This may be your last chance to book a place to join our conversation with Chi Onwurah MP (Central Newcastle) and Shadow Minister for Science, Research and Digital.
The session will take place on Friday 24th February 11.00 am – 12.30 pm (doors open at 10.30 am) at Brunswick Methodist Church (by Fenwick’s)
Whether you love it, hate it, or just don’t want to know, come and join the conversation on the pros and cons of going digital.
☎ phone: 0191 208 2701
or email info@elderscouncil.org.uk
Older Voices Radio Show
The Radio show goes out weekly from this month, so don't forget to tune in each Sunday to hear from the team and their guests. Nova Radio North East on 102.5 fm or online.
live via the Radio Garden app/online or listen later via MixCloud.
12th February 2-4pm - About the Elders Council presented by Steve Whitley
19th February 2-4pm - Conversations about Mental Health with guests from local services
We would really like to hear your views on the show, in particular now being weekly.
Is there anything you would like to hear about in future programmes?
Don't forget to write and let us know.
☎ phone: 0191 208 2701
or email info@elderscouncil.org.uk
Meet Carol Pyrah, Chief Executive, Urban Green
Thursday 23rd February 2023, 12.30 – 1.30 pm, Elders Council Offices
Urban Green is the organisation which is looking after many of our green spaces and allotments in the city.
Elders Council has a special opportunity to meet Carol Pyrah, the Chief Executive of Urban Green to discuss what we are looking for in our green spaces.
Join us at our offices in the Biomedical Research Building, Campus for Ageing and Vitality (Old General Hospital) to be part of this conversation.
Please let us know you are coming by calling or emailing (see below).
☎ phone: 0191 208 2701
or email info@elderscouncil.org.uk
Farrell Centre Opening – Correction
In our last bulletin, we said that the Farrell Centre would open on 11th February.
The opening has been delayed until April 2023 so we will bring you the new information as soon as we receive it.
☎ phone: 0191 208 2701
or email info@elderscouncil.org.uk
North East Active Travel Strategy
Wednesday 1st March 2023 11.00 am – 12.30 pm
If you would like to know more about what is being proposed, please join us on the day.
Let us know whether you are able to come, or want to know how to get here, by emailing us below.
☎ phone: 0191 208 2701
or email info@elderscouncil.org.uk
Board of Trustees
At the end of January we held our first meeting of 2023 where we discussed and debated how the Elders Council plans to move forward.
Mary Nicholls our communications lead, shared a report which included information about the Magazine, E-bulletin, Radio Show, and Social Media. Sana, our intern from Newcastle University who is working with EC for the next 6 months, provided analytical information.
We are pleased to report that since our meeting with Pam Smith, Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Newcastle City Council, we have been invited to meet her again. We will be working on a plan of action for this.
☎ phone: 0191 208 2701
or email info@elderscouncil.org.uk
Newcastle University - NCL in action
Saturday 11th March 2023 – Between 11.00 am – 4.15 pm
at The Catalyst, Newcastle Helix
The launch of this programme will be an opportunity to see the beautiful Catalyst building and to meet with both current/retired staff and alumni from Newcastle University.
There is more information in this link NCL in Action: Launch Day - NCL in Action - Newcastle University.
Members of the Elders Council have been invited to attend this event, so if you would like to attend, please contact barbara.douglas@elderscouncil.org.uk and indicate which parts of the programme you are interested in.
☎ phone: 0191 208 2701
or email info@elderscouncil.org.uk
Working from Home - Ergonomics
Some EC members may remember taking part in in a series of workshops last year about how to fit an office layout into new Housing.
Northumbria University is now carrying out a Research Project looking to improve existing layout and equipment for working or volunteering from home, for those living with long term conditions.
If you, or a friend, would be interested in taking part in this project, please see further information in the Research section below, or call us for more information.
☎ phone: 0191 208 2701
or email info@elderscouncil.org.uk
Facebook and Twitter
We continue to update our social media pages with information or invitations that fall between bulletins, so do keep a look out.
Interests and Activities
SEARCH Newcastle
‘Wellbeing and Mindfulness at Newcastle Building Society West Denton
Every 2 weeks from 01/02/23
Support from link worker, mindfulness activities, refreshments, access to other services and opportunity to socialise. Everyone is welcome, so please come along.
