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Dementia friends + Spread the warmth + Interview with our Services Director + much more inside

Planning for the future Fancy a game of Bridge?

Age UK Northamptonshire magazine Winter 2014

EngageFree

Please take one

2 | Winter 2014 www.ageuk.org.uk/northamptonshire

Tel: 01604 414164Email: [email protected]

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Winter 2014 | 3Supporting older people for over 50 years

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Get Knitting offers a friendly relaxed environment where you can take time to browse and discuss your next knitting or

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Contents Winter 2014

0910

Spread the warmth 06 Keeping older people warm and well this winter

Dementia friends 08 Helping to create dementia friendly communities

If you’re not sure, don’t open the door! 09 A message from Northamptonshire Police

Look after your feet 10 A new Toenail Cutting Service for older people

Planning for the future 12 We are looking at ways we can sustain our services and generate income,to enable us to continue to support older people in the County.

Time is precious 14 We value the time our volunteers donate to the needs of older people in Northamptonshire.

Puzzle page 15

Interview with our Services Director 16 Read on to find out more...

Contents

Winter 2014

Support for older people to live independently 17Call Care support: Northampton Borough Council

Fancy a game of Bridge? 18 Learn something new, socialise and have fun!

Keeping you up-to-date 19 News and fundraising updates from Age UK Northamptonshire

Answers and solutions 19

06

16

18


EditorsLaura Tarry Tel: 01604 611200 Email: laura.tarry@

ageuknorthants.org.uk

Liam CondronTel: 01604 611200Email: liam.condron@


Age UK NorthamptonshireHead Office 31 Billing Road Northampton NN1 5DQ Tel: 01604 611200 Fax: 01604 611201 Email: Northamptonshire@


DesignerEmily RobbEmail: [email protected]

AdvertisingKevin MokTel: 01536 526678Email: [email protected]

PublisherLance Publishing Ltd1st Floor Tailby House Bath RoadKetteringNN16 8NLTel: 01536 512624Fax: 01536 515481Email: [email protected]: www.lancepublishing.co.uk

PrinterLance Print LtdTel: (01480) 492183

Meet the team…

This magazine is produced on behalf of Age UK Northamptonshire by Lance Publishing Ltd. All rights are reserved by the charity and no part of this publication may be reproduced in whole or in part without the written permission of the charity. Age UK Northamptonshire will accept no responsibility for, or necessarily agree with, any claims made or views expressed in this publication nor does the mention of any product, service or advertisement imply a recommendation by Age UK Northamptonshire. Age UK Northamptonshire is not liable or responsible for any breaches of third party intellectual property rights by authors. Reg. Charity No. 1059995

Cover Image© Ruslan Guzov/Shutterstock

We are asking everyone to Spread The Warmth again this year, help us to keep older people happy and healthy and join us in our campaign for warmer homes.

Just as dangerous as the cold, loneliness blights the lives of so many older people. Our Planning for the Future article is full of information about the ways we have tried to keep people safe this year, helped them to cope and perhaps most importantly got them connected to others in their community.

Being connected to others is so much harder if you have dementia or you’re caring for someone with dementia. Our programme to train Dementia Friends has been a great success and has added to the number of people who are willing to understand and help those who are struggling to cope with the disease.

We could not provide the services and support that Age UK Northamptonshire offers without the kindness and commitment of our volunteers. Read a bit more about them in these pages and you might ask yourself if there is something you can do to make life better for older people in your community.

Finally, later life doesn’t all have to be a struggle. Read about all the

In the last quarter of the year, Age UK starts to gear up for the coming winter.

Liam Liam CondronChief OfficerT: 01604 611200E: [email protected] UK Northamptonshire

Foreword

From the Chief Officer

Meet the team Foreword

fun we have with our fundraising Companions, raising the money we need to do our work and proving that you can Love Later Life.


Spread the warmth

Spread the warmth

Keeping older people warm and well this winter

Winter can be a big worry for many older people as it brings with it a range of concerns, from high fuel bills and housing that is hard to heat, to health problems and hospital admissions.

