agenda news issue 17

7/28/2019 Agenda News issue 17

1/8

As the Kingston at Home plan or

improving services moves steadily

orward, one o the points oten made

is that whilst we welcome changes that

will help people stay in their own

homes and out o residential care,

people simply dont want to be stuck

at home alone. Dear to us our own our

walls may be that doesnt mean

people want to spend the rest o their

days staring at them.

Maria suered a stroke over a decade

ago and lives with her son, who is her

main carer. When I had my stroke I was

in hospital or our months, I then spent

another ten weeks in rehabilitation,

she told agenda news. The OTs and

physios worked very hard I had the

strength to survive the stroke so I

worked hard too.

Srle

Maria goes to Raleigh House: I work on

my crats as well as play scrabble and

word games its so helpul because

I still struggle with spelling and

recognising numbers. Being part o agroup makes me very happy. I have one

useless arm that I cannot move since

the stroke, the crat group members

dont mind, in act one o them joked

that I could use it as a paperweight or

my work!

Kingston is unique in having three,

modern, attractive and well-equipped

centres where people can go to

socialise, enjoy themselves and learn

new things. These centres are at the

heart o the planned new Kingston at

Home model o care.

Raleigh House in New Malden looks

rom the ront like a large suburban

amily house the generous and

colourul spaces at the rear come as a

surprise. The Bradbury in Kingston is a

new purpose-built centre, at the heart

o which is a ca whose coee and

home-baked cakes would give Costa a

run or its money. Anything but

institutional, the buzz within puts a

smile on the ace o visitors

immediately and the passion o the

sta is palpable. Amy Woodgate in

INSIDE:Nainal award pae 2

Min n pae 7

Reiremen reinened pae 4

FREE!

aendaThe newspaper o Age Concern Kingston upon Thames

newsIssue 17lSummer 20

Chessington provides a sae and

tranquil environment or people living

with dementia, with a beautiul

purpose-designed garden.

Oten dismissed as outdated or not

what people want, the importance o

services like these is evident rom

messages o thanks which decorate the

walls o the Raleigh managers oce.

Thank you all or the care and attention

to my parents this year, writes one carer,

You have made a real dierence to their

lives as they were really missing out on

the social side o lie beore they started

at Raleigh House as they only moved to

New Malden just under our year ago so

N a hme alnehad no local social contacts. This isechoed with similar comments.Day centres are a gateway to a whnetwork and inrastructure o acilit

and support services. For example,

having access to a Handyperson ser

is critical in supporting people to liv

independently in their own homes.

Expert and up-to-date advice is also

available on all kinds o issues.

Arthritis limits Marias mobility, an

cataracts her vision she walks slow

using two sticks. Her son doesnt drso she was helped to apply or a

taxi-card and Dial-a-Ride, which giv

her more independence. Her son

doesnt have to chaperone her to

Raleigh now, and he gets a break w

shes at the centre.

Relainships

The success and continuing popula

o these services are due to the stro

relationships that are developed wit

them, and with their local communi

They are repositories o knowledge

expertise. And they are asset-based,

strengthened by the networks o

support that volunteers bring, work

with users in ways which make them

eel valued and appreciated.

As Maria says: Raleigh House is a

community worth being part o it

a nice environment, it changes my

attitude, you see, otherwise I will sta

at home and eel more pain it does

seem to hurt as much when you get

be with people.

Enjyin d cmpany


2/8

Hw cnac s:

Age Concern Kingston upon Thames

14 Nelson Road, New Malden, KT3 5EA

t: 020 8942 8256

e: [email protected]

w: www.ageconcernkingston.org

twitter: @agekingston

agenda news email: [email protected]

The views expressed in agenda news are not necessarily those o the

trustees, sta or volunteers.

Published by Age Concern Kingston upon Thames.

Registered charity no. 299988 Company no. 2272550

Design: Eileen Higgins, e: [email protected]

Print: Park Communications Ltd, t: 020 70556500.