Lifting Neighbourhoods Together - Walker Tree Top Village, Walker Road
Free Community activities are available for local people on the following days: Mondays from 10am to 3pm (board games, crafts, One Stop Shop for benefits and financial support) Tuesdays from 10am to 1pm (time to chat) Wednesdays from 10am to 2pm (café style) Thursdays from 10am to 12 noon (gardening crafts)
Refreshments available all days.
☎ phone: 0191 2632751
Crafty Natter with Chain Reaction
Tuesday 7th February 10.30am-12 noon (weekly thereafter)
Gala Field Centre: Newbiggin Lane. Newbiggin Hall Estate. Newcastle. NE5 1LZ
Take part in various crafts activities and have a good Natter with a cuppa. The café will be open if you want to stay on after the group to have lunch.
We would love to hear what crafty activities you might be interested in and we would be happy explore these ideas.
Please leave your name and phone number and someone will get back to you as soon as possible.
☎ phone: 0300 300 7070
Do you Love to sing?
EC member Tony Huzzard, is the local singer/soloist for the NHS and has two choirs you may be interested in joining:
Tuesday: Gosforth Community Choir from 10.30 am – 12.30 pm at the Church Hall opposite South Gosforth Metro
Wednesday: Newbiggin Hall Singers from 10.30 am – 12.00 noon at St. Wilfrid’s Church, Newbiggin Hall If you would like to join, contact Tony
Feb 7: Malcolm Wilkinson The Lindisfarne Gospels Feb 14: Yvonne Young Women of Note in the North Feb 21: Amanda Hepburn Lindisfarne History and Nature Reserve Feb 28: Andrew Everett Glenn Miller
Meetings are held in the Brunswick Methodist Church Hall (off Northumberland Street, beside Fenwick's) on Tuesday mornings between 10.30 am and noon.
All are welcome, and first-time visitors are excused the meeting fee of £3
The Brunswick Club will hold their 60th Anniversary meeting on Tuesday 14th March, when the speaker will be David Faulkner, a former Newcastle City Councillor. David will present an illustrated talk entitled "Three American Visitors to Newcastle" in which he will cover the visits of Martin Luther King, Jimmy Carter and Muhammed Ali. The meeting will be open to all visitors.
Vitaminds Community Wellbeing Day
Date: 17th February 10.30-3.30 at Brunswick Methodist Church
Join your local NHS talking therapy service and local community organisations for a day filled with wellbeing support, welfare advice, and fun activities for children.
Free tea, coffee, treats and goodie bags. No need to sign up.
OUSEBURN TRUST
You can find out what is happening in the area by signing up to receive the newsletter direct NEWSLETTER
Screening of Gertrude Bell documentary film, Letters from Baghdad followed by Q&As 16th February 2023 The Great North Museum, 5.30-8.30pm
(Visitors are invited to browse the exhibition prior to the screening, which will begin at 6.30pm)
An opportunity to watch the documentary film Letters from Baghdad in the Great North Museum, followed by a Q&A with a panel of British and Iraqi academics and subject experts, including Head of Archaeology and Co-Curator of the Gertrude Bell Archive, Dr Mark Jackson. Attendees will have the opportunity to browse the Challenging Legacies exhibition and visit the bar prior to the screening.
“Voiced and executive produced by Academy award winning actor Tilda Swinton, the documentary tells the dramatic story of this British spy, explorer and political powerhouse [Gertrude Bell]”.
Design a postcard, inspired by the travels of Gertrude Bell 21st February 2023
The Great North Museum, 11am – 3pm Drop in family event
Get inspired by Gertrude Bell’s letters and photographs and design your own postcards. Imagine travelling anywhere in the world and writing a postcard about your trip. Where would you visit and what would your postcard look like? Who would you write to and what messages would you tell them?
