I am writing to let you know that sadly the Springboard Activity Centre will be closing its doors for the final time due to loss of funding on the 22nd December. All is not lost however, as myself and a colleague will be taking on the task of starting afresh with a brand new project called “Bounce Back…to health & happiness” from the 9th January 2017. Operating from 2 local community centres, we will be open from Monday to Thursday with the possibility of expansion. We are carrying on with the majority of classes and events so once again anyone over 50 is welcome to join us. I have attached our brand new programme and trips leaflet for you so please feel free to distribute and promote as you wish. You will also notice that the project is now open to the Black Country as a whole. bb-pages-1-4 bb-pages-2-3 activities-prog-14 As from the 9th January 2017 please note that our new details are as follows:-  Tel: 07491 312825 Email: bounceback2017@hotmail.com Many thanks for your continued support and sincerely hope that this will be the case into an exciting new year. Merry Christmas to you all. Sandy Source: Sandy Jones, Springboard Project (Dec...

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Please see below information & Links regarding Laughter Yoga. Hello Everyone Sending you Season’s Greetings! There will be a Christmas-themed Laughter Yoga session at Wordsley Community Centre, The Green, Wordsley, Stourbridge, DY8 5BN on Monday, 12 December 2016 from 7.00 pm. All donations collected at this session will be sent to the ‘Help the World Laugh Tour’ to enable Dave Berman to take ‘Daily Laughers’ to India, Australia and the UK.  Dave has been spreading the benefits of laughter through his ‘Daily Laughers’ videos that he has been putting on You Tube and Facebook everyday this year with guests from all over the USA and over 50 countries around the world.  Have a look at: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCUJYPFuXJUpTe55Yvq4wxug . Forthcoming Training: Saturday, 7 January 2017 – Laughter Yoga Basic Skills Workshop This will take place at Elysia Therapeutic Centre, 52 Bowling Green Road, Stourbridge, DY8 3RZ from 9.00 am to 4.00 pm.  It is ideal for anyone, particularly those who may have attended a Laughter Yoga session and would like learn more about the benefits and research. It is also a great introduction for anyone who has never experienced Laughter Yoga. See information attached (Booking is essential). New session in Dudley Following the success of a series for Laughter Yoga sessions for the Sikh & Hindu Community during the autumn, everyone enjoyed them so much there will now be a Laughter Club session every month in Dudley.  The first session will take place on Thursday, 19 January 2017 from 11.00 am at the Mata Da Mandir Centre, 57 – 59 King Street, Dudley, DY2 8PX.  The sessions are open to anyone and donations collected will be given to the Centre for the use of the room. This year I have delivered sessions at BVSC Volunteers Celebration, Age Concern Stourbridge, WI groups, Stourport High School, Dudley Libraries, Health & Wellbeing events, Alzheimers Society, Wordsley Rangers, University of Wolverhampton Students Union, British Wheel of Yoga and many others. If you or your organisation have a team building or wellbeing day coming up or you would like to introduce a different activity to a support group, I’ll be delighted to hear from you to arrange a session for you. Merry Christmas and Happy New Year.  I’ll leave you with this lovely quotation from Walt Disney: ‘Laughter is timeless, imagination has no age and dreams are forever’ Merrie giggles Maggie Thompson maggiet1951@googlemail.com 07565 218567 www.merriemaggie.co.uk www.facebook.com/merriemaggie https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G3ebAZ1CUFs 7-1-17-ly-basic-learning-workshop-booking-form061216 7-1-17-ly-basic-learning-workshop-information061216 12-12-16-merrie-maggie-poster-wordsley061216 19-1-17-laughter-club-dudley-poster061216 2015-merrie-maggie-leaflet061216 Many thanks...

Local groups, Healthwatch Dudley and the council are seeking views from people on what dignity means to them. Working with the National Dignity Council, Healthwatch Dudley and Dudley Centre for Inclusive Living and Disability in Action, the council wants to hear local people’s views on what ‘dignity in care’ means to them by completing a short online questionnaire at  www.dudley.gov.uk/dignity by 6th January 2017. The aim is to draw up a Dignity Charter for Dudley in 2017 that all organisations including care providers can sign up to and improve people’s experiences of adult social care and...