You can donate online at

Transcription

1 You can donate online at November 2016 In this issue: Citywide on ************* John Lewis boost ************* Skydive success ************ Time to get those knitting needles ready ************ Sid is nominated ************* What s on this Month ***************** Volunteer Opportunities **************** Events for Carers ************ Talks on smart meters ************ Get fit, stay well **************** Can We Help? Citywide can be downloaded from our website Please help us to spread the word by telling your friends, sharing Citywide and posting on Facebook. Changes ahead Citywide is changing. From January 2017, we will be producing Citywide as a quarterly publication, rather than a monthly one. And in addition we will be having a monthly diary sheet of volunteering opportunities, events and activities to help keep everyone up to date with what is happening at Age UK Norwich. The new diary sheet will be on our website, and will also be ed out to subscribers. We know that not everyone uses , so printed copies of the diary sheet will be available at: * Our London Street Drop- In Centre; * Our Marion Road Centre; * And at the many community groups we visit each month. Citywide will still be posted out to anyone on our mailing list, but if you would prefer to have Citywide ed, we will be able to do that in the New Year, and it would save us a little if you did! We know that people really appreciate the articles and information we cover in Citywide, and moving to quarterly publication will mean that we can cover topics in more depth in each issue. If there are matters you would like to see us cover, or have any news of your own to share, please do get in touch. Sign up for If you would like to be on our new subscription list to be ed the diary sheet when it starts in the New Year, please Natasha Farr at Or text: "ALON30 3" to and we will receive the whole 3 as a donation.

2 Store workers give us a boost Staff from John Lewis Norwich have handed over a cheque for 934 to Age UK Norwich for events held in the branch since Christmas. Chief Operating Officer Dan Skipper accepted the donation from activities including tombolas at Christmas and Easter, a silent auction, the sale of display items and canteen collection tins. Ali Rowland, the shop's community liaison coordinator, said: "The John Lewis Man on the Moon Christmas advert, about caring for older people, struck a chord with people working here and so they were keen to support the work of Age UK." 5,000 success for sky team Time to get those knitting needles ready as we launch into the biggest Big Knit ever. Age UK have teamed up with Innocent smoothies for the 13 th year running and this year have set the challenge of putting little woolly hats on 2 million smoothie bottles! Here at Age UK Norwich we have set ourselves the mini target of contributing 1500 hats and need you and your knitting needles to help us. For every bottle of innocent smoothie with a little woolly hat sold we get 0.25p, 1500 hats would raise 375 which would help fund 75 new befriending volunteers! Please get in touch on or visit our website for more information/hat patterns or simply drop into our Information and Advice Centre on London Street Dan and Ali are pictured holding the cheque. Our daredevil team of skydivers led by 91-year-old Philip Goldsmith (pictured left with fund-raising manager Helen Burgess) has leapt to success for Age UK Norwich. With Mr Goldsmith alone raising more than 500, the 13-strong team achieved a sky-high total of nearly 15,000. Mr Goldsmith puts his fitness down to a regime of playing table tennis three times a week. He also has decades of service as a volunteer with St John Ambulance. Fittingly, the effort coincided with International Older People s Day, aimed at challenging stereotypes on ageing. Free dementia training Support us in making Norwich a Dementia Friendly City. Become a Dementia Friend and learn the little ways you can help someone living with dementia. Come to one of our free Dementia Awareness Training Workshops at Age UK Norwich, 60 London Street, Norwich NR2 1JX on the 10 November pm 15 November November pm 6 December pm 13 December pm To book call Marie Lucas on or Marie at marie.lucas@ageuknorwich.org.uk 2