In 2012, there were 602,000 older households living in fuel poverty in England and 31,100 ‘excess winter deaths’ in England and Wales. Most of these deaths occurred in people aged 75 and over.

These deaths and health problems could be prevented if everyone lived in a warm home. The UK has some of the worst levels of home energy efficiency in Europe, but with proper

insulation and energy efficiency measures nearly all homes could be made much warmer.

That’s why Age UK, together with the Energy Bill Revolution, is calling on the Government to make millions of homes much more energy efficient.

We believe that an ambitious energy efficiency programme to bring all our housing up to standard is the only sensible and long-term solution to fuel poverty and winter health problems.

Support Age UK’s campaign for warm homes1. Order a copy of our

campaign report and

send it to your local MP with a letter about why you are supporting the campaign.

2. Go to www.spreadthewarmth. org.uk to join the campaign or write to the Age UK Campaigns team at Age UK, Tavis House, 1- 6 Tavistock

Square, London WC1H 9NA or email campaigns@ ageuk.org.uk

3. Knit a warm home for Cold Homes Week (2-6 February 2015).Age UKs up and down the country will be displaying knitted warm homes during the week and inviting their local MPs and councillors to come and see the exhibition

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Further information

For more information or for your free copy of our Winter Wrapped Up guide, visit www.spreadthewarmth.org.uk or call Age UK Advice on 0800 169 6565.

Further information

To find out how you can help older people this winter please call 0845 677 2220 or visit www.ageuk.org.uk/northamptonshire

How we helped older people keep warm and well last winterLast year to help support older people through the winter months Age UK Northamptonshire staff put on a range of additional services to ensure older people in our community were kept safe, warm and well.

Here are just some of the things staff did for Spread the Warmth last year:

• Staff briefings on how to help an older person in cold weather

• Food banks were offered to the most vulnerable people

• Information and Advice offered on winter fuel payments

• Staff were on call over the bank holidays

• Donate a coat appeal

• Bobble Day to help promote key messages around keeping warm and well

• Media liaison in a bid to spread the message to as many people in the county as possible

• Top tips to stay safe and well: posters, leaflets, thermometers

and have a conversation about tackling fuel poverty.

You can order a knitting leaflet by calling the Age UK Campaigns team on 020 3033 1561 or by emailing [email protected]

Take steps to protect your healthAs you get older it takes longer to warm up, which can be bad for your health.

The cold thickens blood and increases blood pressure, and breathing in cold air can increase the risk of chest infections.

The ideal temperature is 64°F (18°C) for your bedroom and 70°F (21°C) for your living room.

Check your thermostat or use a room thermometer to monitor temperature, and keep your bedroom window shut on a winter’s night.

• Cold weather alarms handed out to vulnerable clients in the county

• Day Centre clients were provided with emergency contact cards

• Day Centre clients were asked to fill in a welfare questionnaire

• Welfare calls made to clients

from vulnerable clients list

Services Director, Derry Miller said:

Year on year, we aim to improve people’s access to services we offer to help keep older people warm and well over the winter. If you are concerned about someone this winter please do not hesitate to get in touch to see how we can help.

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Dementia

Dementia friends

Helping to create dementia friendly communities

Dementia Friends is an Alzheimer’s Society led initiative, funded by the Department of Health and Cabinet Office. It aims to increase dementia awareness and change the way the nation thinks, talks and acts about dementia and is part of the Prime Minister’s Challenge on Dementia.

A Dementia Friend is someone who has attended a one hour information session and has committed to an action that will make the lives of people living with dementia a little bit better.

Anyone of any age can be a Dementia Friend and every action counts - from helping someone to find the right bus to spreading the word about dementia on social media.

Dementia Friends Champions are trained volunteers in delivering the key messages about becoming a Dementia Friend through information sessions encouraging their family, friends, colleagues and local community to understand a little bit more about dementia, what it’s like to live with dementia and then turn that understanding into action.

