Summer 2015 Issue 47

BOPF Newsletter The voice of Bristol’s over 55s

Bristol Older People’s Forum CIO Registered Charity number 1162616 Non party-political. BOPF has a membership of 2764

WE ARE NOW A CHARITY!

After nearly two years, many bitten nails, much sweating over words, and numerous emails, we have finally been granted Charity status by the Charity Commissioners. Our Registered Charity Number is 1162616. We must thank Angela Auset, Stephanie Batterbury, David Elson and Toni Massari for all their work on producing a new constitution. I also want to thank Ms Matravers of the Charity Commission for the thoughtful and helpful way she guided us through the intricacies of legal charity-speak! At the last management meeting on July 9th, the amended constitution was accepted and sent off to her by email, and she returned our registration the next day. I think she felt she knew us very well by then!

So what does it mean for you? We are calling an Extraordinary General Meeting on 10 September 2015 from 10:30 to 12:30, where the following two resolutions will need to be passed: to dissolve BOPF Unincorporated Association and to transfer the assets across to BOPF CIO (the charity). If you wish to vote against these resolutions and cannot attend the meeting please let us know before 10 September 2015.

The meetings will remain free, as will membership; you will still have speakers that inform and interest, and we will still represent your views and issues to the authorities, and send you your newsletters.

The difference will be that we will able to fundraise, and so protect ourselves against future Council changes, and our Trustees will be protected too. So welcome to our new Trustees who have come forward to manage BOPF! They are: STEPHANIE BATTERBURY, JUDITH BROWN, DOUG BURGE, DAVID ELSON, GLORIA MORRIS, GILLIAN SEWARD and TONY WILSON. And thank you to all our members for your continued support! Judith Brown, Chair Survey

enclosed…..

The enclosed survey is needed for vital data on older people in Bristol, particularly to report to existing funders and to help achieve future funding.

Please do complete as best you can and return in the FREEPOST envelope provided by the end of August. Your answers are strictly anonymous and any queries or comments do let us know.

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Table of Contents

A View From the Rocking Chair.................................................................................. 3

Money Matters ......................................................................................................... 4

Health Matters .......................................................................................................... 5

Voice & Influence ..................................................................................................... 6

Celebrating Age Festival ........................................................................................... 7

Local Organisations and Useful Numbers ................................................................. 10

National Helplines and Organisations ...................................................................... 12

Out & About ........................................................................................................... 14

Dates for your Diary and How to Get Involved ......................................................... 18

Our Contact Details and Membership Form ............................................................. 20

Bristol Older People’s Forum CIO:

Vision: All over 55s living in Bristol are happy with their quality of life, have the goods and services they require, are treated equally, listened to by decision makers, no longer feel isolated and have the opportunity to participate in the community.

Mission: To give a voice to all over 55s, facilitate their representation into citywide decision making processes and promote the equality and inclusion of all people over 55 in Bristol.

Aim: Every person over 55 is an equal, valued, and participating member of the community who can influence the decisions which affect their lives. We will:

Engage: give a voice to over 55s of all ethnicities, genders, sexual orientations, religions and abilities, empowering them to eliminate discrimination and influence the decisions which affect their lives

Influence: co-ordinate opportunities for all over 55s to engage with service providers in order to provide fairer services which better meet their needs.

Educate: the public and engage with isolated over 55s by conducting or participating in research and events to raise awareness of issues affecting over 55s so older people are better valued and understood by the community.

Our values lie at the heart of everything we do: Respect, Trust, Commit, Make a difference

We act Respectfully: we behave respectfully to each other and the rest of the community. When we talk about respect we mean compassion, open mindedness, empathy and self respect.

We can be Trusted: our organisation is run by over 55s for over 55s so our members can trust that we will always work in their interests.

We are Committed: we are committed to our vision and to those who work with us to achieve it. By this we mean volunteering, partnership, understanding and friendliness.

We do Make A Difference: by engaging with, empowering and giving a voice to all over 55s.

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Judith Brown (BOPF Chair) receives Lord Mayor’s Award for Community Services

A VIEW FROM THE

ROCKING CHAIR

Dear Friends, back in the Chair again! But happily with a new Deputy Chair, who is already giving me useful help and advice. Welcome Doug Burge! And welcome his wife Janet too, working hard as a volunteer.

A rather different sort of surprise came with the news of the sudden death of our long time Chairman Peter Taplin.

Peter was that rare person, a gentle man, (I don’t think I ever heard him raise his voice) and a Gentleman. He presided over us for many years with dignity, a wide knowledge of how the Council was run, and gave generously of his time to BOPF, the British Legion, and AgeUK Bristol as a Trustee. He was never afraid to speak up for what he believed in, or fight for what he thought was right, but he was always fair, and ready to

listen to all sides. What I will remember most about Pete was his ability to defuse sometimes tense situations with a smile and a touch of humour, which would make us all relax and get back on track again. God bless you Pete, we loved you and we will miss you. Thank you for all you did for us.

