http://www.highlandcycleabilitycentre.com/

NEGATIVE TO POSITIVE ...

 

Like many mums with school-age children, I tend to greet the holidays with a mixture of relief (at not having to bellow at and chivvy them along all the time) and a healthy dose of apprehension. Unlike many mums however, I have a pre-teen son with a learning disability - which means that this apprehension can and often does, turn swiftly to dread - the moment one or other of his bored siblings asks the age-old unanswerable question: “what are we going to do today?” What indeed? Given said son’s track record in the field of “interesting behaviour” (his personal best being a family outing to Scone Palace in the summer, the memory of which still sends shudders down my spine - add that to the ever growing list of places we won’t be visiting again), it was with no small amount of trepidation that I decided to bite the bullet and attempt a trip over to the recently opened Highland Cycle Ability Centre at Cantray Mill, near Cawdor. Truth be told, I didn’t quite know what to expect - though past experiences have prepared me for most eventualities.  For instance, parking the car as close as possible to make beating a hasty retreat easier, in the event of it all going pear-shaped is always a very good idea.  As much as I hate to admit it, there’s always the distinct possibility that whatever the chosen activity, it will turn out to be yet another thing that “James can’t do” or “we can’t do with James”.... Happily, for once my fears were entirely unfounded.  The moment we arrived there was a distinct and very encouraging atmosphere of calm about the place.  Instructor and co-ordinator Giles Makins was helpful and attentive, without being overbearing - and didn’t seem in the least bit concerned that actually, I had never seen James ride a bike.  I’d seen a photo of him sitting ON a bike at school, but as far as actually riding one goes, this was entirely new territory for us all. So you can imagine my amazement (we are talking ‘jaw-droppingly shocked surprise’) when James nonchalantly clambered aboard an adult-sized trike as if it was something he’d been doing all his life and took off like a shot with me and sister Anna (8) in hot pursuit.  

The 1 kilometre circular tarmac track at Cantray Mill is a beautifully simple idea, with a field of cows in the middle.  It gently undulates and at one point has a twisty dog leg turn with a sharp drop and twist at the bottom - challenging for any cyclist - regardless of their ability - but my concerns about James losing control of the bike and taking an impromptu flying lesson were completely unfounded, as he negotiated this with un-nerving skill and dexterity, not to mention a lot of excited shouting as well!.  In all, he did around 6 or 7 laps in quick succession - and I didn’t even know he could cycle.  The track at Cantray Mill has freedom, space and safety – a very rare quality into today’s risk assessment obsessed world...
HCAC is the brainchild of Alastair and Joanna Macgregor of the Watermill Foundation charity.  No strangers to brilliant ideas - Alastair and Joanna have worked tirelessly to create stimulating, inclusive, healthy and fun opportunities for children and adults with disabilities for many years, among others Riding for the Disabled and the Nairn Hydro Pool.  As Joanna explained, the emphasis of what they do has always been about inclusivity for all, “I always think it has to be something for siblings as well, something to do as a family and not simply an activity for the person with the disability. This is something so hard to find usually and I speak from experience.” The all abilities track at Cantray Mill is the first of its kind in Scotland, providing a safe - yet refreshingly relaxed environment where amazing things can happen.  Our visit to the track and its indoor facilities prompted a real “a-ha!” moment for James and for us too, turning what we feared would be yet another negative experience into a resoundingly positive one. The importance of and need for a facility like this is beyond doubt.  The benefits to all - disabled and able-bodies alike - are numerous - health, wellbeing, confidence-building and individualised empowerment and just as importantly – a lot of fun!  The Watermill Foundation plans to create a RDA for Cycling at Cantray Mill and the wheels are currently in motion to make it a reality.  “The main focus of our 2014 Spring Fundraiser is going to be a taster session open to all”, said Alastair, “with a range of specially adapted bikes being provided for the event by leading UK manufacturer Quest 88, who will also have representatives on hand to assist participants”. Having passionately supported their own disabled son (also James) into adulthood, with a myriad of innovative and creative ideas and activities, Alastair and Joanna are determined to make cycling for the disabled a regular activity for as many people as possible.  As a parent experiencing the huge benefits just from one session at the track, there’s no doubt at all in my mind that this idea will (just like my James), take off at high speed!

For more information on the Highland Cycle Ability Centre, visit their website at: http://highlandcycleability.co.uk/

JH

HIGHLAND CYCLE ABILITY CENTRE: Putting the FUN back into Fundraising !!

