Age Concern
LOCAL OLDER PEOPLE DEMAND
'DON'T STAMP OUT OUR POST OFFICES'
Older people in Sedgefield Borough and Wear Valley are calling on the Government to save their local post offices, following a consultation event organised by Age Concern Durham County. Rural post offices are an essential lifeline for many older people in County Durham, yet they could be in jeopardy unless the Government acts quickly.
The event, which took place in Chilton on 5 September kicked off the public debate ahead of the Government's official consultation this autumn. It brought together 20 local older people to discuss the importance of rural post offices and the impact on local residents if they were forced to close.
The overwhelming feeling of the participants was that the post office provides far more than just a postal service. It is an important point of contact for meeting people, information and advice, collecting forms and even picking up prescriptions in one instance. People can collect their pensions safety, on a weekly basis, as some older people are worried about using cash machines that often charge and are nearly always in public places.
Many local post offices have become the only shop in the village and are invaluable; especially as local public transport services are limited. If the local post office were to close some older people could spend a large part of their day travelling to access post office services, collecting their pension or going to a bank, and also end up carrying large sums of cash home.
Yet the future of thousands of rural post offices hangs in the balance this autumn, as the Government decides whether to extend the current subsidy. If it doesn't, many post offices across the country could risk closure, which may leave vulnerable older people feeling cut off and struggling to manage. As the heaviest users of post offices, older people must have their say in what happens to them.
Harriet Gibbon, Chief Officer at Age Concern Durham County, said:
"It's clear that post offices provide so much more than just a postal service for many older people. They are a lifeline that offers important services including access to cash, benefits and information, as well as somewhere to meet and socialise. This event provided a great opportunity for older people in Sedgefield Borough and Wear Valley to have their say about why post offices are so important to them. The Government must not ignore their views and should protect this valuable local resource.
Age Concern is calling on the Government to renew the subsidy as part of a more joined-up, imaginative approach to delivering the essential services that post offices currently provide. Vulnerable older people must be protected from becoming more isolated from their local community."
Doreen Sadler, who attended the event said:
"This has been an interesting and important debate and brought together people who feel strongly the loss of rural post office services will have a real negative impact on older people at the most vulnerable time of their lives. It has to be recognised rural post office workers are often the people who notice there is a problem and will check on an older person to make sure they are well. Not only will there be a loss of service but also social contact that can be a lifeline. Many post offices have already been creative to survive and it is important this rural subsidy continues to ensure post office services are retained."
Age Concern Durham County is asking people to get involved with the campaign to save their local post office by using it more often and writing to their MP. For more information visit www.ace.org.uk/stamped_out.asp or contact Age Concern Durham County Sedgefield and Durham Dales Office if you want to add any views and recommendation to this campaign that will run over the next few months.
Free Electric Blanket Testing
Age Concern are holding an Electric Blanket Testing Day on Wednesday 18th October at Haswell Mencap Society, Church View, Haswell, Durham in partnership with E.On UK, the company that runs Powergen.
During winter time, many older people use an electric blanket as an efficient way of keeping warm, not only in bed at night, but also during the day time. However, each year 5000 house fires are started as a direct result of faulty electric blankets and the age group most at risk are people over 64. Electric blankets that are over 10 years old often do not have adequate 'overheat' protection mechanisms in them; it is these blankets which cause 99% of all electric blanket fires.
To help reduce this number, Age Concern and E.On are offering free safety tests for electric blankets. Each household can bring up to 3 blankets to be tested. If our authorised assessors consider your blanket to be dangerous you will instantly receive a free replacement blanket (only one of these is available per household). To make an appointment for the Testing Centre at Haswell for 18th October call 0845 676 0031 (weekdays only).
Tai Chi sessions re-start in Sedgefield Parish Hall
The Age Concern Tai Chi sessions that have been running at the Parish Hall restarted on Tuesday 5th September 2006.
Group leader Peter Leggett has been teaching the group since March this year but is keen to invite new people to this very inclusive course of exercise.
Peter said, 'Tai Chi is not brutal or aggressive; it relies on internal force, not physical size or strength like other martial arts. Proficiency in Tai Chi Chuan is not limited by age, sex or size and is practiced by many people through out their lives. It has been proved that people in their eighties who practice regularly are to be found in much better health than those who don't and generally appearing much younger than their contemporaries. TT Liang, a Chinese master said 'Life begins at Seventy..' definitely a point worth thinking about, especially those be they young or old who are just thinking about taking up the practice of Tai Chi.'
With that in mind, Age Concern invite anyone who is 50+ to come along to this session that runs from 10.30 - 11.30am every Tuesday except the second in the month.
Suggested donation for the session is £2.00 which goes directly towards contributing to paying for both the tutor and the hall.
Attached photo Peter Leggett at The Parish Hall teaching Tai Chi
Age Concern Ageing Well activities in Sedgefield Borough are funded by Sedgefield Primary Care Trust.
For more information please contact
Mike Bridge on 01388 720064
Sedgefield Exercise Class is going back to basics
An exercise class in Sedgefield Parish Hall is going back to basics when it restarts on Wednesday 6th September.
The course run by Age Concern, will target the over 50s who have had little or no exercise over the last few years.
Mike Bridge, development worker for Age Concern says 'Many people are worried about starting any type of exercise after a long time away from it. Our tutor, Sue, has a great track record of getting people who are in this situation back on the road to enjoying exercise at a suitable level. She currently works with older people in Spennymoor, Bishop Middleham and Fishburn, all of these sessions have seen real improvements in the people attending.'
The sessions will be on Wednesdays at the Parish Hall, starting at 11.30 prompt and lasting 45 minutes. The first session will be seen as a taster session, and will be suitable for anyone has any questions as to whether it is suitable for them or not.
Suggested donation for the session is £1.50 which goes directly towards paying for both the tutor and the hall.
Age Concern Ageing Well activities in Sedgefield Borough are funded by Sedgefield Primary Care Trust.
For more information please contact
Mike Bridge on 01388 720064
AGE CONCERN FERRYHILL IS LOOKING FOR NEW MEMBERS
For many years there used to be a long waiting list to join Age Concern Ferryhill dance, at St Luke's Church in Ferryhill, but now after 20 years in the same venue they are again looking to welcome new members.
The group prides itself on a warm welcome to members old and new, and while there is a lot of dancing, that isn't the only attraction to the afternoon's entertainment
Mike Bridge, development worker for Age Concern said -
"I went down one afternoon to help because some of the volunteers were on holiday. I had no idea that within twenty minutes we would have caught up on family histories, the more interesting recent programmes on television, how to deal with the heat, favourite recipes and reminiscing about the group in years gone by. And that was before the main entertainment for the afternoon had started!"
A team of dedicated volunteers ensure that the afternoons are a great success. Not only do they have a dance with live music from with either John Fox Croft or his son Michael playing the organ, they arrange three games of bingo and a raffle as well as a very welcome cuppa at half time! They also organise a couple of enjoyable days out a year and have just returned from a great day out in the Lakes, where the weather shone.
Anyone wishing to come and join in the dance, no matter what level they are at, is invited to drop in, and enjoy the afternoons.
The sessions run from 1pm through until 3pm on Tuesdays and Thursdays. Tuesday, Thursday or both; the choice is most definitely yours! There is a £1.50 charge for the dance and all are welcome.