As we enter our year 2015-16, many changes loom ahead. We know our Bristol City Council grant is awarded until 2017, but afterwards the future is uncertain. As you know, that’s why we have moved towards Charity status, and as detailed on our cover we have just found out we are now a CIO! (Charitable Incorporated Organisation). Of course, now the hard work really begins—to ensure sustainable funding.

Karen, our new Forum Project Manager, and Yolanda, our Finance and Administration Manager, will have extra work ahead as we update all our policies and rewrite the Trustee handbook. But we have no extra grant to pay for it. Speaking of which, BOPF is grateful for those few who have come forward to be Trustees, but we could do with more, as we move forward. Please contact Karen in the office if you would like to talk about it. Please!

The election is over, but the TTIP (Transatlantic Trade Investment Programme) negotiations between USA and Europe are still around. They have been brought to a temporary halt by pressure from people who want the NHS excluded from TTIP, so American big business can’t get any more NHS contracts than they already have. If you do one thing this year, ask your member of parliament to vote to exclude the NHS from TTIP!

Finally, we are trying to make up the deficit we can see looming (much of our grant goes on postage) by having fewer meetings. The Transport based Open Forum in June was well attended with great questions, but few stayed for the new ‘Campaign’ section of meeting so for the next one (September 10th) we will try a different format to the agenda. As always, any feedback on anything we do, let us know!

Judith Brown, Chair

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Money Matters

Do you know someone in Bristol who might be entitled to attendance allowance? The benefit gives financial help to people over 65 who are struggling to live independently at home because of a health condition or disability. Currently millions of pounds goes unclaimed every year because people do not realise they are eligible, or think the benefit is not for them.

You can claim attendance allowance even if you are not registered disabled

Having other earnings, pensions or savings won’t affect your claim and if you get the allowance it can increase your entitlement to other benefits

You can get the allowance even if you already get home care and if you live alone or nobody looks after you

Call 0345 605 6055 or textphone 0345 604 5312

Phone scams

Phone scams are on the rise and are a common way to con people out of their money. Nearly £24m was lost to phone scams in 2014, which was treble the amount in 2013, according to Financial Fraud Action UK.

Not only are phone scams a real problem, but many people also suffer from cold calls, such as unsolicited sales calls, which can feel pushy and intrusive too.

Fraudsters are constantly finding new ways to trick people – anyone can be a victim of a scam and you shouldn’t feel embarrassed about reporting it. Your report could help to ensure that other people don’t become victims of the same scam.

Never give details of your bank account over the phone and never call a number given to you over the phone from an incoming call.

Contact Action Fraud on 0300 123 2040 if you think you’ve been scammed. You can report to them on their website or via their helpline, and get advice on what to do and how to protect yourself from scams.

Angela Auset, BOPF

Pension Credit

Around half of people eligible do not claim….

You can telephone the Pension Service free (0800 99 1234 / text phone 0800 169 0133)

8am—8pm, Monday to Friday, and Saturdays 9am -1pm.

Staff will take all of the relevant information for your claim. If English is not your first language, the Pension Service can arrange an interpreter.

You will need to have all the following:

- National Insurance number

- details of all income

- details of all savings and investments

50:50 Campaign: Equal Representation

in Bristol City Council for 2016

Next year, for the first time, there will be elections for all Councillors throughout Bristol at

the same time as the Mayoral election. With women making up 51% of the population, Bristol

Women’s Commission is prioritising representation and asking for women to come forward to stand, no matter what their political

point of view.

Being a local councillor is about representing your community and its interests. Women play a

vital role in many voluntary and community organisations but not so many make the

transition to political leadership.

Contact Bristol Women’s Voice to find out more: Telephone 07972 673782

Bristol Women’s Voice,

Brunswick Court, Brunswick Square

Bristol BS2 8PE

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Health Matters

Ergsy.com will be available later this year as a

video channel providing information for the over 60s on the following topics, Health, Legal, Money, Welfare and Care. Ergsy is partnered with NHS Choices, a team of Health care professional, lawyers, care providers and financial professionals to ensure that all the videos have been verified as current and factual before publication.

The design and content of the channel is led by Paul and Neil, both in their late 60s, their first-hand experience ensures that all the topics are relevant, visitors to the site will be able to score the content, re-quest new topics to be covered and be put in touch with professionals where further help is required.

