Quarterly
Issue 21 5/11/11
Oct
Nov
Dec
2011
F R E EF R E EF R E EF R E EF R E EF R E EF R E EF R E EF R E EF R E EF R E EF R E E: Computer courses for beginners and people just wanting to
improve their skills, with the new Louth Surf IT Learn IT. Free sessions for Seniors’ Forum members at Cannon Street House from 2 pm - 4 pm on Friday afternoons. See page 6 for details.
FFFF RRRR EEEE E !E !E !E ! We are offering the first sixteen people who get in touch with us, a free place on a mini bus we have arranged, primarily for those who have no transport, to go to the Age UK Lindsey Winter
Festival on 22nd November . No charge to attend the charity’s Festival, at the Petwood Hotel in Woodhall Spa, 10 am - 3 pm Details on page 2
F R E E !F R E E !F R E E !F R E E ! We have a large number of tickets for the Market Rasen Jump Racing on 17th November. Gates open at 10.40am.
We will send them to anyone who gets in touch. You are welcome to ask for tickets for friends and you will be in the Tattersalls Enclosure. The tickets are given courtesy of ‘Burts Hand Fried Potato Chips’ who are now a sponsor with Jockey Club Racecourses.
Tickets will be posted out on 12th November, second class.
Walk ‘n’ Natter on
alternate Tuesday afternoons.
Details and dates on page 5
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Do you feel you have something to offer today’s parents?
ParentParentParentParentSTOPSTOPSTOPSTOP is a friendly drop-in group for parents and meets weekly in term time on Wednesdays from 10 am - 12 pm Debbie Yarsley coordinates the group and would welcome one or two people who have been through the parenting years and who would like to help encourage and get involved in the activities they do together. They get up to all sorts of things but with Christmas approaching this next few weeks will involve putting together gift boxes for the troops, biscuit and cake making, card making on computers, wrapping ideas, Christmas crafts, ideas and organisational tips for making family life easier, creating family memories and more. ParentParentParentParentSTOP STOP STOP STOP meet at Cannon Street House in Louth. Please ring Debbie on 07972 619138 if you would like to help.
Fibromyalgia The Louth Branch of the Fibromyalgia Association Support Group is held at Mayfair Family Club on
the last Thursday of every month 11 am till 2 pm. The venue for this friendly support group is on
Birch Road (LN11 8DU). They have different things on each month;
sometimes a speaker; sometimes quiz etc.
Please contact Maureen for more details on 01507 608254
The Age UK Lindsey Winter
Festival is on Tuesday, 22nd November from 10 am - 3 pm at the Petwood Hotel and we are all invited! Guest Speaker is the author, Margaret Dickinson. There will be a wide selection of stalls and activities. Their Annual General Meeting takes place in the Garden Room at 10.15 am There is plenty parking at the Petwood Hotel and it is set in extensive gardens and parkland with some beautiful walks. There is a free Lunchtime Festive “Roast in a Roll” or a vegetarian option, but other refreshments, snacks and meals are available to purchase throughout the day.
For a place on the minibus (see page 1) contact Marjorie Barnes, who has organised the free transport from Louth, BEFORE 13th NOVEMBER. Telephone: 602031 to book a place and for details of departure point and time.
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New provision for elderly people With the loss of Crowtree House and its day care service, a new service and drop-in-centre has started at St Michael’s Church HOUSE, 4 Mount Pleasant, Louth LN11 9DR. Called ‘Hum Bug Activity Club’ it has an emphasis on enjoying activities, crafts, fun, exercise, games etc. It is run by Jane Robertshaw (mobile 07795 957424) and Joanne Blythe (mobile 07824 757433). Both have experience in activities for the elderly and in caring for people with, and without, dementia. Ring either of them for more information and a chat about whether the service would be suitable for you or the needs of a person you care for. Web site is www.stmichaels-louth.org.uk/hum-bug-club.html
Would you, or a person you care for, like to experience a free one hour drop-in session in November? We have eight vouchers to give away. Please get in touch (see back page) and we will post one or (if you wish) two to you.