Printed on 100% recycled paper

ageconcernKingston upon Tham

Age Concern Kingstons Stay

Well at Home service has

made the shortlist or the

prestigious Charity Awards

2013, it was announced inMay. Against national

competition, Stay Well was

selected in the Social Care

and Welare category.

The Stay Well service works

in partnership with GPs to

target older people at risk o

losing their independence and

helps them plan and make

liestyle changes. With great

eedback rom people who

have been helped, Stay Well

also saves money an

independent evaluation

showed that in twelve monthsit saved the public sector

268,000, with a total return

on investment o 11 or every

1 spent.

Measrable

Stay Well has already

achieved national recognition

two years ago it was

praised in a parliamentary

report on housing and care

or older people.

Commenting on the news

ACKs Chie Executive ShaneBrennan said: Its great to be

shortlisted, but what really

matters is that the Stay Well

service makes a real and

measurable dierence to

older peoples ability to stay

independent and enjoy good

quality o lie. This accolade is

Say Well in rnninr nainal award

In the spring, Age Concern Kingston hosted a public meetin

to listen to what you had to say about what makes later lie a

greater lie. The event was a success, those who attended

spoke honestly about their experience o later lie and what

improvements could be made.

There was consensus rom those taking part about the acto

which ensured a good quality o lie. Being mobile (good

transport), keeping social and active, seeing amily and riend

having the right inormation and support and maintaining go

health were highlighted. The combination o all o these thing

meant that lie could still be creative, un and purposeul.

However, whilst people endeavour to live in this way,

participants agreed that there are certain barriers andlimitations that get in the way. Problems with accessing

transport, access to inormation and advice and nding

opportunities to keep social and active were issues which

provided signicant rustration to many.

These ndings wont be new to readers they are issues

which come up again and again. ACK will continue to work wi

your eedback to help shape and develop services, and

infuence commissioners.

A summary report is available on our website

www.aecncernkinsn.r . I you have any comments

eedback in response to the report then please contact us.

Wendy WdsAs agenda news goes to press we are saddened to hear that

Wendy has passed away. Wendy spent her lie campaigning

against imprisonment o political detainees and ghting the

injustice o apartheid in South Arica. On exile to the UK,

Wendy continued working or various charities, including

chairing the trustee board at Age Concern Kingston. From

2003, she was ounder and chair o the Donald Woods

Foundation, doing vital work in the poverty-stricken Transke

region o the Eastern Cape. She will be greatly missed.

We are a leading independent charitable organisation

dedicated to working with people in south west London.

We have 65 years o experience o supporting older people and

carers to live saely and independently in their own homes and over the years have won awards

or this, the most recent being the Guardian Award or Care o Older People 2011.Our vision is to make later lie a greater lie. We have a history o working in innovative ways with

local people to deliver the services that they want, and o working in partnership.

We provide a range o community-based services which help and support people to live in their

own homes. These include Inormation, Advice and Advocacy; practical help in the home

(e.g. Handyperson services, cleaning and domestic help, shopping, support ater a hospital stay)

and social activities (social centres, lunch clubs, telephone beriending, dementia club).

These services are accessed by hundreds o older people and carers each year.

Our workorce o 50 sta is supported by 150 trained volunteers who add value and huge

commitment to all the services we provide.Whowe

are

2l ISSuE SEvENtEEN

Lisenin y

a real tribute to the dedication

o the sta and volunteers who

deliver the service.

The Charity Awards are widely

recognised as the Oscars o the

charity sector, representing

some o the nest examples o

best practice and success rom

organisations big and small.

Stay Well at Home has been

shortlisted rom hundreds o

entries in the social care and

welare category alongside just

two other charities.

Excellence

Projects have to evidence

how they meet ten hallmarks

o excellence, including

innovation, leadership,

eectiveness and

accountability. Age Concern

Kingston was judged against

sti competition by an

11-strong panel o experts

across a variety o elds,

including the chie executive

o the Charities Aid

Foundation Dr John Low;

ounding director o the

Clore Social Leadership

Programme Dame Mary

Marsh; Danielle Walker

Palmour, director o the

Friends Provident Foundation,

and Sir Christopher Kelly,

chair o the Kings Fund. The

judging panel was chaired byAndrew Hind, editor o

Charity Finance.