Having volunteered to be a Dementia Friends Champion, Jillian Powell of Age UK Northamptonshire has delivered Dementia Friends sessions to 700 people across Northamptonshire this year.

She said:

• Telling other people about Dementia Friends or spreading the word through social media.

Further information

If you would like to arrange a Dementia Friends session in your area please don’t hesitate to contact Jillian Powell on 07900 228057. All that is needed is a room big enough to accommodate the number of people attending comfortably (small and large groups can be facilitated), and around an hour of their time.

I signed up to be a Dementia Friends

Champion because with this condition being so hidden I understood the need for a helping hand being offered to assist someone living with dementia. Being part of a number of groups I thought it would be the ideal opportunity to involve other people in this initiative. It’s easy to get involved. I signed up through the website and attended a one day training course on how to deliver the sessions. I’m so proud to be part of a growing network of people helping to create dementia friendly communities across England.

Turning understanding into actionAfter the Dementia Friends’ information session you will get lots of ideas about the actions you can take at your Friends’ information session, and there are lots of other ideas on the Dementia Friends website. You don’t have to commit to doing something time-consuming.

Dementia actions could include:• Behaving patiently with someone showing the signs of dementia.

• Spending more time with, helping or supporting a friend or relative affected by dementia.

• Signposting people affected by dementia to more information and support.

• Volunteering with an organisation to support people with dementia.

• Fundraising for a dementia-related cause.

• Helping your workplace to be more dementia friendly.“

“


Doorstep crime

If you’re not sure, don’t open the door! A message from Northamptonshire Police

You will probably be aware of a type of crime police call ‘distraction burglary’. This is where someone calls at a house with the intention of tricking their way inside to steal money and other valuables. They use various reasons for why they need to come into your home, such as claiming to be an official from a utility company or even the police.

Thankfully, the number of distraction burglaries reported to police has fallen significantly over the past few years. During 2013, 26 distraction burglaries were reported, compared with 34 in 2012 and 65 in 2010.

However, while the numbers are relatively small, the impact on the victim can be huge and can really affect their confidence and feelings of security in their own home.

Distraction burglars often have plausible reasons for why they need to get into the house

but we urge people not to open their door unless they are expecting a visitor.

Here is some more useful advice:• Make sure you can see who is at the door before you answer it – and only open it if you know who it is.

• Where possible fit a spy-hole to identify callers. Alternatively, talk to them through a window.

• Don’t feel pressured into opening the door. Don’t feel you are being rude – genuine callers won’t mind.

• Set up passwords with your utility companies. Genuine callers will need to recite

this password to you.• Don’t use telephone numbers on ID cards. If the person isn’t genuine the ID and the telephone number won’t be either. Get telephone numbers direct from the phone directory. Alternatively, make a list of your important numbers and keep them near the phone.

Further information

If you have any concerns about someone knocking on your front door, or see anyone acting suspiciously, please call the Doorstep crime Action Network (DAN) hotline on 0345 23 07 702 or 999 in an emergency.

For more information, please visit www.northants.police.uk/lookout

• Above all – If you’re not sure, don’t open the door!

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1 0 | Winter 2014 www.ageuk.org.uk/northamptonshire

Services

Look after your feet

A new Toenail Cutting Service for older people

Something as simple as cutting your own toenails and looking after your feet can become much harder or sometimes impossible as you get older. That’s why at Age UK Northamptonshire we have listened to the needs of older people and launched a new service to suit your needs.

Poor foot care can lead to mobility difficulties, poor balance, a loss of confidence and longer term health conditions. With this in mind, we aim to help older people access a service so they can continue with an independent lifestyle.

Our Toenail Cutting Service enables older people to keep active and mobile, engaged within

“

their communities, avoiding being housebound and isolated and relieve the distress and discomfort which accompanies long toenails and hard skin on your feet.

