You can donate online at http://uk.virginmoneygiving.com/charities/ageuknorwich
October 2016
In this issue:
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Philip’s sky-high
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Coffee for carers
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Terry’s Travels
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Stay well, stay active
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What’s on this Month
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Volunteer
Opportunities
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Bilbo makes IT easy
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Intergenerational radio
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Runners raised £20,000
Can We Help?
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Lifelong inspiration
The theme of this edition of
Citywide is Inspirational Older
People - our contribution to
celebrating the International
Day of Older People on
October 1st, writes Chief
Executive Susan Ringwood.
I’m fortunate to have had
some inspirational older
people in my life - both
personally and professionally.
My grandmother was
younger than I am now when
she was such a force in my
young life. She was full of
stories - family history,
folklore, ghostly tales.
As children, we sought her
company. We literally sat at
her feet. I wanted to be like
her - wise, entertaining and
the centre of attention! She
also exercised a firm control
over her adult children.
Sunday tea as a nonnegotiable full family event
was one of her more benign
rulings. In my working life, I
have always benefited from
having a mentor - someone
with the experience, wisdom
and ability to give me
confidence in myself.
These mentors have always
been a generation or two
older than me, and I owe
them a tremendous debt for
their generosity.
Families have changed in the
50 and more years since I
listened to Nana’s tall tales.
The opportunity that
grandparents and other older
relatives have to influence
and inspire has very likely
waned as the nature of
modern life has made
mandatory Sunday tea less
possible – or acceptable.
But the inspiration of older
people is not just about
influencing the young. It can
be felt by their peers, too.
It’s so important to realise that
you don’t have to stop doing
something you enjoy or are
good at, or want to do for the
first time just because of your
age - as 91-year-old Philip
Goldsmith can testify with his
first-ever skydive. (See page
two.) And see the story of our
inspirational volunteer
Bilbo Dunion on page five.
Or text: "ALON30 £3" to 70070 and we will receive the whole £3 as a donation.
Hitting heights... at 91
A 91-year-old will take a giant leap, this
month, in a skydive for a charity supporting older people in the city.
Philip Goldsmith stepped forward when
Age UK Norwich put out the call for
volunteers, earlier this year, to take the
sponsored plunge from Beccles Airfield, a
major skydiving centre for the south of
England, on September 24.
Mr Goldsmith said: “I’m quite looking forward to it… I’m not nervous. Not that it
would matter if I was. I’ll be strapped to
someone else, and they’ll push me out.”
Behind the jokes, Mr Goldsmith is already
a veteran of two charity abseils… including one down the maternity block at the
old Norfolk and Norwich Hospital.
He puts his fitness down to sport.
“I play table tennis three times a week, for
two hours at a time,” he said. “The other
players are all older people, like myself,
but they’re good players… so it’s quite a
workout.”
With the clock ticking towards International Older People’s Day on October 1,
Mr Goldsmith is an inspiration.
As well as playing table tennis regularly,
he is a popular pianist for sing-alongs…
performing fortnightly at Corton House on
Bracondale, and often receiving other
one-off bookings. He said: “I was a pub
pianist for many years. I may well have
been the last pub pianist in the city, playing in The Littlejohn until 1970.”
* You can sponsor Mr Goldsmith via Age
UK’s Helen Burgess at 60, London Street.
Festive funding plea
Would anyone like to help us fundraise this
Christmas? Maybe you could organise a raffle
or quiz at your local community group, or talk to
your friends about having a Christmas-themed
cake sale? If you have any ideas, our Fundraising Manager Helen Burgess would love to
hear from you , phone Helen on 01603 496325
or email Helen on
[email protected]
•
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Overview of the year
Age Wise - Launching our new
community development work.
Come along and experience some of
our acvies - and have a go!
RSVP by 5th October 2016
To Natasha at Age UK Norwich
Telephone: 01603 496322
Or email Natasha at:
[email protected]
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
27th October (1pm-3.30pm); 10th
November (12.30-3pm); 15th November
(09.30am-noon); 24 November (12.30-3pm).