The winners will be

announced at a gala dinner at

the Grosvenor House Hotel

on the night o Thursday 13

June, hosted by comedienne,

Sally Phillips.
mailto:[email protected]://www.ageconcernkingston.org/mailto:[email protected]://localhost/var/www/apps/conversion/tmp/scratch_10/eh-design.co.ukhttp://localhost/var/www/apps/conversion/tmp/scratch_10/eh-design.co.ukmailto:[email protected]://www.ageconcernkingston.org/mailto:[email protected]


3/8

AgENDA EDItoRIA

Its ve years since the banking crisis which damaged muc

o the global economy, but whilst some countries arebeginning to recover, Britains economy is still dormant.

With the economy suering and the government still

pursuing its austerity programme, theres been much

ocus on the need to reduce the welare benets bill.

The government has instigated an argument that

pensioners are somehow having it easy or arent suering

like others and thereore shouldnt be getting ree bus

passes, ree TV licenses or extra money in the winter, also,

more importantly, that state pensions should be reduced o

taken away. Commentators oten couch the resulting

debate in terms o an intergenerational divide.

To imply this group or that group somehow have it

better, or is beneiting because o the lack o money

elsewhere is outrageous.

Inerenerainal

The vast majority o young people dont believe older peop

should be worse o; indeed generally they eel people in

retirement should have a secure, sae and worry ree

existence. Nor do most older people eel that younger olk

live the lie o Reilly or have it too good! Indeed, most

people have real concerns or the uture, not only or their

grandchildren, but also or younger people in general rom

the costs o gaining a higher education to the very real reali

o long-term unemployment.

A government minister said recently that those pensioner

who have too much money should give it back. Why keep

this just to pensioners? Why not ask all those who have too

much to give more to the government? Theyre easy to

identiy The Sunday Times produces a rich list every year!Clearly ridiculous.

In the midst o this recession, essentially this debate is

about setting one section o society against another, by

creating perceptions that one group is somehow beneting

at the expense o the other. O course there are rich individu

pensioners but this does not justiy the reduction or

withdrawal o universal pensioner benets.

There are no winners in austerity Britain. Fuelling an

insidious intergenerational divide which results in less

support or older people will, ultimately, make losers o us a

Yn old whs blame?Women rst received the right

to vote 85 years ago. Since then,

society has made incredible

progress in creating genderequality. However, growing

pension disparities highlight the

need to revisit the state o

womens rights.

When I was younger, the state

system was designed or

women to be housewives and

working women received lower

wages. I became a teacher

because it was one o the ew

proessions which oered

nancial equality. We received

equal pay and we all paid 6% to

our pension and local

authorities paid a urther 7%.Despite this, women still

suered as most working,

married women would take this

out as a lump sum, or opt to

pay the cheaper NICS

contribution. These women

were then let with only a small

state retirement pension o

about 35 a week.

Please send yr leers & eedback agenda news

Ae Cncern Kinsn pn thames

14 Nelsn Rad, New Malden, Kt3 5EA

r send an email [email protected]

ISSuE SEvENtEEN l

Whilst people are still in this

world they need to be treatedwith respect.

I was a nurse in the 50s and

we had a Matron and ward

sisters. The matron gave the

orders and it was her job to

check up on the general care

given in the hospital. No one

would ever let people suer

knowingly, even i we were

exhausted and under staed

it just wasnt heard o then.

Things have really changed

when I rst started the NHS

had only been set up two

years beore; all o the doctorsand nurses were enthusiastic

and really cared or each

patient. It was a great moment

when our hospital opened its

doors to treat the poorer

people in London, who had

been suering or years with

illnesses and inections

without treatment.

We were working in less than

perect conditions then; the

buildings were old and

equipment was limited but we

did our best or each patient.