Toenail Service Development Worker, Kay Phillips said:

“

Further information

By appointment only please call 0845 677 2220. For more information about Age UK Northamptonshire’s services call 01604 611200, or visit our website at www.ageuk.org.uk/northamptonshire/

This service includes an assessment of general health and the condition of the feet, followed by nail cutting and filing. It may also include the application of the person’s own emollient cream.I will be able to go into an older person’s home so it is more convenient for them; we will also be offering a

service at different toenail cutting clinics in the county.

Please note this is not a medical service. A referral to an NHS podiatrist will be given where appropriate.This service is available at our toenail cutting clinics and in your own home. Home visits cost £20 and £15 in our clinics.

IDBBOS206 07/13Registered charity number 1059995

By appointment only please call 0845 677 2220

This service is available at our toe nail cutting clinics and inyour own home. Home visits cost £20 and £15 in our clinics.

service in Northamptonshire

Toenail Cutting





Toenail Cutting





Toenail Cutting





Toenail Cutting





Toenail Cutting


IDBBOS214 08/13

Our servicesWe provide a variety of services to help you cope independently athome and in the community. • Information & Advice • Money Management • Shopping • Cleaning • Carers Sitting Service • Day Centres & Lunch Clubs • Hospital Aftercare • Gardening • Handyperson • Toenail Cutting Service • Business Directory

Registered charity number 1059995

To find out more about our services pleasecall

08456 772 220www.ageuk.org.uk/northamptonshire

IDBBOS214 08/13

Our servicesWe provide a variety of services to help you cope independently athome and in the community. • Information & Advice • Money Management • Shopping • Cleaning • Carers Sitting Service • Day Centres & Lunch Clubs • Hospital Aftercare • Gardening • Handyperson • Toenail Cutting Service • Business Directory

Registered charity number 1059995

To find out more about our services pleasecall

08456 772 220www.ageuk.org.uk/northamptonshire


Planning

Planning for the future

We are looking at ways we can sustain our services and generate income,to enable us to continue to support older people in the County.

In 2013-14 we responded to more than 4000 calls from older people in Northamptonshire. With the number of older people rising we have to find ways to grow with the demand. With that in mind, we talked to Chief Officer Liam Condron, about his views on the past year and what we can expect for the charity as we look to the future.

How have you helped older people in the County?There are a number of ways we have helped older people over the last year. For example, 451 people made their first visit to a Day Centre in 2013/14. At any one time there are almost 800 older people attending Day Care and around 750 people in a network of lunch clubs. We know the effect of

loneliness is detrimental to the health of older people, that’s why we offer support to people who may not otherwise see anyone all week if not for our Day Centre.

Have you launched any new services this year?Yes, • A new Toenail cutting

service – read more about this service on .

• A new lunch club in Kettering. • Emmanuel Church Tea Dance.• Money Management

support service.• Welcome Home project

supporting people after a stay in hospital.

• Accident and emergency project: Supporting older people in

A&E in Northampton and Kettering hospitals.

What challenges does the charity face in the next year?The numbers and the needs of older people are growing and we must grow with them. At a time when statutory funding is diminishing, we need to sustain our services in other ways, increasing fundraising and developing charged-for services. While we must be more business-like and even commercially minded in order to survive and thrive, but we will not forget our special relationship with older people.

Key words:

451people made their first visit to a Day Centre 2013/14.

800Almost

7people attend Day Care each week.

750people in a network of Lunch clubs.

Every month

450-600people participate in a range of fitness and activity classes.

“ Compassion, growth and independence.

“

Key stats:


Further information

If you are a local business and you feel you could help via a donation to provide a service for older people in the county, do not delay, talk to us today to see how we could work together to continue to enable older people to Love Later Life. Call 01604 611200.

Over

300people joined our Carers Register, benefiting from advice and guidance and nearly

200carers were helped throughout the year with

4100 sessions of care.

Handyperson service performed nearly

1500jobs for almost

900people.

Most of the

4100 people who approached Age UK Northamptonshire for a variety of services last year will have spoken to one of our trained advisors.

people contacted us specifically for Information and Advice and we dealt with around

2100

4700enquiries.

