Colourful clothes, smiling faces and lots of laughter were all part of the photo shoot on Wednesday 6th April 2011, the aim of which was to create new images to be used in forthcoming publicity to mark the move Age Concern Exeter is taking to become Age UK Exeter. Age Concern nationally has joined forces with Help The Aged to become Age UK - which has a vision of the world in which older people flourish.
Although the organisation is changing its name, their commitment to people aged 50 plus is remaining right at the core of their quality advice, services and groups in Exeter. The photo shoot happened after an advert was placed in the local community for anyone interested in our forward thinking organisation to join them and become models for the afternoon. Age UK colours were the order of the day. Local people of all ages, interested in or involved with the charity, chatted over cups of tea with the option of getting involved in various activities, such as playing scrabble, painting or having a good natter. The photo shoot was an opportunity to celebrate with people of different ages, make connections with people and have fun whilst creating the new face of Age UK Exeter.
There were dogs, bicycles, a glass of wine or three, texting, computers to name but a few scenes all decorated with a selection of backdrops, handbags and gladrags.
Martyn Rogers Director of Age Uk Exeter said “the afternoon was a chaotic, colourful and creative opportunity which has given us 100’s of pictures depicting people having fun, using modern technology and taking an active part in life and living. We look forward with excitment to becoming Age Uk Exeter and developing our services and opportunities for anyone over 50. Watch this space for some really interesting ventures later this year”
If you would like to find out more about Age UK Exeter, get in touch with Corinne Bailey on 01392 202092 or text “tell me more” to 07540 600829.
You can see a selection of photos from the day on our facebook: www.facebook.com/ageukexeter
Tuesday, 3 May 2011
Monday, 2 May 2011
£100 of Free Money
Most of the donations have come through Amazon or eBay, a few pence here and there all adds up. Every time I shop at Sainsburys, they donate 25p. Not a fortune but it all helps. My most lucrative donation was through Vodafone when I upgraded my mobile phone - they donated £45! Amazing.
So I enourage all you online shoppers, sign up to Easy Fundraising. You've got nothing to lose and imagine how much we could raise if there were more of us!
Here's a breakdown of how much the shops donated through my shopping.
| Retailer | Amount Donated |
|---|---|
| Vodafone | £45.00 |
| Amazon | £13.39 |
| ebay | £10.27 |
| Littlewoods | £8.38 |
| buyagift.co.uk | £7.87 |
| Sainsburys | £2.25 |
| Body Shop | £1.68 |
| Marks and Spencer | £1.31 |
| Green Insurance Company | £1.17 |
| BHS | £1.05 |
| Perfume Direct | £0.94 |
| Firebox.com | £0.77 |
| Play.com | £0.73 |
Tuesday, 11 January 2011
Our Car Insurance Services Recognised by Which?
Age UK Enterprises has kicked off 2011 with the fantastic news that its Motor Insurance now features on Which? Magazine’s Recommended Providers List of car insurers. The report published in Which Magazine this month arms consumers with what to look for when shopping around for an insurance policy and how to get a "good deal".
Which? Magazine, renowned for its impartiality, analyses the whole UK car insurance market to find out which brands offer the best policies. Instead of picking "Best Buys" based on specific scenarios, the Which? Recommended Providers List focuses on the customer service, quality of policies supporting customers to get ‘a good deal’ – something Age UK Enterprises has delivered to their customers for 28 years and consistently strives for across its whole product range.
The basis of the list is split between customer satisfaction (i.e. how the product is rated by Which? members), and the technical elements of the policy, which are scrutinised by Which? magazine’s team of experts. A particular focus is put on having good customer service, as claiming on insurance is a stressful experience and one that the insurer should be able to keep to a minimum.
Featuring on such a trusted comparison outlet is testament to just how strong a product Age UK Motor Insurance really is, particularly for such a competitive market as for car insurance. With its ambitions for 2011 already gathering pace, Age UK Enterprises will continue to go from strength to strength, offering excellent products and raising millions of pounds for Age UK’s national and local charitable activities. We hope to display the Which? Magazine Recommended Provider icon on our Motor Insurance marketing materials soon to highlight this award to our customers.
To get a quote, contact Karen Trist on 01392 202092 for an appointment or telephone quote.
