Self-help group
We are a friendly group who are here to help each other through a difficult time in our life. A warm welcome is offered with lots of tea, coffee and biscuits, plus cake when it is someone's birthday.
We meet every Thursday between 11am and 1pm and arrange all sorts of activities for ourselves such as computing, cooking, board games, line dancing, walking, singing etc. and have discovered that even those of us who thought we couldn't draw a straight line can enjoy different types of art.
We have arranged for people to come and talk to us about local history and volunteering in the community and visited places such as Tiverton Museum, Bickleigh Mill and various other places of local interest.
From time to time we also cook for each other and so far have enjoyed Chilli Con Carne, Pancakes, Chicken Curry and a Thai meal. We plan our activities for approximately 2 months ahead and make sure there is always time and space for just a coffee and a chat for those people that prefer not to partake in a particular activity.
These are some photos of our various activities.
Members of the Self Help Group were presented with their Food Hygiene certificates by the Course Tutor Linda Austin.
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| .....................Some of our Art work completed | in Summer 2009............................................... |
| For further Artwork follow this link | |
This report on our trip to Charmouth was written by one of the Group:
Escape to Charmouth
We took the scenic route to (using a hired minibus) Charmouth with the blue sky gazing tantalising down at us. Driver Will did very well chauffeuring us along both motorway and narrow roads originally built for horse and cart.
When we arrived at Charmouth it looked as if it had dropped out of a publicity brochure. There were many people there but it was not overcrowded and many of them were carrying bags and hammers, not to attack each other but to attack the pebbles that they hoped contained fossils and that was why we were there.
Ian, Bobbie's husband, had been interested in fossil hunting for many years and he imparted his wisdon to us. After having a drink on arrival while Will parked the bus some of us made our way to the western side of the beach. Charmouth is part of the Jurassic coast where it was a waterhole and feeding hole many Millennia ago. It is just the Dorset side of the Devon Border.
On this day the sun was shining, the sky blue not a cloud in sight, the sea was a deep blue rippling on the shoreline, and hardly a breeze. The western side of the beach was covered in pebbles and you could feel the warmth through your shoes. The cliff edge was stratified into several colours, the base was black, the middle layer was brown with stones protruding, and the top layer was cream and chalky. The stratified layers went at a slight angle until the cliff disappeared in the west end of the beach. Needless to say all of us that went fossil hunting restricted ourselves to the pebbles and the black layer armed with a couple of hammers between us. We found a couple of Ammonites and some worms fossilised in the pieces of chalk that had fallen to the beach. After a while we stopped attacking the pebbles and went back to the others.
After a drink we discussed how we would all like to stay as it was such a fantastic day. We had exercised and learnt. Unfortunately the bus had to be back for 3pm for the bus to be used for the school run so we got back on and made a more direct route back to Tiverton all feeling quite disappointed.
This is what some of our members have said about the Group:
"The Tiverton Group are just much more than just a group.
It's made of all types of people who come from different walks of life, and physical and mental health conditions.
When I began, almost a year ago I believe, I had no one to see each day, feeling that the World would be a better place without seeing each day and this made me hideaway in shame and distress.
During a time of self harming and self isolation, I received a call from a helpful lady from your organisation advising about the benefits the group can offer. She visited me and introduced me to what the group does and how it helps each other. And during the last 12 months I have found this in forms of trips to Exeter and the Cathedral, Cycling and also my favourite Indoor Bowls.
The Group also helps to create a family atmosphere. Such evenets as cake making, art work and computer learning are also self confidence boosting and non-patronising as in the Outside world, where stigmas lie in wait. No one is treated unfairly and all are treated in equal terms and respect.
Long may this group continue and build."
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"I put off doing other things so that I can come to the group. It's very important to me"
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“It’s very sociable and happy”
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“I always leave on a high. Everybody’s friendly here”
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