1500of those enquiries were for benefits advice and half of those were specifically for Attendance Allowance to help them to cope with a severe long-standing disability.

Through the efforts of the Advice team we put around

£1.5Minto the pockets of older people in the County £

The Advice team helped

65 people with advice on finding a residential

care home and nearly

900people find care at home.

winter wrapped up booklets and

34803009recipe booklets were given out.


“

Andrea Batey became a volunteer at our Four Seasons Day Centre. She works on reception completing administration tasks, answering the phones, speaking to families of the clients who attend our day centre so that staff can concentrate on the people in the day centre and focus on meeting their needs.

Andrea said:

Volunteering

Time is precious

We value the time our volunteers donate to the needs of older people in Northamptonshire.

Would you like to make a difference to the life of an older person in need? Andrea Batey does just that by giving up her time to volunteer as a receptionist at our Day Centre in Kettering. “

“

“Further information

To find out more about Volunteering call Jo Gunnett on: 01604 611200 or visit our website at: http://www.ageuk.org.uk/northamptonshire/how-you-can-help/volunteer/

I was looking for something to do in my spare time, I originally volunteered to help with the Shopping Service after seeing a poster in the window at Four Seasons. After a couple of sessions at Billing Road, I was offered the role as a volunteer receptionist at Four Seasons Day Centre, one day a week.

Manning the reception desk means Carers have more time for the clients. There is a satisfaction in helping those less able than myself, it is really good to be part of such an enthusiastic and dedicated team at Four Seasons.

We value all our longstanding volunteers and truly believe that it is a two way process where our volunteers gain something from their role at Age UK Northamptonshire.

A true representation of that is our volunteer of 23 years, Ron Shepherd, he said:

I work in the Service Advice Team, my role is to keep the paperwork moving. Without the charity people wouldn’t see anyone all week, they do a crucial job at keeping people active in the community. Volunteering is magic you get a buzz from it, if you get just one

of your clients saying ‘they have had a really good day today’ it just makes a difference. If everyone did a bit the world would be a nicer place.

If you feel volunteering could be for you, don’t delay get in touch today.

Volunteering roles in the county:• Working in our charity

shops: Merchandising, stocktaking, sales, pricing.

• Working in Head Office: Administration, IT, Fundraising, Marketing roles.

• Gardening: Light work to help an older person in need.

• Handypersons: Help around the home.

• Running an activity class. • Help in our Day Centre’s.


Puzzle page

5 3 4 2

6 5 1 8 9 7

2 6 5

6

2 3

3 4

5

1 2 8

2 9 5

H S F F U M R A E

B S N R O L U T A

F K C A R B A O M

L O R A U N L A S

H N S B R S C R N

L S A E M F O G C

I K B U A S L U W

R I H N L M D N H

H U I R B T A O C

The Game of LogicPlace each of the digits 1 to 9 in each row, column and 3x3 box. There is only one solution.

Which One is Missing?Can you find which one of these Winter words from the list below is missing?

SNOWCOATSCARFFOGCOLDSKIHIBERNATEEARMUFFS

Suduko

Wordsearch

Quick quizTest your general knowledge in our Quick Quiz.

1.

2.

3.

4.

5.

6.

7.

8.

9.

10.

11.

Puzzle page

Solutions to all three puzzles can be found on page 19

In which year did The Battle of Waterloo take place?

Emmeline Pankurst was the leader of which movement in the early 20th century?

What is the name for an SI unit of energy?

On the human body, what is the patella more commonly known as?

The character or Arthur Seaton in Saturday Night and Sunday Morning was played by which actor?

Which British woman won the women’s singles title at Wimbledon in 1977?

Which Premiership football team play at St .James’ Park?

In The Lake District, which is the highest mountain in England?

Situated off Cheapside, what is London’s smallest public statue?

Who was the author of Brideshead Revisited?

Who originally sang Mack the Knife in 1956?


Interview

Interview with our Services Director Read on to find out more ...

