The conversation began way back in 2018, when Professor Dawn Brooker came to Haddington to tell us about Meeting Centres (here’s the link). We agreed at our Spring Gathering to ask the Health and Social Care Partnership to set up Meeting Centres in East Lothian and by late 2019, we got together to set up East Lothian’s first Meeting Centre in Musselburgh. We had a really lively and well supported meeting in January (you can read it here), but before we could meet again in March, the world changed.
But we kept going and in September 2022 we were delighted to appoint Fiona Barrett to run the Musselburgh Meeting Centre. Fiona joins us with a lot of experience of working with carers, training and new ways of working. A few months later, Fiona was joined by Domenika Godemski, who has experience in Day Centres and other care settings and Jennifer McKay, a local artist and bold leader. Sandiann Devanney provides business support.
On 3rd April 2023, the Musselburgh Meeting Centre opened it’s doors.
Fiona picks up the story…
On day one we welcomed four members and now as I write this in the middle of May we have nine members coming to each session with family and friends often joining us. All are enjoying the mutual support, the activities which keep our brains and our bodies active, outings and tea, coffee, chat and of course lots of cake, thanks to our amazing home baker Dominika!
Members have been very busy since we opened getting involved in Easter activities, choosing plants and planting up our window boxes, planning how to decorate and plant our lovely new planters and importantly preparing for our Coronation Hall Party on 8 May 2023.
I asked the members what I could say in this blog about how they are enjoying the meeting centre; you can read what they said below, and we know people mean these lovely words as they keep coming back!
“Thank you, I really enjoy coming here, it’s good to meet new people”.
“I love doing new things and I’ve done loads more new things since I came to the centre”.
“It (the centre) is not just good, its brilliant”.
Please watch out for our regular blogs on what we are doing at the Meeting Centre
Fiona
Musselburgh Meeting Centre