Tomorrow filming "ITS OK TO ASK " new carer engagement film with NHSGG&C -CHP march 26th

Hi
we start filming "ITS OK TO ASK " a new carer engagement film with NHSGG&C -CHP  on  march 26th .This new film is not a Tommyontour film as such .I took the idea to NHSGG&C a wee while back and I am happy to announce filming starts next week  I will be volunteering my services  to this film and hope it helps both carers engage with services and bring more understanding on the caring role

With thanks to NHSGG&C -CHP for taking this project forward


tommy

The ALLIANCE announces Round 2 of the Self-Management Impact Fund is now open.

The ALLIANCE announces  Round 2 of the Self-Management Impact Fund is now open.

The ALLIANCE is delighted to announce that Round 2 of the Self-Management Impact Fund is now open. The deadline for submissions is 5pm on the 13^th June. 

The fund provides a unique opportunity for voluntary organisations and partnerships to develop and strengthen new ideas as well as existing approaches to self management.

The Impact Fund Guidance Notes give details on how to apply and you can download an application form here.

An emotional day, but a heart full of hope thank you Caledonian university

An emotional day, but a heart full of hope thank you Caledonian university

Its been a long day, I had a meeting earlier this morning and late on this afternoon in my hope to raise awareness, and get involved along taking forward some ideas and projects I have started working on  

In between the meetings I had privilege of speaking to students at Caledonian University and it is a privilege to have the opportunity to speak about my magnificent wee mum Joan ,the life stories families send me my own experiences and the experiences of  people I meet on my tour

Today was the last of 3 talks at Caledonian university and was the biggest audience of the 3 .I don’t know what my story means to others ,that’s not for me to say ,but I feel I have to tell it I feel I have to try and represent the people who share their life stories with me as best I can ,but I sit tonight inspired by the kindness ,knowledge and messages from the students today ,they fill me with great hope for the future and the kindness and comments tell me the most important thing ,that they care about people. I wish them the best of future .I have no doubt they .like we / I did will face many challenges along the way and I wish them the best of understanding  support and chance

I want to thank the University in particular Andy Lowndes .Jackie Gillespie, Lesley McNab and Margaret Caldwell and last but by no means least the remarkable students for taking to listen ,I never felt anyone was listening to often whilst  caring for my mum and maybe I did not know how or what to say

So thank you for taking the time to listen to a son and for taking time  to  listen about Joan whitelaw my wee mum , a wonderful mum forgotten by to many to quickly

#inspired #kindness #future #dementiacarervoices  

Tommy  

Thank you Caledonian University Nursing & Mental health Students

As a son who cared for his mum Joan  for five years and would be awareness campaigner , I would just like to thank Caledonian university for inviting me  over the last 3 weeks to speak to the Mental Health and Nursing Student.

Today was the last of the three talks, I really appreciate everyone taking the time to listen to my wee story about my mum Joan  and the life stories I have collected.

Thank you for the incredibly kind messages  I have received today and over the last few week from these inspiring students .  I wish everyone of them the best in their  journey ahead which ever field of car they work in.


Tommy

Can your words help a son’s campaign?

Can you help a son’s campaign?

This campaign is based on and has been since day one, Life Stories, our experiences good or bad, our thoughts our opinions

As  a son who cared for his mum, my hope is to bring more understanding on dementia and caring. To help someone ,to truly understand how to give the best help and support you have know about them I believe that sharing our experiences ,we can be part of the best of future for others .To date the letters and e mails I have received have been taken to Government, local authorities and NHS , had motions passed at councils been part of talks ,papers and awareness  films   

My promise is the same promise I gave to my mum ,to do all I can to raise awareness and to take our life stories to all I believe should and could benefit from reading them.You can help me ,I don’t raise money only awarerness your words can help ,you can share your thoughts at tommy@i-woz-there.com and maybe your letter or e-mail can change opinions  understanding or someone’s life ,

Tommy

The kindness of people, most of whom I have never met #kindness

Dementia and caring brings many struggles and of course moments of joy, love and inspiration. My mum inspired me many times and amazingly at the most crucial moments when I was really struggling to cope and understand. That kind of sums it up, there is my wee mum facing all that dementia brought and over the last months nearing end of life, but always able to comfort her son and get him through it.

 As a campaigner I am trying to raise awareness, understanding and empower people to help prevent families reaching crisis situations. All too often on our journey we were lost, lonely and isolated but looking back my heart can sometime smile and it this is thanks to the kindness of the special people we dealt with.

Like the District Nurse who put her arm around me one day when I was in tears and said “You’re doing ok Tom you’re doing OK ” I can’t tell you how much I needed someone to do that as I was scared of what was happening and scared of letting my mum down.

Or the Nurse who involved in the last months of my mums life when she could no longer swallow and had been in hospital for a few days. On her returning home I was struggling to get my mum to eat or take fluids and the nurse said call me if you have any problems, so I did and she took the time to pass by after work to sit down to show me again what to do, holding mum’s hand and putting us both at ease.