Louth and District Seniors’ Forum is not necessarily endorsing or recommending the above companies, products or services, and accepts no liability for services provided by them.
Wiltshire Farm Foods and Ronnie Corbett If you enjoy watching video clips on your computer, and are receiving this electronically you may like these two clips advertising Wiltshire Farm Foods. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NTObINedaVY&feature=related and http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9xDnXdXbpwM
To request a brochure or to order meals from Wiltshire Farm Foods, phone their Caenby Corner premises near Gainsborough on 01427 666130.
Only £1.00 “The Market Stall”, which is open on 8 New Street on Wednesdays and Saturdays between 10.30 am and 4 pm, can deliver ‘homemade’ Ready Meals to your home. There is currently a choice of nine main meals each only £1, and a choice of four sweets, again, at £1 each.
If you order £15 worth they will deliver for free, however, for a limited period, they are offering a £5 Trial Pack with free delivery so that you can check out the quality and the delivery service. Phone 358390, or call in at 8 New Street for a range of produce including the ready meals.
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Mature Driver Courses, for those 60 and over, are run from time to time by the Lincolnshire Road Safety Partnership.
These training days support mature drivers and provide up to date information, which aims to improve confidence, skills and knowledge. It starts off with a half day theory programme covering all aspects of defensive driving. There is then an opportunity to do some driving with an Approved Driving Instructor. You will be given advice on what to improve upon and how you might do that.
In February’s Open Voice, we quoted two members who had been on the course saying “We recommend older drivers to sign up for driver training days if and when they get the opportunity”
So how can you do that?
Phone 01522 805832 to say if you are interested and what locations would be possible for you to attend eg Louth, Horncastle etc.
When they have enough people for a particular location they will let you know the date and details.
If you wish to receive this newsletter in pdf format please let us know and you will be added to the email list.
Rogue Traders Nigel Wass, a Police Community Support Officer in the Neighbourhood Policing Team for Horncastle sent an Alert around last month. We quote it here: “We would like to make people aware of an increase of Rogue Traders incidents in the last week. Rogue traders call at your door and offer to do work on your home or garden that will be either unnecessary or vastly over-priced. They have no formal training to carry out the work. Some have links with distraction burglars. • Don’t ever go to a bank or
cash point with a trader: legitimate traders would never do this!
• Don’t allow anyone to pressure you into agreeing to have work carried out. If you ask them to leave and they don’t, call the police.
• Do discuss any work you feel needs carrying out on your property with a relative or friend who can help you find a reputable trader.
• Don’t agree to any work, or sign anything on the spot.
Not Sure? Don’t Open the Door..!” To contact the Police use
0300 111 0300 To get email police alerts sign up at
www.lincsalert.co.uk
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All over 50s are welcome and you just come along before 2 pm on the day of the walk or, if you prefer, you can contact Tracey for more information. Mobile Number 07825989418
If you have any suggestions to improve the walks or any
comments, please feed these back to Tracey. We value comments!
This group which is led by Tracey Richardson of ELDC has only three more walks in 2011: 15th and 29th November and 13th December . Meet at the Meridian Leisure Centre at 2 pm for a walk of 4 - 5 miles or a walk of about 3 miles at a gentler pace. All meet up afterwards for a cup of tea at the Aqua
Vita at the Leisure Centre. The 2012 walks are on alternate Tuesdays starting 10th January. Web site http://community.lincolnshire.gov.uk/WalknNatter
Many of you visited the Silver Surfers Day event in May held at the Trinity Centre. It was organised by a number of organisations working together to improve the quality of life for older people in our locality - part of the District’s Local Strategic Partnership. The Seniors’ Forum, who registered the event (which was one of 2,500 events nationwide) with Spring Online (www.springonline.org), were delighted that the
event was chosen for a Highly Commended Certificate in an award for the Best Event.