I have to admit that theHealth and Saety regulations

today do make sense; when I

did my training i you werent

able to lit a man up rom lying

to sitting you couldnt carry on

your nursing training but I

wonder where the Health and

Saety measures have gone to

keep patients sae and well

looked ater?

Helen, New Malden

Kevin started volunteering or ACK in November 2010, rst

or the Handyperson service and then as a computer tutor orthe Raleigh day centre. He applied or a paid position as a

driver and was successul, yet continued with his volunteer

roles alongside.

In his three years with ACK, he showed great commitment to

the organisation, coming up with ideas, oering to help when

there were IT problems, and oten volunteering beyond the call

o duty.

In November 2012 Kevin was orced to resign at short notice

due to ill-health. His untimely death in April came as very sad

news to ACKs sta and volunteers: Kevin was very loyal to

ACK, a conscientious colleague, a very supportive team play

and popular member o the team, sadly missed. Cathy, DayCentre Manager.

Kevin was a very caring, considerate person. He was a giver

nothing was too much trouble or him, he would always lend

helping hand. What I ound very interesting about Kevin was

that he had spent our years in the Marines and was a junior

boxing champion. I know that the people at ACK sta and

members liked him a great deal. Steve, Administrator .

He was always generous with his time, valued by our client

and able to turn his hand to all sorts o problems. Heather,

Handyperson coordinator.

Kein Prince

Mid Sas NHS scandal why weren he salisened ?

Feedback

Single mothers suered as

they were expected to work,

pay their pensions, save or

retirement as well as supporttheir children through

education. How are single

mothers expected to handle

this immense responsibility

today, i policies intended to

provide support, such as SERPS

or widows, has been cut by

50%, while prices keep rising?

It is clear that we have been,

and are, lacking in accessibility

to inormation and nancial

education in the secondary

school curricula. This is

imperative to preventing

anyone, man or woman, romacing a lower retirement

income in the uture. I I had

been given the right

inormation, I would have

remained a teacher with a nal

salary scheme paying 132 a

month or each 10,000 made.

I only Id known!

Christina Gore, Richmond

agenda news yr iews

Thanks to all who responded to our recent survey on agenda news.

Overall you were impressed with the paper and the amount oinormation it provided especially about benet changes and

where to go to socialise. You said you would like to see more local

news articles and urther inormation on activities in and around the

borough. Whilst you acknowledged that the newspaper was mostly

aimed at older readers, some o you elt that those who are disabled,

isolated or are carers would benet i they picked up a copy.

You ound agenda news in GP surgeries and local libraries, which

made the paper accessible; however you did suggest an audio

version be made available or those with visual impairments.

I you would like to tell us your views on agenda news, or have your

say on any issue, please get in touch.

14h Jne 1944 21s April 2013

gein he rih inrmain is key
mailto:[email protected]:[email protected]


4/8

AgENDA FEAtuRE

Reiremen reinened

4l ISSuE SEvENtEEN

t wrk r reire

l One in eleven over 65 ye

olds are still wage earne

l Retirement is no longer

xed time in your lie

you can take early

retirement or carry on

working beyond state

pension age.

l Working part-time coul

give you the opportunit

to have additional ree

time whilst continuing t

gain a salary. This could

help with the transitiono retirement.

l I you do carry on worki

youll no longer have to

pay National Insurance.

l Remember your employ

cannot orce you to reti

because o your age, i y

eel discriminated again

seek advice.

l I you are thinking about

changing your job or

career completely then

ensure that your CV andskills are up to date.

I was not looking orward to

retiring, I enjoyed the job

that I was doing, I got on very

well with my colleagues andI had no idea how I would

fll my day, although I was

interested in several things,

I did not have a serious hobby.

Now that I am retired I have

time to do the many things

that previously I had to t in

when I had a spare moment.

Volunteering has made a

tremendous dierence to my

lie; I like to have a structure to

the week. Apart rom the

weekend I have only one ree

day, which suits me very well.

I just pray that my healthwill enable me to carry as I

am doing at the moment.

Obviously the day will come

when I will have to slow up

and be content to read a

book at home, or even in a

home, God orbid! I will try

and put that day o as long

as possible.