Gertrude Bell Archive ‘Show and Tell’ with Project Archivist, Valentina Flex 23rd February 2023
Collaborative Learning Space, Level 1, Philip Robinson Library, 1.15-2.15pm and 6.15-7.15pm
Visit Newcastle University’s Philip Robinson Library to explore original material relating to the themes of the Challenging Legacies exhibition from the Gertrude Bell archive with Project Archivist, Valentina Flex. A chance to see material up close, ask questions, and learn more about Gertrude Bell and the Archive.
Shieldfield Home -The NewBridge Project Gallery space Part 2: 28 January - 25 February 12pm - 5pm
All kinds of art, craft and creativity will be exhibited – from drawings and paintings to photography, films and books to craft, design & digital art, floral, textiles, fashion, music & sound. Artworks will be displayed in their custom-designed showroom in the gallery. Some of the art will be for sale and there will be full programme of events for anyone to get involved in.
Shieldfield Home starts off The NewBridge Project’s theme ‘The Home’. They will be producing a long term programme of exhibitions, events, talks and workshops which explore ‘The Home’, what it means in their community and space in Shieldfield.
Kielder Observatory is coming to Exhibition Park in 2023!
When will the pop-up events take place? To be confirmed. LOCATION: Exhibition Park – near the Café - what 3-word location - cheeks.volunteered.shunts
Did you know that Kielder Observatory will be running pop up star and moon gazing events in Exhibition Park in 2023.
Kielder Observatory is based in the heart of Kielder Forest, meaning it can sometimes become dangerous to access in certain conditions, which means that some nights they need to cancel their events.
They are trialing pop-up events on nights where there are clearer skies throughout Hexham and other areas in Northumberland. Due to the success of these they would like to bring their events to Newcastle.
The Exhibition Park pop-up events will involve up to 4 astronomers with a couple of telescopes from 7pm – 10pm, where members of the public can join in free of charge with some star gazing and moon watching.
Due to the nature of the pop events and relying on clear skies to be able to run them, Kielder Observatory will provide Urban Green Newcastle with as much notice as possible of when they will be in Exhibition Park, but it may be the case that we will have a few days’ notice, and on some occasions this may be as little as on the day notice.
The event dates will be confirmed with a few days’ notice dependent on weather 7pm – 10pm
The sessions are open to the public and anyone is welcome to attend.
Also a 5 day trip to Blackpool Monday 26th June – Friday 30th June.
Any spare seats will be offered to Elders Council members.
The social club meet on the second Tuesday of each month (next 14th February) with speakers on local areas and important subjects followed by a raffle and bingo.
Venue – Tyneside Irish Club 10.30am.
Come along, you will be made welcome.
Further information – Bob Pinkerton 0191 4144537
Volunteering, Research and Consultations
Oral Health - Free Dental Treatment
Are you having issues finding a local NHS dentist?
Do you know that you can receive free treatment at Newcastle University Dental school?
To find out more check out their website below.
Are you interested in taking part in a research project looking into improving layouts and equipment for working or volunteering at home for those with long term conditions?
Northumbria University, is seeking to have discussions on working/volunteering at home with older people who are managing to work from home despite a long term condition. Long term conditions may include musculoskeletal problems, cardiac problems, diabetes, Parkinson’s Disease or individuals with mobility restrictions or requirements for adaptation to their work space for desk-based work.
It is hoped to start discussion in February and these may be at the University, on line or in your own home, depending on your preference.
If this is you, or someone you know, please get in touch to find out more about what is involved.
Elders Council and its members have worked regularly with Northumbria University on various research projects and we are keen to find people who would be interested in supporting this important research project.
☎ phone: 0191 208 2701
or email info@elderscouncil.org.uk
Volunteers (under 75) wanted to host Sunday Tea Parties
Reengage charity aims to alleviate loneliness and isolation in Older People aged 75+.
Monthly Sunday Tea Parties are run by wonderful volunteers who still enjoy making new connections, in their own home.
All Tea Parties are held on a Sunday as this seems to be a lonely day for many.
Every Tea Party has volunteer drivers so each guest is collected and dropped back home again, and usually run between 1pm-3pm. The guests enjoy cake, a cuppa and a chat with people around their age.
For those people who don’t want to, or simply can’t leave their home, we have a Call Companion Service where a lovely volunteer will ring an Older Person once a week.
If you are interested in any of these options and perhaps you would like to set up a new Tea Party in your area, please contact Helen below.
