Dear readers,
The past fortnight has seen a flurry of activity as we continue to restart support groups and new courses. It's so wonderful to be able to be back working together with our community! We have two big events on the way with #getjackto10k and our online auction. Plus as we head towards the festive season we are creating Christmas cards, calendars and other gifts for purchase via a new Matthew Project shop on our website that launches at the end of the month... So as always, grab that cuppa and please read on to hear more of our latest news
The highlights...
Next Steps Update Three weeks in to resuming face to face support at the Next Steps Recovery Centre and it has been lovely to be welcoming our members back into activities and programmes. We have resumed the RSP (the Recovery Support Programme) on Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays. We are running EmployAbility (the work skills programme) across the week in group, individual and self-directed study. Hangout on Friday evening started last week for children affected by somebody else’s substance misuse. We are second week in to a new programme called Strengths which runs on Mondays and Fridays as a forerunner to attending the RSP. And…..activities are now being introduced to the timetable for RSP alumni with an evening coffee club launching this week.
Unity Update Unity has been focussing on supporting young people as they return to school. We are working closely with teaching staff to make sure that meetings can take place safely. This week we welcomed our new student social worker Lizzie McCrossnan who joins us from UEA on placement. We are delighted to be able to continue to provide placement opportunities and she will be working across The Matthew Project to get a real feel for the work that we do. Our parent groups have got off to a flying start with the current cohort halfway through the 6 week programme and another cohort planned for November.
#getjackto10k Update Despite the dreary drizzle Jack, his Mum, girlfriend, friends and TMP team, spent Saturday outside the forum raising funds and awareness about his forthcoming ultramarathon. We raised a further £315 taking his total funds raised so far to £1,748 Jack ran a marathon like it was a walk in the park as you can see from the video above. Don't be fooled though, he has been putting in lots of training to get to this level of fitness. Now he's taking it easier in the final weeks before the big day on 23rd October. PLEASE, if you haven't already, help #getjackto10k by donating whatever you can to this incredible challenge
The Matthew Project Online Auction We can't attend firework displays this year, so here's the perfect alternative. Stay at home and watch fireworks online as bidders frantically battle to buy one of our SIZZLING auction lots. Thanks to some fantastic support from Norfolk businesses and local people, we have created an amazing selection of themed lots that will be available for bidding from Friday 23rd October. The online auction will run for two weeks, until 7.45pm on Friday 6th November, when you can join auctioneer Chris Bailey live online as the final 15 minutes are battled out! More details will be released in due course so stick the date in your diary and watch this space
More news for this week...
Feedback from a Recovery Support Programme Member Amazing feedback from one of our new Recovery Support Programme members. How lucky are we that people put their trust in us to support their journey! Thankyou
And from an Outside The Wire Service user Another piece of great feedback here from an incredible Navy Veteran who made use of our Outside The Wire service. Formerly homeless and living in his car
To finish... As we write this, it's getting dark outside already. A reminder of the colder months to come. We hope that there is warmth and light in your hearts and homes. Maybe this little update will have helped Have a lovely weekend and stay safe Best wishes from all the team at The Matthew Project x