Ergsy operates as a not for profit organisation which intends to build a very high level of trust in the facts provided, such that users can return time and again with confidence. The first release of the site will a development version on 3/8/2015, if you could help us with testing this, please email neil.auty@ergsy.com

Age UK Bristol – Cancer, Older People, & Advocacy service

Age UK Bristol is part of a new national project to provide support to older people affected by cancer. Called the ‘Cancer, Older People, & Advocacy Project’ (COPA for short), this new service is aimed at people in Bristol who are over-50 is affected by cancer, and in need of one-to-one support.

The advocates work with individuals to help them understand the choices they have, articulate their wishes, and regain some control of their situation. We are trying to ensure that older people are heard by the services they need to access, and, above all, we aim to listen to people at a time when they most need to be heard.

We are looking for volunteers with good listening skills and an understanding of the effects of cancer to help provide this service, and offer a training course, expenses, and lots of ongoing support.

Anyone who wants to access the service, or who wants to talk about volunteering for the project, can contact Age UK Bristol by telephone (0117 922 5353, Monday – Thursday, 10am – 1pm), email advocacy@ageukbristol.org.uk, or by post (Age UK Bristol, Canningford House, 38 Victoria Street, Bristol, BS1 6BY).

Epilepsy Action: Coffee & Chat group

Meetings will take place on the fourth Monday of each month at 7.00-9.00pm

The Tobacco Factory Café Bar, Raleigh Road, Bristol BS3 1TF

Any questions?

Please email mmcdaid@epilepsy.org.uk or tel 07841 416 966 or 01291 621 478. Alternatively, speak to Phil Rafferty, on 07989 530 308

The Men and Boys’ Forum brings

together a variety of stakeholders interested in men and boys health and wellbeing to disseminate good practice and share information on services and resources.

One of the resources that have been produced is the Bristol Man Manual that covers a range of health issues.

The Men and Boys’ Forum have dedicated Men’s Health pages on Well Aware (www.wellaware.org.uk or Freephone 0808 808 5252 ) these include a range of organisations and community services in and around Bristol.

You’re invited to Bristol Community Health’s first Participation Community meeting “How patients are leading the way”

7th October, 9.30am - 4pm

Trinity Centre, Trinity Road, Bristol BS2 0NW

Lunch provided and free healthchecks available

Book your (free) place on 0117 900 2146

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VOICE & INFLUENCE

We are pleased to announce we have

secured funding for the next 2 years (2015-2017) from Bristol City Council. As a Voice & Influence Grant funded organisation we are strongly aligned with two city priorities: Addressing Inequality and Active Citizens. We will use the grant to undertake the key activities including holding awareness raising events, running campaigns that tackle discrimination & foster good relations, facilitating responses to relevant consultations and working together with other equalities voice & influence organisations.

NPC G.A.S. (Glos, Avon & Somerset)

TUESDAY 18 AUGUST , 13.00-15.00

TONY BENN HOUSE,

VICTORIA STREET, Bristol BS1 6AY

ALL BOPF MEMBERS WELCOME!!

SPEAKER: NEIL DUNCAN-JORDAN NPC

on SOCIAL CARE issues

BUSES from City Centre & Temple Meads that pass the door: 1, 2, 9, 38, 70, 72, 71, A1, X39

BOPF Campaigns 2015-2016

Members voted at our AGM in May and we are focussing on 3 campaigns this coming year:

Transport

Health & Social Care

Effect of cuts on public services

If you are interested in getting involved in one or more of these please…..come along to our forum and campaigns meeting on 10th Sept, 10.30-12.30 (details inside back cover)

Current Council Consultations:

1. Voluntary and Community Sector infrastructure support[Closing 30 September 2015]

2. Make Sundays Special evaluation 2015 - what did you think?[Closing 30 September 2015]

3. Draft Housing Strategy[Closing 21 September 2015]

Full consultation details (and other chances to have your say) can be found via askbristol.com and you can also sign up for email news.

If you would like information on any consultations in another format, including paper copies you can telephone 0117 92 22848.

Age Friendly City Conference

Wednesday 7th October, 9:30am – 3:30pm

MShed. FREE ENTRY & LUNCH PROVIDED

Bristol City Council and the Bristol Ageing Better (BAB) partnership are hosting a conference of older people and those who work with them to look at the current age friendliness of the city and how this can be improved. Bristol is hoping to gain World Health Organisation (WHO) Age Friendly City status by 2020, meaning that older people and ageing are considered in all aspects of city planning.

The conference is open to any older person interested in Bristol becoming more age-friendly. Please book your place in advance (numbers are limited) by emailing bab@ageukbristol.org.uk or telephoning Bianca Rossetti on 0117 928 1539.

Having a voice

We encourage all our members to consider contacting their councillor, MPs, MEPs, the mayor, the Council, with their views and to take an active role in their community wherever possible.

You may wish to consider going along to Neighbourhood Partnership meetings, become a friend of your local library, or joining your GPs Patient Participation group (for example).