I also hope, with Keiths (my

computer tutor) help to

become a little more

condent on the laptop,

which keeps me social and

up-to-date.Trevor, has been a volunteer

since 2003 and has supported a

range o projects including

intergenerational work

Retirement is a part o lie that many look orward to and with the right planning and

openness to new experiences can be the most rewarding part o our lives. However, orsome it can also be quite daunting, the anticipated pleasures o completely ree days

can, with nothing to fll the time, begin to pall.

Volunteering has helped many people through the sometimes stressul transition

into retirement. We asked a ew retirees why they are dedicated to giving back to

their community.

When my wie died I went to pieces, I went right downhill, and

the doctor recommended I speak with Age Concern Kingston.

I ollowed their advice and became a member o the day centre

in 2007. Sometime ater joining I expressed that I enjoyed

gardening to one o the sta members and asked i anyonewould mind i I potted a ew fowers. I started to do so much in

the garden they asked me i I would like to become a volunteer

and I did! The garden was like a jungle, big weaving bushes all

over the place, I totally got into it, and I enjoyed it so much.

All in all, I was under a lot o pressure and I was still a bit

depressed but it passed and being with people was good or me,

it has been a way o expressing mysel.

Coming to Raleigh House literally saved my lie, it became

my amily.

Michael, volunteer gardener and art assistant at Raleigh House

I retired at an early age to

care ull time or my wie

who was very ill at the time.

Unortunately she died justover a month later and as

I had led a high pressure

business career I elt that I

no longer had a purpose in

lie. So I decided to pursue

my greatest interest which

is photography.

This led to me to work or

Surrey History Centre and

Surrey County Council, then

ultimately volunteering or

Age Concern and other

organisations. I now get great

pleasure and a whole new

sense o purpose being ableto give to the community

some o the knowledge and

experience I mysel have

gained and to be listened to

again, instead o being

classied as a Senior Citizen

and as a result, not having a

worthwhile opinion.

As to the uture, I intend to

enjoy lie to the ull with my

partner and our amilies.

Brian, volunteer community

photographer


5/8

Firs Cnacl020 8408 8170Ae Cncern Kinsn elephne adice nmber, pen Mnday Friday 10.00am 12.00 nn

Financial ips r laer lie

ISSuE SEvENtEEN l

or sandard liin in reiremen

can depend n makin r mney

wrk r s as eeciely as

pssible.There are a ew steps you

can take to ensure you make the

most o your pension and savings.

Here are some helpul tips when

approaching retirement.

ge a pensin recas

Six months beore you retire, you

should contact your current and

previous pension providers to nd out

what your nal pension will be and howit will be paid to you.

l Get a State Pension estimate o how

much youll get when you reach

state retirement age at www..

k/sae-pensin-saemen.

Or call the Pension Service on

0845 300 0168. I you deer

claiming your State Pension youll

get a higher pension or a lump sum.

l Check your private or work pension

entitlement with your pension

provider. Add this to your expected

State Pension. I its not enough, you

can continue paying into your

pension or as long as youre earning.l Contact the ree Pensions Tracing

Service or help nding any pensions

with ormer employers. Visit

www..k/fnd-ls-pensin

or call 0845 600 2537.

l You should also let HMRC know you

are retiring our months beorehand.

The inormation on Universal Credit in issue 16 was

incorrect. The correct inormation is given below.

Universal Credit will be introduced rom October 2013.

I you are in later lie, you may be aected i:

l Your partner is under Pension Credit age, and you are

over Pension Credit age. You will no longer be able to

claim Pension Credit your partner will have to claim

Universal Credit instead. But i you are already claiming

Pension Credit when the change comes in you wont be

aected (unless or until there is a break in your Pension

Credit claim or some reason).

l You have dependent children living with you. Child Tax

Credit will be abolished, and nancial help or children

will be provided via Universal Credit or Pension Credit.

l You are working in a low-paid job and over Pension

Credit age. You will no longer be able to claim Working

Tax Credit.

