2013 Tea Dance GOLD Christmas Party

5 downloads 78138 Views 644KB Size Report
Party is back for its eleventh year and is being held on 7th. December ... Observers welcome. ... Building on the good work of Neighbourhood Watch, who will play a central role in identi- ... befriending to help address loneliness and isolation.
At a glance… The speaker at our November Health Group meeting is Shamaza Ali of the Alzheimer’s Society. Come along to find out more about their work locally and to ask any questions.

Issue 69 - October 2013

2013 Tea Dance This year’s Tea Dance, held on 14 August was another successful day with over 500 people attending throughout the day. Once again, the weather was perfect and everyone who came along received a free cream tea and had the chance to dance to music provided by the “Little Big Band”. There were also demonstrations from the Age UK sequence dancers and from Fit-Lab with their Zumba Golden Girls workout. Several organisations also had stalls on the day providing information about their services, and lots of advice and information was given. If you came along, we hope you enjoyed yourself and look forward to seeing you again next year!

Our work on Dignity in Care is coming along nicely. We need more volunteers! If you think you could help out, or you know anyone who might like to, please contact us to talk about what we’re doing. We always need fresh ideas, new faces and we like getting to know new people! It’s flu jab time again. If you haven’t had yours yet, contact your GP or any health professional. If you have any articles you would like to include in the newsletter which would be of interest to our members, please contact us (details on back page).

GOLD Christmas Party Oh yes, it’s that time of year again! The GOLD Christmas Party is back for its eleventh year and is being held on 7th December in Hopetown Club on Whessoe Road. If you would like to attend, complete the invitation enclosed for GOLD members by 18th November. Please do not telephone the GOLD office. Please either send the invitation to us at GOLD, Town Hall, Feethams, Darlington, DL1 5QT, or drop it off at reception at the town hall. Alternatively you can email us before 18th November at [email protected], or phone 077 101 37681 on either Tuesday 5th November between 10.00 and 11.00 or Wednesday 13th November between 2.00 and 3.00. We look forward to seeing you at the party.

Diary Dates Health Group Meeting The first Monday of every month, 10:15am at Havelock Street Centre. Future meetings are: 4 November 2 December 6 January Positive Images Group The first Wednesday of every month, 10:30am at Havelock Street Centre. Future meetings are: 6 November 4 December 8 January Focus Group The second Tuesday of every month, 2pm in the Dolphin Centre. Observers welcome. Future meetings are: 12 November 10 December 14 January

Full of Life Day 2013

GOLD Group Updates Health Group This group, which meets monthly, has had a range of speakers over the last few months, all of which have been very informative. They have included the Patient Experience Team at the NHS, and a representative from St Teresa's Hospice discussing “A Good Death”. If you have any health issues you’d like to raise or have a general interest in health come along to the meetings (listed left). Positive Images & Publicity Group This group has been very busy Recently, firstly with the planning for the Tea Dance and then the Full of Life Day. As you will see from the article on page 1 the next big event on the agenda is the Christmas Party.

Thank you to everyone who came along on the day or helped out. The entertainment was brilliant, with the swing band really brightening the market square. Thank you particularly to the young people from Queen Elizabeth Sixth Form College who performed and joined in the line dancing. We’re already looking forward to Full of Life 2014, celebrating UK Older People’s Day! Do you have any wool to spare, or would you be willing to knit some items for us to sell at a craft fair? We’ll be at the Lions Craft Fair at Blackwell Grange Hotel on Sunday 17th November between 10.00a.m. and 4.00p.m. Let us know if you can help. Did you know… We also collect loose change which helps to contribute towards the Christmas Party and other events. Do get in touch if you’re able to save some copper for us.