Mark Egan, the Financial Capability Advisor with East Lindsey Citizens Advice Bureau, kindly collected the certificate on our
behalf along with a cheque for £75 which we have used to put on internet sessions.
(see page 6) Iain Duncan Smith MP and Mark Egan
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Silver Surfers. Silver Surfers. Silver Surfers. This Autumn the Seniors’ Forum
have been running sessions on alternate Thursday mornings for over 50s to get experience of using the internet for a whole range of activities. We have been ‘helping one another’ but this has worked exceptionally well.
This is, in no small part, thanks to a number of people who work for the Department for Work and Pensions volunteering to help us. Our grateful thanks to them. You are welcome to drop in on
17th Nov, 1st Dec or to our last session on 15th December; Cannon Street House from 10 am - 12 noon.
You can sign up for the course below at the same time!!!
Louth Surf IT Learn ITLouth Surf IT Learn ITLouth Surf IT Learn IT On a Friday afternoon, these computer courses are FREE to members of the Seniors’ Forum. There is currently a short waiting list but please do not let that discourage you from putting your name down for 2012. Those with no experience of computers what-so-ever are very welcome, but so also are those who have taught themselves and feel there may be gaps in what
they have learned or those who want to brush up on their skills as well as expand their knowledge. Venue: Cannon Street House, Louth LN11 9NL Time: Sessions are from 2 pm - 4 pm but you can come for just one hour if you prefer. The sessions are flexible to fit around you . Professional Tutor, Tracey Glentworth started ‘Louth Surf IT Learn IT’ in October this year and now has sessions on Friday mornings as well; at Louth Library and Wragby Youth Centre on alternate weeks. These will be for people of any age. Enquires to Tracey on 01507 354156 or 07826 899156 for both the morning and afternoon sessions, though you can, if you prefer, contact the Louth and District Seniors’ Forum about the afternoon courses.
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Some web sites which
may be of interest.
(feel free to sugge
st others!)
Bicycles at Affordable Prices Renew, the furniture recycling scheme that was mentioned most recently in August’s Open Voice, now accepts old and used bicycles . These will then be restored to full working order ready to be sold back to the public at affordable prices. Mark Egan , the Business Development Manager for the charity Louth Living Well, explains that he and the team at Renew (just next to Douglas Electronics along Eastfield Road), can also use bicycles which are beyond repair for parts. Phone 604174 or call in . Mark is also looking for volunteers who would like to help repair the bikes. He assures us that it is very therapeutic and “great for bike enthusiasts or hands on people who would like to work with others for a good cause”. Anyone interested can contact him on his mobile 07507 071 584 or through Renew. People will be trained on the job and can give as much or as little time as they wish.
soundGENERATION We invite you to look forward to a series of six FREE sessions starting on Monday afternoon, 20th February around the theme of ‘Singing in all its Forms’. You may think you are totally unmusical, you may love music and singing or you may just feel like trying something different. The sessions will be arranged and led by a professional musician and are for ladies and gentlemen alike. More details in the next issue of Open Voice in early February.
Action for Happiness: www.actionforhappiness.org
Hubbard’s Hills: www.hubbardshills.co.uk
Louth Town Council: www.louthtowncouncil.gov.uk
Louth Town Partnership www.louthpartnership.org.uk
Lincs to the Past www.lincstothepast.com
NEW FLASH See page 4. Mature Driver
There is likely to be a course in Louth on 12th December
due to the interest shown already!
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Trading Standards are warning people to be aware that some traders are going door to door selling mobility aids. They make their products sound suitable, irresistible and charge high prices. For independent advice try the Disabled Living Foundation on 0845 130 9177,website www.dlf.org.uk or the
Lincolnshire County Council’s partner site
www.my-choice-lincolnshire.com which helps you look at
mobility aids room by room.
