A Help the Aged information sheet 25 Leisure Ideas This information sheet contains ideas to help you enjoy and make the most of your retirement. Even if you can’t find anything in it that you’d like to do, it might give you some ideas for other activities you’d like to get involved in. Please do get in touch with us if there’s something you’d like to know more about but can’t find any information on. ******************************************************************************** Contents Section 1. Community services Section 2. Day trips, holidays and transport Section 3. Education Section 4. Exercise and sport Section 5. Hobbies and special interests Section 6. Meeting new people and relationships Section 7. Pets Section 8. Volunteering Section 9. Public life Section 10. Working in retirement ******************************************************************************* One of the best places to find out what’s going on in your area is your local library. Some of the activities mentioned in this information sheet suggest that you take a trip to your library to find out more. Libraries are an excellent source of information about things such as social activities, events, education and courses, and leisure facilities such as sports clubs and fitness classes. Many also have local newspapers and magazines and access to computers and the internet. Many activities are cheaper for older people. Cinemas, theatres, museums and transport companies often offer concessions. You should always ask if there are discounts available, as they may not always be offered automatically. Being a disabled person shouldn’t deter you from taking part in many of the activities talked about in this information sheet. In many sections, we mention organisations which offer advice and information to disabled people on specific activities. For more general advice, try contacting the Disabled Living Foundation; it gives advice on equipment for daily living as well as ways of helping you to enjoy all kinds of activities. Disabled Living Foundation 380–384 Harrow Road London W9 2HU Helpline: 0845 130 9177 Textphone: 020 7432 8009 Web: www.dlf.org.uk ******************************************************************************** Section 1. Community services Community services include things such as day centres, drop-in centres and lunch and social clubs. To find out what’s available in your community, try contacting some of the following: * Your local council social services department will have details of services for older people. It may run its own clubs and centres, or it may contract them out to local organisations, such as Age Concern groups. * If you’re a carer, your local social services department will be able to tell you about sitting services or respite care. You can also contact: Crossroads Association, 10 Regent Place, Rugby, Warwickshire CV21 2PN; tel: 0845 450 0350; web: www.crossroads.org.uk if you live in England or Wales. In Scotland contact Crossroads (Scotland), 24 George Square, Glasgow G2 1EG; tel: 0141 226 3793; web: www.crossroads-scotland.co.uk In Northern Ireland contact Crossroads NI, 7 Regent Street, Newtownards BT23 4AB; tel: 028 9181 4455; web: www.crossroadscare.co.uk * Your local library should have information on local activities and clubs. * Have a look in your local newspaper. * Get in touch with your local Age Concern group (check your phone book, or ring 0800 00 99 66). Each group often runs its own activities. Even if it doesn’t, it should know what is available locally, and where to go to find out more. ******************************************************************************** Section 2. Day trips, holidays and transport Getting away from home, even if it’s only for one day, can be a wonderful way to relax and have fun. You can plan a day out or holiday yourself, or maybe go away with a group of people and have everything planned for you. There are a few organisations that can help you to arrange your time away if you are having difficulties with things such as transport and accommodation, or if you have a low income. Day trips Some local groups, such as Age Concern, organise day trips. To find out where your local group is, call Age Concern on 0800 00 99 66, or look in your phone book. Holidays Help the Aged produces a free information sheet no. 12, Holidays, which goes into more detail about how to plan your time away, and where to get advice on accommodation and transport. To receive a copy, write to the Information Resources Team at the address on the last page. If you have internet access you can download a copy from www.helptheaged.org.uk An organisation, called Tourism for All, specialises in providing holiday and travel information to older and disabled people. It can also give advice to people on a low income. The contact details are: Tourism for All c/o Vitalise Shap Road Industrial Estate Kendall Cumbria LA9 6NZ Tel: 0845 124 9971 Web: www.tourismforall.org.uk Transport Help the Aged produces a free advice leaflet called Keeping Mobile which gives advice on getting out and about and includes sections on public transport, mobility aids and financial help. Ask the Information Resources Team for a copy. Travelling by coach Coaches are often cheaper than trains and many coach companies offer discounts to older people. You can get information about fares, timetables and the coach’s facilities from the coach company itself or a travel agent. Travelling by train You can get a Senior Railcard or a Disabled Persons Railcard; both of these offer discounts on rail travel around the country. You can get more information about them from railway stations and Rail Travel Centres or from the website www.railcard.co.uk For information on fares and timetables, ring National Rail Enquiries on 08457 48 49 50. Travelling by