If you would like any advice on how to get your voice heard let us know or come along to one of our Open meetings (details P19)

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Celebrating Age Festival

CAF as we like to call it, is now an established part of the City’s yearly programme, but back in 2007 it seemed a revolutionary idea! Set up as one of the ‘ 5 Big Ideas’ of the older people’s partnership board, it was organised by older people in Bristol, through Bristol Older People’s Forum, with the support of the Council and the NHS. Gradually other organisations joined the committee, like ‘Linkage’, the ‘Care Forum’ ‘Alive’ and ‘AgeUKBristol’, but BOPF remained at the heart of the Festival as it has always been. Last year the Council handed the Festival grant over to AgeUKBristol, to fit in with the ‘Bristol Ageing Better’ lottery bid, and I have to say I think our Festival helped us to win.

Our vision in 2007 was to recognise the positive value of older people and combat age discrimination; to place older people at the centre of thinking and planning of services; to actively promote independence and wellbeing rather than just reacting to things; to take a more joined up approach to the delivery of services and encourage social cohesion among the generations and we are happy to pass this message on, just as relevant today as ever.

The number of people taking part since the first Festival has grown from 600 people in 2008 to 3500 people in 2011, and over 3000 people on the first day of the two week festival last year!

his year the launch day, on Sunday September 27th at M Shed Harbourside will include the exclusive worldwide premiere of the latest from Aardman Animations! This little film featuring voices of BOPF members and other Bristolians, is part of the Bristol Ageing Better project, which won the Lottery bid to get money into the city to combat loneliness and isolation. So I look forward to this years Festival, thank all the committees of the last nine years, and hope to see you there at 10a.m. on September 27th at MShed, when the Lord Mayor of Bristol, BOPF’s President, opens the day. Judith Brown

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Let me be kind when tiredness overwhelms

my weary brain and turns my legs to lead;

let me be brave when truths must be conveyed,

confronting the past and all things left unsaid;

let me fight on for you when various rules

make nonsense of your rights and reinforce your fears;

grant me the stamina to speak and treat with fools,

remaining calm when biting back the tears.

Help me to know that somehow life goes on

beyond this time of stress and sleepless nights;

help me to smile and love you in the midst

of endless pointless and exhausting fights.

And when the caring ends, help me to be

kind, in my guilt and weariness, to me.

Heather Smith

Taken from the Carers UK Newsletter

Alright me BABBERS!

So who are the Babbers? They are a group of older people who answered the call to volunteer for radio training, so they can produce their own programmes for older people. Why Babbers? - well if you are a native Bristolian you’ll know this is a term of affection, suitable for family and friends. So what’s it like producing your own radio programme? Scary! The studios at Ujima are not large, and seeing Gabby doing a series of three point turns to get her wheelchair by the desk was to see poetry in motion! Alan’s dog Jeeves was a perfect gentleman lying under the desk, his harness neatly out of the way. Yvonne, JK, Martin, Ruth and I crammed in, (Sue and Gail were absent that day) and watched our trainer flick his cursor round the computer and bring things in and out.

None of us found the chatting hard, it’s the trying to remember which button to touch! Most of us only have time to produce one programme of our own a month, so they will be varied. My first programme will offer listeners time for a five minute rant called ‘Let me tell you!’ about things that bug or upset them, and I want to interview ‘the people who’ve made Bristol’s history’ among other things, and we’ll all be giving a ‘what’s on in Bristol’ slot . We want listeners to tell us what they want to hear as well.

Bristol Ageing Better is funding the training and the first five programmes, as part of our’ give people a voice’ campaign, but we’ll welcome any sponsorship after that! It costs £100 to pay for each programme and you get four mentions during the hour.

So don’t forget to listen in, to BABBERS, the voice of Bristol’s Older Generation, and you might want to join the team yourself!

Judith Brown “Babber”

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Healthwatch Bristol

Anyone can speak to us about their experiences of health or social care services (including GPs, hospitals, mental health services, social care teams) and tell us about what was good and what wasn’t good. Healthwatch then ensure that service providers and commissioners hear this feedback and make changes to their services.

When someone contacts us, we will: signpost them to other helpful services , help them to access advocacy support, record their feedback and ensure that service users have their voice heard in decisions about the running of health and social care services

We also invite members of the public to volunteer with Healthwatch and work with us to ensure everyone has their voice heard in the development of health and social care services.

To find out more about Healthwatch Bristol, you can get in touch with us using the details below or tune in on the second Tuesday of every month 3-4pm to listen to the ‘Healthwatch Bristol’s The Wellbeing Show’ on local Bristol radio station BCFM. Listeners can tune their radios to 93.2FM, or can listen online at http://bcfmradio.com/how-to-listen

AVoice is a new advocacy service for adult victims of crime and antisocial behaviour in Bristol and

surrounding areas. It provides free, independent and confidential advocacy to anyone over the age of 18 and can work with people who have learning disabilities , issues with their mental health, physical disabilities, become a victim because of their age, race, gender identity, sexual orientation, religion or belief.