Which? Magazine, renowned for its impartiality, analyses the whole UK car insurance market to find out which brands offer the best policies. Instead of picking "Best Buys" based on specific scenarios, the Which? Recommended Providers List focuses on the customer service, quality of policies supporting customers to get ‘a good deal’ – something Age UK Enterprises has delivered to their customers for 28 years and consistently strives for across its whole product range.
The basis of the list is split between customer satisfaction (i.e. how the product is rated by Which? members), and the technical elements of the policy, which are scrutinised by Which? magazine’s team of experts. A particular focus is put on having good customer service, as claiming on insurance is a stressful experience and one that the insurer should be able to keep to a minimum.
Featuring on such a trusted comparison outlet is testament to just how strong a product Age UK Motor Insurance really is, particularly for such a competitive market as for car insurance. With its ambitions for 2011 already gathering pace, Age UK Enterprises will continue to go from strength to strength, offering excellent products and raising millions of pounds for Age UK’s national and local charitable activities. We hope to display the Which? Magazine Recommended Provider icon on our Motor Insurance marketing materials soon to highlight this award to our customers.
To get a quote, contact Karen Trist on 01392 202092 for an appointment or telephone quote.
Wednesday, 15 December 2010
The Choir of a Hundred Hugs
Thank you Linking Voices for a musical treat and a smile which lasted me long after the enthusiastic applause died away- from now on I will always think of you as "the Choir of a Hundred Hugs".
Going along to the Exeter Phoenix on a dank and chilly Saturday in early December 2010, I wondered if there would be much of a turn out. Surely most people would be heavily involved in preparations for Christmas and far too busy to make time for a concert by a choir of potentially frail old folks run by something unglamorously entitled "Age Concern"?
How mistaken could I have been. By the time I managed to make it into the auditorium, more seating was being brought out and mutterings of "it'll be standing room only soon" could be heard. As I settled into my seat, notebook at the ready, I heard a voice behind me - "What's this, a Simply Red tribute band?!" Looking up I understood - a stage full of women wearing every shade of red, and even some in purple, jostled for space under the bright lights, joined by the smaller but always crucial male section, the men being slightly more soberly clad. The relaxed approach of the choir's leader, Vicky, allowed a friendly atmosphere to develop as seating problems were resolved and she prepared the singers for their first song; a tender rendition of "California Dreaming" which put a smile on my face lasting the rest of the afternoon and set the tone for a varied and most enjoyable concert, including plenty opportunity for audience participation. It didn't take much urging from Vicky before the Phoenix was humming with exciting vocal harmonies, not to mention Maori hand gestures.
Chatting with the singers afterwards, I experienced a full confirmation of my own experience of the multiple benefits to be had by anyone joining a community choir. Perhaps due to the particular "fifty plus" age range of the members of the Linking Voices choir, I heard several poignant stories of how the restorative experience of joining the choir had not only brought them safely through periods of serious sickness or bereavement, but also enriched their lives with a sense of belonging to a new "family". One member graphically described how her friend had seemed "small and shrunken and fearful"when she first came along. The best description I can offer today is "sparkling with fun and confidence" as she tells me of the difference the Linking Voices choir has made to life and how she now sings in three different choirs.
When asked if she could say what she gets out of the choir, their smiling leader Vicky told me:
"I can’t stop singing, I’ve always been singing and it keeps me healthy and happy and connected to people - I see people who've been looking at the ground, singing very quietly - if they're daring to sing at all - having been told since childhood they couldn’t sing - and suddenly they're standing on a stage dressed in bright red, singing out, with no piano accompaniment, feeling powerful with their voices and really enjoying themselves. I just love to see people grow in confidence, to see them coming out of their shells and just growing - and just having a really good time. And it's a two way street for me - I’ve made lots of new friends and as for the hugs, with hugs on the way in and hugs on the way out, I get a hundred hugs a day!"
Thanks to Meg Compton for her review
Thursday, 9 December 2010
The Cuts and Older People
After all the hype and speculation about the comprehensive spending review, the country now knows where George Osborne and the Coalition Government are planning to target cuts of £81 billion over the next four years. But what will the likely impact be for older people? Age UK, the new national body formed from the merger of Age Concern England and Help the Aged, has been lobbying government hard over the last weeks and months to protect the interests of older people, both financially, and in health and social care services. So what’s the damage? Actually, on the financial front remarkably little it seems, unless you’re in your early fifties and will have to work longer before you get your state retirement pension, or you still qualify for child benefit and are in the higher tax bracket.
