Aylesbury Surgery Health & Engagement Forum - Newsletter 10

Aylesbury Surgery
Health and Engagement
Forum
The Homeless
Over 24,000 homeless
people in the UK this
While we prepare to spend the Christmas season with our loved
ones, those on the streets are completely forgotten about, left
with nothing but the slight warmth from a lit streetlight to keep
them company.
Christmas
Christmas, is not a happy time for all, for many, who are less
fortunate than ourselves and homeless it can be a time of
John Taylor Hospice Runners despair and struggle. According to media there are up to
24,000 homeless people in the UK. Birmingham, being the
second largest city in the UK, has its share of homeless people.
In our city 1 in 100 people are without a home.
The media is full of discussion of sky-high rents, cuts in welfare,
the lack of affordable homes and of the many people, often
in work, struggling to pay the bills and relying on food banks.
Rough sleepers make up just a small part of the numbers,
many crash on sofa’s at a friend for a night. Some are lucky
enough to find a bed at a shelter for a night but even that is
short term and not a long term solution, this is homelessness at
its most severe. As temperatures start to drop across the
country, Birmingham's homeless population could be facing
some potentially freezing nights.
Contents
Homeless 1-2
John Taylor Open Day 3
Warren Farm Lodge / Talk-Diwali 4
Children’s’ Corner/ Christmas fun 5
Carers Café -KFC / Did you know 6
Keeping Healthy at Christmas 7
Festival of lights / Christmas events 8
Christmas Message 9
Contacts for homeless charities 10
Freezing temperatures coupled with cold wind chills can
increase rough sleepers' chances of developing frostbite and
hypothermia. Staying warm over winter is challenging for
homeless people. There has been a number of cases across the
UK where homeless people have died on the streets after
spending a night out in the cold.
Mr Rajash Mehta
Christmas 2018● Volume 10, Aylesbury Surgery Health and Engagement Forum ●
1

We often walk past the homeless without
realizing their plight, not because we don’t care
but because we fear them as we have already
labeled them in our mind. Before we set out to
help the homelessness we need to change our
mindset. Not all homelessness is brought upon by
themselves but circumstance. There is a stigma
that it is only young people that can become
homeless, but it is not the case. It can happen to
anyone, friends, family yourself. Let us not judge,
but consider them as people and not label them.
If you’re unsure why not just buy food and a hot
drink or a pair of socks.
While you may currently be focused on doing all
of your Christmas shopping for your family, why
not consider spending your money on a present
of for someone less fortunate. Donate to a
charity or shelter.
You could help by making donations to
charities that provide help to homeless
people
You can volunteer your time at soup
kitchens, charities. and organisations
You could also donate by providing
homeless people with food, warm
beverages and thermal clothes, all of
which will be especially advantageous
during the cold, winter months.
Shoppers and commuters pass by homeless
people day after day but many may feel they
do not know how to help. One of the simplest
ways is to tell a professional.
If you would like to help donate or volunteer
your time there are many charity and
organisations that you can contact on line. If you
know anyone that can benefit from help you
can contact one of the many one of many
charities and organisations listed on the last
page.
Many people are afraid to give their hard
earned cash away in the view that if they will
give money to a homeless person and that it will
be used on drugs or substance abuse. If you
choose not to give money there are others things
you can give to make a difference to their day.
2

n June
John Taylor Hospice
John Taylor Hospice is giving people the chance to run,
jump, wingwalk and hike in the dark – to help raise money to
support local families.
The Erdington-based hospice has put together an exciting
programme of events and challenges for 2019 – and is keen
to hear from everyone interested in taking part.
For fitness fans there are lots of opportunities to pull on your
trainers and pound the streets with the Great Birmingham Run,
the Great North Run, Birmingham 10K and the Great Midlands
Fun Run.
The annual programme will also include quizzes
and bucket collections – simply giving up a few
hours of your time can make a huge difference
to the hospice teams.
If you’re after an adventure why not join the team taking part
in Snowdon by Night in June? This event, which is new to the
hospice’s calendar, sees a team hiking to reach the peak of
Wales’ highest mountain just as the sun rises.
There are some real daredevil challenges which offer you the
chance to jump 10,000 feet in a tandem skydive or hit the
heights with a wing walk.
And for those who prefer something closer to home the
hospice is asking people to hold a Big Brummie Bake. Taking
place on Friday 5 April, you can take part by holding a cake
sale or coffee morning – invite your friends, neighbours,
colleagues and family to enjoy something sweet and raise
money for the hospice.
“From marathons to midnight hikes and baking
to bucket collections there are so many ways to
fundraise for John Taylor Hospice,” says
Community and Events Fundraising Manager
Emily Boate. “Everyone who takes part in any of
our events or challenges is helping us make
every moment matter for hundreds of local
families. If you’d like to know more about any of
our events please get in touch – we’re here to
Sky Diving
If you would like any more information on any of these
events please see the hospice website
www.johntaylorhospice.org.uk or contact the Fundraising
Team at fundraising@johntaylorhospice.org.uk and 0121 728
6739.And John Taylor’s Fundraising Team is still planning
events so please keep an eye on the website for future
announcements.
Snowdon by night
3