Scotland’s first dedicated cycling facility for people with physical and learning disabilities is holding its first  EVER FUNdraising event...!

AUTUMN CHALLENGE DAY!

Saturday 26th October @ The old Mill, Cantray, Cawdor IV12 5XT - 

INDIVIDUAL SPONSORED CHALLENGES - YOU SET THE GOAL!

The track will be open from 9am for personal challenges.  Ride a bike for the first time in years? Complete a single lap of the track?  See how many laps you can do in an hour?  Whatever your challenge is we're here to help and we'll send you a sponsorship form to raise money to help the Watermill Foundation Charity. ADAPTED BIKES AVAILABLE FOR DISABLED RIDERS!

CANTRAY CUP 30KM TEAM RELAY RACE!
From 1pm teams of 4 will battle it out head-to-head for bragging rights & prizes.  Rules are simple: every rider in a team will have to cycle at least 1 lap during the race and riders must give their timing chip to a team-mate in the pit zone when their laps are completed.  The fastest team wins the trophy - and prizes will be awarded to runners-up!  Entry cost for this event is £100 per team of 4 - CALL TODAY TO REGISTER YOUR TEAM! 01667 493789 / 07546517312
WHY NOT ALSO:
Try out our BIKE SKILLS COURSE (for big & little kids!)

Make your own FRESH FRUIT SMOOTHIE using pedal power!

Enjoy a hot snack from the BBQ!

Place a bid in our AUCTION!

SEE YOU THERE ON THE 26th!!

http://highlandcycleability.co.uk/

email: highlandcycleabilitycentre@yahoo.co.uk

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LET'S GET THIS PARTY STARTED!

Elsie Normington's Rainbow Singers

To describe Elsie Normington as ‘energetic’ has to be the ultimate understatement.  She is in fact, a veritable powerhouse of a woman.  “I’ve always been hi-energy!” Elsie jokingly remarks - and judging from the immense popularity of her ‘Rainbow Singers’ sessions, it’s fair to say that her enthusiasm and zest for life are very infectious indeed.

The Rainbow Singers are a 50 strong group of young people and adults with learning and/or physical disabilities that meet every Tuesday morning at the Merkinch Community centre Inverness, for what can only be described as an hour and a half of euphoric ‘organised chaos’.  Although in reality, it is far from being truly ‘chaotic’, because what Elsie has managed to achieve with the group, is a safe environment for people to express themselves freely, creatively and appropriately, to have fun, share news and simply enjoy each others company.  Not everyone who attends is accompanied and the relaxed atmosphere has a refreshingly ‘unsupervised’ feel to it - unusual in itself in today’s ‘risk-assessment obsessed’ world.  Elsie’s firm but all-encompassing approach has very evidently paid off.  “It is a large group, and with such a diverse range of disabilities there has been the rare occasion where a member’s behaviour has been inappropriate and has bothered the others  - but the really wonderful thing is, that now boundaries have been established and everyone acknowledges and respects them.”
This immediately striking and overwhelming sense of freedom, is something that has evolved over time and owes a lot to Elsie’s patience, good humour and sheer determination to include all, regardless of their level of ability.  Elsie started the group 3 years ago and from then it has gone from strength to strength, with a lengthy waiting list of those eager to join in the fun.“From the outset, I wanted the group to be about what the members wanted - not just me telling them what to do.  Of course there is structure, but it is always adaptable to include suggestions and requests.” Certainly, the Rainbow Singers playlist reflects the group’s very eclectic tastes - warming up with the Welcome Song and a round of ‘Heads Shoulders Knees & Toes’, swiftly followed by the likes of Abba’s ‘Dancing Queen’, happily rubbing shoulders with ‘Save the Last Dance for Me’, The Proclaimers ‘500 miles’ (very popular), Scottish Reels and a very rousing chorus of ‘Donald where’s your troosers?’The importance of the group as a source of social activity is incredibly clear, as Alison, one of the regular volunteers explains. “Before Rainbow Singers started, there really was no-where for people to meet, to make and sustain friendships.  There was a local group that stopped due to funding cuts, which meant that friends who had known each other for most of their lives, suddenly lost a vital point of contact.”  As Elsie explains, for people with learning difficulties, meeting and keeping friends is both incredibly important and very difficult for them to do without motivation.“My son Andrew has experienced considerable learning and health disabilities since the age of five, and I find I have to almost ‘engineer’ situations for him to interact with others and form friendships.  Rainbow Singers is a regular meeting place that encourages confidence, self-esteem, companionship and mutual respect.”Perhaps not surprisingly, the benefits of the group are also strongly felt by the volunteers and carers too.  “I just love it”, commented Anne, a regular helper with the group.  “When my children grew up and moved away, I needed something for me and this has been a life-changing experience, seeing people really enjoying themselves and becoming so much more self-confident”.  Often, people with learning difficulties can be withdrawn and unwilling to be the focus of attention.  At Rainbow Singers, they are given the opportunity and encouragement to do things they may have never done before - something as simple as standing up and sharing a small piece of news, singing a song unaccompanied, marching with a drum, or just getting up on stage for a dance.“Many of the carers have remarked to me about the positive changes they've seen in their clients” Elsie explains, “Sometimes, they are really taken aback to see how much more self-confident and daring they are than usual!”As well as continuing to run Rainbow Singers, Elsie has ambitious and exciting plans for the future, something that will transform the lives of so many with learning disabilities and their families.  Elsie’s charity, The EN Foundation,  plans to build a specialist play centre, respite wing, coffee shop and supported housing for children and young adults in Inverness and at this week’s Rainbow Singers session, Elsie announced the  launch of the EN Foundation’s fundraising campaign to make this dream a reality.And the target figure of the campaign….?“Four million pounds…!”  Elsie breezily announces, without apparently batting an eyeild -  to a massive round of applause and cheers, as if nothing in the world could be easier...  ...Well, just watch this space - because with Elsie Normington at the helm - literally ANYTHING is possible!

