Latest news with #OpenDoor
CBS News
6 hours ago
- Sport
- CBS News
Eagles' Jordan Davis hosting free football clinic with Philly-area violence prevention org
A Philadelphia nonprofit is partnering with an Eagles player to offer more than football drills. It's creating a safe space for young boys to develop character, confidence and a sense of community. Open Door Abuse Awareness and Prevention, founded by coach Valencia "Coach V" Peterson, is hosting a free football clinic on Saturday, June 21, at Mastery Charter from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. The event is open to all 10-year-old boys across Philadelphia. "By age 12, their mindset is already changing," Peterson said. "By 14, they could be caught up in violence. We want to reach them before that happens, before intervention becomes the only option." Between drills, athletes will learn how to process emotions, de-escalate conflict and support each other — on and off the field. "In between drills, we teach a principle about violence prevention. Then we get them right back into the game," Peterson said. "It sticks." Joining the clinic is Philadelphia Eagles defensive tackle Jordan Davis, who hopes to show young boys the power of discipline and teamwork. "I could talk all day about the way that football has helped me in my life, personally, and I feel like it's my duty to give that to someone else," Davis said. "When your mind is the clearest, it's on the football field." Coach V says the field is where boys learn to be men, and brothers. "I've seen the change in boys over my 10 years in this work," Peterson said. "Football is just the tool. We're building something bigger." Select teams will also receive a $3,000 grant to support local neighborhood sports.
The Guardian
13-06-2025
- Politics
- The Guardian
Robert Tollemache obituary
My father, Robert Tollemache, who has died aged 88, was a well-respected psychotherapist, best known for his work at the Open Door young people's mental health charity, the Inner City Centre psychotherapy service and the medical foundation Freedom from Torture. He completed his training at the Lincoln Clinic and Centre for Psychotherapy in 1985, and for 40 years maintained a private practice in Highbury, north London. Alongside his clinical work, he campaigned tirelessly to raise awareness on environmental issues, completing a PhD, aged 79, on climate change denial. He was still working for the Islington Climate Centre weeks before his death. Born at the Royal Marines barracks in Plymouth, Robert was the youngest of the four children of Nora (nee Taylor) and Maj Gen Sir Humphry Tollemache. Robert believed that his outward reserve was the combined result of an unhappy period boarding at Uppingham school, and his time doing national service in the Royal Marines in Egypt (1955-57). He then studied history at Magdalene College, Cambridge. In 1960 he took part in VSO in Aden, Yemen, followed by a year at the Institute of Education in 1961 where he trained as a history teacher and met his future wife Lorraine Allen. The couple married and moved to Cornwall to work at St Austell grammar school in 1962, before Robert's career took what he termed a 'crab-like zigzag' through a range of professions: solicitor, probation officer and social worker. His concern with social justice was informed by the volunteer work he undertook in the mid-60s for the Samaritans under the aegis of the organisation founder Chad Varah at St Stephen Walbrook, in the City of London. Always involved in local politics, Robert stood unsuccessfully in Islington as a prospective Labour candidate in the 1968 London borough council elections. In the mid-60s he and Lorraine fostered two children, Carol and Tony, and adopted me in 1966 and my sister Rosa in 1971. Their ramshackle Victorian house teemed with art, books, political debate and people needing a bed for the night, among them baronets and members of the Exploding Galaxy, a counterculture collective of artists and musicians. Robert loved folk music and played the guitar well. In his retirement he cared for Lorraine as she developed Alzheimer's, surrounded by the artwork they had created at Edinburgh College of Art summer schools. He took part in several Extinction Rebellion protests and published academic articles on global warming. Robert introduced a poetry club to the memory cafe at Christ Church, Highbury, where he shared verse that sparked childhood memories in those with Alzheimer's or dementia. He was an active member of the Stoke Newington Quakers and took part in innumerable adult education classes, ranging from Mandarin to tai chi and even flamenco, memorably dancing at Sadler's Wells in the early 1990s – not an easy thing to do for a willowy man of 6ft 4in. Lorraine died in 2023. Robert is survived by Rosa and me, and four grandchildren, Finn, Lizzie, Poppy and Felix.
