Welcome to our November newsletter. This month, with Christmas just around the corner, our events and activities section is looking pretty busy. As ever, pop over to our website for all the very latest news on upcoming events in Calderdale. You can also find lots of clubs, groups and societies to join.
In this issue we welcome our new advertiser, Right at Home Calderdale, a local, high quality care provider. As we continue to grow our website and expand our activities, Calderdale Forum 50 Plus will increasingly be welcoming carefully chosen advertisers to appear in our newsletters and on our website. We will be ensuring their services are relevant and of the highest standards. Their support will enable us to improve our service to you, our readers. Please support them if you can.
We will be back with more news in early December. In the meantime, if you have news of relevance to older people and their relatives and friends, in Calderdale, please drop us an email to info@calderdaleforum50plus.com - we'd love to hear from you!
Have a great month
The Forum 50 Team
Piece Hall Winter Makers Market: 11-20 November The Piece Hall Winter Makers Market returns this November, showcasing some of the region’s favourite independent craft stalls, artisan makers and pop-up food and drink traders for two festive shopping weekends. The market is the perfect opportunity to find a special gift, enjoy a bite to eat or a warming tipple,plus live entertainment from local musicians. More Details
Remembrance Sunday in Halifax On Sunday 13 November, Remembrance Sunday events are taking place across Calderdale to mark this important occasion. To coincide with the launch of the national Royal British Legion’s 2022 Poppy Appeal, Calderdale Council has announced plans for this year’s Remembrance, with the Council hosting a full Remembrance Sunday event in Halifax. More Details
The Making of Calderdale talks at the Industrial Museum Calderdale Industrial Museum has restarted their ‘Wednesday Talks’ on the overall theme of ‘The Making of Calderdale. Their next talk on Wednesday 23rd November will be by an Industrial Museum member Chris Bateman, who will be giving a new talk focusing specifically on the ‘Life & Times of two bricks’: Joseph Brookes and Sons: constituents of Leeds Fire Clay Company.All talks start at 7.30pm, and cost £4 on the door for non members. More Details Of Upcoming Talks On Our Website
Autumn & Winter What’s On Where Guide now available Care provider Home Instead’s Autumn & Winter What’s On Where (WOW) guide for older adults in Calderdale is now out! With over 170 groups, classes and clubs listed, this new guide contains a huge variety of activities taking place across Halifax, Brighouse, Hebden Bridge, Sowerby Bridge and Todmorden. Whatever your interest or wherever you live, there’s sure to be something to suit you. Seated exercise, wellbeing walks, lunch clubs, arts & crafts groups, men's sheds and more. Find Out How To Get A Copy On Our Website
Brighouse Bridge Club
This friendly members club meet three mornings and three evenings every week, at the ASSEMBLY ROOMS BRIGHOUSE, 64 Briggate, HD6 1EF. There is parking next door with disabled access. Newcomers of any standard are welcome with FREE lessons available – 30 week courses start in the new year. Morning meetings take place on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays, 9.30am till 1.00pm Evening meetings on Mondays, Tuesdays and Wednesdays, 6.30pm till 10.0pm. Membership costs £15 per year with a session charge of £2.50. For more information on the above sessions, see our web page or email brighousebc@btinternet.com
Festive events at The Piece Hall Halifax’s Piece Hall has released details of many of the Christmas events they are set to host, including concerts, carols, brass-band concerts, films, family events and much more. To view all upcoming events at the venue, including the festive period, visit their website.
Volunteers sought to help with activity groups for the over 75’s A national charity dedicated to ending loneliness and social isolation is seeking volunteers to help with their activity groups in Calderdale and West Yorkshire. Re-engage brings people aged over 75 together in local communities to help reduce loneliness and improve physical wellbeing. Find out how you can help.