Warren Farm
Lodge
Here At Warren Farm Lodge Care home you’ll
find a highly skilled team that’s passionate
about helping your loved one to live happily
and independently, providing carefully
planned support 24-hours a day. Happy
Living for the years ahead.
Warren Farm Lodge
123, Warren Farm Road,
Kingstanding
Birmingham
B44 0PU
Telephone Number 0800 085 2952
Mr Mehta – Giving talk on Diwali
Mr Mehta is invited to give a talk on
the Diwali at Christ the King School in
Kingstanding.
Many youngsters are not aware of
other cultures and traditions.
It is important to enrich young minds
to the wonders that surround them
and help them understand embrace
the diversity that surrounds them.
Diwali, a festival of lights, but also a
time much like Christmas when we
think of others and try to spread a little
lights into the lives of those that are
surrounded by darkness. It is a
celebration of good over evil, light over
darkness.
Diwali the festival of lights is a
reaffirmation of hope, a renewed
commitment to friendship and goodwill.
It’s not just about lights and
legends –– Diwali is a time to have fun
with friends and family! A time to joy
and putting our differences aside.
4

Match the numbers with the
pictures to get a clue to find a
secret message.
The secret message is :
Answer : end of page 9.
5

Young Carers Café
A Kingstanding Food Community Project
Earlier this year, funding from ITV and the Big Lottery’s
‘The People’s Projects’ was awarded to Kingstanding
Regeneration Trust and Kingstanding Food
Community, to establish a young carer’s café, as part
of a partnership project. The café opened its doors in
November and has since held a range of healthy
cooking workshops, craft activities and even a
Christmas grotto.
Photos: healthy
burger and sweet
potato wedges
workshop.
The café is open
to the public, run
with the help of local young carers, who help cook and
serve a variety of healthy food (including daily
specials). The overall aim of the project is to provide
young carers in Kingstanding with a safe place for
them to socialise, while offering affordable nutritious
meals and fun activities.
The project also provides opportunities for young
carers to take part in healthy cooking workshops and
craft activities, as well as providing work experience,
training and opportunities for volunteers to gain new
qualifications. We are aiming for the café to act as a
rest bite from the young carer’s usual responsibilities,
and to provide a fun, safe space for young carers to
socialise with other young people that have similar
responsibilities.
So why not pop down for a cup of tea? Or warm up
with one of our homemade soups? The café is open
Wednesday, Thursday and Fridays from 4pm to
6:30pm, and Saturdays from 11:00am to 1:30pm* in
Kingstanding Wellbeing Centre and everyone’s
welcome!
If you would like any more information or know of
someone who would benefit from taking part in the
project, then please
contact Yasmin on
yas@forestschoolsbi
rmingham.com or
alternatively
message us on our
Kingstanding Food
Community
Facebook Page.
*The café is closed
on the third Saturday
of the month.
Mince pie making workshop
Santa Claus comes from St. Nicholas, a Christian bishop living in Turkey in
the fourth century AD. St. Nicholas was known for giving it away to help
the needy. When sainted, he became the protector of children.
The well-known reason we give presents at Christmas is to symbolize the
gifts given to baby Jesus by the three wise men. But it may also stem
Pagan beliefs.
Boxing Day gets its name from all the money collected in church alms-boxes
for the poor.
According to tradition, you should eat one mince pie on each of the 12 days
of Christmas to bring good luck.
Why red, gold and green? Green has long been a symbol of life and rebirth;
red symbolizes the blood of Christ, and gold represents light as well as
wealth and royalty.
6