car Many local organisations, such as WRVS and the British Red Cross, run driving schemes where volunteers drive you to social events. Check your phone book for local groups. See our free advice leaflet Keeping Mobile for advice for disabled drivers. ******************************************************************************** Section 3. Education There are many opportunities to carry on learning when you’re retired: you could learn a new language, play the piano, learn to cook different types of food, or do a degree. It can be a good time to start doing something you always meant to, but never had the time for. You don’t have to choose something academic or that involves lots of studying. You can choose to learn something practical, or learn simply for the pleasure of knowing something new. Classes can also be a good way to meet new people, particularly as they are likely to share your interest. Learning doesn’t have to be expensive either, as there are often concessions for older people (although you may have to ask for them). You can learn in your own home too. Many organisations run distance learning programmes. Finding out more * Ask at your library for details of local courses. It may run its own courses and can help you with personal study and research. Some libraries can provide services in your home and may have special resources for people with hearing and sight difficulties. Some can also teach you to use computers and how to access the internet. * Your local council education office should be in the phone book under the name of your council. It will provide a wide range of adult education activities. Some can also provide tutors for classes in clubs, day centres and care homes. It will also keep details of local colleges. * Local museums and galleries often run special activities or courses. Check with them for details, or look in your library or local paper. Useful contacts AbilityNet PO Box 94 Warwick CV34 5WS Tel: 0800 26 95 45 Web: www.abilitynet.co.uk Provides advice on computing to disabled people. Age Concern Information Line Age Concern Freepost (SWB 30375) Ashburton, Devon TQ13 7ZZ Tel: 0800 00 99 66 Web: www.ace.org.uk Produces a free factsheet called Leisure and Learning. Learn Direct Advice service Tel: 0800 100 900 Courses Tel: 0800 101 901 Web: www.learndirect.co.uk Network of local centres. Also provides advice and information on over 900,000 courses. National Adult School Organisation (NASO) Riverton, 370 Humberstone Road Leicester LE5 0SA Tel: 0116 253 8333 Web: www.naso.org.uk Organises local study groups and produces a handbook and magazine. National Extension College The Michael Young Centre Purbeck Road Cambridge Cambridgeshire CB2 8HN Tel: 01223 400350 Web: www.nec-courses.co.uk Offers over 100 home study courses in a range of subjects. The National Institute of Adult Continuing Education Renaissance House 20 Princess Road West Leicester LE1 6TP Tel: 0116 204 4200 Web: www.niace.org.uk Provides general information to adults keen to find out more about learning in England and Wales. Open and Distance Learning Quality Council 16 Park Crescent London W1B 1AH Tel: 020 7612 7090 Web: www.odlqc.org.uk Provides a list of accredited courses on a chosen subject and information on distance learning; can also give advice on how to choose a course. Open College of the Arts Unit 1B, Redbrook Business Park Wilthorpe Road Barnsley S75 1JN Tel: 0800 731 2116 Web: www.oca-uk.com Study at home. Courses include painting, sculpture and interior design. The Open University PO Box 197 Milton Keynes MK7 6BJ Tel: 01908 653231 Web: www.open.ac.uk Study for diplomas and degrees at home. University of the Third Age (U3A) 19 East Street Bromley BR1 1QH Tel: 020 8466 6139 Web: www.u3a-info.co.uk Local groups of older people who organise themselves for the purpose of learning. U3A also provides online courses. Workers’ Educational Association 3rd Floor, 70 Clifton Street London EC2A 4HB Tel: 020 7375 3092 Web: www.wea.org.uk The WEA runs over 10,000 courses through local and regional centres. There are also WEA associations in Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland. ******************************************************************************** Section 4. Exercise and sport It’s never too late to take up a new sport or to get fit. There should be a sport or form of exercise to suit you, whatever your ability. You could join a club, and take part in a competitive sport such as tennis, or you might prefer something more relaxing, such as yoga, or a bit more private, such as exercising to a video in your own home. Dancing is also a very good form of exercise and you can combine exercise with making new friends. There is no doubt that exercise is good for your health and increases your sense of well being. Not only does it lower your blood pressure, reduce the effects of heart disease and help you to lose weight, but it also helps with muscle and joint pain. In addition, it can help to prevent osteoporosis and improve your strength and balance, making you less likely to fall. And apart from the physical benefits of becoming fitter, it can help you emotionally, improving your mood and lifting your spirits. If you want to take up a sport or start exercising, but have any health problems, you should discuss it with your doctor. This is particularly important if you have had a stroke, or have high blood pressure, heart problems, chest pains, dizziness, asthma, bronchitis or diabetes – but if you have any worries about your health at all, it’s always worth talking to your doctor. Remember that you need to take it slowly to begin with, and build up your stamina, particularly if you have been quite inactive for a few years. Finding out more * Your local leisure centre is an excellent place to find out more about