AVoice will also advocate for victims of crime and antisocial behaviour who have not reported it to the police. Individuals, their family and friends and referring organisations can contact AVoice by telephone or e-mail. Freephone number: 0800 254 0777 E-mail: avoice@thecareforum.org.uk

AGEUK Bristol: contact details Information and advice 0117 922 5353

Products and services 0117 928 1555

Telephone befriending 07910 743920

Computer learning 0117 929 7537

New Beginnings Day Centre 0117 987 8406

Footcare service 0117 929 7537

Housing support services 0117 928 1546 / 7

Lifeskills Safety Programme for Older People: Tues 1st Sept and Weds Oct 28th

Sessions are designed to reinforce people’s existing safety knowledge whilst teaching them new skills that will help to maintain their independence.

The session pays particular attention to falls prevention and includes a short demonstration of what to do in the event of a fall.

All sessions are free of charge. Each session runs from 10:30am to 3pm with a break for lunch (not included).

If you would like to attend a session at the Centre, please call Lifeskills on 0117 9224511. If you would like to make a group booking, we can accommodate groups of up to 25 people.

A group of people in the Greater Bedminster area are working together on a research project with the Southville Community Development Association and the University of Bristol which is all about reducing the isolation and loneliness of older people in the local area. We are looking for more people to join our team. If you are interested please contact Jenny at the Southville Centre jenny.barke@southvillecentre.org.uk or phone 0117 9231039

The Bristol Festival of Ideas aims to stimulate

people’s minds and passions with an inspiring

programme of discussion and debate

throughout the year. www.ideasfestival.co.uk

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Local Organisations and Very Useful Numbers

AgeUK Bristol (and see p9) 0117 922 5353

Action for Blind People 0117 953 7750

Advice Centre—North Bristol 0117 951 5751

Advice Centre - St Paul’s (includes East Bristol) 0117 955 2981

Advice Centre—South Bristol 0117 985 1122

Avon & Bristol Law Centre 0117 924 8662

Avon Fire & Rescue 0117 926 2061 (fire safety visits)

Bristol City Council 0117 9522 2000 (textphone 0117 357 4444) - please note that all councillors’ contact details are also available via the council

Bristol Community Transport 0117 902 0157

Bristol Credit Union 0117 924 7309

Bristol dial-a-ride 0845 130 1875

Bristol Hate Crime Services 0800 171 2272 (to report incidents/seek advice)

Bristol Older People’s Forum CIO 0117 927 9222 (full contact details P20)

Bristol Citizen’s Advice Bureau 0344 111 444 or debt advice 0117 946 2588

Bus Passes (Bristol City Council) 0117 922 2600

Care Direct 0117 922 2700 or textphone 0117 903 6689 (Home care service, also for adult safeguarding concerns or issues)

Cruse Bereavement Care Bristol 0117 926 4045 (Mon-Fri 10am-12)

FirstBus customer services 0117 244 4040

Healthwatch Bristol 0117 269 0400 (details on p9)

Dementia Wellbeing Service 0117 904 5151

LinkAge 0117 353 3042 (and see advert on p13)

Macmillan—contact our Prevention & Re-Enablement Manager (Anne Wilkinson) 0117 353 3042 (or ask for your GP/nurse or specialist to refer you)

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Lifeskills 0117 922 4511 (and see course details p9)

Shelter Bristol 0344 515 1414 (advice line)

Shopmobility 0117 955 9083

Talking Money (previously Bristol Debt Advice) 0800 121 4511

Traveline 0871 200 2233

Walking for Health (see p14) 0117 352 1283

Wellaware 0808 808 5252

WE (West of England) Care & Repair 0300 323 0700

Older People’s Services, Southville (SCDA) 0117 923 1039

Voscur (supporting the voluntary community sector in Bristol) 0117 909 9949

If you have any feedback or suggestions of other organisations please let BOPF know

Contacting the Police:

Call 999:

when it’s an emergency a crime is in progress someone suspected of a crime is

nearby when there is danger to life when violence is being used or

threatened Textphone 18000 in an emergency All non emergencies—call 101 or textphone 18001/101 You can also report crimes anonymously by calling Crimestoppers 0800 555 111

Contacting the NHS

For immediate, life-threatening

emergencies, call 999.