By Pension Credit age, we mean the age at which you are

eligible to claim it. You dont actually have to be claiming it.

This age is gradually increasing at the same pace as

womens State Pension age. For any urther clarication

please contact the First Contact team on the number above.

Happy fnance, happy re

Expert legal advice surgeries at Ag

Concern centres or local resident

over the age o 60.

Impartial advice rom solicitorsexperienced in working with

older clients.

Condential consultations by

appointment.

For more inormation or to make a

appointment, please ring Age Conc

Kingston First Contact on: 020 840

8170 or by email: frscnac@

aecncernkinsn.r.

Free leal adice sre

ge a beneis check

Make sure you dont miss out on any

benets or concessions.

l Find out i youre eligible or

pension credit.

l You should also register or the winter

uel allowance, which can be worth

up to 200, and you may be eligible

or the cold weather payment, i

youre claiming certain benets.

l You should also register or a ree

bus pass, a senior railcard, cheap

healthcare and a ree TV licence.

Check yr ax

Everyone has a personal tax allowance

(unless your income is above 116,000).

l I your income rom work, pensions

and savings is below your personal

allowance, you wont have to pay tax

on interest rom savings. Fill in an

R85 rom your bank or building

society to get interest paid untaxed.

Shp arnd r an anniy

l An annuity converts your pension

und into a guaranteed income or

lie. Make sure you get the right one

or your circumstances. Once youvebought one you cant change it.

l To compare annuity rates rom leading

providers call the Pensions Advisory

Service on 0845 601 2923 or use their

online annuity planner at www.

pensinsadisryserice.r.k.

take cnrl yr mney

A stable regular income helps you

budget.

l I you have savings (including

pensions), or plan to invest a lump

sum rom your pension, choose

stable investments to avoid any last

minute alls in value when you need

to cash them in or take income.

l I you can, reduce your debts. I debt

is a worry, contact an advice agency

such as the National Debtline on

0800 808 4000 or

www.nainaldebline.c.k.

Hw mch mney will I need inreiremen?

l Its unlikely youll need as much

money as you did when you were

working, but you may spend more

money on heating your home and

leisure activities.

l Planning a budget based on how

much pension income youll receive

and what youre likely to be spending

your money on will help you identiy

any shortalls in your pension income.

Cnsider ein sme adiceI youve got particularly complex needs

in retirement, have built up multiple

pension pots, or need help with

investing any o your spare cash, its

well worth seeking nancial advice.

For more inormation, call First Contact

on the number above.

Chanes beneis rm 2013
mailto:[email protected]:[email protected]:[email protected]:[email protected]


6/8

6l ISSuE SEvENtEEN

the Bradbry

the Bradbry is a drop in centre or the over 50s.

With a lively, vibrant and riendly atmosphere,

The Bradbury oers a wide range o activities

rom tai chi and yoga, to dancing classes or

computer lessons. Just a ten minute walk rom

Kingston town, The Bradbury is a good place to

come or a bite to eat. Our ca serves drinks,

snacks, lunches (including a roast lunch on a

Wednesday) and plenty o homemade cakes. In the summer

you can eat al resco as we have a pleasant patio garden.

the Bradbry, 37b grane Rad, Kinsn Kt1 2RA

Telephone: 020 8549 1230

Email: [email protected]

Centre Manager: Lara oBrien

Raleih Hse

Raleih Hse provides a warm and riendly

environment or those over 60 who are seeking

companionship and daily activity.

You can choose to attend or a ull day,

including a hot lunch, or hal a day. Transport is

available to and rom the centre or those who

need it, every day except Wednesday, or we can

help you access alternative transport.

The centre is spacious, with a large lounge

and dining room, an arts and crats room, a

coee lounge and a pleasant courtyard garden and terrace. One-to-one

computer lessons, podiatry and holistic therapies are also available or members

and non-members.

Opening times: Monday Friday: 10.00am 4.00pm

Raleih Hse, 14 Nelsn Rad, New Malden Kt3 5EA

Telephone: 020 8949 4244

Email: [email protected]

Centre Manager: Cahy Weih

Cries o ooh la la lled the air at The Bradburys most well received event so a

this year.