Irish Independent
04-06-2025
- General
- Irish Independent
Wicklow man's third charity head shave has poignant cause
Nicky Cox, who is the grandson of one of Open Door's founding members Mary Hackett, first had his head shaved to support the organisation for adults with physical disabilities in 2020. It took him around two and a half years to grow his long, golden locks back, but when he did, he had his head shaved once again in aid of Open Door. Those two events raised more than €4,000, but he is hoping that his third head shave, which took place at his family home in Greystones last Saturday, will surpass that. The tally has already reached €3,000. 'A huge thank you to everyone who has donated to the hair shave so far,' he said. 'In the first 24 hours, the fundraiser had already made it halfway to the target. 'This was not originally the reason I started the head shave at the time it was launched it, but it comes at a time when funds are greatly needed.' Open Door's main fundraising event each year is the Midsummer Lunch, which was due to take place this month. Nicky explained that this lunch has always been cooked by Chris Daly and John Tutty, but sadly Chris died in April. 'Each year, the lunch was prepared and cooked by the excellent chefs and gentlemen, Chris Daly and John Tutty,' said Nicky. 'Unfortunately earlier this year, Chris sadly passed away after an illness and is sadly missed by all. He was always excellent company to be around and to work with. 'Therefore, it was decided to cancel this year's Midsummer Lunch out of respect for his family and friends. 'So as there will be no fundraising from the lunch this year, I would like my headshave to help raise funds for Open Door both in place of the lunch and in memory of Chris. Anything anyone can give, great or small, would be greatly appreciated.' Nicky added: 'Open Door provides a fantastic service to adults with physical disabilities where people can take part in activities such as woodwork, ceramics, mosaics, art, crafts and physiotherapy in the purpose built centre on the Vevay Road in Bray.'
Irish Independent
04-06-2025
- Health
- Irish Independent
Wicklow woman paralysed for years recovers to walk 10k VHI Women's Mini Marathon
Setting off from Inch, just across the Wexford border, on her rollator with her dear friend and trainer Pat Byrne in tow, Arklow woman Leslie Kirwan took on the longest walk she has undertaken since she was diagnosed 15 years ago. An emotional journey for both Lesley and former Coral Leisure Arklow duty manager Pat, who have worked together at the centre to improve Lesley's strength and resilience, the dynamic duo were awestruck by the public's support along the way, and the huge crowd of friends and family who assembled at Tesco in Arklow to welcome them home. Still on cloud nine, Lesley said she has not only experienced highs and lows with her physical disability, but with her mental health, and hopes that her story will encourage others with mental health issues to seek support from family, friends and local organisations and groups. Reflecting on her achievement, Lesley paid tribute to all those who donated to her online fundraiser (which currently stands at €2,010), and gave a heartfelt mention to Pat, Coral Arklow and Open Door, which provides facilities and activities for adults with physical disabilities. 'The walk was tough going, but it was more emotional than anything else,' Lesley began. 'I had a brain tumour 15 years ago when I was in Australia, and I ended up in a wheelchair and couldn't talk or walk. I'm home now, being cared for by my family and my rehabilitation at Open Door in Bray, where I was attending full time, but I'm only doing it on Mondays and Tuesdays now for physio. 'When I arrived there first, I was introduced to a physio, and he had me walking and talking in four and a half years, and the rehab has been ongoing ever since. Open Door has been fantastic, and that's why I chose them as my charity for this fundraiser. 'I have to mention my gym, Coral Leisure Arklow, who have been fantastic with me from day one and is actually where I met Pat and where he brought me for the first time when I was in a wheelchair. 'He started training with me from then on and, in all the years I've been going there, I've just kept improving. 'It began with strength and restraint training and all the rest of that, and then it has developed into the Mini Marathon. 'I'm very lucky – that's the way I see it,' she continued. 'I'm very lucky that I could do the 10k, especially with Pat, who is my trainer and my friend. It was very emotional for both Pat and me, and also for my family to see the support from the community for us and the fundraiser. 'We got dropped off at Inch and walked back to Arklow, and there were a couple of passers-by who joined in to support us with the walk, and they walked the whole way with us, which was fantastic. 'We aimed for two and a half hours, and we finished it in two hours and nine minutes, which was very good. Deputy Brian Brennan joined us down at the start, and then everyone, including my mother, Cllr Peir Leonard, and Open Door, met us at Tesco, where they had balloons and a bit of bubbly. 'Our target was €1,000, and we're up to a little over €2,000 at the moment on the iDonate page, with some more cash to add from registered cards, so we're over the moon with people's generosity.' Astounded by Lesley's progress and proud to have helped her on her journey through rehabilitation, Pat, who served as Coral Leisure Arklow's duty manager for over two decades, said that his training partner's story and irrepressible attitude have inspired many an Arklow resident, himself included. 'Lesley is very modest, but she's a huge inspiration to everyone in the town, including myself,' Pat said. 'I used to be the duty manager at Coral Leisure Arklow, until I retired three years ago, and only for Lesley, I wouldn't have been back in the gym. So, she has helped me cut a bit of the weight I put on after my retirement! 'Everyone in the town knows her and everyone loves her, and it was great to see the support for her throughout the fundraiser, both in terms of people donating and showing their support on the day and the lead up to it.' Declaring her admiration and commending Lesley for completing her 10k challenge, Cllr Peir Leonard commented: 'I have the utmost respect and admiration for what she achieved with the support of Pat Byrne and Coral Leisure Centre and that her chosen charity is a very worthy one and I would encourage people to support it by donating to Lesley's iDonate page. 'I think Lesley has reminded us all that there is always a way to overcome life's obstacles and challenges if you have the willpower to.' 'Lesley's incredible efforts were an example to all of us of what can be done if you put your mind to something,' Deputy Brian Brennan added. 'Her positive attitude and inner strength were a joy to witness on Sunday. For Lesley to complete such a task for a cause close to her heart was a great achievement. 'I would also like to congratulate her family and support team, and a special mention to Pat Byrne, who never left Lesley's side.'