Call 111 (NHS Direct) if:

you need medical help fast but it's not a 999 emergency

you think you need to go to A&E or need another NHS urgent care service

you don't know who to call or you don't have a GP, or you need health information or reassurance about what to do next

North Bristol NHS Trust — 0117 950 5050

University Hospitals Bristol — 0117 923 000

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National Helplines and Organisations

ActionFraud 0300 123 2040—to report fraud including phone or doorstep scams

Action on Elder Abuse 0808 808 8141

Action on Hearing Loss (new name for RNID) 0808 808 0123

Age UK (National) 0800 169 6565

Alzheimer’s Society 0300 222 11 22 (National Dementia Helpline)

Cancer Research UK 0800 800 4040

Carers UK 0808 808 7777

Citizens Advice Consumer helpline 03454 04 05 06

Contact the Elderly 0800 716 543— organises tea parties for small groups of older people

Cruse Bereavement Care 0844 477 9400

Gas Safe Register helpline 0800 408 5500

Home Heat Helpline 0800 33 66 99 - for anyone worried about their energy bills

Independent Age 0800 319 6789 - advice line for anyone over retirement age

MIND 0300 123 3333 — for anyone worried about mental health

Macmillan Cancer Support 0808 808 00 00

National Pensioners Convention 020 7383 0388—national umbrella body for pensioners’ groups. Individual membership also available

NHS England 0300 311 2233 / Advice on health costs (e.g. dentists) 0300 330 1343

RNIB 0303 123 9999

Samaritans 08457 90 90 90

Silverline 0800 4 70 80 90 — free confidential helpline providing information, friendship and advice to older people, open 24 hours a day, every day of the year

Stop Hate UK 0808 801 0661—24 hour national LGBT hate crime helpline.

SSAFA 0845 241 7141 - support for serving men& women, veterans / their families

TV Licensing 0300 790 6073

Warm Home Discount Scheme 0345 603 9439

Winter Fuel Payment Helpline 0845 9 15 15 15

University of the Third Age 020 8466 6139

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Out & About

Here’s just a few Bristol events this summer:

Shaun in the City—citywide (to 31 Aug)

Islamic Cultural Fayre, 2 August bmcs@bmcs.org.uk / Tel: 0117 952 1802

Balloon fiesta, 6-9 August (for information on access please call 0117 9535884)

Kite festival , 22-23 August (0117 977 2002)

Bristol Doors Open Day, 12 September

Museums: all 6 Bristol museums galleries & archives sites are open over the summer months and all have free entry. For details including travel and accessibility please call 01179223571

Autumn events to look out for:

Healthy City Week

Black History Month

South Region Sustainability and Health Network's annual conference, 14 October

Bristol: Walking for Health

Health walks come in all shapes and sizes but are

Free, regular and short (around 1 hour, less than 90 minutes)

Have trained leaders

There are over 30 groups in Bristol delivering walks of 0 .5 – 3 miles. Many are aimed at those less active and some are fully accessible.

To find out more about your nearest group contact:

Nicola Ferris (Monday – Thursdays)

0117 3521283

STOP PRESS: Nicola will also be coming to speak at our Forum meeting on 10 September

Key transport news as reported at our Forum:

As part of the MetroBus project, the major works will be taking place in the City Centre from September 2015 for 18 months. This will require temporary bus stop relocation and will likely cause some disruption to bus services.

There are other works in the pipeline associated with the Rail Electrification programme, and improvements around Temple Gate.

Two lifesize whales will be taking up residence in Millennium Square until 1 September. This spectacular art installation captures the magnificence of ocean life, and the increasing human threats facing it.

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At our OPEN FORUM & CAMPAIGN MEETING on 11 June 2015, Sarah Wallbridge, Senior Marketing Manager, West of England & Chris Hanson, PR Manager of First Group UK talked about the Bus service in Bristol. First are the majority operator in Bristol. A few news items worth noting below:

First do have a service change coming up on 23 Aug: the biggest changes are on the 42, 43, 44 & 45

Fares: 1 – 3 miles = £1.50 3- 6 miles = £2.50 6-12 miles = £3.50. The Inner Zone Day Ticket is £4.40 (£3 after 19:00), weekly ticket is £17 and monthly is £66. The Outer Zone Day ticket is £6

For many travel will be free of charge using a concession pass. The blue strip indicates the pass is an older persons pass, the yellow or orange strip denotes the pass has been issued to a disabled person. Diamond cards for older people are not allowed before 9am. Some yellow cards are named Platinum Passes which may be used before 9 am.

Lots of buses across Bristol are now fitted with audio visual announcements.

First do train our drivers to understand that disabilities exist in multiple forms, some visible, some not. They have come up with our better and safe journey cards these can be shown to drivers when someone gets onto a bus and instantly informs them of the individual passenger’s needs.

Bio Bus runs on our service 2, wed to sat. Uses fuel powered by Bio-methane, produced using food and human waste and no fossil fuels making it the most environmentally friendly bus First run.

