Welcome to our March newsletter, which is packed with events and activities, health news and updates and care and support tips.
We're particularly interested to see that the police are running roadside vision checks. We naturally enjoy the independence that driving gives us, but please take the time to get your eyesight checked regularly. You might just save someone's life by doing so.
Meanwhile, we're just about to close our Accessibility Survey, so please fill it in if you haven't already done so. We want to know if you are having difficulties accessing public facilities and getting out and about.
As ever, you can access the very latest news and events on our website at any time, but you can also tell us about events that you've got planned, or news that you'd like to share with us, by sending details to info@calderdaleforum50plus.com - we are always happy to spread the word about anything relevant to the over-50 population of Calderdale and their families and friends.
Thank you for taking time to read our newsletter.
The Forum 50 Team
What's On - on our website
For up to the minute information on what's on in Calderdale please visit our website's events and activities page.
Enjoy Community Hub, Luddendenfoot
Based at Tenterfields Business Park, (pictured above) is the Enjoy Community Hub Cafe which is open on Wednesdays 2-4pm. They offer teas, coffee, hot chocolate, juice etc. Prices range from 50p for juice to £2.50 for a luxury hot chocolate and they often have homemade cakes. Their space is filled with crafting materials that are available to use (for a small donation if possible) and a very welcoming family vibe. A library of books are available to borrrow including kids books, cooking & gardening books, extensive crafting & art books, board games & learning material and a small craft & gift shop filled with handmade & pre loved items. The postcode of the cafe is HX2 6EQ. More Details
Calderdale Music’s Senior Citizens’ Orchestra
Calderdale Music’s Senior Citizens’ Orchestra rehearse every Tuesday afternoon at 2pm at St Jude’s Church, Halifax for one hour. The orchestra enjoy playing a wide variety of music and their concerts are very well attended. Details of how to sign up are on our website.
Tod in a Teacup
Tod in a Teacup is a new weekly coffee morning held every Monday at Todmorden Library – join them anytime between 10am – 12pm in the Reading Room for coffee, cake and a chat.
Magic Moments: Calderdale Music’s new singing group for adults
This is a friendly community singing group for those who love to sing their favourite songs, evoking past memories and reliving those times together. You don’t need to be a great singer to take part or benefit. £5 per session, this cost includes a free hot drink from the on-site Rhythm & Brews coffee shop. Carers can attend the singing session for free! Venue: Calderdale Music, The Old Courthouse, Blackwall, Halifax, HX1 2DL. Dates: Wednesdays 15th March, 3rd May and 24th May 1:30pm – 3:00pm To sign up, contact admin@calderdalemusic.co.uk or 01422 401260.
Wakefield’s ‘Scooter Social Group’
This group is aimed at anybody who uses a mobility scooter or motorised wheelchair and will bring like-minded people together to enjoy the local Wakefield countryside. Every first Saturday of the month they will be meeting at Thornes Park in Wakefield to enjoy the seasonal changes and local wildlife, as well as a picnic break and of course a café stop afterwards. They welcome anybody new to give it a go. There are accessible parking and toilet facilities within the park as well as a range of nature study equipment to loan out on the day. For bookings and enquiries call Ella on 07426 716677.
Hebden Bridge Local History Society
This group holds regular talks on selected Wednesday evenings, unless stated, at 7.30pm, at the Methodist Church, Market Street, Hebden Bridge HX7 6AA. The next talk is on 22nd March: The 1922 General Election and the Calder Valley: the challenge of Labour, by Alan Fowler - More Details On Our Website
Sponsored Dog Walk, Norland
Calderdale homeless charity, Happy Days, are running a sponsored dog walk at Norland park on 1st May, raising money for their charitable and social enterprise activities. Full details of how to take part are on our website.
Annual "Young at Heart" Concert returns! The very popular "Young at Heart" Concert returns to the Victoria Theatre on Tuesday 21st March. Free tickets are available to book from Stage Door Studio by emailing anne@concertfortheyoungatheart.co.uk or apply by post to Concert for the Young at Heart, c/o The Studio Rooms, 11, St James Street, Halifax HX1 5SU. Read about last year's concert on our website.
Stay "In Touch" with local friendship groups and meet-ups
Our website's directory of friendship groups, social meet-ups and coffee mornings has got a lot bigger, with lots of new listings added in the last few weeks. If you're from Brighouse, Rastrick, Sowerby Bridge, Ripponden, Elland, Greetland, Hebden Bridge or Todmorden, you'll find new entries, all helpfully grouped geographically. Explore them all on our In Touch page.
Consultation - Halifax Centre Regeneration
Calderdale Council are currently planning the next steps of their regeneration in Halifax. They’re planning on creating new public spaces improving accessibility, creating areas where people can move around free of traffic, improving vehicle circulation around the town and public transport connectivity, and supporting our aspirations for inclusive growth. Find out all the details, plus how you can have your say on the changes, on our website.
Have You Filled In Our Accessibility Survey?
Accessibility is all about being able to get to the services and support you need when you need them most. This includes day-to-day shopping, healthcare, social & leisure activities, transport and also online services and information. At Calderdale forum 50 Plus, we would like to know what you think about accessibility in Calderdale and any specific problems you may be experiencing. fill in our short survey and help us to identify the accessibility issues that bother you most - Take Survey
Is Your Eyesight OK For Driving?
West Yorkshire Police will be conducting voluntary roadside vision checks between 27 February – 12 March 2023 as part of a nationwide initiative to remind motorists they have a legal responsibility to ensure their vision is roadworthy every time they get behind the wheel. Regular eye tests, every two years (unless advised otherwise by your optometrist), will help stop your eyesight becoming a road safety hazard that puts you and other road users at risk. If you’re found to be driving with vision that falls below the minimum standards, you face up to a £1,000 fine, 3 points on your licence and potential disqualification.
