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Creative Care Dorset invite you to: Arts and Older People Learning Event on Monday 21st May, 1pm-4.30pm & Monday 18th June, 1pm-4.30pm, at The Colliton Club, Dorchester, DT1 1XJ, www.collitonclub.co.uk Please contact F.Curran@DorsetCC.gov.uk  no later than  5th May 2012 to book or find out more detail.

We welcome two new ‘Brain Cells’, mind stimulating activity providers, who have just joined the Mind Your Head Challenge The Light and Energy Centre in Weymouth is run by Claire Whiles and is a health and holistic community centre offering a wide range of activities. You can attend a range of workshops or therapies, as

‘This event should be run in every village in Dorset’ said Lisa Holmes of Age UK, who attended the Mind Your Head Challenge Taster on Friday 13th at Stratton Village Hall. It was funded by the Dorset Community Foundation Over twenty people attended the taster where they were encouraged to try a range of mind

Some people think ‘a board game is one hour of game play followed by 4 hours of arguing’. I know it has started some interesting reactions in our house at times. As we all know, our whole life is about problem solving and building relationships with others. Board games can teach us life skills in

We have received a request from Annie Dimmick of LINk, which would suit someone looking to stimulate their mind while making a difference in a difficult situation. Dorset LINk would like to work with Dorset County Hospital on an innovative piece of work looking at the patient experience of being in an isolation unit/room whilst

Douglas Pigg, one of our first volunteers, described the Mind Your Head Challenge as ‘speed dating for the brain’. The taster session allows you to try out different mind stimulating activities (Brain Cells) to find the one that suits you best. The next event is on Friday April 13th at Stratton from 2-4 pm. Entry is free and

Valerie Singleton, who many of us will remember from Blue Peter and the Money Programme, is going to chair our Mind Your Head Conference on August 12th. She will then be at the Showcase afterwards to promote her company, SimplicITy Computers. The computers are specially designed for older people and are easy to use.  http://www.simplicitycomputers.co.uk/

Our latest Brain Cell to register is Jane Silver-Corren’s Community Singing Workshops. Welcome Jane. I first met Jane at the Synergy Housing Taster session on March 13th where she was helping the Alzheimer’s Singing for the Brain. Having been chucked out of a choir at fifteen, I wasn’t sure I wanted to sing, but Jane

It may seem a strange combination but St John Ambulance are providing a Mah-Jong Workshop and Tournament on Saturday 17th March from 10.30 – 3.30 pm at their offices, Bridport Road, Poundbury. The beautiful and thought provoking Chinese game is a very ancient and traditional pastime, yet fun to play at any level. Tickets are £15, including a

It is worth checking out the latest newsletter from Age UK’s Rowan Cottage, as there is a feast of activities being laid on. This includes a taster session by a Brain Cell – King’s Cribbage. Handbags and Gladrags is an opportunity to create your own fashion design with 5 recycled items from the Age UK

We are very pleased to announce that the Dorset Mental Health Forum is supporting the Mind Your Head Conference and Showcase by being a sponsor, providing delegates and a stand. We welcome them to be part of our steering group as they bring a wealth of knowledge, experience and contacts. This is an exciting opportunity to make

The Phoenix Legacy and Mind Your Head Challenge have received recognition. These words were sent in a letter to us from Lord Coe last week: “We hope that hosting the London 2012 Games will help improve sporting facilities and provision across the country and the Phoenix Legacy is a perfect example of this. The work

The London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games are an amazing opportunity to try something new and be part of a very special occasion right here on your doorstep. I believe many people will regret afterwards that they did not get more involved. I was fortunate enough to be in Montreal for the Olympics of 1976 and

Time to Change is England’s biggest ever attempt to end the stigma and discrimination that people with mental health problems face. It is a campaign to change attitudes, and behaviour too. One in four of us will experience a mental health problem in our lifetime. Those that do are highly likely to face stigma and discrimination

Many people with memory loss and their families face a challenging future, either facing uncertainty about their condition or having to cope with a diagnosis and its prognosis. Added to these challenges are problems with navigating the maze of services provided by statutory, private and voluntary agencies. “Many are not aware of the services and