1. How long have you worked for Age UK Northamptonshire?

Since 11th December 1995.

2. What made you want to join the organisation?

Previously I worked as Personal Assistant to the District Continence Advisor and in a clinical setting often heard our older patients ‘worrying out loud’. They mentioned a variety of issues that were bothering them and seemed desperate for help and guidance, so I often used to ask if they had considered giving Age Concern (as we were then) a ring, and at their request would either ring on their behalf, or at least give them the number. I was always so impressed with the service received.

3. Use one word to describe Age UK Northamptonshire?

Depends on the day I have had! Seriously though, it would have to be ‘caring’.

4. What is the most meaningful part of your role?

Working with such a great bunch of caring, compassionate, empathetic, non clock watching, supportive people who make such a difference to our clients, (and who also extend that truly humanitarian approach to their colleagues). What they do for older people in our community makes me immensely proud and enables me to speak so passionately about this organisation wherever I go.

5. How do you help older people in the county?

By having an open mind about how flexible we can be, so that my team know I will support them when some creative thinking is called for in order to meet an older person’s needs. I also ensure that at every meeting I attend, every committee that I am on, and every working group I am part of, older people are never left out of the equation, and that I advocate for them at all times.

6. What is your one wish for the charity?

I would like us to be able to provide all that is needed for older people, and lots of what is wanted by older people, so my wish would be for a fairy godmother with several million pounds that she wants to donate to us.

7. Where do you see the charity in 5 years time?

We will continue to develop a more business-like approach in order to continue to be sustainable, and we will have to change to meet the needs of an increasing, more demanding and diverse community of older people. I think some of our existing services will have ceased, but we will have added numerous others to our menu in order to respond to evolving needs.

8. What’s the best memory of the charity you have?

Working with one of my first clients and really knowing that I had turned her life around and made it so much better. It gave me such a wonderful euphoric feeling, and I still experience


Support

a reminder of that every time I talk to her some 18 years later. Her photo is on my office wall to remind me why I still work for this organisation, albeit in a different role.

9. How is working for a charity different ?

We are able to respond flexibly and creatively. We see people as human beings and consequently are able totreat them as we would wishto be treated ourselves.

10. Are you looking forward to ageing / retirement?

Not particularly, so much is determined by your health, your finances and to be frank, how many of your friends and family are still around. Loneliness can be the thing that greets the end of a working life and it is with that in mind that we need to continue to extend the sorts of services we offer, so that they are there for me if I ever need to call on them!

11. If you could reach out to people in Northamptonshire how would you encourage them to love later life?

I would like to see older people appreciated by all sectors of society, for the contribution they have made and are still making, for their wisdom and courage, and for the fact that given the opportunity they are still capable of enjoying themselves and having fun. If older people feel valued and included they are much more likely to overcome frailty and infirmity and love the life they have.

Further Information

To find out more about any of our services, call our Service Advice Team on 0845 677 2220 or email [email protected]. Our lines are open Monday to Friday, 9.00am - 12 noon.

Support for older people to live independentlyCall Care support: Northampton Borough Council

With the population living longer and more and more people wanting to live independently in older age, the need for support services is more important than ever.

Call Care is a support service that has been operating locally for 27 years. It provides 6,000 elderly and vulnerable residents in Northamptonshire peace of mind and continued independence.

Operated by Northampton Borough Council 365 days a year and 24 hours a day, Call Care responds to on average 350 alarm calls a day from sheltered housing tenants, housing association residents as well as private homeowners across the county who pay a weekly charge of £4.60 for the service.

At the pull of a cord or press of a button residents can speak to a control operator who will facilitate an appropriate response. Calls can be about anything from a resident with dementia asking what the time is, a distraction burglary taking place, a smoke detector sounding or a resident having a heart attack or a fall.

To provide greater flexibility to people wishing to stay in their own homes, Call Care also offers a telecare alarm system which allows the user to wear a pendant fitted with an alarm button which can be activated to access immediate help wherever they are in their home or garden.