About a month ago, Peggy Buckman from Fotherby became
the 500th person to join our Seniors’ Forum. She is seen here receiving her membership card from Margaret Brown. If you are reading this, are over 50 and are not a member then please consider joining. There is no subscription and you are sent a newsletter each quarter as well as our Directory of Useful Information for Older People. Just get in touch with your name and address. (see back page)
Morag Judd, our Treasurer and editor of Open Voice, who has also, in a temporary capacity, been seeing to the administration needs of the Seniors’ Forum for most of the year, was presented with a Voluntary Sector Recognition Award at the South Lincolnshire Community and Voluntary Service (SLCVS) Annual General Meeting event earlier this month.
At their AGM, members of the SLCVS voted to drop the ‘South’ from the name of the charity!
To fill vacant posts, they have two new members of staff working in East Lindsey; Tim Barzycki and Jane Clews. If you are a volunteer or part of a community organisation and want to contact them for help or advice, please telephone them on 01507 329472.
Organisations can become ‘members’ of this community and voluntary service. Phone Nicki Lee on the number above for more information.
The Chief Executive of SLCVS, Morag Judd, John Medler of ELDC
and the Chair of SLCVS
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Age UK Lindsey has an Access Centre at 6 Horsefair Walk, the Bull Ring in
Horncastle LN9 5HU (near Myers Bakers and tea room)
Phone: 01507 525892 Email: [email protected]
People can call in (9.30 am - 2.30 pm) to check, for instance, if they are entitled to any allowances or benefits and get help with completing the application forms. Ring first to see what information you may need to bring. At the Access Centre, they can also demonstrate for you the personal Aid-Call alarms they have, give you information about other products, and tell you about the services they provide. Worth a visit!
Photograph courtesy of Age UK Lindsey
‘WHO’ Cares 4 YOU!
Lifestyle Programme
By Carers for Carers - Information & Inspiration to
support carers in managing time
and resources effectively within
the caring role.
Carers (those looking after someone
but not paid to do so) can sign up
for a course especially developed in
Lincolnshire for them. No cost to
the Carer. The start date is 26th
January for a 2 hourly session and
then weekly for the following 7
weeks. It will be held in the Playing
Field Centre in Horncastle.
You can request more information,
and express an interest in having a
place on the course, by ringing
Pauline Mountain on
01526 378015 or
07970 720893 or emailing
Christmas events taking
place in Louth Town Centre
are listed on page 15.
On both the late night shopping Friday evenings, there will be the added attraction of an Evening Market until 8 pm and musical and street entertainment in the form of dressed up characters and buskers. There will also be a Grotto in the New Market Hall from 4 pm to 6 pm both evenings Musical and street entertainment will also help create a special atmosphere on the Sunday before Christmas Day and the Grotto will be open for three hours from 11am to 2 pm.
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An update: Final technical arrangements are now being made to enable the development work on the Hospice Site (adjacent to the A16) to begin. Planning permission has been given for a Day Hospice to be built with provision for an In-patient Bed Unit on the same site at a later date. There have been many delays, for a variety of reasons, in establishing more local hospice facilities for Louth and District, however, they are now moving forward once again and the Trustees are determined to make rapid progress during 2012.
The Hospice continues to provide Day Care facilities each Friday at the Woldside facility at the Louth Hospital as well as providing the Home Support Service . Both of these initiatives have been funded by the Hospice and demonstrate their intention to work within the community to support individuals with life threatening illnesses, as well as support their carers and families.
There are Hospice charity shops in Eastgate in Louth, in Alford and in Mablethorpe and donations of good quality clothing and bric a brac are appreciated at any of the shops. Anyone who would like to volunteer to help in the shops would be welcome and they should contact the appropriate shop for more information. In addition they have a well stocked bookshop in Aswell Street in Louth where everyone is most welcome to call in, discuss their favourite authors and perhaps suggest new authors for the volunteers to be on the look-out for !