Independent Age Booklets Independent Age helps older people lead more fulfilling lives through advice, befriending and campaigning. They offer free advice and produce in-depth guides and publications specialising in social care and welfare benefits for older people. They also provide face to face and telephone befriending to help address loneliness and isolation. They have produced three “wise guides” for the over 65’s which are:   

Advice for Later Life - support and entitlements for over 65’s Extra help at home - essential advice for over 65’s to live independently Healthy, happy, connected - support and advice for older people living alone

To order your free copies you can telephone 020 7605 4225 or visit the website: www.independentage.org A PIONEERING scheme has been launched to encourage people to be good neighbours in Darlington. The aim of the initiative is to improve the quality of life for people who might be vulnerable, disadvantaged, lonely and socially isolated; which will ultimately bring people together to make Darlington an even better place to live. Building on the good work of Neighbourhood Watch, who will play a central role in identifying vulnerable people needing support, a network of Good Friends will be established across Darlington, and will keep a watchful eye on their older and vulnerable neighbours. Providing support and friendship to assist with a range of issues which if left unaddressed could compromise their ability to live safely and independently. A Good Friend may help an older person who is struggling or has a problem leaving the home in cold weather to shop for food. It is about doing that little bit extra for vulnerable neighbours, whether it is taking their bins out for them or simply checking up on them to see how they're doing. With many people leading such busy lives a Good Friend could be anyone and is ideal for people who may work full-time and cannot commit to a bigger volunteering role. We hope the project will help people to feel more supported, increasing their confidence to be able to cope on their own. Coming Up... Good Friends will be equipped with ‘sign posting informa1940’s Evening Dance tion’ to be able to pass on concerns to other support serand Supper, 15th Novemvices. Age UK Darlington, with the support of Darlington ber, 7.00pm till midnight Neighbourhood Watch, are working to develop this Good at Darlington and SimpNeighbouring initiative and will deliver ’Good Friends’ on be- son Rolling Mills Club, half of the Darlington Partnership. Longfield Road. Includes If you would like to be part of this valuable initiative or find a Live Big Band and a pie out more on how you can help a neighbour, contact Lynn and pea supper. Tickets Walton Community Liaison Officer or James Dobson the £12.50 from Age UK at Marketing and Communications Officer for the project Bradbury House or call Tel: 01325 362832 www.goodfriends.org.uk 362832.

What’s On… 1940’s Dance, last Tuesday of each month from 3.15 to 4.45pm, at Age UK Bradbury House, Beaumont Street West, £4 including tea and biscuits. Partners not needed. CAMEO (Come And Meet Each Other) is a club providing fun, friendship and conversation including people who are frail and can’t easily get out on their own. Cameo meets on the fourth Thursday of each month at 10.00 at the King’s Church on Whessoe Road. Hummersknott Cycle Club presents an Inspirational Evening with Adventurer Robert Lilwall. In 2004 Robert decided to leave his job as a geography teacher and do something different: he flew with his bicycle to the eastern edge of Siberia and cycled home to England. To find out how he managed that, hear him speak at Hummersknkott Academy on Monday 8th November at 6pm (doors open from 5pm). Tickets are £6.50 including light refreshments and a raffle. Tickets are available from Gary on 07837121412.

Contact Us Post: GOLD, Town Hall, Darlington, DL1 5QT Telephone: 01325 388845 Email: [email protected] Website: www.darlington.gov.uk/gold Facebook: www.facebook.com/golddarlington (why not visit and “like” our page!)

Did you know… The Alzheimer’s Society are hosting ‘D-Cafes’ at St Herbert’s on Yarm Road and The Lawns on Ridsdale Street. These are informal get-togethers for people to meet and chat. To find out more call Jenny Leeming on 07725 214 684.

This newsletter can be made available in different formats on request. A copy is also available on the website.

It’s Quicker! Let us know at if you would like to receive your newsletter by e-mail. This way you can receive it as soon as it is published. Just send us an e-mail telling us if you wish to. We also send out occasional email bulletins with extra information. Information on GOLD activities including all dates of future meetings and events can be found on our website.