We don't think so!
I've been working a lot with a local dementia club that is showing dementia doesn't have to mean the end of everything. With a little bit of appropriate support, people with dementia can learn new things, be creative and have a lot of fun - Chrysalis at Tynedale proves it. For the club's website I came up with the heading: Give up on our hobbies because of memory problems? We don't think so! The site is full of pictures and text that show there's still a lot of life to enjoy after a diagnosis of dementia. It's an organisation I'm very proud to support, which I'm doing by producing publications, such as the annual review, various leaflets and the new website at www.chrysalis-tynedale.org.uk
These books are made for walking...
I've just finished working on four Explore Haltwhistle books, which hand over the responsibility for leading walks to children. Packed with wacky facts and tough questions for them to challenge their adults with, each walk celebrates different aspects of the town's unique historical and natural character. The books retail at £4.99 in tourist outlets across Northumberland, or you can order them from me. The titles are:- Round the town - a walk round the lanes and byways, looking at the town's bastles and secret places
- Off the rails - a wander around the railway and rivers
- Tanky's trail - follow the trail of little 19th century engine Tanky through the town's industrial past
- Up the Burn - a delightful walk along the beautiful Haltwhistle Burn gorge
Right side of the law
I've been asked to help charity-law company JW Law communicate with clients as the firm develops its exciting new brand. As Lawcube, it will continue to provide a specialist service to charities throughout the UK. I'll be designing its newsletters to look fresh and professional in line with the new brand, and will use my editing skills to put the company's excellent training materials, manuals and guidance notes into easy-to-understand language for non-legal staff to use. "Our aim is to support our charity clients to manage and streamline their legal service needs and ultimately reduce their reliance on external lawyers," says JW Law's Julia Wylie. www.jw-law.co.uk
GPs just got better looking!
Doctors' surgeries are busy places, and usually it falls to a hard-pressed practice manager or administrator to put together the surgery newsletter. Inevitably, sometimes it just doesn't happen, and patients can end up getting a rather intermittent service. I'm offering surgeries the chance to have a two-sided newsletter in their practice colours and style, with interesting copy in plain English - all written and designed by Word Doctor at regular intervals. All it takes is a phone call, and I'll do the rest. And the cost? £175 + VAT.Health enquiry
I've spent a few months working with Arthritis Research UK, which is developing an online assessment tool for all the wealth of information available on the internet about musculoskeletal conditions. My work has involved doing some desk research into what's available, talking direct to medical professionals and students about their internet research habits and needs, and producing a summary report of my findings.Making the best of dementia
I've been working with a new Tynedale charity run by and for people with dementia and their carers. Chrysalis at Tynedale wants to promote its work, and to encourage new members and supporters to get involved. With a special event coming up, the board asked me to write and design a leaflet, and I was very happy to do my bit as a volunteer. Here's a quote from chair Rosie Robson: "Jude, this looks truly wonderful. You have been such a star. I can't believe we have (with your enormous help) produced something of this calibre. You have worked with us, but not taken over, listened while we all put our penny's-worth in, guided us, focused us and we have ended up with a leaflet far beyond anything we could have dreamed of."I'm now delighted to have been asked to join the board as communications lead, and I'm busy developing a website and various publications, as well as getting press coverage whenever I can.
Helping young offenders
I've just finished working on a great new project with RSPCA Education. Breaking the chain is an online resource for youth justice professionals to use with young people who have harmed animals, or who may be at risk of harming them. My role was to edit all the written materials, organise photographs and film clips and write scripts. It's been a great learning experience for me, writing for an entirely new audience. So far the feedback from the youth justice world is incredibly encouraging - they seem to feel it hits the spot and will engage their clients. To check it out, go to www.rspca-breakingthechain.org.ukFairy fun
Rockpool Children's Books is steadily adding new titles to its catalogue, and each one is a little gem. I particularly love editing the charming Little Fairies series, written and illustrated by talented Sam Walshaw. Some of the books have been animated - you can check them out here.Here's the science
Check out www.science-ethics-animals.org.uk, the fantastic new RSPCA Education website I wrote last year, working alongside the RSPCA Education team and brilliant web designers enigma interactive. It's getting rave reviews from teachers, and this year I've been very involved in getting a Welsh version of the two main activities put in place. I didn't know I could proofread Welsh, but it turns out I can!The interactive site is a free National Curriculum-linked teaching resource for GCSE science in England and Wales. Using intriguing games, quizzes, news stories and polls, it challenges young people - and indeed anyone - to look at how we each use and value animals, both individually and as a society.
The resource aims to help young people think through their ethical position with regard to animals, and to promote the RSPCA as a science organisation.
A walk on the child side
Northumberland's Haltwhistle Partnership first asked me to write a book of child-led walks focusing on the town and the beautiful and historic Haltwhistle Burn last year. As work went on, we found there was scope for at least four books, and we're now forging ahead to produce the whole series.I've used the partnership's huge fund of knowledge about the area and written walks in which children take charge, both leading the adults and asking them questions - the answers to which only the children can see. They love the power! With designer Keith Nevens from Fineline, we've talked to Haltwhistle school kids and taken on board their very clear comments about what works for them. Keith's come up with a design concept that satisfies both the partnership's need to provide a learning experience and the young people's desire to have something they can call their own. We're currently at the stage of getting children and families to test all the walks, which is great fun, and well worth doing. No matter how clear it all looks to us, kids will always have a slightly different take on things, so watching them walk the walks is invaluable. The books - Explore Haltwhistle - should be out later this year. Watch this space!
Ward work
I've been asked to write the scripts for and help produce a short DVD to promote Newcastle City Council's ward coordination scheme. The idea is to encourage more people to get involved in local democracy by attending ward committees and/or raising issues online.I'm working with Gateshead-based media company MPH, and we'll develop a film that uses local people telling their own stories to encourage others to get involved.
Ouseburn Explorer is a winner
Ouseburn Explorer - the book of child-led walks I wrote last year for Newcastle's Ouseburn Farm - won a runner-up prize in the BURA Waterways Renaissance Award. The book appealed to the judges because it provides a unique learning experience in a regenerated area around a historic waterway. You can get copies of the book here.Back to home page.