There is an important lesson here, its people who change lives through their help, kindness and understanding and it is important to celebrate this so that others can take notice and follow.  A big part of my talks is celebrating the people who made our experience better, even if was just for a day. Then there are the amazing carers and families who I have met out and about or online on Twitter or Facebook who have shared their life stories and are the inspiration behind my campaign.

Over and above policies, strategies or reports it’s people who have the potential to transform people’s lives throughout what can be a very difficult and lonely journey. I still smile to think of the special people who helped me and the thousands out there helping others in the same manner, most of whom I have never met.

Tommy

Today Speaking to Nursing Students (500) Caledonian University

Hi 

Over the last 3 weeks I have had the privilege of speaking to 1^st and 3^rdyear mental health students at Caledonian University and have both overwhelmed and Inspired by the response and the students kindness and passion ,.the last of this set of talks is on March 12^th  to nursing students in the main lecture /theater

I look forward to the opportunity to speak as a son about life caring for my mum ,dementia, the letters I receive and people I have met on my tour  

I also want to say a massive thank you to Caledonian University,  Andy Lowndes .Lesley McNab , Margaret Caldwell .Jackie Gillespie and the amazing students for invirting and taking the time to allow a son to share his story

thank you @GCUMentalHealth   #gcucarervoice 

Thank you      

New Talks, Meetings , Awareness .Hopes and Dreams

New Talks, Meetings , Awareness .Hopes and Dreams    

March 2^nd attending dementia dialogue event

March 4^th meeting care inspectorate

March 5^th speaking Cardonald College

March 5^th speaking Sothern general hospital

March 7^th     attending steering group Art in the Gart

March 8^th       conference at City Chambers NHS  GG*C  caring for older people

March 11^th speaking Cardonald College

March 12^th speaking Caledonian University

March 13^th attending Human rights conference GCU

March 14^th    speaking at Lockerbie carer’s dementia group

March 15^th   speaking Ayr College mental health students

March 2oth     Event Edinburgh dementia carer voices 

March21st attending with stand SDRCN Conference Stirling

March 22nd speaking at SDRCN Conference Stirling also having stand

March  26th   Filming  "its OK to ask "

March 27th   Filming  "its OK to ask 

March 28th  speaking Reid Kerr College 

April 19th   2 talks London Alzheimer show (am) dementia carer event (pm)

April   20^th speaking at Labour party conference fringe meeting

May 2nd  attending / speaking carer Strategy event Ayr CC 

June 13^th speaking Aberdeen shire carers

 On-Going Projects 

Academic paper                  with a leading university on the life stories

Carer engagement film                  working title (its ok to ask)  

Glasgow city council dementia working group based on my motion passed last February

Talks

I have many talks lined up across the NHS and universities based on caring for my mum and the life stories

You can help make all of the above all they can be by sharing you’re story, thoughts, opinions or experiences good or bad at tommy@i-woz-there.com

Today speaking social care students Cardonald College

Tomorrow speaking social care students Cardonald College

With thank to Cardonald College for inviting me round to speak about dementia, caring for my mum, the life stories I receive and People I have met on my awareness campaign I was a guest speaker there last week and look forwarding to meeting and speaking to more students along with hearing their views

On Tuesday I speak to 500 nursing students at Caledonian University and on Friday mental health students at Ayr College

Tommy  

Mothers Day, A mother missed every day

Mothers Day, a mother missed every day

Hi

Well Sunday is Mothers day and someone said yesterday with your mum passing away not so long ago Mothers day will be tough like birthdays, Christmas and so on, The truth is every day is tough, I miss my mum terribly there is really not a day goes by that my mum does not come into my mind, My mum was the kindest most caring person anyone could wish to meet and lived for others .she cared for and about all she met and was a true inspiration to me. Much is concentrated on when having a campaign about dementia and my roll caring for mum; Dementia does not define my mum, unfortunately to often it was viewed first by many we came into contact with and that’s a shame for those who did ,As not seeing past ,through or round the dementia they missed the chance to engage with the kindest of person .Like many sons I made many mistakes along the way but was incredibly lucky to have a mum and dad who took time to listen ,advise and care for me and at my lowest in life they always put an arm around and made sense of my struggles and helped me get though and understands my mistakes and I miss them both, the guiding light to my life went dark the day my mum passed away and this heart may never heal

So on mothers day make sure you tell your mum how much she means to you but tell her every other day .I would give anything to put my arms around my wee mum and tell her how lucky I was to be her son, how lucky I was to have her guide me in life , just t tell her one more time

Mothers day, every day was special with a mum like mine

Tommy

Today attending Art in the Gart' steering group meeting

Hi

Today I  will be attending  Art in the Gart' based in the Common Wheel building on the grounds of Royal Gartnavel Hospital .I met with Samantha Flowers a few months back to discuss my Dementia through art project ,based on the life stories I receive  .This is still part of an on-going discussion and work in progress .In the meantime I have agreed to be part of a steering group on the wider projects they work on. I look forward to meetingthe other members of the group and hope we can find ways to involve inspire and raise awareness on many issues

Tommy

Realising Potential. An action plan for allied health professionals in mental health:

http://www.scotland.gov.uk/Publications/2010/06/15133341/0