Right at Home Calderdale - a new care provider
When it becomes clear that you or a loved one would benefit from support at home, the priority is choosing a high quality care provider who will work with you or your loved ones to tailor the right support to you and your family. Right at Home Calderdale is a new local provider, of high-quality care covering Calderdale and the surrounding areas. Their support services are specifically designed together with you and are tailor made to support you to live as independently as possible in the comfort of your own home, while always respecting your privacy and dignity. More Details
New report on the impact of the menopause on women’s lives
A new report from the All Party Parliamentary Group (APPG) on the Menopause outlines how menopause symptoms can have a debilitating impact on the day-to-day lives of women. This report is well worth a read and we have the main conclusions plus links to the full report on our website. More Details
Next week is National Stress Week - Tips & Support
Many people will suffer from stress during their lifetimes. Some people can find stress helpful and motivating, others find it harder to manage. But if stress is causing problems for you and is negatively affecting your life, then help is at hand. Remember if you need help and cannot talk to family or friends that there are many organisations out there that will help you. On our website we have tips to combat stress and links and phone numbers for support organisations. More Details
NHS mental health support – Try the “Mind Plan”
The NHS-approved Mind Plan, is a very useful tool if you have mental health concerns. By answering five short questions people get a personalised mental health action plan, providing practical tips to help them deal with stress and anxiety, boost their mood, sleep better and feel more in control. You can also join a 4-week email support programme where you can get reminders, swap in new tips and are encouraged to make looking after your mental wellbeing part of your everyday routine. More info plus subtitled video explaining how it all works on our website
West Yorkshire NHS's COVID-19 Autumn Booster Plans
West Yorkshire NHS have sent us details of their plans for a booster programme this autumn - read it in full on our website
ASDA – £1 soup & roll for over-60s
Asda has announced a range of new ‘winter warmer’ initiatives to support customers and community groups struggling with the cost-of-living crisis. The supermarket is offering those aged 60 and over the chance to enjoy soup, a roll and unlimited teas and coffees for just £1 in any of its 205 cafes all day and every day throughout November and December. The new initiative will run alongside the current ‘Kids eat for £1’ offer which continues to be hugely popular, with more than 557,000 meals served since the launch in late June.
Warm spaces to work or relax in Calderdale libraries
Calderdale’s libraries are opening their doors this winter to help people stay warm. They will be welcoming anyone who needs a warm place to relax, rest or work, with places to charge your electronic devices too. There will also be hot drinks available, activities for those looking for something to do and the usual range of books and newspapers. Our local libraries will also be listed on the new website warmspaces.org/ where you can find more venues offering similar support.
Calderdale Directory of financial & debt support
Calderdale Council have produced a new leaflet to help people with money worries. You can download a copy here: Calderdale’s Worry About Money Leaflet. It includes a very comprehensive directory of organisations offering support for people with financial worries, whether you are elderly, disabled, have children, are a refugee or simply don't have the income to cope with your financial responsibilities. You can also access the directory on our website
Ann Holt Trust: Pension support for women aged over 55
If you are female, single or widowed and have lived in Halifax for at least 5 years then you could be eligible to a quarterly pension from the Ann Holt charity. The Trust gives quarterly pensions to women over the age of 55 who would benefit from a little extra money to support their living needs. Read more.
Cost of Living hub on our website
We've brought together all our Cost of Living advice onto one helpful page of our website. There you will find links to the key support information and support organisations out there. Plus there are regular news items with up-to-the-minute updates. Find out more on our website
Getting help from Calderdale Council’s Customer First service
Calderdale Council’s Customer First Service is now open and operating from Halifax Central, Brighouse and Todmorden Libraries. If you need help with any council service or have a concern you wish to raise, then you can now drop into one of these three Customer First Service points or call and make an appointment to see an adviser. See our website for opening hours | Looking for more support – see our Gateway to Care page
Carers’ Lunch Club Launched A new Lunch Club is being run by the Calderdale Carers Wellbeing Service, "Making Space". Its aim is to help carers through the winter months. Each Thursday, Making Space will be providing a quality warm meal, hot drinks and cakes to carers and the persons they care for. They will also have items to take away such as tins, jars, cupboard essentials and breakfast items and they will have staff and volunteers on hand to give out advice and information of other winter support available and there will also be activities or entertainment and a free raffle! The club will run from November to March, every Thursday 12pm-3pm at Boothtown Methodist Church. To find out more please ring 01422 369101.
IT, Computer and Internet support in libraries Computers and free wifi is available for public use in all Calderdale libraries and help is on hand with using IT, using tablets and navigating the Internet at Central Library Halifax and Elland Library. Sessions are bookable in advance and provide friendly coaching, help with specific problems and tips for getting more from your digital device. Find out more.
Choosing care: your options
For many people over the age of 50, the need to reach decisions on care for elderly family members will be one of the key life stages you have to face, when your loved ones are no longer capable of expressing their needs and wants. We have a comprehensive guide to the the process and some of the options to consider on our website. Find out more
SPREADING THE WORD If you would like to read or perhaps share a PDF version of this newsletter for people who are not online, you can download a copy here. Download a copy
About Calderdale Forum 50 Plus We are a voluntary group that supports and represents people aged 50 and over in Calderdale and highlights information and issues which are useful and important to this age group. We collate guidance on key later life issues such as housing, benefits and finance, care of all kinds and physical and mental health. The Forum is represented on the Council's Ageing Well Alliance Board which aims to develop more age-friendly policies across Calderdale.
Below are the key sections of our website, where you can find carefully chosen news, features, advice and tips, all aimed at older people in Calderdale and their families and friends.
The Community Foundation for Calderdale supports charities and voluntary groups across Calderdale, working alongside these groups to address inequalities and create opportunities for those who need them the most. Calderdale Council provides support for specific projects and we work closely with them to communicate the older person's points of view on issues that really matter.