Universal benefits, such as free prescriptions and eye tests for people over 60, free televison licences for those over 75 and the highly valued Winter Fuel Payment, have all been retained. Many had been concerned that the Winter Fuel Payment that pays £250 per household to people over 60, and £400 to those over 80, would be withdrawn. So the fact that it is continuing, for the time being at least, is a relief. Less positive, however, is the government’s announcement that it intends to phase out the Warm Front scheme, which provides help to make the homes of the poorest and most vulnerable in our society – many of whom will be older people dependent on Pension Credit – more energy efficient and therefore warmer and safer. The Governmant plans to reduce Warm Front’s current £280m per annum expenditure by more than half next year, before phasing the scheme out altogether in 2013. This is a real concern when one considers the large number of excess winter deaths that are still recorded each year.
It is vital, therefore, that older people check they are receiving everything to which they are entitled. If you are single and have a total income of less than £130 per week or a couple with less than £198 per week then you should check to see if you are entitled to pension credit. You can contact the pension service on 0800 99 1234 (have your NI number, details of income and savings and the account to which you want the payment to be made ready when you phone). Alternatively, you can contact Age Concern Exeter’s Information & Advice service, which runs Monday to Thursday, 10am to 1pm, on 01392 202092 with this or any other query.
Of course, as well as cuts, the chancellor also announced changes to the state pension age. A policy to change the state retirement age to 66 for both men and women has been accelerated, and will now come into force from April 2020 – six years earlier than originally planned. Women’s pension age will now increase more quickly between 2016 and 2018 to reach 65, before rising to 66 in 2020. The Government is also considering a timetable for future increases in state retirement age to 68 – goodness knows what our friends across the Channel would make of that!
The other announcement that will have a big impact on many older people is the cut of 28% to local councils. This is a huge reduction in expenditure for council’s to manage over four years, and will have a serious impact on local services. Many councils,Devon included, have been planning for a 25% reduction, so this is even worse than they feared. At a recent meeting, I heard Phil Norrey, chief executive of Devon County Council, say that if the cuts were in the order of 25%, then even if the council got rid of its 200 most highly paid staff and all its corporate services such as HR, IT, finance etc, it would still only save half the money required by Government. The consequence is that frontline services will inevitably be hit.
Devon County Council has responsibility for commissioning – that is paying for – social care services. Services that support the most vulnerable to live independently at home through a range of support, or, where that is not possible, by funding their long-term care where they do not have the finances to pay for it themselves. Of course, the majority of people who desperately need such support are older people and their carers. My plea to John Hart, the leader of Devon County Council, and Stuart Barker, the elected member responsible for social services, is to do all they can to protect social care funding.
We all know the demands for social care services are rising with an ageing population and an increase in the number of families coping with dementia. To remove funding from already over-stretched services could actually increase costs through older people ending up in hospital or long-term care sooner than would otherwise be the case, or carers being left unsupported and therefore unable to cope. The Council is obviously between a rock and a hard place, but protecting the most vulnerable must be their first duty. John Hart is currently asking for people’s views on how the Council should deal with the difficult decisions ahead. If you agree with me, that social care services should be protected in just the same way health services have been (they are two sides of the same coin, after all), then please let John Hart know your views. You can write to him at County Hall,Exeter , EX2 4QD
Universal benefits, such as free prescriptions and eye tests for people over 60, free televison licences for those over 75 and the highly valued Winter Fuel Payment, have all been retained. Many had been concerned that the Winter Fuel Payment that pays £250 per household to people over 60, and £400 to those over 80, would be withdrawn. So the fact that it is continuing, for the time being at least, is a relief. Less positive, however, is the government’s announcement that it intends to phase out the Warm Front scheme, which provides help to make the homes of the poorest and most vulnerable in our society – many of whom will be older people dependent on Pension Credit – more energy efficient and therefore warmer and safer. The Governmant plans to reduce Warm Front’s current £280m per annum expenditure by more than half next year, before phasing the scheme out altogether in 2013. This is a real concern when one considers the large number of excess winter deaths that are still recorded each year.
