Neuro Hebrides Cuppa & Catch Up Sessions
A warm welcome is guaranteed at the Neuro Hebrides’ Cuppa & Catch Up sessions. Taking place at The Failte Centre, Bayhead, Stornoway regularly on Mondays between 2pm and 3.30pm (please check dates on the What’s On page), these sessions provide an opportunity for people living with a neurological condition or caring for someone who does, to meet up and chat over a cuppa. There is no charge for these sessions, and you do not need to be a Neuro Hebrides member. Designed to be as informal as possible, you can come for the whole session or just a short while depending on how you feel on the day.
Cuppa & Catch Up afternoons at the Failte Centre are all about bringing likeminded people together who have shared experiences of coping with a neurological condition in a safe and supportive environment. You will find we are a positive thinking group with a ‘can do’ attitude who try to help each other forget our troubles for a while and to celebrate our achievements. The group contributes to a Code of Conduct to ensure, amongst other things, that everyone’s dignity and privacy is respected and people are treated with compassion and kindness. Please get in touch if you would like a copy of the Cuppa & Catch Up Code of Conduct.
As the group gathers confidence after the restrictions of the Covid pandemic, numbers attending on a regular basis range from approximately 8 to 12 people but it is hoped this increases in the future. The team of volunteers are on hand to ensure everyone is made to feel welcome and comfortable. They will meet you at the door and accompany you to the dining room area and help you to find a seat at a table where you choose. Coming along to the sessions for the first time can be a little intimidating for some people so if this is the case, the volunteer team invite you to come along a bit earlier and get settled before everyone else arrives. If this would help you, please get in touch to arrange this. Once you are comfortable, you will be offered a cup of tea or coffee and there are always biscuits and cakes on offer too. Please get in touch beforehand if you have any special dietary requirements or allergies. If it’s your first time joining us, the volunteer team will ensure you are made to feel included and the rest of the group will be introduced to you if you so wish. For some people attending who struggle with group environments or are having a challenging day, we have a quiet space for more one to one type chats.
Neuro Hebrides has the entire Failte Centre booked for Monday’s Cuppa and Catch Up sessions. Not only does this means there is plenty of parking (free) at the rear of the centre but it also means people can come and go as they please without having to negotiate any other groups of people at the centre.
The volunteer team work hard to make the Cuppa & Catch Up sessions as safe as possible. In line with current Covid advice tables, seats, surfaces and toilets are all sanitised before and after each session. A window is always open to help ventilation. We are also asking people attending to take a lateral flow test before coming along and to wear a face mask unless seated at a table. The volunteer team will encourage you to try and keep to the one space or chair throughout the afternoon but they do understand that some people may need to move about to feel comfortable.
The Neuro Hebrides team also ensures that there is a qualified First Aider present and that there are volunteers holding PVG membership.
Finally, there is a wheelchair and walking frame available in the centre if needed. Please get in touch beforehand if you would like to use these, so we can make sure they are sanitised and accessible.
We look forward to meeting you at a Cuppa & Catch Up session before too long. Please get in touch if you need any more information or if you have any suggestions on what the Neuro Hebrides team could do to make these sessions better suit your needs.
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