Many new buses (vehicles) will be introduced later this year

Just to add BOPF members asked First lots of questions and pages of notes were taken back with them —do attend our Forums to have your say and get a chance to influence decision makers (details on P19)

Yolanda Pot and Karen Bowers

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Bristol Ageing Better

So the first lot of money came in from the Lottery on April 1st, and it’s been all go. We now have a Project Manager - Ruth Richardson, an administrator—Bianca, a communications officer will start soon, and the Project Director interviews are about to happen. Then the team will be complete.

The Older People’s Steering Group are now in place (all volunteers), have been given training in commissioning, and have already started helping with interviews. Later in the year, they will be looking at the applications for Community Chest money, and helping with other interviews. The first community development has been commissioned in two areas, and will gradually spread across the city over the next five years.

Older people volunteers have been trained by Ujima and are now putting on their own radio programme, by older people for older people. We have given talks to hundreds of council workers, and several neighbourhood partnerships , and Bristol’s Older People’s Partnership board will be carrying forward our vision of an Age Friendly City. There are over 120 organisations now in the BAB partnership, who meet to exchange information and ideas. And all this since April 1st this year. You may remember we had to tell the Lottery how we would spend the money if we got it, and we arrived at 16 projects which they accepted, and now we have started the first ones. Look out for more news on how your community can benefit, and if you have a computer BAB has a website to keep you up to date (bristolageingbetter.org.uk Tel 0117 9281539)

Judith Brown, Deputy Chair BAB

A very personal view Has anyone noticed how are Green Capital is heavily polluted by fumes from buses, cars and lorries, oh and trains – still diesel as they pass through and around us. Can anyone name a modern city that might strive to be call Green Capital, and has no trams or proposals for them? I've travelled on the Severn Beach line recently – part of a rail loop that goes around northern parts of our city. It's often crowded and always slow, noisy and infrequent, and even when less than a quarter full, there's apparently no room for more than two bikes [yes, I've seen them turned away]. The ticket collectors are unable to reach many passengers when trains are less than half full, and guess what, the service is uneconomical. I don't know how wheelchair users and others with mobility problems fare as I haven't seen any – it would be difficult to negotiate the huge step up/down from platform to antiquated rolling stock. It is a discriminatory disgrace. Simple remedies for a modern city – upgrade and electrify existing local lines, with modern signal control and fare swipe cards. Open more stations and run light rail trains every 10 minutes at peak times for a profitable service that will take cars off the road, ease congestion and greatly reduce pollution, while including young and old, infirm or fit. Using existing lines, we could have a well functioning modern, GREEN city that is a pleasure for all to move and live in. Win win. We have the base infrastructure, yet planners would rather deprive us of reasonable solutions while listening to shadowy developers and less than enlightened local media. Why are trams anathema to our city planners? Why spend huge amounts on a very limited and polluting Metrobus when EU and government funds are usually available for tram and light rail? Things thought essential and taken for granted throughout Europe and the world. And First Bus could run them if they were so inclined and up to it. People love modern trams and light rail. They are green, clean, cheap, traffic calming and popular. No need to spoil existing walking and cycle paths, we have space. Other ideas that could be pushed by those who know; tram/rail links to Bristol Airport to transform the local economy. Small electric taxis with city-wide charge points, for cheaper fares and less congestion and pollution; and small electric rental cars. There are plenty more common-sense, cost effective ideas waiting for consideration. Over 55's and others, please start pushing political candidates for sensible proposals. Make your votes count. They've got away with being woefully inadequate for too long. Tony Wilson

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BRAINTEASERS

A) Which is correct to say— the yolk of the egg is white or the yolk of the egg are white

B) If a farmer has 5 haystacks in one field and 4 haystacks in the other field, how many haystacks would he have if he combined them all?

Answers p18

10 things I know about you

1. you are reading this

2. you are human

3. you can’t say the letter ‘p’ without separating your lips

4. you just tried to do it

6. you are laughing at yourself

7 You have smile on yourself and you skipped no. 5

8 You just checked to see if there is a no. 5

9 You laughed at this as you are a fun-loving person

10. You are probably going to show this to someone else to see who else falls for it

Impossibilities in the world

You can’t breathe through your nose when your tongue is out

Put your tongue back you silly person

Karen Bowers (Forum Project Manager), David Elson

(Trustee) and Judith Brown (Chair). Photo by Angela Auset

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18

Editorial Team: Judith Brown (Chair)

Karen Bowers (Forum Project Manager), Yolanda Pot (Finance & Administration

Manager)

Left: Yolanda Pot, BOPF Finance and Administration Manager

Right: Karen Bowers, BOPF Forum Project Manager

Brainteaser answers

A) Neither B) One

You will also be able to meet us at the following events: so do come and say hello!