It is vital, therefore, that older people check they are receiving everything to which they are entitled. If you are single and have a total income of less than £130 per week or a couple with less than £198 per week then you should check to see if you are entitled to pension credit. You can contact the pension service on 0800 99 1234 (have your NI number, details of income and savings and the account to which you want the payment to be made ready when you phone). Alternatively, you can contact Age Concern Exeter’s Information & Advice service, which runs Monday to Thursday, 10am to 1pm, on 01392 202092 with this or any other query.
Of course, as well as cuts, the chancellor also announced changes to the state pension age. A policy to change the state retirement age to 66 for both men and women has been accelerated, and will now come into force from April 2020 – six years earlier than originally planned. Women’s pension age will now increase more quickly between 2016 and 2018 to reach 65, before rising to 66 in 2020. The Government is also considering a timetable for future increases in state retirement age to 68 – goodness knows what our friends across the Channel would make of that!
The other announcement that will have a big impact on many older people is the cut of 28% to local councils. This is a huge reduction in expenditure for council’s to manage over four years, and will have a serious impact on local services. Many councils,
Devon County Council has responsibility for commissioning – that is paying for – social care services. Services that support the most vulnerable to live independently at home through a range of support, or, where that is not possible, by funding their long-term care where they do not have the finances to pay for it themselves. Of course, the majority of people who desperately need such support are older people and their carers. My plea to John Hart, the leader of Devon County Council, and Stuart Barker, the elected member responsible for social services, is to do all they can to protect social care funding.
We all know the demands for social care services are rising with an ageing population and an increase in the number of families coping with dementia. To remove funding from already over-stretched services could actually increase costs through older people ending up in hospital or long-term care sooner than would otherwise be the case, or carers being left unsupported and therefore unable to cope. The Council is obviously between a rock and a hard place, but protecting the most vulnerable must be their first duty. John Hart is currently asking for people’s views on how the Council should deal with the difficult decisions ahead. If you agree with me, that social care services should be protected in just the same way health services have been (they are two sides of the same coin, after all), then please let John Hart know your views. You can write to him at County Hall,
Wednesday, 10 November 2010
Kathy's Parachute Jump
I finally jumped on Sunday at 16.30pm and can honestly say it was the most exhilarating and amazing experience of my life.
Dunkeswell has the fastest jump plane in the UK, most Tandems are 10,000 feet, this is due to the altitude, if you are at a height above 10,000 feet you will normally need oxygen, but the plane at Dunkeswell is so fast, you are only at this extraordinary height for a couple of minutes before jumping.
As the plane gained height, I looked out of the window with mounting excitement and could not help but think of the 101st Airborne as they would of flown this exact route on D-Day, Upottery Airfield is only a stones throw away from Dunkeswell, and this is where they took off from .
After a few safety checks and 8-9 minutes in the air, a loud buzzer sounded, the door opened and the "Green Go" light appeared, everyone started shuffling forward (we are all in a sitting position) I watched amazed as one by one my "fellow jumpers" disappeared from sight out the plane door, I reached the open door, the plane flying level at 15000 feet and my partner shouts "Knees", so here is me, on my knees leaning out of a plane door laughing my head off, I feel a push in the back and that's it, I am out, free falling at a speed up to 140mph, the G Force is incredible, my ears are screaming, I am turning my head (with difficulty) from left to right to take in all the beautiful scenery, next thing I see is a Proffesional Freefaller in front of me holding my hands and giving me the thumbs up, I cant believe I am having a conversation at about 12000 feet with another person, he shouts "Bye" and waves and then flies off! My nose is running, my eyes are streaming behind the goggles and as I try to whoop and shout the force of the wind stifles the noise from my mouth, next thing I feel is myself being sucked back up into the sky and the most incredible silence and feeling of calmness and tranquility, the canopy has opened and I am now floating gracefully over the clouds, I am allowed to take control of the canopy and shown how to spin and twist and turn, it's the most magical feeling ever, we descend through the clouds and the view is just awesome, I feel free and alive and excitedly go into "Kathy" mode, chattering non-stop, I can see as far as Portland Bill on my left and Torbay on my right, we swing the canopy round and I can see Lundy Island illuminated by a perfect red sky, this is just stupendously wonderful, I look down (a little sad) as the ground is rushing towards us at an incredible speed and pull my knees up ready for landing, we land perfectly and slide on our bottoms to a stop about 20 metres along the grass, my partner unclips my harness, and I turn and hug him, thanking him profusely.
What an amazing experience, one I need to repeat and will never forget.