To book call Marie Lucas on 01603 496381
or email Marie at Age UK Norwich on
[email protected]
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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-12.30
Norwich Community Hospital on the third Wednesday of the month 10am-12 noon
(These dates may be subject to change. To check, please call 01603 496333.)
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 01603 496394
or you can email Terry at [email protected]
Coffee for carers
Jobs in dementia centre
Age UK Norwich’s Marion Road Centre
provides excellent day cay for people living
with dementia.
We are seeking to recruit experienced care
staff to work occasional days when the
regular staff are on holiday or are unwell.
The centre is open Monday to Friday and
provides a variety of activities daily to
stimulate and encourage interaction. We
treat everyone as an individual and look after
their needs. The staff make sure that every
day at Marion Road is one to look forward to.
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Keeping well means
keeping active
On the 21st July Age UK in partnership
with Norwich Older People’s Forum and
Active Norfolk held another Keep Well
and Active event this time at the St
Andrews Church Hall Eaton.
The main theme of the day was how
keeping active and involved can improve
both your physical health and mental
wellbeing.
Speakers at the Forum raised issues
around housing and care in later life and
Norwich City Council’s Digital Inclusion
Officer explained how to stay safe online.
This was followed by a Zumba Gold
‘taster’ complete with a little Belly
Dancing and Active Norwich staff
supervised a game of New Age Kurling.
The session was rounded off with a buffet
lunch prepared by the Cellar House.
These events are held regularly at venues
around the city, the next one being at
Pilling Park Community Centre on 16th
November.
If you would like to find out more about
this or future events,
please contact Bob Russell on
01603 496323 or email
Bob at Age UK Norwich on
[email protected]
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 12.30 followed by bingo at
2.30pm. Contact Margaret Gibbs 01603 747245
The Thursday lunch club
is open again, charging £3.50. Call Irena on
01603 458331
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It’s a walk in the park...
We are expanding our ‘Walk in the Park’
project, discovering Bowthorpe Heritage
and Nature Trail. We will take a gentle stroll,
finishing up with refreshments in the
atmospheric Yurt at Bowthorpe Youth and
Community Centre, Bowthorpe Hall Rd, NR5
9AA. This is open to people with dementia
and their carers and anyone who would
benefit from a relaxed afternoon out. There
is a small fee of £2 to help cover costs.
Next dates are 24th Oct, 7th Nov, 21st Nov,
5th Dec and 19th Dec (Monday fortnightly
1.30pm – 3.30pm).
Join us to watch some classic films
If you enjoy watching classic films from the 1930s,
40s and 50s why not come and join us for our Classic
Film Club?
We meet Friday monthly (16th Sept, 14th Oct, 11th
Nov and 9th Dec) at Eaton Park Community Centre
at 1.30pm – 4.30pm.
There will be a break halfway through for
refreshments and a chance to chat. A small fee of
£1.50 will be charged to cover the cost for the hall
and refreshments. (Ice cream and popcorn will be
on offer). Please contact Claire: 07786 900685 or
just turn up on the day.
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 07786 900685.
Creative writing for you
This friendly practice group for beginners is
free and will meet in the Second Air
Division Memorial Library Meeting Room
10.30 -12.30 every other Friday at the
Millennium Library. Just drop in! Next dates
are 7th and 21st Oct, 4th and 18th Nov.
Keep calm and colour
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Volunteers needed!
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.
Walking to health Could you help an older person regain their independence by
going for a walk with them? We urgently need volunteers in Costessey and Sprowston
to go for short walks with clients to help improve their mobility & confidence.
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. Also a monthly walking group at the Sainsbury Centre. Transport is required from
various areas of the city, please get in touch for more information.
Befriending - Volunteer befrienders needed in Sprowston, Old Catton, Heartsease,
Harriot Court and Bowthorpe Road. This involves a home visit for an hour once a week
to have a pleasant chat and make a new friend. Full support and training given.
