Reversal of decision re Concessionary bus/metro passes
Older and disabled passengers will no long be able to travel free of charge on buses or the Metro in Tyne and Wear at morning peak hours. From May 26, only customers paying full price will be to use the services before 9.30 am on weekdays.
“People with concessionary travel cards should, like everyone, only make essential journeys by public transport and travel in the afternoon if they can. There’s more space on buses and Metro after 12 noon, so that’s more secure for everyone." Customer Services statement from Nexus.
The Board of Trustees
The Board of Trustees met on 19 May using Microsoft Teams to video conference. Among other agenda items they reviewed the provisional date for the Annual General Meeting in September. There is still uncertainty as to whether this date can be met. Members will be kept informed via this Bulletin, Magazine, Radio and Facebook.
Communications Team
The Communications Team are continuing to phone members who do not have digital contact. Several hundred of our members fall into this category and so far we have contacted approx. 350. Some of these are from numbers no longer recognised and that could be for a range of reasons one being you have changed your number but haven't told us. If you have changed numbers or changed address and haven't told us please could you email us with new address/phone number.
Many, but not all, of the people we have contacted are in their 80s and 90s, the majority tell us they are fine. Help comes from family, friends, neighbours, and carers but some are very independent and manage for themselves and some are offering support to others.
EC keeping informed and up-to-date At EC we are trying to keep abreast of some of the issues arising from the current crisis by participating in webinars where we can hear from experts in the field of ageing. Here is one you may be interested in:
What has the COVID 19 crisis revealed about ageing in contemporary culture? How have older age groups been represented during this crisis? To debate this issue, sign up for the COVID 19 Reframing Ageing webinar on 12 June 2020 https://www.eventbrite.ie/e/webinar-covid-19-reframing-ageing-tickets-106729504822?ref=elink
Several trustees and members have taken part in webinars and listened to online open lectures. As well as this others have continued to upgrade their previous training. Recently one trustees followed online training for safeguarding adults: another did training for digital safety and security.
Carers Week (8- 14 June 2020) Now more than ever, Elders Council would like to take this opportunity to acknowledge and thank unpaid carers for the amazing work they do. Life is so much tougher for people now as they don’t have access to the moments of respite from their caring responsibilities or are unable to visit family members in care homes. We would love to hear from you whether you are caring for someone in your own home; trying to support someone from a distance or have a relative in a care home. If you have the time and energy, please send your reflections on your life under lockdown to info@elderscouncil.org.uk. Social care is one of our priorities and we are keen to gather as much information as we can about your experiences to help us to raise issues locally and nationally.
More information about Carers Week on their website. https://www.carersweek.org/
Facebook
This reminder comes regularly as we are posting more onto the Facebook page. It's the quickest way we have to keep you up to date and we post not just about the Elders Council but about things we believe will be useful and of interest to you.Thanks for 'liking' and 'following' our page try sharing it with your friends to take the message further afield.
Remember that you can connect from the link near the bottom of this page.
If you haven't already visited us, please take a look today.
Elders Council Radio 'Older Voices' The Elders Council 'Older Voices' radio team will be broadcasting again on 5 June. Once again this will be from their own homes using video conferencing.
You can find this on your radio by tuning in to 102.5fm or:
on the Nova Radio North East website here.
Why not try the Radio Garden app on your mobile phone?
Just look for Nova Radio North East!
Contact us if you would like further information about the Elders Council: ☎ phone: 0191 208 2701
or email: info@elderscouncil.org.uk
Good Space
We are really sad to report that the meeting and event spaces at Good Space will no longer be available to book from 31st May 2020. This is unfortunately a direct consequence of the Coronavirus Pandemic and, whilst the team who run this have considered how they might re-organise the space, it has been agreed that it is no longer practical to reopen in the near future.
We understand that this will also affect staff there and have sent our commiserations to them, together with appreciation for the support that has been provided to the Elders Council in the past.
Tyne and Wear Museums Try a "Collections Dive." It's a fun way to explore thousands of images of their collections in a random way. The slower you scroll the more similar objects you see. The faster you scroll the more random they become.
Flickr photo album
Delve into an album of historic photographs from Tyne and Wear Museum archives. A fascinating glimpse into daily life in our region in days gone by.
Why not sign up to become a member online at: twmuseums.org
Baltic Centre for Contemporary Art
Take a tour of the Animalesque exhibition with BALTIC Crew member Sam. You can view the full offer from the Baltic online here:
Singing of many kinds
There's a lot of research on the value of singing for health and wellbeing and with video conferencing it's still possible to sing and learn and although it's different it can still be fun. Here are some of the things you might like to try.
Gaelic Songs from Irish and Scottish traditions it's open to anyone.
It's on Fridays at 6 p.m. Online Folk Club You can offer a song yourself or just sit back and listen to others on Sunday at 8p.m. Come and Sing is a choir you don't need to read music and you can join in or just listen or sing but with your mic silenced no one else can hear you! Thursday at 6.30 p.m.
All of these use Zoom ( a video conferencing system) Interested?
City Learning
There are a large number of classes available online: modern foreign languages or water colour painting; drawing or digital photography and others as well: all of them from the comfort of your own home. Zoom is the technology that provides the sessions. For more information contact: email: maria.hawthorne@citylearning.ac.uk https://www.newcastlecitylearning.ac.uk/
Northumbria University
Keeping a Wellbeing Diary
Members of a research team at Northumbria are seeking volunteers in research into wellbeing. The research involves keeping a diary over a period of time. If you are interested in participating; have any questions or require further information about this project, please contact a member of the research team: Petia Sice - Petia.Sice@northumbria.ac.uk;
Garry Elvin - Garry.Elvin@northumbria.ac.uk;
Workers Education Association (WEA)
This organisation are also offering online courses and at the moment they are all free (although donations are gratefully accepted).