Celebrating Age Festival launch day, 27 September, M Shed (more details on the cover)

Doors Open Day, 12 September, at the Create Centre, Smeaton Road (10am-4pm)

10th September 2015 - BOPF CIO: Open Forum & Campaign Meeting

also an Extraordinary General Meeting (see P1)

Broadmead Baptist Church (see details opposite). Close to all central bus stops.

Speakers:

Malcolm Kippex, Care Quality Commission - Effects of the Care Act on Older People

Nicola Ferris, Bristol City Council, Walking for Health

Ben Mellor, Sphere Research Project - Helping you stay at home

Free entry—all welcome! Refreshments available

Find us on the first floor, there is a lift and the venue is fully accessible.

All views expressed are that of the contributor and not of Bristol Older People’s Forum CIO

How you can get involved

If you are 55 or over and live in Bristol, you can become a member for free and you will receive our newsletter 3 times a year. If you would prefer to receive by email please use the form on the back cover to let us know your email address.

You can attend any of our Open Forum meetings where we disseminate information, invite informative speakers to talk on issues relevant to over 55’s, co-ordinate participation in consultations, give you the opportunity to have a say on decisions which affect you and influence decision makers in Bristol.

Please do get in touch with any ideas, questions or comments—whether on our newsletter, website, speakers or anything! we are always delighted to hear from our members.

If you would like to volunteer to help on stalls, or indeed are interested in becoming a trustee or committee member, please do get in touch.

All details correct at time of going to press. Please check before making a special journey.

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MEETING DATE VENUE TIME

Open Forum & Campaigns 10 Sept 2015 Broadmead Baptist Church 10:30 - 12:30

Open Forum 22 Oct 2015 Greenway Centre 10:30 - 12:30

Open Forum & Campaigns 3 Dec 2015 Broadmead Baptist Church 10:30 - 12:30

Open Forum 4 Feb 2016 St George/Barton Hill - to be confirmed

to be confirmed

Open Forum & Campaigns 17 Mar 2016 Broadmead Baptist Church 10:30 - 12:30

Open Forum 21 Apr 2016 Easton Community Centre 14:00 - 16:00

AGM 2015-16/Open Forum 26 May 2016 Broadmead Baptist Church 10:30 - 12:30

DATES FOR YOUR DIARY

VENUES

Broadmead Baptist Church, Union Street, BS1 3HY, 0117 929 138, office@broadmeadbaptist.org.uk, www.broadmeadbaptist.org.uk Ashton Vale Community Centre, Risdale Road, Bristol, BS3 2QY. Bus 24 from city centre runs every 12 minutes Greenway Centre, Doncaster Road, Southmead, Bristol, BS10 5PY, 0117 950 3335 . Buses from the centre are number 76 and number 2 Easton Community Centre, Kilburn St, Easton, Bristol, BS5 6AW, 0117 954 1409

20

Help Us Keep Our Mailing List Up-to-Date

If you have received this newsletter through the post, your name (or names) is/are on our mailing list. Our newsletter is free of charge, but we do need members to complete our occasional surveys in return, to help us feed back to the Council and other funders/agencies how Bristol's older population feel about a broad range of issues — so please do return the enclosed survey to get your voice heard!

If you know of an older person in Bristol who would like to join, do pass on the form below.

Please also send the form below to update your details e.g. to remove a name, add a partner’s name, or to add an email address to your record. If you are happy to receive news on email then it does save crucial funds, and you can opt out of emails at any time. We will never share your personal data.

BRISTOL OLDER PEOPLE’S FORUM - MEMBERSHIP APPLICATION / UPDATE

First Name: ……………………………………………… Surname…………………………………………….....

Partner/spouse (shared newsletter): First Name: ……………………….…………..Surname: ….…………………………

Please add / remove the above name/s (please delete as applicable)

Address: ……………………………………………………………… ……………………………………………………………………...

Postcode:…………….…….... Telephone/mobile*……………………………………

Email*: …………...…...……….……………………………………………………………………………………...………..

I/we declare that I am/we are over 55 (sign) ………………………………………...……….

Please return this form with your survey in the Freepost envelope enclosed. This will immediately be

separated from your survey and will not affect its anonymity in any way.

*Please only give your phone number or email address if you are happy to receive communications

from BOPF by phone or email. We will not share your data and you can unsubscribe at any time.

Bristol Older People’s Forum CIO Chair 2015-16: Judith Brown

Treasurer: Stephanie Batterbury

Forum Project Manager: Karen Bowers

Finance & Administration Manager: Yolanda Pot

Contact Tel: 0117 927 9222

Email: bopf@ageukbristol.org.uk

Website: www.bopf.btck.org.uk

c/o Age UK Bristol Canningford House 38 Victoria Street Bristol, BS1 6BY

Registered Charity number: 1162616