Montreal Gazette
15-05-2025
- Health
- Montreal Gazette
Innu man who froze to death in Montreal ‘not solely responsible for his fate,' coroner says
By Gaps in health-care services, COVID-19 restrictions and a lack of resources for the unhoused all contributed to an Innu man's death in Montreal in 2021, a Quebec coroner has concluded. Coroner Stéphanie Gamache has put forward 23 recommendations as a result, including that Quebec bolster services for Indigenous people in the health network and better fund resources for the unhoused. Raphaël 'Napa' André, 51, was found frozen to death in a portable toilet in January 2021, steps away from a homeless shelter that had paused overnight stays due to pandemic restrictions. 'We must express our indignation at the fact that several doors were closed to Mr. André in the last months of his life,' Gamache wrote in her 75-page report published Thursday morning. 'Many people worked with dedication and to the best of their abilities to try to help Mr. André,' she continued. 'However, despite all the efforts made, I found several gaps in the trajectory of care and services until his death.' A public coroner's inquest into André's death was held last summer, hearing from 51 witnesses over two weeks and leading to Thursday's report. Originally from the Innu village of Matimekush-Lac John in northern Quebec, André struggled with chronic alcoholism and was a regular at Montreal shelters serving the Indigenous community. A week before his death, Quebec instituted a province-wide curfew to stem the surge in COVID-19 hospitalizations and the shelter where he was a regular, the Open Door, was no longer accommodating overnight stays. The inquest heard how, on the day before he was found dead, André visited shelters three times and was treated at the ER of the CHUM hospital in downtown Montreal. He walked to another shelter after leaving the hospital, but was told by a worker he couldn't stay the night because he didn't want to take a COVID-19 test. He then went back to the Open Door, but was eventually told he had to leave because there were no more overnight stays. He was found the next morning in the portable toilet. Despite the fact it was only about minus-3 C that night, a pathologist ruled it was hypothermia that killed him. His blood alcohol level was more than four times the legal driving limit. 'Had a door been opened for him, and had he had a warm and safe place to stay for the night, it is clear to me … that he would not have died, even though he was highly intoxicated by alcohol,' Gamache wrote in her report on Thursday. 'It is therefore impossible for me to conclude that Mr. André was solely responsible for his fate.' Gamache paints a detailed portrait of the years and months leading to André's death in her report, analyzing each of the interactions he had with the health network, police, and homeless shelters. She questions why no one took charge of him after losing his family doctor in 2020 — despite his many health issues — and how he was allowed to continue slipping through the cracks in his last days. Gamache notes that she heard several different theories as to why André sought shelter in the portable toilet the night of his death, including that he might have been trying to hide from police given his distrust in authorities and the curfew that was in place. 'Mr. André's last refuge' 'The many hypotheses raised do not change the obvious, which is that this chemical toilet becomes Mr. André's last refuge, since no other place is accessible to him,' Gamache wrote. She also noted how, a few days after André's death, a shuttle began making the rounds at night to redirect unhoused people to shelters that were open. While questioning whether the service could have saved André's life, Gamache noted it certainly would have improved his chances at survival. But as the report makes clear, homeless shelters and the health services governing them were scrambling to adapt to the pandemic and the upheaval it brought. 'In the future, we need to ensure that we have a response adapted to the problems of unhoused people in the context of a health emergency,' Gamache wrote. Gamache's recommendations revolve around five themes. They include the importance of ensuring unhoused people are properly followed in the health network and securing permanent funding for emergency shelters. Gamache will present her findings at a news conference Thursday.
