Friday 24 April 2015

Pamela McGlone, Student Placement with Healthy Valleys


Hi I'm Pamela and I am a student at South Lanarkshire College doing my SVQ 3 Social Services and Healthcare placement with Healthy Valleys. Although I had heard of Healthy Valleys I didn't know the extent of the work they did until I started my placement with them and can I tell you – THEY DO LOADS!!!!

I was very apprehensive about starting my placement – who doesn't find something new daunting?!? – but it turns out the staff are actually a friendly bunch who quickly put me at ease. I can’t thank them enough for all the questions they have answered and the help they have given to me. But it’s not just the staff – the volunteers and service users play a major role in the work Healthy Valleys does and like the staff team they have been very welcoming. I look back now and wonder why I was so nervous in the first place.

Although I have been able to experience a lot of the different activities and courses that Health Valleys have to offer I have to say that the Rural Café based in Lanark has been my favourite. It was set up from funding received from the Tackling Poverty Fund and its aim is to provide a hot meal every week to adults/families who are struggling financially. Those who attend the café do so by referral and receive a warm welcome from staff/volunteers along with a lovely bowl of soup and another to take home. It is a safe and confidential place where people can share their hopes or worries or simply just come and sit without saying anything. It allows service users the opportunity to gain information which may be of benefit to them and to be signed posted to other agencies that can offer help and support. Those attending the café have thoroughly enjoyed the experience and say that it gives them something to look forward to as well as ensuring they always have a hot meal. I think the reason I have enjoyed it so much is firstly because it turns out that I actually quite like cooking (although still can’t follow a recipe) but mainly because I have had the opportunity to meet and build relationships with some lovely people from different backgrounds in different situations and watch them grow as the weeks have gone by.

Healthy Valleys is a great organisation doing fantastic work for the rural communities. It has an outstanding team of staff and volunteers and I am grateful to each and every one of them for their guidance and support since I started my placement.

Keep up the excellent work everyone as it is making a difference to people’s lives J




Wednesday 8 April 2015

Simone, Food & Health Worker

Hi. I am Simone and work as Community Food and Health Assistant at Healthy Valleys. Community Food and Health is our healthy eating and physical activity programme for children, young people, adults and older people. There's never a dull moment in my day – always something new to do, people to meet, ideas to share as well as spend time helping communities to learn about ways to eat a healthier diet, keep fit and improve their overall health & wellbeing.

There is great enthusiasm about both the physical activity and healthy eating programme, whether it be from participants, partners or the volunteers that either lead or support the activities. Participants have been taking part in the ongoing C’mon Dancin at Coalburn One Stop Stop, bowling in Blackwood Sports Centre, swimming at Coalburn Leisure Centre, walking in and around Lesmahagow & South Lanarkshire (weekly or once a month).

The Healthy Eating project has been busy too delivering Feeding the Family courses, REHIS Cooking Skills Courses, REHIS Food Hygiene and Food and Health courses. Participants have cooked tasty, healthy dishes and increased their knowledge of food and nutrition. Volunteers have enjoyed sharing their knowledge and experience with participants (always with a smile). We have also delivered some Clydesdale Community Family Fun 'n' Food sessions in various villages around rural South Lanarkshire. These sessions provide a opportunity for parents and children (under 5 yrs) to learn more about healthy eating and teaching life skills through play activities. We have completed an evaluation of our Healthy Eating programme and I am looking forward to some exciting new future developments.

These are just some of the things me and a team of fantastic volunteers (whose help I truly value and appreciate) have been up to lately. To find out about activities please go to the “What’s On” section of our website or for more information on the Community Food & Health project, please call me on 01555 880666 or email simone@healthyvalleys.org.uk


EAT WELL, KEEP ACTIVE!