Councillor Mary Markham, Northampton Borough Council cabinet member for housing said: “The service is part of the support package we offer our

sheltered housing residents but what many people don’t realise is that they can access the service as a private homeowner for a reasonable monthly cost. “It offers elderly and vulnerable people a sense of security in their own homes and can make the difference between someone being able to continue to live independently and in their own home, or not. It offers peace of mind by help being at hand 24 hours a day.”

Call Care customer Mrs Valerie Williams said: “My lifeline is my lifesaver, it makes me independent and I can live safely at home.”

Further Information

For more information go to http://www.northampton.gov.uk/callcare or call 01604 230227.

Mrs Valerie Williams pictured at home


Activities

Fancy a game of Bridge?

Learn something new, socialise and have fun!

As a charity we pride ourselves on offering older people a range of activities, classes and courses.

Our Bridge Group, for example, meets every Tuesday at Head Office, Billing Road, Northampton.

The relaxed, informal environment is perfect for beginners and those who are a little more competitive.

Whether you want to have a little fun and socialise or a bit of healthy competition, there is something for everyone.

For as little as £2.50, on a pay as you go basis, you will have

the chance to meet new people and socialise whilst learning something new.

Bridge Club instructor, Brian Collett, said: “For the past two years I have had the pleasure of leading the Bridge Club at Age UK in Northamptonshire.

Over those years the club has grown in size and we now regularly have four tables in play. Apart from learning the great game of Bridge the main objective is to have FUN.

This we do with the occasional Bridge Drive, solo and pairs

competitions. This is a very friendly group which meets every Tuesday morning and is ideal for beginners and improvers.”

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Further information:

For more information or to book a course call Kate Kingston on 01604 611200 or email [email protected]

For a list of courses and activities visit: http://ageuk.org.uk/northamptonshire/activities--events/


Fundraising

Keeping you up-to-date

News and fundraising updates from Age UK Northamptonshire

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Welcome to the Fundraising and news page for Age UK Northamptonshire. This page brings you up to speed with some of the news and happenings that have taken place since the last edition of Engage.

As the winter draws near andChristmas is around the corner, we turn our minds to keeping warm and well.

We are asking for you to do something special for older people this year. Support us on our journey to raising money for older people in need.

Fundraising

What’s on?• Barn Dance: Midland Band Club: 29th November

News

Charity shop anniversary celebrations Since the last edition as a charity we have celebrated two anniversaries in our Charity shops.

On Wednesday 16th July, Chief Officer Liam Condron visited the Kingsley Charity shop to congratulate all staff and volunteers on the 10 year anniversary and later that month he congratulated all staff and volunteers on the 20th anniversary at our Kettering Charity shop.

Longstanding volunteer Betty said:

Our retail outlets offer a wide range of goods at competitive prices, generating income to help us provide our services throughout Northamptonshire. To find out more about our Charity Shops visit: http://www.ageuk.org.uk/northamptonshire/visit-us/charity-shops/kingsley-charity-shop/

Don’t forget:

Help keep older people warm and well this winter

Last year to help support older people through the

1. 1815 2. The suffragette movement 3. A joule 4. The kneecap 5. Albert Finney 6. Virginia Wade 7. Newcastle United 8. Scafell Pike 9. The Two Mice Eating Cheese10. Evelyn Waugh 11. Louis ArmstrongMy name is Betty, I am 86

and have worked for Age

UK Northamptonshire for 15 years. I retired from full-time work when I was 62 years old. But after three years I got bored of home life, shopping etc. I felt I needed something more.

She added:

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Everything in the shop is donated by good hearted people…If you pass by, give Age UK Northamptonshire a try.

winter months Age UK Northamptonshire staff put on an range of additional services to ensure older people in our community were kept safe, warm and well.

Further Information:

If you know of an older person who maybe in need this winter, or you could help us to support people through the winter month’s call:0845 677 2220 or visit www.ageuk.org.uk/northamptonshire

01604 631030

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