Keeping healthy at Christmas
Yes, Christmas is here and it’s that time of year when
most of us over indulge in food and drink. Christmas
time brings out the festive spirit in us all and we tend
to let go of restraints leading us to over eat and drink.
Unfortunately for many it is not just a one off event
but can last throughout the festive season, from
Christmas parties, get-togethers with
friends and family Christmas dinners.
We use the festive season to justify the
over overindulgence of food and
drink.
Never go to a party hungry. Eat a low-fat
snack before you go.
Limit alcohol calories, which are stored as fat.
Choose diet sodas, club sodas or water so you
don’t waste calories on beverages.
Choose mostly fruits and vegetables, then add
some of your favorite foods as a treat.
Use salad dressing sparingly. Avoid soups and
breads.
Enjoy your favorite dessert, but watch
your portion and don’t go back for seconds.
Stop when you are full. It’s important to
continue to listen to your body, and stop
eating when you are satisfied.
The holiday season presents so many tasty
temptations that even the most disciplined people
have a hard time saying “no”. For most of us, the
holiday season begins in mid-November and ends in
January giving us eight weeks to overindulge. Many of
us stress over gaining weight but console ourselves
that we will go back to healthy eating after Christmas
and thus our New Year’s resolutions. What’s more,
weight gained during this season tends to stay with us
For those of you that are anxious Christmas does not
have to be the end of your health eating or weight
loss efforts!. By implementing a few
Golden rules during the festive season,
you can still enjoy Christmas and
stay on track of your healthy eating
regime over the Christmas period.
Golden Rules
Party tips:
Exercise before eating. A brisk 30-minute
walk can reduce your appetite as well as
burn calories.
Use small plates and take small portions
Start with ½ plate of vegetables or salad
this leaves less room for other not so healthy
food choice
7
Cooking and Preparing Holiday Foods:
The diabetes charity recommends
Turkey
Try swapping 100g butter-basted turkey with skin on
(146 Kcal; 5g fat) for 100g skinless turkey (104Kcal; 2g
fat).
This will save 42 Kcal; 3g of fat.
Christmas Cake
Swap one slice of rich fruit cake with marzipan and
icing (275 Kcal; 5.5g fat) for one slice of rich fruit cake,
no icing or marzipan (169 Kcal; 3g fat).
This will save 106 Kcal; 2g fat.
Mince pies
Swap one mince pie (235 Kcal; 11g fat) for one mini
mince pie, no lid (107 cals, 4g fat).
This will save 128 Kcal; 7g fat.
Stuffing
Swap 100g sausage meat stuffing (252 Kcal; 16g fat)
for 100g cranberry, orange and roast chestnut
stuffing (162 Kcal; 1g fat).
This will save 90 Kcal; 15g fat
Many holiday and family traditions revolve around foods
that make the season special. Limiting high-fat foods,
maintaining healthy diet and getting regular exercise
year round will
fend off significant permanent weight gain from holiday
festivities. It is still possible to eat healthy and still have fun

Diwali event on the 4 th November 2018 .
We were joined by a few of our local
organisations and local residents . Clay Diwali
divas were made by the children from Christ
the King School in Kingstanding. Local
children enjoyed having their face painted.
We had a small get together
with our stake holders and
community members.
Christmas is a busy time for
many of us.
Thank you everyone who took
time out of their busy schedule
to come and say hi and join us
for few snacks and catch up.
It is always good have the
community involved. A small
spread of food and drink was
laid, as a was way of saying
thank you for everyone that has
supported us during the past 2
years.
8

Mrs Kirrpal Danjaul
P A to Mr Rajash Mehta
Aylesbury Surgery
Health and Engagement
Forum
Aylesbury Surgery
Warren Farm Road
Kingstanding
Birmingham
B44 0DX
Tel: 0747479195
E-Mail:
ashiforum@outlook.com
Facebook: Aylesbury Surgery
Health and Engagement
Forum
Twitter: @rajashmehta
A special message
December 25 is a religious and cultural celebration among
billions of people around the world.
Christmas is celebrated to remember the birth of Jesus
Christ, who Christians believe is the Son of God.
Christmas is when we celebrate the birth of the Christ
child. God sent His Son, Jesus, into the world to be born.
His birth brought great joy to the world. Shepherds, wise
men, and angels all shared in the excitement of knowing
about this great event. They knew this was no ordinary
baby. The prophets had told of His coming hundreds of
years before. The star stopped over Bethlehem just to
mark the way for those who were looking for this special
child. The birth of Christ gave birth to hope and new
beginnings.
One of the customs of giving and receiving presents at
Christmas, is to remind us of the presents given to Jesus by
the Wise Men: Frankincense, Gold and Myrrh. Gifts given
voluntarily, in earnest and from the heart.
To this day, this tradition giving from the heart it teaches
us compassion and humbleness. It is a time of celebrations
and is truly the season to be merry, spread peace and joy
to the world
Aylesbury Surgery
Health Health & Engagement
Forum’s Forum’s
next next meeting meeting will will be be on
on the the
527 th th December of March 2019 2018
at at 2.00pm 2.00pm
at the above address
Answer : The secret message is At Christmas all roads lead home.
9