Fundraising activities in 2012 will be announced in the New Year but in the meantime there are two particular events which they would like to bring to our attention. Christmas can be a special time of year for sharing memories and thinking of those close to us. Once again, they invite families and friends to join them in remembering those who have died by 'Lighting up a Life' and sponsoring the trees of light in both Louth and Mablethorpe. The Service of Dedication and Commemoration in Louth will be held at Trinity Centre on Friday , 25th November starting at 7 pm. Carols will be sung by Kidgate Primary School Choir. The service in Mablethorpe is on Friday, 2nd December at 7 pm at the Methodist Church in Victoria Road. continued next page
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Continued from page 6
Dedication Forms are available at each of the charity shops and from the Administrative Office by contacting Elizabeth Crompton on
01507 354545. Refreshments will be served following both Services.
Finally, a Hospice Christmas Card designed by Alice Bray, a Year 6 pupil at Greenwich House Independent School in Louth, will shortly be on sale at the Charity shops, the School and Wright's the Newsagents in Little Eastgate, Louth.
The Trustees of the Hospice would like to take this opportunity of thanking everyone for their support over the past few years and look forward to working and meeting with the community
in 2012 and beyond.
Services offered by St Barnabas Hospice in and around Louth The St Barnabas Hospice At Home service operates seven days a week throughout Louth and surrounding areas. The St Barnabas team of nurses, therapists and volunteers work alongside other community services, giving their patients and their relatives the care, support and education they need to allow the patient to remain at home.
Inpatient care and Day therapy are also available and St Barnabas offer bereavement support through their Family Support Service and advice on benefits and welfare support. All of these services are offered free of charge and St Barnabas need to raise over £3 Million each year to maintain them throughout the county.
Amy Reeve, Community Fundraiser in the Louth area says “I am organising lots of events to raise funds and awareness of the services St Barnabas provide in this area. Your support at our future events will help to ensure that we can continue to provide this essential care.” Forthcoming events are Light Up a Life Lantern Walk at Hubbard’s Hills on 11th December and Strictly Dancing, 10 weeks of dance tuition followed by a finale, lessons starting on 18th January. For further information, please contact Amy on 07515 171927.
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Directory update:
We have had notification from nhfa that they are closing down, therefore no longer offer advice on care related financial matters. Hence on page 10 of the Directory, please delete the large section under Care Homes Care Fees Advice relating to nhfa.
First Stop is independent and offers free advice about housing and care options. Telephone 0800 377 7070 or visit the
website www.first stopcareadvice.org.uk
Survival Tips (1) Easy way to make porridge Making porridge in the microwave. Into a bowl (microwave safe and sufficiently large so the porridge doesn’t boil over!) put: 1 cup of porridge (eg coop porridge oats), 1 cup of water and 1 cup of milk A pinch of salt and/or a dessertspoon of sugar/sweetner is optional Stir Select ½ power on the microwave (eg ‘medium’, 50% or whatever the
numbers show on the dial) Cook for 7 minutes stirring half way through. Let it stand then for a few minutes. (i) A shorter or longer cooking time may be needed depending on the size of the cup you use! (ii) The important thing is to use the same sized cup for measuring the ingredients.
Submitted by John Heywood
A badge pinned to a Happy Birthday greetings card and bearing this logo, prompted our Chairman to ask
“Is this where we’re going ?”.
Have you any thoughts on the subject?
The Over 65 magazine has been around for 18 months but is only available online.
The web site is www.over65magazine.co.uk and you can download it, save it on your computer, read it on your monitor or print it.
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Welcome by Chair, John Heywood
Apologies for absence
Minutes of 6th AGM on 3rd December 2010
Matters arising from Minutes of last AGM
Chairman’s Annual Report
Treasurer’s Annual Report
Election of Chair, Treasurer, Secretary and Vice Chair
Election of Committee Members
Appointment of Auditors
Membership. The area where members live is approximately a circle of 10 miles around Louth, but if you live further away and there is no nearer seniors’ forum, you are most welcome to join.
Membership is free and our newsletter, Open Voice is sent out free to members. Members can also attend the computer course run by
Louth Surf IT Learn IT on a Friday afternoon, free of charge.