Kathy Knight, Ground Floor Manager
Dunkeswell has the fastest jump plane in the UK, most Tandems are 10,000 feet, this is due to the altitude, if you are at a height above 10,000 feet you will normally need oxygen, but the plane at Dunkeswell is so fast, you are only at this extraordinary height for a couple of minutes before jumping.
As the plane gained height, I looked out of the window with mounting excitement and could not help but think of the 101st Airborne as they would of flown this exact route on D-Day, Upottery Airfield is only a stones throw away from Dunkeswell, and this is where they took off from .
After a few safety checks and 8-9 minutes in the air, a loud buzzer sounded, the door opened and the "Green Go" light appeared, everyone started shuffling forward (we are all in a sitting position) I watched amazed as one by one my "fellow jumpers" disappeared from sight out the plane door, I reached the open door, the plane flying level at 15000 feet and my partner shouts "Knees", so here is me, on my knees leaning out of a plane door laughing my head off, I feel a push in the back and that's it, I am out, free falling at a speed up to 140mph, the G Force is incredible, my ears are screaming, I am turning my head (with difficulty) from left to right to take in all the beautiful scenery, next thing I see is a Proffesional Freefaller in front of me holding my hands and giving me the thumbs up, I cant believe I am having a conversation at about 12000 feet with another person, he shouts "Bye" and waves and then flies off! My nose is running, my eyes are streaming behind the goggles and as I try to whoop and shout the force of the wind stifles the noise from my mouth, next thing I feel is myself being sucked back up into the sky and the most incredible silence and feeling of calmness and tranquility, the canopy has opened and I am now floating gracefully over the clouds, I am allowed to take control of the canopy and shown how to spin and twist and turn, it's the most magical feeling ever, we descend through the clouds and the view is just awesome, I feel free and alive and excitedly go into "Kathy" mode, chattering non-stop, I can see as far as Portland Bill on my left and Torbay on my right, we swing the canopy round and I can see Lundy Island illuminated by a perfect red sky, this is just stupendously wonderful, I look down (a little sad) as the ground is rushing towards us at an incredible speed and pull my knees up ready for landing, we land perfectly and slide on our bottoms to a stop about 20 metres along the grass, my partner unclips my harness, and I turn and hug him, thanking him profusely.
What an amazing experience, one I need to repeat and will never forget.
Kathy Knight, Ground Floor Manager
Monday, 8 November 2010
Talking Heads Review
Last Wednesday, I attended the first of two Talking Heads shows at the Globe Hotel in Topsham. Although I'm a Northerner, Alan Bennett seems to have escaped me so I really didn't know what to expect. I also wasn't sure what a 'rehearsed reading' would be like. I certainly didn't expect it to be as animated and enjoyable as it was!
There were two performances, first from Beth who is a drama student at Exeter University. Her role was that of an aspiring actress who thinks she's got a big break in the movies. It was wonderfully acted and I stopped seeing the piece of paper with the words because it was so well rehearsed that Beth hardly looked at it. She made lots of eye contact with the audience and delivered the story well.
The second performance was from our own Nicola Weate. Her character was a much older lady who finds herself widowed and unable to do as much for herself as she'd like. It was quite poignant because of the work that we do at Age Concern Exeter and the clients that we have. I felt quite emotional throughout. Nicola played the part wonderfully and both actresses received long applause after each monologue.
If you were in any doubt as to whether to attend the next event this Friday, buy your ticket now! It was a truly wonderful evening of entertainment and I can't wait for the next one which features our own Tony Harvey and Corinne Bailey.
There were two performances, first from Beth who is a drama student at Exeter University. Her role was that of an aspiring actress who thinks she's got a big break in the movies. It was wonderfully acted and I stopped seeing the piece of paper with the words because it was so well rehearsed that Beth hardly looked at it. She made lots of eye contact with the audience and delivered the story well.
The second performance was from our own Nicola Weate. Her character was a much older lady who finds herself widowed and unable to do as much for herself as she'd like. It was quite poignant because of the work that we do at Age Concern Exeter and the clients that we have. I felt quite emotional throughout. Nicola played the part wonderfully and both actresses received long applause after each monologue.
If you were in any doubt as to whether to attend the next event this Friday, buy your ticket now! It was a truly wonderful evening of entertainment and I can't wait for the next one which features our own Tony Harvey and Corinne Bailey.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)