March 2015: Age Friendly Neighbourhoods, Beat loneliness, Join the Looking After Each Other programme

 the Age Friendly Nottingham Bulletin with family, friends and colleagues. Having trouble viewing this email? View it as a Web page.

Welcome to the March 2015 edition of our Age Friendly Nottingham Bulletin featuring brief articles on local and national news, events and information that relate to people aged 50+ in the city.  We hope you will share it widely through your networks, encouraging others to sign up to receive future copies.

If you or an organisation you represent would like an item included in future editions of the newsletter, please email healthandwellbeing@nottinghamcity.gov.uk.

Councillor Eunice Campbell
Nottingham’s Older Citizens’ Champion

Age Friendly Nottingham Neighbourhoods In 2015 Age Friendly Nottingham will be working with older people living in three areas to improve the age-friendliness of their local neighbourhoods.  Local citizens will join with a broad range of partners to improve the lives and increase independence of older people by enabling better access to local services and opportunities. Look out for more information in our next issue. For more information on the work of Age Friendly Nottingham go to www.nottinghamcity.gov.uk/afn or contact Sharan Jones, Health and Wellbeing Manager, at Nottingham City Council on sharan.jones@nottinghamcity.gov.uk

Getting Out and About

Tasty Tuesdays in Lenton (TTL)

TTL offer a free community meal at The Crocus Café in Lenton every Tuesday at 6.00 pm.  There is a friendly welcome and some people come along because they like to meet others and to have some company. People are welcome to come along for a cup of tea and some company from 3.00 pm onwards.

No bookingl is required.  For directions or more information phone 0115 9588590 or email manager@dunkirkandlenton.co.uk

Playhouse Golden Age

Over 60? Every Wednesday during term time you can learn more about painting, drawing, crafts, creative writing, singing, acting, dance, local history and much more at Nottingham Playhouse.  Places are limited so booking is recommended.

For more information telephone 0115 9419419 or email alex@nottinghamplayhouse.co.uk

Cycling for Health and Fun Ever thought about returning to cycling or taking up cycling? Cycling is great for your health, puts little strain on your body, saves money, is green and, most importantly, can be fun. At our cycling centre near you we cater for complete beginners, those who are a bit rusty and those who want to go on a social ride. Many of our regulars have gone through all three stages! If you’ve not got a bike we can lend you one. For more information go to www.ridewise.org.uk or telephone 0115 9552288

Make new friends, feel involved and making a difference

Nottingham City Museums and Galleries are looking for new volunteers to help out in a variety of different.
There are opportunities at Nottingham Castle, the Museum of Nottingham Life at Brewhouse Yard, Wollaton Hall, the Nottingham Industrial Museum, Greens Windmill and Science Centre and Newstead Abbey.   For more information telephone 0115 876 2205 or go to www.nottinghamcity.gov.uk/museumprojects/index.aspx?articleid=11898

Kindred Spirits celebrates its 20th anniversary in 2015 Kindred Spirits began in 1995 and helps people in later life who are experiencing some form of loneliness or social isolation through bereavement, retirement or simply a move to a new area. Kindred Spirits gives people the opportunities to make friends and socialise at a pace that suits them. Their monthly newsletter is packed with over 150 things to do including: exercise classes, lunches, day trips, coffee mornings, walks, special interest groups, holidays, theatre, social afternoons and lots more! To find out more about Kindred Spirits just give us a call on 0115 841 4473 or email membership@ageuknotts.org.uk

Life’s about more than audio books Everyone feels lonely sometimes, but if your eyesight is failing being alone can seem very daunting.  My Sight Nottinghamshire is determined to reduce the isolation many visually impaired people experience.  Their fully trained volunteer ‘My Guides’ are there to safely guide individuals around their local community. They may also help to rebuild confidence and develop supportive networks, leading to greater independence.  If you don’t want to go out and are looking for some company, our ‘My Guide’ volunteers offer a home-based befriending service. For more information about My Guide, email marthah@mysightnotts.org.uk or phone 0115 9706 806

Funding Opportunities

Funding for Community Navigators The 'Looking After Each Other' (LAEO) programme aims to empower citizens and communities to do more to support themselves and each other. The first phase of the programme is primarily connected with adults and aims to reduce loneliness and isolation, through increased community involvement, volunteering, active citizenship and also through better connecting those in need to available support. Grant funding of up to £30,000 has been made available to develop and deliver a model of community volunteers who will act as trusted advisors to help connect vulnerable adults to support and activities. The 12 month pilot will be delivered in Bulwell and applications are open to the voluntary and community sector. The deadline for applications is Friday 3rd April, 2015.  For more information go to www.nottinghamcvs.co.uk/help-groups/funding/news/nottingham-city-council-4

Events for your diary

Depression - We can help

Self-Help Connect and Nottingham CVS are holding a free event about depression on Thursday 2 April from 12.00 until 4.00 at the Nottingham Voluntary Action Centre, 7 Mansfield Road, NG1 3FB.  It will provide an opportunity to find out about peer-support groups and learn about what voluntary groups can offer in terms of support.  The event will be attended by professionals, voluntary groups and people experiencing depression.