Stroke Awareness
The Act FAST campaign urges everyone to take immediate action on seeing any stroke symptoms to save lives. Stroke is a medical emergency and anyone experiencing symptoms should seek urgent help. Early treatment not only saves lives but results in a greater chance of a better recovery, as well as a likely reduction in permanent disability from stroke. Stroke is a time sensitive condition which means that any hesitancy and delay in getting treatment kills brain cells and has sadly and unnecessarily proven to be fatal in the early phase of the pandemic.
Think and act FAST. The signs of stroke are:
Face – has their face fallen on one side? Can they smile?
Arms – can they raise both their arms and keep them there?
Speech – is their speech slurred?
Time – time to call 999
For more information on stroke and F.A.S.T. please go to nhs.uk/actfast
Mental Health Support For Older People in Calderdale
The IAPT service, which stands for Improving Access to Psychological Therapies, is a free NHS service that can provide support for common mental health issues such as stress, anxiety, low mood, or sleep problems. Calderdale NHS is trying to get more older people to access the service. Older people who do access IAPT benefit more so than working age adults. Calderdale IAPT Service are able to offer support by providing coping mechanisms via one-to-one sessions, group sessions, and also have online options. They can offer this support over the phone, via video, or in person. If you think you’d benefit from some support to improve your wellbeing, please let them know. To book an initial assessment, please call 01484 343 700 to chat to their friendly admin team.
Utility Warehouse - Keeping Things Simple
Whilst Calderdale Forum 50 Plus doesn’t endorse commercial products and services, we do like to highlight particularly useful aspects of some. Utility Warehouse’s main benefit is that they can provide a range of those “must-have” services, like power (gas and electric), phone (landline, mobile and broadband) and insurance. They work to keep you on competitive rates on all services and you only pay ONE bill and have ONE point of contact. For those of us who want simpler lives and who find the process of constantly monitoring our utility providers exhausting, this has many attractions. It’s also an attractive option if you have a relative you provide care for and want to keep an eye on their bills. Visit their website to find out more information.
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
Warm Spaces – New Map Of Warm Spaces in Calderdale
Calderdale council have created a map of all the “Warm Spaces” in the area. These are venues of various kinds, including libraries, where people can go to find a warm and welcoming place to go to relax, work or just spend time, during this winter. Two national directories of Warm Spaces have also been produced:Find a Space – Warm Welcome | and Spaces – Warm Spaces
Information To Support Older People
Charity OPAAL UK provide some excellent free resources for older people and those that are supporting them. These include easy-to-use free checklists to enable positive conversations on important issues. You can download free copies and feel free to share! More information on OPAAL can be found on our website. Here’s just a very small selection of their information sheets:
Where do I want to live?
I’d like an assessment of my home
I’d like some energy saving adjustments to my home
Do I need to make some changes to my home?
I’d like some dementia friendly adjustments to my home
I’d like to complain about my rented home
Visiting Calderdale Council’s Customer First Service In Person
If you need help with any council service or have a complaint, then you can now call into the Customer First Service points as follows:
Halifax: Customer First, 19 Horton Street, pictured above. (Monday to Friday from 10am to 4pm.) Please note: On the last Thursday of the month, the building is closed to the public from 10am to 12.30pm.
Todmorden: Drop in either Monday or Tuesday between 10am and 3pm, at the Library. (Closed for lunch from 1pm to 1.30pm)
Brighouse: Drop in on any of the Mondays listed below between 10am and 3pm, at the Library. (Closed for lunch from 1pm to 1.30pm): 6th and 20th February, 6th and 20th March, 3rd and 17th April, 1st and 15th May 2023 (closed 29th).
Renewing Blue Badges & Concessionary Bus Passes In Calderdale
To make an appointment to complete a Blue Badge or Concessionary Bus Pass application, please phone: 01422 288011. Alternatively, you can apply online via the Council Website
Tips For Communicating With Someone With Hearing Impairment
The RNID (Royal National Institute For The Deaf) has some tips for communicating with a person who is deaf or who has hearing impairment. People who are deaf or have hearing loss have individual communication needs and you should ask someone how best you can communicate with them. Not every tip below will be appropriate for every person who is deaf or has hearing loss.
Re-phrase what you said
If someone doesn’t understand you, repeat what you said or phrase it differently, use plain language.
Face the person you’re speaking to
Make sure you are facing the person you are talking to and speak clearly – avoid shouting, speaking too fast or unnecessarily slow.
Ask for the person’s communication preferences
Always ask what each person’s preferences are and if they need communication support. For example, even if someone’s using a hearing aid, ask if they need to lipread you.
Use an interpreter
You should always follow the advice of the person with communication needs. If that’s booking an interpreter or speaking to a friend or relative.
Write it down
Use pen on paper, text on device screens, or whiteboards to write what you want to say.
Get their full attention
Use simple gestures such as pointing or waving to get someone’s attention.
Reduce background noise
In a noisy place, move to a quieter area if possible.
Speak clearly
Speak clearly and not too slowly. Use normal lip movements, facial expressions and gestures.
Find the right place
For longer chats, find a place to talk with good lighting, away from noise and distractions.
Speak at an appropriate volume
Keep your voice down: it’s uncomfortable for a hearing aid user if you shout, and it can look and feel aggressive.
Get to the point
Use plain language and don’t waffle.
Make it easy for people to lipread
Don’t cover your mouth when speaking. (If you’re wearing a mask, pull it down to speak but keep a distance).
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.
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.