© J Harkiss jane.harkiss@btinternet.com
For further information, contact: http://singforhealth.co.uk/singing-groups/rainbow-singers/http://www.enfoundation.co.uk/e-mail: info@enfoundation.co.uk

UHI MAKES MUSIC SPECIAL

September 2013  saw a defining moment for Fiona and Brian Sherret of Grampian Highland Resources Ltd, in their quest to raise awareness of the need for specialist Music Therapists in the Highlands and Islands.

The Centre for Health Science is a state of the art facility situated in the grounds of the Raigmore hospital Inverness and the ethos behind it, is to stimulate innovation and creativity in approaches to the understanding and treatment of medical health issues.  

On 11th September, Fiona and GHRL’s in-house Music Therapist Kristen Macleod, took part in a seminar for first and second year UHI Applied Music degree students, hosted by the CfHS and both women’s sharing of their individual journeys had a profound effect on the audience. Fiona recounted her and Brian’s passionate endeavour to provide their son, who was born with severe developmental delay, with a means of expression and communication via music - and to establish a Centre of Excellence for Music Therapy in the Highlands and Islands.  Fiona also spoke about GHRL’s  collaboration with the UHI’s Mark Sheridan and  the progress that has been made in raising the profile of music therapy through the inclusion of Health and Wellbeing modules in the Applied Music degree course.

Kristen described how, upon completing her Music Therapy Masters degree in Boston, she then went on to work with young victims of gang violence, specifically those with severe brain injuries due to gunshot wounds, explaining how regular music therapy focussed on the client’s individualised goals, yielded immensely successful and rewarding outcomes for both the clients and her as their therapist.

Kristen expressed her own sense of personal achievement at seeing the amazing potential of music therapy in action,  in the particular case of a teenager left wheelchair bound and unable to speak following a gunshot injury  “...suddenly, this little voice started to sing ‘Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star’ - for someone who had been told she would never speak again - she’d made her first step, through music.”

On returning home to the Highlands and discovering a complete lack of available Music Therapy, despite the very apparent need for this resource, Kristen set up her own practice taking on a wide remit of clients whom she describes as  “from age two up to a hundred!” 

Kristen is now also an integral part of the GHRL Music Therapy team and looks forward to developing the ‘Making Music Special’ project to its fullest potential.

GHRL's Kristen Macleod, leading a
Making Music Special Workshop

Fiona, Brian and all involved in GHRL’s Music Therapy project were delighted by the evident enthusiasm sparked amongst the assembled students and for all present, the seminar in September was both thought-provoking and inspiring.  “Our commitment remains to discover innovative and productive ways to deliver Music Therapy to a range of users throughout the Highlands and Islands,”  Fiona said afterwards,  “and to encourage home-grown talent to invest their skills in a much needed valuable resource.”

For further information on the ‘Making Music Special’ project, contact  f.sherret@ghrl.co.uk

© J Harkiss jane.harkiss@btinternet.com