Coventry and District Osteoporosis Support Group

For a £25 all-in fee (subject to negotiation for small groups and charities) we provide an audio-visual presentation about osteoporosis and the work of the National Osteoporosis Society.   (As we are all volunteers, we donate our time and energy to the national society and to our -- unsubsidised -- support group.)   Monies raised go towards our ongoing expenses, fundraising for the national society and projects to promote awareness of osteoporosis and its prevention and treatment.  

Our talks are typically to church groups, community groups, Women's Institutes and Townswomen's Guilds.   In each case we tailor the talk to the group's needs, e.g. by lengthening or shortening it, bringing along leaflets and literature which are particularly pertinent and using either a flatbed overhead projector or a data projector, providing a screen if necessary.   If the group is visually impaired we will rely entirely on a carefully presented verbal explanation.

We also represent the NOS at public awareness-raising events, such as the Women's Health Awareness Day at Methodist Central Hall.  

Our talks in 2008 have been to the St John's Baptist Women's Fellowship in Hillmorton, Rugby, the Bulkington Ladies' Club, the United Reformed Church Ladies' Group in Bedworth and the Solihull Breathe Easy Group; further talks in 2008 will include the Monday Club at St Barbara's Church in Earlsdon, the Potters Green Community Centre OAPs, the Mercia Friendship Club at Christ the King Community Centre in Coundon, the Styvechale Women's Institute and the Rugby Ladies' Wednesday Group.

At each of these events we have members on hand to answer questions and we display free NOS leaflets and have NOS information booklets for sale.  

We have recently added an NOS video called "Osteoporosis, the Silent Disease" to our resources.   To hire it for a small charge please contact Lynne Adams.

By far our most exciting Outreach work, however, has been in primary schools.   We have extended our original aim of introducing the NOS's Healthy Bones Pack into every primary school in Coventry to include Warwickshire primary schools as well.   We have the backing of both the Coventry and Warwickshire science advisors.   In order to make ourselves known in the schools we offer a school assembly on healthy bones, with a skeleton-suited leader (!), appropriate songs and, where there is space, exercises, and a PowerPoint presentation tailored to the group being addressed.   We also offer In-Service Training and support in classrooms where the NOS materials are being used.   To date we have paid for the delivery of 90 photocopiable resource packs @ £10 to Coventry primary schools and we are hoping to place another 20 in Warwickshire. At a meeting of primary schools science coordinators, pictured right with Janette Catton, the Schools Science Advisor, Lynne introduced the packs and our support services.

This photo of Edgewick Primary School which was the first to use our materials and our support services now features on NOS literature concerned with schools work.

We have set a challenge to the older children who view our assemblies to reproduce the main theme of the assembly, Vitamin D + calcium-rich food + weight-bearing exercise = strong bones, in poster form with the "prize" being a mention on this website.

Flora Wilson made her girl work hard (Phew!).

Simran Thaper made a young person bear the weight of the whole equation.

Ryan Collins explained all the factors in great detail.

Well done, all three!

Fun

Challenge your friends or local group on their knowledge of the calcium content of foods with this questionnaire.   The answers are on the following page.   (Source: NOS Information Sheet)

HOW WELL DO YOU KNOW YOUR CALCIUM?

Tick the box you think indicates the calcium content of the product.

All the foods are in 100g / 3 ½ oz portions, except for the bread which is a portion of one slice and the milk which is 190 ml / 1/3 pint.

Circle the answer you think is correct:

The NOS advises people with osteoporosis to aim for a daily dietary intake of 400 mg / 700 mg / 1200 mg ?

ANSWERS

The NOS advises people with osteoporosis to aim for a daily dietary intake of 1200 mg.   (700mg is the recommended normal adult intake.)