North Mainland Notes 17.10.08

Flu jabs at Brae

THE BRAE Health Centre would like to remind patients that the annual vaccination programme starts next week with drop-in flu clinics on Monday and Wednesday. All patients over 65 or anyone on the chronic disease register should call along the health centre to receive the vaccine. Staff ask that patients with surnames beginning A to L call along the clinic on Monday and patients with surnames beginning M to Z attend on Wednesday. Both drop-in sessions will be held from 2-5pm. Anyone who is unsure if they qualify for the flu jab can telephone the Brae Health Centre on (01806) 522543.

Day care comfort

Since North Haven Care Centre opened in 1991 it has become an integral part of the wider North Mainland community. In addition to respite and residential services, the day care unit gives people an opportunity to socialise and helps to counteract social isolation and loneliness. Transport is provided to and from North Haven to help encourage older people to get involved in the activities on offer at Brae.

Many members attending day care have a wide range of skills and interests which they are encouraged to maintain. In order to assist this, staff and clients of North Haven day centre are actively involved in the community and take part in bus trips, client outings and a range of craft and gardening activities. Providing such a wide-ranging programme of activities for clients requires additional funding to the core services and this is aided by the day care comfort fund. Staff at North Haven work hard to organise various fundraising events during the year and are always coming up with new ideas each year.

On Wednesday an evening of music and stories will be held in the Delting Boating Club at 7.30pm. The line-up will include the Northmavine Fiddle & Accordion Club, Alex Couper, Ryan Couper, Adam Johnson and Alexander as well as Davy, Andrina and Laurie. A supper of soup and bannocks will be provided and tickets for the event are extremely reasonably priced at £3 each. Tickets are available from North Haven Day Care on (01806) 522758, Cynthia Tulloch on (01806) 503252 or Helena Johnson on (01806) 588394.

New doctor for Brae

The Brae practice has successfully recruited a new GP to the Brae Health Centre. Dr Laura Simpson will come from Edinburgh to join the practice on 1st December. Dr Thorne, a partner in the Brae team for nine years, will retire on 21st November.

Fun days at Brae

During the October holidays the North Mainland leisure centre is hosting a range of fun days with sports-based activities for young people. The events will be held each Monday, Wednesday and Friday during the school holidays from 10am-4pm and are open to youngsters from primary one and upwards. Activities will take place in and around the swimming pool and the leisure centre with a varied selection of sports each day. The cost of each session includes lunch. For further information or to book a place telephone (01806) 522321.

Hillswick quiz

The quiz season has begun in Northmavine to keep those brain cells active over the forthcoming dark nights and Hillswick hall will be holding monthly quiz nights during the winter. The programme begins on Wednesday at 7.30pm and each team should consist of a maximum of four people.

LEADER Programme

The Shetland LEADER Programme has now approved a number of community and business projects and is keen to hear from other interested potential projects from community groups and small businesses (employing less than 50 people). The LEADER Programme is part of the Scottish Rural Development Programme and will run until 2013. Shetland has been allocated £650,000 of funding which focuses on the two themes of revitalising communities and progressive rural economy. Additional convergence funding of £1.49m has recently been awarded to Shetland to be allocated to projects with the same aims as LEADER. The programme, set up to encourage innovative rural development, is administered through the SIC’s economic development unit and it has appointed Sheila Keith as programme co-ordinator.

A Local Action Group (LAG) makes decisions on whether to approve local projects. The LAG is made up of private, public and voluntary bodies and the North Mainland is represented via the NCDC, Northmavine; Kathleen McGrath, Mossbank, and Jane Brown of Ollaberry. Projects will have to demonstrate how they can assist one or more of the target groups of women, young children, micro/small businesses, the self-employed and social enterprises as well as complying with other conditions. The LAG seeks to fund high quality projects in Shetland which show examples of innovation.

More information can be found on the Shetland LEADER Programme website at www.shetlandleader.org. Details can also be obtained by contacting the project co-ordinator at the economic development unit on (01595) 744940 or emailing leader@shetland.gov.uk

Sodexho Sunday teas

On Sunday, Sodexho are having Sunday teas in the Voe hall to help raise money for the CLAN 1,2,3 fund. The event will be held from 2.30pm-6pm and will also include a car boot sale, cake and candy stalls, tombola and a raffle.

North Mainland pilates

Hanne Irvine has been successfully running pilates classes in Sullom for the past year and additional classes have now been added at Brae. Pilates is a complete exercise method that was developed by Joseph Pilates, who spent his life dedicated to improving physical and mental health. According to Pilates, his technique can help with “the attainment and maintenance of a uniformly developed body with a sound mind, fully capable of naturally performing our many daily tasks with spontaneous zest and pleasure.”

Pilates is based on eight principles of relaxation, alignment, control, precision, routine, breathing, centring and flowing movement. The main focus is to build the body’s core strength and improve posture through a series of low repetition, low impact stretching and conditioning exercises. Core strength means the back, abdominal and pelvic muscles. These muscles are developed without adding bulk which will help increase flexibility and agility while toning the stomach and thigh muscles. In addition the technique helps develop an awareness of how the body works, helping the mind and body to work in harmony. Hanne’s classes will run on a seven week cycle and start in Brae on Monday 27th October. Intermediate classes will be held from 7.15pm-8.15pm and beginners from 8.15pm-9.15pm. Sullom hall sessions begin on Wednesday 29th October from 10am-11am. For further information or to book a place telephone Hanne on 07900 908552.