The Chairperson's report summarizes the activities of the group from 2014 to 2015. Key points include: - The group met at Emmanuel Church Hall, which has accessible facilities and hosted a variety of activities. - Activities were split between mornings focused on cerebral and physical challenges, and afternoons focused on arts and crafts. A wide range of speakers and presenters volunteered their time. - The group received additional grants and started a Google site to publicize activities. Membership grew and more sessions were offered on topics like self-defense, walking football, and drumming. - Educational opportunities were provided through distance learning courses. Partnerships with local organizations expanded opportunities for members.

1. CHAIRPERSON’S REPORT 2014 TO 2015.
The year beganoptimistically,withagrantfrom RCVDA,onthe 5th September2014, inthe
Conference Roomof Emmanuel ChurchHall.Emmanuel hasdisabledaccess,accessibletoilets,ison
busroutesgoingboth ways,andhas a fair sizedcar park.There is a longramp on the frontfor easy
access forequipment.Italsohaswi-fi,a32inchscreenfor DVDand powerpointpresentationsand
comfortable seating.There isahall forexercise whenrequired.We have ourowncoffee making
facilitiesandmostvisitorsare impressedbythe venue.Initiallywe embarkedonasurveyof required
activitiesandthe collatedlistwasusedtoconstructa six monthplan.Artsand crafts formedthe
basisof half of the activities,sooccupiedthe afternoons,whilstactivitieswhichstretchedand
challengedboththe mindandsometimesthe bodytookplace inthe morning.The ideawas
inclusivityandvisual,auditoryandkinaestheticmeansof presentationhave beenusedwithavariety
of speakersandpresenterswhohave beengracious enoughtogive theirtime freely.The exercise
sessionhasalwaysbeentakenbyprofessionallyinsureddancersorinstructors.Christmastime
broughtabout some wonderfulactivities,mealsout,home catering,WiltonMale Voice Choiranda
professionalmagician.AnadditionalgrantwasreceivedfromTeesValley.Photographystartedtobe
usedbythe groupand a google+site setup byMandy’s husbandKeithandall speakersreceiveda
small pictorial thankyoualongwiththe normal thankyoue-mail.Thiswasa goodformula.The New
Year developedslowlyatfirstbutthe definitedivisionof the morningintocerebral activity(with
provisionforall levels) andlowimpactexercise expandedwiththe introductionof self-defence
lessons,walkingfootball fromMiddlesbroughfootball club,Africandrummingaswell asour
previousdancingandsing-a-longsessions.Speakersalsostartedtovolunteertocome forwardand
volunteertotalkonall sorts of unusual subjects.Now we have the sportsdivisionof the council
offeringsoftgolf,swimmingandwalks.Theycanalsooffera healthyeatingcourse.The council are
alsoofferingacourse whichisspecificallyformental healthpatientsandwillbe basedinEmmanuel.
There has alsobeenanapproach by a distance learningcollegeofferingNCFElevel1,2 and3 courses
for free.Manyhave takenup thisopportunity.Paul,atDestinations,hasofferedusamarvellous
opportunityfordevelopinggroupI/TandpresentationskillsandGarryStonehouse hasalsooffered
assistance.Steve Thompsonof Teesside University,of course,supervisesourwebsiteandourrecent
membershipof EastClevelandOnline,supportedbythe otheronline communitymembers,under
Steve’sleadership,offerssome real opportunitiesforgroupandindividual development.There have
alsobeensome coursesofferedbyRCVDA andMINDas well andsome have takenupofferson
them.It mustalsobe saidthat we have hadthe advantage of fundingsurgeriesOnoutings,suchas
the owl centre there hasbeenreducedadmissiontoourgroup.We have also hada shortbreakin
Octoberto Helmsley,where we visitedAmpleforth,birdof preycentre andRevieulx andrecently
had a visittothe planetarium.Talkof the TownandCoastal View publishfree articlesandreduced
rate advertising.RedcarandClevelandcouncil PIN alsoadvertise us.The value of all ourfree
speakers,presenters,teachers,entertainers,andthe restwhenaddedupmustcome to literally
thousandsof poundsandI for one wouldlike tosaythankyou.The arts and crafts groupis thriving
and has necessitatedconsiderationforamove intothe hall.The disadvantage of thisisthe lackof
facilitiesforpresentationsonscreenwhichsome speakersprefer.So,there hasbeenadirectappeal
to all schoolsandcollegesinthe areainthe areafor oldequipment.(See Talkof the Town) Thenas
far as donationsare concerned,Jeanraisedmoneyonthe sponsoredcycle,Mindofficialsdonated,
there have beenhundredsdonatedingoodsfromthe shops,there wasa giftfrom Nicky’smum’s
darts teamat CarlinHowe and I am toldthere will be amuch appreciatedgiftfromTOCH.In addition
to the previouslyreceivedtwogrants,we have alsohadone grant fromthe ParishCouncil andhave
one inwait fromRCVDA.There are alsotwo potentiallylarge grants,one of whichhasto be re-
appliedforbyinvitation.The Avivagrantwasshort listedbutwe unfortunatelydidnotcollect

2. enoughvotes.A five yearbusinessplanisunderconstructionunderguidance of RCVDA anda self-
assessed skillsauditsledtoourrecruitmentdrive anddistance learningpackage uptake.Withthe
additionof the educational andrecreationalgroupsprovidinguswithextrasessions,otherthan
those alreadyplanned,our6monthprogramme became 8 monthbutthen we didhave another
surveywhichrevealedanother120 suggestions,whichare alreadymentallyresourcedandwe are
runningonthat programme now.Attendance records,feedbackandsessionreflectionshave been
keptand analysedprofessionally.Withthe forthcomingadditiontoourbalance of the RCVDA grant
and TOCH gift,the groupis ina good positionandIwouldlike toemphasise that ourmostimportant
assetsare the members.The membersare the mostwonderfulpeople whowouldmake anybody
welcome andwhoare capable of positivelymeetinganynew challenge thatcomestheirway.
Marion AndersonGradDip PhysCIMCertEd (Lit)