3 3 Advice sessions around Norwich We run free monthly advice sessions across the city, please feel free to pop along and discuss any concerns you have with Terry our Outreach Advice Worker. Latest events are: Bowthorpe Health Centre on the second Wednesday of the month 10am Norwich Community Hospital on the third Wednesday of the month 10am-12 noon (These dates may be subject to change. To check, please call ) We are reviewing our outreach sessions and hope to have other venues around the city in the near future. Terry is happy give talks about Age UK Norwich, older people s issues and the services we deliver in Norwich. Please call him on or you can Terry at terry.rawlinson@ageuknorwich.org.uk Aiding YOUR independence Promoting Independence is a support service helping older people to live happier and more active lives, no matter the health challenges. Age UK Norwich is working with GP surgeries and health professionals in Norwich to identify people who may benefit. We can help individuals who have had a change in circumstance such as to their health, a bereavement, or a move to a new home. For example we can support with finding social activities in your area and with attending these until you feel comfortable to attend independently. We have also been able to support with understanding health information, managing appointments, and One of our volunteers, Mr Sid Parkin, has been shortlisted for a Broadland Community at Heart Award in the category of Good Neighbour of the Year. Sid has been volunteering with Age UK Norwich for four years. He started as an Out and About volunteer, supporting people with getting out regularly but Sid is now a volunteer with the Promoting Independence service and the Shopping Service. Sid lives in Broadland and he has consistently gone the extra mile whether it is taking those he supports far and wide around Norfolk for social trips or so that they can stay in contact accompanying people on walks to improve their confidence. Each goal, however, is individual to the person. We work together for up to 12 weeks with the aim of improving your independence and sense of wellbeing and to find ways to maintain these in the long term. If you wish to be referred, contact your GP surgery. To find out more please contact: Sally Thornton Promoting Independence Coordinator , sally. thornton@ageuknorwich.org.uk or Rachel Larter Promoting Independence Worker , Volunteer Sid is shortlisted for care award with friends and family. He has been proactive in supporting with practical things such as sourcing meal deliveries or arranging wheelchairs. He gets people to medical appointments and continues to visit if they are in hospital, bringing in anything needed and making sure all is ok at home. Sid s motto has always been, Ask me and if I can I will! Sally Thornton, Promoting Independence Coordinator, will be going with Sid to the awards evening. She said: It is really pleasing for one of our volunteers to be recognised for the difference his volunteering makes to others.

4 Activities around Norwich Check our quarterly What s On Guide for regular activities. Ring or pop in if you don t have one. Leyham Court Luncheon Club every 2nd and 4th Wednesday at followed by bingo at 2.30pm. Contact Margaret Gibbs The Thursday lunch club is open again, charging Call Irena on

5 On the ball for memories Passionate about football? Then join us for an enjoyable afternoon sharing memories. The Still on the Ball Football project is for people living at home with a recent diagnosis of dementia. Contact Claire on Creative writing for you This friendly practice group for beginners is free and will meet in the Second Air Division Memorial Library Meeting Room every other Friday at the Millennium Library. Just drop in! Next dates are 7th and 21st Oct, 4th and 18th Nov. It s a walk in the park... Discover Bowthorpe Heritage and Nature Trail. We will take a gentle stroll, finishing up with refreshments and some socialising in the cosy Yurt based in the grounds of the Bowthorpe Community Hub, Bowthorpe Hall Road, NR5 9AA. There is a small fee of 2 to help cover costs for the venue and refreshments. Dates for your diary: 7th Nov, 21st Nov, 5th Dec and 19th Dec (Monday) fortnightly 1.30pm 3.30pm) and a stroll in the village There is also a walk at Bowthorpe Care Village (Ladysmock Way, Cloverhill Road, NR5 9BF) We will meet Wednesday fortnightly 2pm-3.30pm. Join us for a gentle stroll followed by a cuppa and a chat in the Bowthorpe Care Village Café. Tea and Coffee Dates for your diary: 2nd Nov, 16th Nov, 30th Nov and 14th Dec. The groups are open to people with dementia and their carers and anyone else who would benefit. Please contact Claire: Keep calm and colour Join us on the first floor of the Norwich Millennium Library every Tuesday (10.30am to noon) for our colouring club for grown-ups. All materials provided, but you can bring your own books and pens. 5