Marion Road Day Centre volunteers needed particularly on Monday and Friday to
help support activities. The centre is open from 9am until 15.30. It is possible to
volunteer for a morning/afternoon or full session. Full training and support given.
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 1.30 - 2.45pm. 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 2nd and 3rd
Wednesday of each month 12.00 - 4.00pm.
Community Cook and Eat Club seeks volunteers who are confident at cooking and
can help support residents in the preparation of food and general kitchen duties and
to help organize and facilitate activities. Fortnightly Wednesday 3.30 - 6.30pm.
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.
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.
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.
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Bilbo makes IT easy
If you’ve ever considered volunteering…
don’t hesitate, says one of our long-serving
helpers.
Bilbo Dunion has been an instructor in the
much-in-demand computer training
section since March 2013, and loves his
sessions.
He said: “I find it’s a challenge, to interact
with people who have different skills and
abilities. With every new client, I have to
find a new way of doing the training.”
The service was given a boost, this year,
when Open offered space as well as extra
instructors. We now have 10 volunteers
and, as a result, we have no waiting list, at
present. In the last year, we have helped
143 people.
Older people come along to learn the
basics of using a computer or to improve
their skills with a series of six tailor-made
lessons. Using email or being able to send
and receive family pictures, for example,
are popular, while others may want to use
a laptop or tablet to pursue a hobby.
Bilbo said: “Many of our clients are
completely new to it, so don’t be put off if
that’s you. People might have been given
a computer, for example, but have no
idea what to do with it. One client had
had a laptop sitting on the shelf for two
years, untouched.
Bilbo joined us after losing his job, due to ill
health, saying he didn’t want to just sit at
home. He’s found that helping to build
other people’s confidence has also boosted his own.
“You might have heard that you can use
one for ‘video chats’ with your grandchildren… but find you’re baffled by how
to set up the account. We can help to do
that, and take the mystery out of it. After
all, whether it‘s for shopping or to get the
latest knitting pattern, everyone can
benefit from understanding computers.
“Older people are finding, of course, that
they are increasingly important in
commerce and communication generally.
There‘s no need to be left out.”
* If you are interested in computer training,
phone Natasha Farr on 01603 496322 to
learn more.
Be Scam Aware
A free IT workshop aimed at the older
generation on avoiding scams is planned for
Saturday 1st October.
The event is being organised in partnership
with Norfolk Constabulary: Safer Norfolk
Foundation.
It’s at the OPEN Youth Trust, 20 Bank Plain,
Norwich, NR2 4SF, from 1pm-2pm, but
booking is essential. For details of how to
book, see www.opennorwich.org.uk or call
01603 252110
Intergenerational radio! volunteers are wanted
This autumn Age UK Norwich and students
at the University of East Anglia will put together an intergenerational radio programme, to be broadcast on livewire
1350, the student radio station.
We are looking for older members of the
community who would like to develop
and produce the programme.
You would decide the content together
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with the students and we expect that
there will be opportunity to cater for a
range of interests, including music,
cinema, sport and current affairs.
See our website for more details,
www.ageuknorwich.org.uk
If you would like to join us, contact Claire
Kerrison on 07786 900685 or email
[email protected]
Run Norwich 10k success
Where to find us
60 London Street Norwich
NR2 1JX
Tel: 01603 496333
www.ageuknorwich.org.uk
This year our wonderful runners raised more
than £20,000 for Age UK Norwich and we’d
like to say a massive thank you.
The money raised will help support our
welfare rights work and people like Mr and
Mrs L, who were referred to us by a friend.
They were only just managing by helping
each other. We thought they could be
eligible for Attendance Allowance, and
made them a welfare rights appointment
long enough to complete two claims.
Our adviser also established they could be
eligible for Pension Credit.
Within a month, they were awarded all the
benefits to which they were entitled, and
are now over £200 a week better off.
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. 4489595. Registered Charity Number 1094623
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