Sounds o French ca music and cardboard cut-outs o the Eiel tower

welcomed guests into The Bradburys very own Paris. Sporting berets, striped

t-shirts and even onion garlands, everyone enjoyed French cheeses, pates, and

wine. Kingston University students kindly gave their time during their Voluntee

Week to wait at tables decked in blue, white and red. A picture quiz to identiy

French personalities and a French Bingo game were hotly contested.

More themed events and outings are planned or the summer get in touch

nd out more and book your place.

For the last ew years the crat group at Raleigh House have knitted blankets

or Battersea dogs home. Peggy explains what brings them the inspiration to

work so hard each year or the charity: It is the satisaction o doing something

really worthwhile. All animals want something warm, dogs especially. I knitted

a blanket or my dog and he jumped right in it and curled up to sleep. I like to

think the dogs at Battersea do the same when they get their blankets. It is

good or us too; its relaxing, rewarding and the blankets are easy enough orthe whole crat group to knit. Its as i the warmth we experience rom knitting

is stitched into each blanket to make a Battersea dogs lie a little bit better.

Sharin he warmh

Last summer members o The Bradbury took part in a year-long HeritageLottery Funded project based on the lie and work o Iris Murdoch.

Participants visited Kingston Universitys archives, handling and reading the

writers letters beore taking part in a discussion group and going on eld visi

to parts o London where Murdoch lived and places she liked to requent such

as the National Gallery.

One year on and the project has culminated in an exhibition at Kingston

Museum, staged by Kingston Universitys Centre or Iris Murdoch Studies and

unveiled in May.

Illuminating the lie and work o a great writer, the event also showcased the

work o various groups in the community including MIND in Kingston, Age

Concern Kingston, Kingston Carers Network and adults with learning dicultie

French aernn a the Bradbry

the Raleih Hse cra rp kniin r ds

the Iris Mrdch prjec ne year n

openin nih a Kinsn mse

Raleih Hse needs yThe centre is supported by our abulous volunteers who add value to everything

we do. I you have some spare time and would like to contribute to the work o the

Raleigh Centre then please do check out our website.

Current vacancies include: Computer tutors Wednesday and Friday. Musical

volunteers to run music groups either during the week or or the Saturday Club

(every 2nd Sat o the month). Coee lounge and Kitchen assistant. Gardening.
mailto:[email protected]:[email protected]:[email protected]:[email protected]


7/8

At 82 Ben ound himsel struggling alone in

his three bedroom home. His amily lived

abroad and his brothers, who live locally and

were also in their eighties, were rail and needed

their own support.

The loneliness crept in slowly at rst, but

ater some time Ben realised that his house

was too much to maintain as his health let him

down. Eventually the only option was to move

into a local care home where he could

receive the support he needed to live a lie

with dignity.

Anxis

Ben had let behind an empty house in

desperate need o renovation, ull o personal

belongings and urniture that was years old.Whilst he settled well into his new home, the

thought o his house abandoned let him

anxious he was helpless in the situation and

didnt know who to talk to. He had never

imagined the position he was in and thereore

hadnt planned or this situation.

A concerned neighbour gave Ben the

number or Age Concern Kingston; he spoke

with our advice team beore being reerred to

the Stay Well Housing Choices service.

opins

Housing Choices visited Ben and discussed the

options open to him when selling his property.

Throughout the process he was consulted

ISSuE SEvENtEEN l

Ae Cncern Kinsns prjecs and serices Making later lie a greater lie

Ae Cncern meeins and een

Raleih Sarday Clb

A service designed or people living with dementia, their

amily members and supporters. Second Saturday o the

month, 11.00am2.00pm at Raleigh House.

Next dates: 8th June, 13th July our summer BBQ and 10th

August. 4 per person including rereshments and a light

lunch (served at 12.00 noon).

Contact Raleigh House on 020 8942 8256

or email [email protected] i you would lik

to attend or or more inormation.