There is a wide variety, with something to suit everyone. WEA also use Zoom technology. More information online:
Health, Anxiety and Loneliness
Please consider taking part in an online research study being conducted at Newcastle University looking at Loneliness and Health Anxiety in people over the age of 65.
People aged 65+ are generally under represented across all areas of research so this would be an opportunity to contribute towards something which will hopefully help to develop our understanding and therefore health outcomes for older people. It is also an opportunity to do something a bit different during these strange times of lockdown.
To express an interest and find out more information on how to take part please contact Holly De Luca via email at HA65plus@newcastle.ac.uk
Cumbria, Northumberland, Tyne and Wear NHS Foundation Trust
Changes to the way they work, in response to the COVID-19 pandemic has required them to check with service users about their experience during the pandemic. A Service User Experience Survey has been designed; it is anonymous and all comments will remain confidential. Please find the survey here.
Newcastle upon Tyne Hospitals NHS Trust
The Trust would like to make sure that it hears from older people about their experience using the Freeman and RVI hospitals during the COVID19 epidemic. There are three questions.
Have you experienced any difficulty accessing hospital services during COVID19?
Have you had any good experiences?
Do you have any thoughts on how we could improve services or address concerns at this time?
Voice
There are many opportunities to join online discussions and air your thoughts on such matters as: data sharing or exercise research or even what aspects of teeth filling are important to you! Check online for more information.
https://www.voice-global.org/opportunities/Not Equal
This organisation aims to foster new collaborations which will create the conditions for digital technology to support social justice. Not Equal have invited projects to submit bids to deliver this project and are now seeking people who are willing to be part of a community panel to assess the bids for their social impact. If this sounds like you contact by email for further information or check out at the web address.
email notequal@newcastle.ac.uk https://not-equal.tech/
The Volunteer Centre Newcastle promotes, supports and celebrates volunteering across the City. This year they are unable to celebrate as normal, so have come up with a way for local communities to recognise the valuable work carried out by these unpaid heroes of the pandemic.
For those who help in their communities and with charities every day, we want to say a huge Thank You and ask for you to stand and clap at: 8 pm on Monday 1st June.
If you would like to know more about becoming a volunteer you can contact
If you would like to become a Volunteer for the Elders Council please contact:
☎ phone: 0191 208 2701
or email: info@elderscouncil.org
Domestic Abuse
Help and support is available is available if you, or anyone you know is experiencing this. Contact Newcastle Domestic Abuse Services: ☎ phone 0191 214 6501
☎ phone The Police on 101 or in an emergency dial 999.
If you dial 999 and are unable to speak dial 55 and follow the instructions.
Help online at:www.northumbria.police.uk
Women can also get legal advice about domestic abuse by contacting Finding Legal Options for Women Survivors. The website is:https://www.flows.org.uk/☎ phone: 0203 745 7707
email to: flows@rcjadvice.org.uk
The British Red Cross In order to prevent people losing contact with loved ones during COVID 19, British Red Cross have produced some tips for staying connected and an Emergency Contact Card where people can write the name of the person they would wish to be contacted should they become seriously ill. They are available in a number of different languages and can be downloaded at: redcross.org.uk/trace
Newcastle City Council Holocaust Memorial Day 2020
Applications for grants of up to £2,000 are invited from organisations that would like to contribute to the Holocaust Memorial Day programme in Newcastle in 2021. All applications to be received by 5.00pm, Friday 26 June 2020.Organisations who are interested in applying for support for activities to mark HMD in 2021 are advised to discuss their proposal before making an application and should contact: Alison Flanagan Wood: ☎ phone: 07917271331
email: alison.flanaganwood@newcastle.gov.uk
Safeguarding Children
Children can become anxious about the constant reporting of corona virus and the Children's Commissioner has produced a booklet that you might find useful to use and share.
If you are worried about children because of the particular circumstances of the Covid 19 you can contact Newcastle and ask for the Emergency Duty Team.
☎ phone 0191 278 7878
The police can also be contacted by dialling 101 or in an emergency 999.
The Great British Sewing Bee
The company that make this programme are searching for the next collection of home sewers to film the seventh series. Do you know a brilliant amateur sewer? Perhaps you are one yourself?
You can apply online, all entries to arrive by 7 June 2020
Are you losing £80 per week from your pension? Former pensions minister Steve Webb said on "Money Box" (BBC Radio 4) that tens of thousands of older married women pensioners are being paid up to £80 a week too little - how do you go about seeing if you're missing out and how can you claim if you are? This is the website given by the BBC.
Wellbeing and mental health during Covid 19
The Cumbria, Northumberland, Tyne and Wear NHS Foundation Trust also produced a booklet about wellbeing and mental health. A hard copy has been posted to many homes. It's a helpful booklet and you may know of other friends and family who would find it useful. You can find it online: http://www.stopsuicidenenc.org/resources/coronavirus-and-your-wellbeing/
Central Government Funds for Charities
Culture Secretary accelerates release of funding in further boost for charities and social enterprises across the country. If you are involved in a charity or social enterprise or know others who are please look online for information about possible funding.
InformationNow
The online resource for the 25+ age group in Newcastle provide a brief newsletter. You can subscribe and receive the newsletter every fortnight at: https://www.informationnow.org.uk/news/