The AGENDA of the 7th AGM on Friday, 2nd December 2011 at 10 am in The ConocoPhillips Room above Louth Library will be as follows:-
Volunteer form for Committee of Seniors’ Forum Dec 2011
Please bring your form to the AGM and give to the Treasurer BEFORE 10 am or send to:-
Louth & District Seniors’ Forum, PO Box 31, Louth, LN11 9ND
There will be members present who will be willing to complete the other sections of your form for you, if they are not filled in!
We especially wish to encourage people from the more rural areas to come forward but
all members (and new members) are welcome to volunteer for any position.
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The 7th Annual General Meeting of the Seniors’ Forum will take place on Friday, 2nd December 2011 at 10 am in The ConocoPhillips Room.
‘Nomination’ form for Committee of Seniors’ Forum Dec 11
‘Nomination’ for position of **………………..… ** Please indicate which:- Committee member, Chair, Vice-Chair, Secretary or Treasurer
Person’s Name ………………………………….
Person’s Signature ………..…………………...
Proposer: Name ………………………………. Signature ….…………….
Seconder: Name ………………………………. Signature …..…………….
If any of the people named above have not yet completed a Membership Application form, there will be some available at the AGM.
Membership is free.
Current Management Committee are:- Office Bearers:
John Heywood (Chair), Mary Finch (Vice Chair), Morag Judd (Treasurer),
Committee Members: Marjorie Barnes, Margaret Brown, Bob Barnes Roger Irving, George Sizer, Vera Williamson
We would very much like 15 members for the new committee, so if you are interested then please put your own name forward or ask someone else to. If you wish to talk to the current Chairman about it, then phone 01507 604182.
You can also decide at the Annual General Meeting (AGM) itself.
A copy of the income & expenditure and balance sheet for the year 1st Nov 2010 to 31st Oct 2011 will be available for all who attend. A few copies of our Constitution and last year's accounts will also be available at the AGM, however we are happy to send these to anyone who wishes them before then. See back page for contact details.
Please cut this page out if you are coming to the AGM since the agenda is overleaf.
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Going into our 8th year ... Open Meetings 2012 The ConocoPhillips Room LN11 0LT
10 am – 12 pm, .1st Friday in the 3rd, 6th, 9th and 12th months
2nd March ……………………………….. 7th September …………………..
1st June ………………………... 7th December
Committee meetings Meetings are usually held on the 1st
Friday in the month at the Salvation Army from 10 am - 12 pm
on days when there is no open meeting. This year the
normal ‘April’ committee meeting will be held on 23rd March ! Notice for new Committee: Post - AGM meeting The new committee will meet on 9th December 2011 at 10 am at the Salvation Army Centre to decide on the speakers for the next few open meetings and to meet one another.
In Louth …
Friday 9th and Friday 16th December Christmas late night shopping and entertainment until 7.30 pm
Thursday 24th November Christmas Lights’ switch-on event 5.30 pm start
Louth Christmas Craft Market Sunday 4th Dec, 10 am - 4 pm
Louth Christmas Sunday Market Sunday 18th Dec, 10 am - 4 pm
In Lincoln ...
Christmas Market Thursday, 1st December
4 pm – 9.30 pm Friday, 2nd December
10 am – 9.30 pm Saturday, 3rd December
10 am – 9.30 pm Sunday, 4th December
10 am – 7 pm Website: http://lincoln-christmasmarket.co.uk
WE WISH
YOU A VERY
HAPPY
CHRISTMAS
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OPEN MEETING Over 50s
10 am - 12 noon The ConocoPhillips Room
ALL WELCOME Teas & coffees on arrival from 9.40 am until 10 am
Enquiries: Mobile 07 974 880 157 or [email protected] PO Box 31, Louth LN11 9ND
7th Annual General Meeting
Friday, 2nd December 2011
followed by
“Speciality Teas” Talk and Tastings
by Gary Brown MBE