To book go to www.surveymonkey.com/s/0415SE or contact Andrew Barden by emailing training@nottinghamcvs.co.uk or calling him on 0115 934 8453.

Using iPad’s creatively with older people in care Nottingham’s Imagine: arts and older people programme is offering an exciting training session for artists and staff working in the care sector.  The programme has been exploring the use of iPads to produce digital art with older people in care.  They are sharing their learning with others at an event on Friday 8 May  at City Arts Nottingham, 11-13 Hockley, Nottingham NG1 1FH.  This training day, which would normally cost £90, is subsidised by the Imagine: arts and older people programme and costs ONLY £20.  To book go to www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/using-ipads-creatively-with-older-people-in-care-tickets-15978361710

Money Matters

New basic fee-free bank accounts to help millions manage their money

For the first time, basic bank accounts will be truly fee-free, helping people to manage their money without fear of running up an overdraft.  Accounts will be available to anyone who doesn’t already have a bank account or who can’t use their existing account due to financial difficulty.  For more information go to

www.gov.uk/government/news/new-basic-fee-free-bank-accounts-to-help-millions-manage-their-money

New Marriage Allowance for married couples / civil partnerships

If your income is less than £10,600 in the 2015 to 2016 tax year, you may be able to reduce your husband, wife or civil partner’s tax by up to £212.  The new Marriage Allowance will let you transfer some of your Personal Allowance to your partner. Couples can register their interest to receive the allowance now at gov.uk/marriageallowance.

State Pension Changes

Millions more people can get a free estimate of how much State Pension they can expect, as the statement service has been extended to include the over-55’s. You can request a personalised pension statement based on the National Insurance contributions you have made to date.  For more information go to www.gov.uk/state-pension-statement

The State Pension Top Up scheme gives pensioners up to £25 extra a week on top of their State Pension. The scheme opens in October 2015 but you can register now at paid.caxtonhouse@dwp.gsi.gov.uk

The Pension Tracing Service is a free Government service puts customers back in touch with their lost pension provider.  Go to www.gov.uk/find-lost-pension.

Health and Wellbeing

Act FAST on stroke Would you know how to spot the signs that someone might be having a stroke? Would you know what to do if you did? When a stroke strikes, act F.A.S.T  Face: Has their face fallen on one side? Can they smile? Arms: Can they raise both arms and keep them there?  Speech: Is their speech slurred?  Time: Time to call 999 A stroke is the third most common cause of death in England. Acting Fast could save lives. Watch the TV ad, and find out more.

Meals at Home: much more than food

Not only do Nottingham City Council’s ‘Meals at Home’ deliver prepared hot or frozen meals directly to your home, they also provide a friendly face and a helping hand.  All dietary requirements can be catered for and a tasty variety of different religious and cultural cuisines are available in addition to traditional dishes.

For menus and further information contact the team on: 0115 8761847 or mealsathome@nottinghamcity.gov.uk

Housing

Nottingham City Homes have homes available to rent for those aged over 60 (under 55 if on certain disability benefits) in our Independent Living schemes.

All of our schemes are linked to the Nottingham On Call emergency alarm service. This provides help 24 hours a day, seven days a week, 365 days a year at the pull of a cord or the press of a button.

For more information please contact our Lettings Team on 0115 9152640

General Information

Care and support in England is changing.

From April 2015 the Care Act will aim to make care and support more consistent across the country.  The main changes will be:

a national level of care and support needs across all councils

• councils will work together to ensure anyone moving to another area in England does not lose out from a gap in services
• a range of assistance for carers to choose from
• deferred payment agreements extended to all of England (so you shouldn’t have to sell your home in your lifetime to pay for your care)
• protection from unlimited care costs (‘cap on care costs’)

For a general overview please go to www.nottinghamcity.gov.uk/careact

The East Midlands Research into Ageing Network (EMRAN)

EMRAN is a new network that brings together academics, medical staff, third sector representatives, service commissioners and members of the public who have a mutual interest in influencing research in this area. It is based within CLAHRC East Midlands.  For more information go to www.clahrc-em.nihr.ac.uk/clahrc-em-nihr/emran.aspx

Helping older people get online

BT Better Futures Team has updated their free resource guide.  Their free downloadable resource learning packages are designed to give information get somebody online and start using the internet.  There are resources for those who will help get people online with hints and tips to coach them.

For more information go to www.btplc.com/Betterfuture/ConnectedSociety/Creatingpossibilities/DownloadableResources/index.htm