☎ phone: Free call to 0800716543
or email: Helen.Shortall@reengage.org.uk
Understanding and Reimagining Sleep and Its Disorders
Northumbria University, in partnership with The Sleep Charity and funded by the Wellcome Trust, has launched this new project.
It aims to bring the most recent research in sleep science and the cultural study of sleep directly to those who live with sleep disorders.
Six workshops will be held in February and March 2023 on various aspects of sleep and health. Half will be online and half in-person at the Baltic Centre for Contemporary Art in Newcastle. The project organisers recommend that participants attend two workshops, one online and one in-person. The project will be able to cover reasonable expenses of participants.
Across the workshops, participants will have the opportunity to work directly with artists and specialist researchers of sleep from psychology and literary and cultural studies. We will share stories of sleep, explore the impact of sleep disorders in our lives, and produce creative responses to sleep.
The online workshops will be held at the following times:
Sleep and parenting: 13th February, 11am-12pm
Sleep and ageing: 15th February, 10-11am
Sleep and menopause: 27th February, 6-7pm
In the in-person workshops, artist Chiara Dellerba will guide you in activities aimed towards expressing creatively your experiences of sleep, and will be held at the Baltic Centre for Contemporary Art in Newcastle at the following times:
Sleep and parenting: 18th March, 2-4pm
Sleep and ageing, 19th March, 2-4pm
Sleep and menopause, 25th March, 2-4pm
The aim of this project is for researchers and those with experience of sleep issues to learn together and discuss ways to increase awareness and improve the wellbeing of people who live with sleep disorders.
Creative responses that participants produce at the workshops will be published on an interactive website later in the year, named or anonymously at the participant’s request. This interactive website will then become a community space for people from all over the world to view and contribute their own stories of sleep.
Workshop participants will be able to withdraw from the project at any time. If any research outcomes which describe the workshops are published or presented at conferences, the anonymity of participants will be protected and the data you have provided will not be personally identifiable.
NEIGHBOURHOOD WATCH CRIME PREVENTION FREE WEBINAR SERIES
PREVENTING BURGLARY WITH WIDEN Dates and times: 14th Feb 1pm – 2pm and 22nd Feb 6pm – 7pm – please attend one session only
UNDERSTANDING THE PSYCHOLOGY OF SCAMS Dates: 15th Feb, 3.30-4.30pm and 28th Feb, 5.30-6.30pm – please attend one session only Speaker: Paul Maskall from the Fraud & Cyber Crime Prevention Manager, Dedicated Card and Payment Crime Unit (DCPCU)
EXPLOITATION, GANGS AND KNIFE CRIME AWARENESS FOR PARENTS AND CARERS Dates: Tues 21st Feb, 7-9pm and Tues 28th Feb, 7-9pm (Both should be attended to take full advantage of this opportunity.)
Over 50 and over your weekly units?
Talking about alcohol in later life.
Alcohol is related to over 60 health conditions, including high blood pressure, liver disease, depression, and many types of cancer. Older people aged 50-years or over experience the most alcohol related harm in the UK and in many other countries.
The video was produced by Dr Jenny Liddle and Dr Nav Aujla, who are Research Fellows from the NIHR Applied Research Collaboration (ARC) North East and North Cumbria (NENC) Multimorbidity, Ageing and Frailty theme.
No Metro services between Four Lane Ends to Haymarket Saturday 11th February & Sunday 12th February 2023
Nexus require this time to facilitate the next stage in the redevelopment of the Metro Depot in Gosforth. If you plan to use Metro during either weekend, check posters at stations and on our website for alternative bus service information.
This work will benefit the system for the future and assure you that we will do all we can to keep any disturbance to an absolute minimum.
If you have any questions or concerns, then please contact the Nexus Customer Service Centre below.
If you care for someone who lives in Newcastle, the Carers Wellbeing Fund may be able to provide a small grant to help you in your caring role.
The fund aims to improve your health and wellbeing and is flexible to help you in the best way possible.
Could YOU benefit from a small grant?
To apply and find out more, see our website here > http://www.newcastlecarers.org.uk/adult-carers-carers.../