6 Volunteers needed! More details and further volunteering opportunities can be found on the volunteer pages of our website Walk in the Park are seeking volunteers to help support group members to engage and enjoy a gentle stroll followed by a cuppa and chat at our two new venues; starting and ending at Bowthorpe Community Hub and Bowthorpe Care village. Marion Road Day Centre volunteers needed particularly on Monday and Friday to help support activities. The centre is open from 9am until It is possible to volunteer for a morning/afternoon or full session. Full training and support given. Carers Support group volunteers needed to help with setting up/clearing away, organising refreshments, facilitate activities enabling the group leader to run the session. Monthly events in Heartsease, Catton Grove, Tuckswood, Eaton and Marion Road Day Centre. Reception volunteers at Age UK Norwich Information and Advice Centre to help welcome visitors and callers, take messages and provide other basic administrative support to the I&A team. Weekday mornings and afternoons from 10am 1pm and 1pm 4pm. Full support and training given. Dell Rose Court Cook & Eat Club are a small group of older people who get together with volunteers to cook and enjoy simple meals together. We are in urgent need of a new volunteer to lead our club. We meet at Dell Rose Court monthly on a Monday. Please help! Brook Hotel Lunch and Social Club seeks volunteers to support a thriving group of over 30 members. Responsibilities include organising activities, booking transport, telephoning to confirm bookings & liaising with Brook Hotel staff. Volunteers also required to help serve carvery meals to individuals with limited mobility and afternoon tea/coffee to all members. Drivers needed in city Car drivers for clients to get to Walk in the Park groups, fortnightly on a Tuesday afternoon at either Earlham Park, Eaton Park or Whitlingham Park. Transport is required from various areas of the city, please get in touch for more information. Welfare Rights volunteers - volunteers to help complete Attendance Allowance and Personal Independence Payment forms on behalf of clients by appointment. Also volunteers that can assist with writing Mandatory Reviews letters and benefit appeal forms. Volunteer hours can be flexible. Energy Champions - help to give advice about options for saving money on energy bills and other energy efficiency schemes. The energy advice is delivered by appointment and volunteer hours can be flexible. Mile Cross Library Intergenerational Gardening Club seeks extra hands to help support a thriving gardening project. Catton Grove Primary School and local residents meet fortnightly Friday pm. If you enjoy sharing gardening skills and activities please do get in touch. Ryrie Court lunch and social group seeks volunteers to help with general kitchen duties, serving lunches and afternoon tea/coffee. Other duties will include organising entertainment - bingo, raffle and quiz activities. The group meets 2 nd and 3 rd Wednesday of each month pm. 6

7 Lots to do for carers We have a very active Carers Group based at our Marion Road Centre, with monthly coffee mornings there plus twicemonthly gatherings in other venues around the city. All events start at 10.30am, unless stated otherwise. The regular November coffee mornings and gatherings are as follows: * Thursday 10th November meet up at the Dunelm coffee shop at Sprowston Retail Park from 10.30am for coffee and chat and maybe stay on for lunch. * Friday 18th November open house and coffee morning at Marion Road 10.30am to 12 noon. Meet the team, get help and information, have a chat, try your hand at silk painting! * Thursday 24th November meet up at Arts Desire in Park Lane, Norwich from 10.30am for coffee and chat and maybe stay on for lunch. We will also be launching a series of coffee mornings/advice and information drop-in sessions this month. These are completely new ventures which will take place monthly at four different locations across the city. We will be offering advice and information mainly about dementia. These sessions are open to both carers and their loved ones and also to people whose dementia has been recently diagnosed and who need help to decide the next step. Other older carers and their loved ones are also very welcome to drop in for coffee and a chat. The first four session will be: * Thursday 3rd November St Francis Church, Rider Haggard Road, Heartsease from 10am. * Tuesday 8th November Tuckswood Library, Robin Hood Road from 10.30am. * Wednesday 16th November United Reformed Church, Jessop Road from 10am. * Wednesday 23rd November Catton Grove Big Local Box, Woodcock Road from 1.30pm. Talk to us about benefits of smart meters Age UK Norwich has received a grant to help us organise talks to community groups about the benefits of Smart Meters. We can also make home visits to people who would like more detailed advice, or who cannot get to community meetings. By 2020, every home in Britain will be able to use a Smart Meter. They show exactly how much gas and electricity you are using in your home, and how much it is costing you, too. The meters will show if your usage is high, medium or low; and if you are a pre-paid customer they will show how much credit you have, and give a warning if the credit falls low. The meters do use the same technology as mobile phones to work, so if you live in an area where mobile coverage is poor, it may be best to wait for that to be improved before getting a Smart Meter fitted. Smart Meters are not compulsory, but the meter only costs 1p a year to run. If they are right for you, it means always knowing exactly what your bill is, and never getting another estimated one. They are supplied and fitted free by reputable tradespeople. 7

8 Where to find us 60 London Street Norwich NR2 1JX Tel: Keep active, stay well There s a chance to try out some fun activities for older people at Pilling Park Community Centre this month, and learn about help available. The session is from 10.15am to 1.30pm at the centre in Pilling Park Road on 16th November. You can learn about keeping healthy and fit, with a chance to try Zumba Gold and New Age Kurling. And you can find out about smart meters. Or join Norwich Older People s Forum to discuss a range of issues that affect older people. There will be refreshments, and a lunch for those who can stay. Contact Bob on Registered Office: 60 London Street, Norwich NR2 1JX. Age UK is the working name of Age Concern Norwich, a company limited by guarantee in England & Wales No Registered Charity Number