Free leal adice srery

Last Tuesday o the month, next dates: 25th June, 30th July

and 27th August. To make an appointment phone the advice

line on 020 8408 8170.

the Bradbry eens and ins

Rah Rah theatre company in June, Seaside trip and walkers

lunch in July, Connaught Opera in August.

For urther inormation please contact the Centre Manager,

Laura OBrien, on 020 8549 1230, or email

[email protected]

Ae Cncern Lnch Clbs

In partnership with RBK in Chessington and New Malden.

the Fnain Cr the Charles Lesser

Lnch Clb Lnch Clb

Tuesdays Wednesdays

(12.00pm2.00pm) (12.00pm2.00pm)Fountain Court, Charles Lesser House,

New Malden Chessington

For more inormation call 020 8942 8256.

Whas n in KinsnMalden rnih

Saturday 6th o July Sunday 21st July. Various exciting

events scheduled in New Malden including Raleigh Houses

crat group selling their creations on Saturday 13th o July,

New Malden High Street.

Kinsn Pensiners FrmSecond Monday o the month at Richard Mayo Hall, United

Reormed Church, Eden Street, Kingston. For more ino call

the Secretary on 020 8241 9913.

u3A Kinsn

First Monday o the month, 1.30pm at the Richard Mayo Hal

For more inormation see the website

www.kinsn3a.r.kor call 020 8399 0163.

DIARY DAtESMin n

Kinsn Cmmniy FrnireKingston Community Furniture

(KCF), a green charity ormed in

2005, has been recycling used

urniture to young and low income

amilies in the Kingston area. It may

seem like a simple idea but the

impact o this activity isnt just about

helping people urnish their homes.

600 million tonnes o products

and materials enter the UK economy

each year but only 115 milliontonnes o this gets recycled. A report rom an independent think tank, Green Alliance, suggests

that stopping this waste rom reaching waste sites could save the UK 1 billion in landll costs

and recycling it could even add 2.5 billion in value to our economy. Furthermore, doubling the

amount o re-used urniture could save 52,000 tonnes o CO2 equivalent. At the moment, 83%

o discarded urniture is sent directly to landll sites.

Not only is KCF contributing to current environmental and economic reorm, its services are

aiding the local community in other ways. KCF will come and remove any unwanted urniture

rom homes in Kingston, at a good price.

In helping young amilies to set up comortable homes, KCF shows that there is no reason why

urniture with style and charm shouldnt be aordable andgreen.

through regular meetings, which gave him the

opportunity to share his anxieties. We also

discussed with Bens amily his decision and kept

them inormed throughout the sale.

Housing Choices researched estate agents or

valuations, liaised with and instructed a

solicitor, made arrangements or amily

members to sort through remaining personal

belongings and dealt with all paperwork. Ater

10 months the property sold!

Whilst Ben was sad to say goodbye to his

past, he was extremely grateul to the Housing

Choices service: I could not have done it

without them.

theres n need srle alne
mailto:[email protected]:[email protected]://www.kingstonu3a.org.uk/http://www.kingstonu3a.org.uk/mailto:[email protected]:[email protected]


8/8

ageconcernKingston upon Thame

I e help when I wan,hw I wan

With our home services youre in the driving seat.

Our purpose is to support your independence, not

take it away. We can assist with laundry, shopping,

garden tidying, outings and appointments or someone

to talk to i thats what you need. Whether its a practica

one o job or regular assistance, we can provide it.

We pride ourselves on our personal touch. With a large

team o riendly, reliable, trained, supervised and

security checked sta, and over 65 years experience,

we give that little bit extra that makes all the dierence

For urther inormation please phone us on:

020 8942 8256 or visit our website:

www.aecncernkinsn.r.

Charity Number 299

Itsgreattohave

somehelpathome,

Ishouldhavegoneto

AgeConcernyearsago.

The Help@Home team providing the support you want, how and when you want it.

Help@Home
http://www.ageconcernkingston.org/http://www.ageconcernkingston.org/

agenda news issue 17

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