It began in March this year when we received an email asking for new, unopened ostomy supplies to help those in the Ukraine who were desperately struggling to get hold of such items. Various charities and addresses of where to send these items were provided.
I spoke with Mike Jameson, our Chairman, and suggested I would be more than happy to arrange this. We agreed to email our Birmingham members to ask if they had any spare unwanted supplies which they could send directly to me or bring to one of our coffee mornings. The company I work for was more than happy to pay for the courier.to have them sent out in one batch, to save our members paying any postage.
I would personally like to say a massive thank you to all our Birmingham IA members who contributed, and I’m pleased to report that a very large box of supplies was despatched to the Polish Integration Support Centre where they take the supplies straight in to the worst hit parts of the Ukraine the following week. Another very special THANKYOU is due to my AMAZING friend Suzanne, who knew what I was doing and mentioned it to her aunt Carol who had a connection with someone who had an ostomy. A few days later, Suzanne contacted me to say that she had some supplies for us and that she would deliver them at the weekend. (Suzanne lives in Farnham, Surrey and her aunt Carol lives in Welshpool, Wales, so not exactly on the doorstep!!) The supplies arrived and were very well received over a coffee or two.
Back in August I had another phone call from Suzanne saying her Aunt Carol had provided another load of supplies which she would deliver in October. When she said a load, she wasn’t joking! Her Aunt Carol had mentioned the appeal to her neighbours, who decided off their own back to go and buy some medical supplies from the local supermarkets. What amazing people! A further email went out to Birmingham IA members and yet again they didn’t disappoint.
So, another very large box will be leaving here this week (October 7th) for the Polish Integration Support Centre. I had a phone conversation with them today and it will be dispatched once again from there to the Ukraine.
Again, a massive thank you to the Birmingham IA members who contributed and again, a very special THANK YOU to my AMAZING friend Suzanne and her equally amazing aunt Carol. And of course, a special thankyou to Aunt Carol’s neighbours for their generous contributions.
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Birmingham IA 18 days ago |
I know we are advised to not drink water alone but these are ideas to keep safe and cool in these extreme weather from the NHS
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Birmingham IA 18 days ago |
I want to thank all who attended our social coffee morning in Sutton Coldfield..and also thank Alex Browning from Dansac on her presentation to the group on a throught-provoking discussion on what ostomists throught was their top priorities in selecting stoma bags, eliminating leaks was the top reason for this amongst the members who attended..it was good to see the discussions of different views from our members. This highlighted that no one size fits all when it comes down to stomas bag.
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Birmingham IA 18 days ago |
While these temperatures are increasing,Please keep yourself safe..keep hydrated and use sun protections.
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Birmingham IA 19 days ago |
I have heard conversations regarding the lack of facilities and waste bins in male toilets as they often don't provide them so males who have stomas or incontinence issue. This is a link regarding how they are trying to change this issue. https://www.phs.co.uk/male-incontinence/ have a read.
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Birmingham IA 20 days ago |
I was made aware that the male toilets are not equipped for males with stoma or incontinence here a link with information regarding this issue
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Birmingham IA 20 days ago |
Don't Forget to pop along to our Sutton Coldfield Social coffee morning tomorow at 10.30am.1 Brassington Avenue Sutton Coldfield B73 6AA Alex Browning from Dansac giving a presentation..but not confirmed yet
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Birmingham IA 20 days ago |
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Birmingham IA 20 days ago |
This a a committee leaving meal of Peggy Andy and Syeda. Who sadly stepped down from their roles. I would like to congratulate all of them for their dedication and commitment to Birmingham IA. Peggy has been a member of BirminghamIA since 1979 and began volunteering at MrBevan's stoma clinic in Dudley Road Hospital and then joined the committee in 2001 as the membership Secretary and decided to step down earlier this year. She will ne remaining as a member of birmingham IA. I would also acknowledge her family who always supported Birmingham IA throughout aswell along side Peggy. Andy became a member of BirminghamIA in 1999 and started of becoming a One-to-One support volunteer and then joined the committee in a new role of Engagement Manager and became very successful at this role then sadly stepped down from the role early this year. Syeda joined BirminghamIA in in 2004-2009,she rejoined in 2015 and still remains she was on the committee twice for two different roles first she was the Social Media Manager and then rejoined the committee as the One to One Coordinator until she stepped down earlier this year... They will be sadly missed in their roles within the committee I would also like to acknowledge the outstanding work Mike as done for Birmingham IA who also stepped down..and we have given Mike and Peggy a honoury member of BirminghamIA.
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Birmingham IA 20 days ago |
Good to see the awareness is getting out there
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Birmingham IA 21 days ago |
Our Keith when he did his last half a marathon
