coast, Inspire Building, Beach Blvd, Aberdeen AB24 5HP
  • Parking Available
  • Please click here for the downloadable programme.

Youth and Philamthropy Initiative Scotland logo Generously funded by Robert Gordon YPI

Settling in for an introduction to yoga

Wellbeing Day Saturday 3rd September 2016

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This was a new venture for us suggested by one of our volunteers, and brought into life with funding awards from Aberdeen University Raising and Giving Campaign and also the Youth Philanthropy Initiative. It was held at Cafe Coast, which is a super venue for such an event, with a bright and airy room for both presentations and workshops.

The day began with a Mindfulness session where Louise Martin introduced the concept and led us through some exercises to focus our thoughts. The key is to accept that the mind will wander, but that you can bring it back to focus at any time.

After a short coffee break Morgan Windram introduced us to yoga and some exercises which could be done at any level. The focus was again on breathing which followed on from our Mindfulness session. The stretches were easily adaptable and felt very good. By this point we were all feeling totally relaxed and enjoyed a light lunch and chat with the speakers and also the 5 therapists who were joining us for the afternoon.

Using two extra rooms at Cafe Coast, we were able to offer 30 minute sessions of various complimentary therapies and also a file and polish. Among therapies offered were aromatherapy massage, deep tissue massage, reiki, shiatsu, reflexology, hand/foot massage and indian head massage.

Alongside these treatments were two taster sessions of Movement as Therapy, which was a new concept to us all. Eveline Nicolette gave us all a short introduction to the concept and then we experienced it for ourselves. The workshop was called The Feel Good Factor, and I definitely think it gave us exactly that, judging by the smiles at the end of the day!

The event has been hailed a great success and we hope to make them a regular event if we can secure sufficient funding. The next one is already booked for Saturday 22nd October 2016, so get the date in your diary.

The main presenter will be Francine Dulong from BodyGossip, a charity who take workshops on body image round schools and universities. We are also hoping to have a session on music as therapy and our complimentary therapies available once more. Watch this website for more details!

Many thanks to all involved for an extremely refreshing, informative and most importantly, fun day!
Apologies for only three photos…. too busy chilling out…….!!

Settling in for an introduction to yoga

Settling in for an introduction to yoga

The Yoga session was pitched well for all levels, floor based and chair based.

The session was pitched well for all levels, floor based and chair based.

Finlaying watching on

Finlay decided just to spectate! He’ll maybe do it next time!

Cheque Donation

Rosehill TSB’s final fling!

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For the past year the Rosehill Branch of the TSB have tirelessly and very inventively raised money on behalf of NEEDS(Scotland). This partnership is now at an end and today, Heather was presented with a cheque for £1838.11. This is almost double what the branch was aiming to raise, and we are absolutely delighted.

We can’t thank the Rosehill Branch staff and customers enough for this fantastic achievement. We must also thank Amanda Bain, the former Assistant Manager who has since moved to be manager at the Castle Street branch, and Sam, who is holding the right hand side of the cheque. Sam Mitchell has been the charity co-ordinator and worked very hard to organise events, and has also attended several events which we have organised using monies raised.

We have purchased various items to make the group room more welcoming, and now intend to start an Arts and Crafts group. this money will go a long way to help with venue costs and materials. Thanks again, folks!

 

Cheque Donation