Crisis Birmingham
Suite 303
Rhubarb
25 Heath Mill Lane
Digbeth
Birmingham
B9 4AE
0121 348 7950
Midland Heart
Homeless Shelter
Birmingham
0121 773 5520
Services for Older People
No reviews · Homeless Shelter
Birmingham
0121 303 3637
Birmingham Samaritans
Non-profit organisation
Birmingham
0121 666 6644
The Salvation
Army Homeless Service
Birmingham
Non-profit organisation
Birmingham
0121 236 6554
Shelter Birmingham - SIFA
Fireside
No reviews · Charity
Birmingham
0121 766 1700
Shelter- Newtown
Charity
0344 515 1800
Sifa Fireside
Charity
Birmingham
0121 766 1700
UK Asian Womens Centre
Non-profit organisation
Birmingham
0121 523 4910
Slade Road Centre
Social services organisation
Birmingham
0121 685 6400
Birmingham City Mission Care
Centre
Mission
Birmingham
0121 643 4324
St Basil's
Non-profit organisation
Birmingham
0121 454 8277
Birmingham & Solihull Women's
Aid
Non-profit organisation
Birmingham
0121 685 8687
The Salvation Army Birmingham
Citadel
Church
Birmingham -0121 236 577
St Matthew’s Church of Aston &
Nechells – A charity for those families
on a low income and that have had
their benefits cut. The church is at 63
Wardlow Raod Nechells, Birmingham
B7 4JH. For hours of this centre, call
0121 359 0801.
B30 foodbank may have emergency
boxes. The Cotteridge Church 24
Pershore Road South Birmingham B30
3EJ, Call 07582 143 972.
Erdington Baptish Church may
have tinned goods, meats, or
vegetables. Volunteers may also
provide signposting and other help.
Erdington Six Ways Baptist
Church, Wood End Road,
Erdington, Birmingham B24 8AD,
Telephone number – 07775 465
062.
Holy Trinity Church is a charity to
contact. They partner with Trussell
Trust and other organisations to help
the vulnerable in West Midlands.
People with a voucher may receive a
free parcel of food in a crisis, and other
aid is offered too. The address is
Church Hill Street, Smethwick,
West Midlands B67 7AH, Call
07527 962092 to reach the food
bank.
10
All Saints Church centre – The food bank has
tinned meat, rice, fruits, formula, and other
goods. Youth and those on low incomes may
benefit from their services. Location is Albert
Road, Stechford, Birmingham, B33 8AU,
Call 07811 350 778.
St Matthew’s Church of Aston & Nechells – A
charity for those families on a low income
and that have had their benefits cut. The
church is at 63 Wardlow Raod Nechells,
Birmingham B7 4JH. For hours of this
centre, call 0121 359 0801.
B30 foodbank may have emergency boxes.
The Cotteridge Church 24 Pershore Road
South Birmingham B30 3EJ, Call 07582 143
972.
Erdington Baptish Church may have tinned
goods, meats, or vegetables. Volunteers may
also provide signposting and other help.
Erdington Six Ways Baptist Church, Wood
End Road, Erdington, Birmingham B24
8AD, Telephone number – 07775 465 062.
Holy Trinity Church is a charity to contact.
They partner with Trussell Trust and other
organisations to help the vulnerable in West
Midlands. People with a voucher may receive
a free parcel of food in a crisis, and other aid
is offered too. The address is Church Hill
Street, Smethwick, West Midlands B67 7AH,
Call 07527 962092 to reach the food bank.
St Bernard’s Church has volunteers that offer
tinned goods and food boxes. Up to a few
days or non-perishable food may be served to
the needy. Address is Broome Avenue,
Birmingham, B43 5AL, Telephone number
for the site is 0121 357 5399.
St Boniface Church – Emergency boxes of
food may be passed out. The location uses
donations and offer rice, meats, bread, and
Christmas food baskets. All items are free to
the vulnerable that are found to be eligible.
Quinton Road West, Quinton, B32 2QD,
Telephone – 07969434928.
Vineyard Network Church Birmingham –
Toiletries, bags of food, and other support is
available for low income families. Network
House, 174-178 Barford Street, Digbeth,
Birmingham, B5 7EP. For more information,
ring the church at 0121 622 1230.
Christmas 2018 ● ●