what’s going on in your area. Many centres have exercise programmes specifically for older people, and often offer the use of its facilities at a lower price. * Pay a visit to your library; it will keep lists of local clubs and societies. * Your local Age Concern branch may run its own activities, and will probably know what else is available locally. * Ask your doctor; sometimes your doctor can refer you to a particular form of exercise, for medical reasons. * Look in your local paper; it may list local groups and activities. You could also get in touch with the organisations below to find out more about a particular activity, or if there is a group where you live. Useful contacts The British Wheel of Yoga 25 Jermyn Street Sleaford Lincolnshire NG34 7RU Tel: 01529 306851 Web: www.bwy.org.uk Details of local yoga classes. Central Council of Physical Recreation 4th floor, Burwood House 14- 16 Caxton Street London SW1H 0QT Tel: 020 7976 3900 Web: www.ccpr.org.uk Provides information and advice on all sports and recreational activities. EXTEND 2 Place Farm Wheathampstead Herts AL4 8SB Tel: 01582 832760 Web: www.extend.org.uk ‘Movement to music’ classes for older and disabled people in many parts of the UK. Keep Fit Association 1 Grove House Foundry Lane Horsham West Sussex, RB13 5PL Tel: 01403 266 000 Web: www.keepfit.org.uk Provides information on exercise and movement classes for all ages and abilities. Ramblers’ Association 2nd Floor, Camelford House 87-90 Albert Embankment London SE1 7TW Tel: 020 7339 8500 Web: www.ramblers.org.uk Britain’s biggest walking charity with over 500 local groups. The Tai Chi Union 1 Littlemill Drive Balmoral Gardens Crookston Glasgow G53 7GF Web: www.taichiunion.com For details of local tai chi classes, send an SAE to the above address. Veterans English Table Tennis Society (VETTS) Harwood House 90 Broadway Letchworth SG6 3PH Tel: 01462 671191 Web: www.vetts.org.uk Promotes friendship through table tennis, and organises regional and national competitions, by age. Publications, videos and DVDs Help the Aged resources: * Be Strong, Be Steady: chair-based exercise video (price £12 plus P&P) * Exercise for Healthy Ageing: an illustrated programme of exercises for older people (price £4 plus P&P) * How to Thrive Past 55: explains how exercise and a good diet can improve health (price £7 plus P&P) * Strength and Balance Exercises for Healthy Ageing: collection of illustrated exercises that can be safely undertaken at home (price £6 plus P&P). To order any of these publications, contact Help the Aged Publications department on 020 7239 1486. * Step to the Future: exercise video and DVD (price £12 plus P&P). Available from the Mail Order department at Help the Aged on 0870 770 0441. Other resources: * Staying Healthy in Later Life: free factsheet giving advice on physical activities for older people. Available from the Age Concern Information Line on 0800 00 99 66 or www.ace.org.uk * The organisation Excel 2000 offers a holistic approach to health and produces gentle exercises and chair-based exercises on audio and video tape. For more information see www.excel2000.org.uk or send an SAE to: Excel 2000 1a North Street Sheringham Norfolk NR26 8LW Tel: 01263 825670 ******************************************************************************** Section 5. Hobbies and special interests One of the best things about retirement can be the extra time you have to take up new activities, and start all those things you’ve been meaning to do for years. Here are a few ideas for some pastimes and activities, as well as some organisations you can contact for more information. If you can’t find a group for your particular interest or hobby, why not start one up? For example, if you love reading, start a book club; get your friends together, decide which books you want to discuss and then meet in each other’s homes on a rotating basis. Art Many national art galleries and museums no longer charge an admission fee for people who are over 60. You may also want to check the ‘Education’ section of this information sheet for details of organisations that offer art courses. The Living Paintings Trust offers a free postal library of audio tactile pictures for sight impaired people: Living Paintings Trust Queen Isabelle House Unit 8, Kingsclere Park Kingsclere Newbury RG20 4SW Tel: 01635 299771 Web: www.livingpaintings.org Gardening Help the Aged publishes a free information sheet no. 20, Gardening, which contains ideas for gardening, particularly if you are disabled or have an illness such as arthritis. You can also contact an organisation called Thrive. Thrive provides information and guidance on how to make gardening easier and more enjoyable. You can contact Thrive at: The Geoffrey Udall Centre Beech Hill Reading RG7 2AT Tel: 0118 988 5688 Web: www.thrive.org.uk or www.carryongardening.org.uk Computers and the internet The internet offers a wealth of information on just about every subject you can think of. Not only can it be used to find out information, you can also use it to keep in contact with your friends and family by email and in chat rooms. You can find out how to use computers and the internet at your local library or adult education centre. There may be an internet cafe in your local town which offers introductory sessions. Age Concern publishes computing books including: * a beginner’s guide to the internet for the over-50s called How to be a Silver Surfer (price £7.99 plus postage) * Everyday Computer Activities: a Step-by-Step Guide for Older Home Users (price £7.99 plus postage) * Getting the most from your computer (price £7.99 plus postage). They can be ordered from: Age Concern Books Units 5 and 6, Industrial Estate Brecon Powys LD3 8LA Tel: 0870 442 2044 Web: www.ageconcern.org.uk/bookshop Websites You may like to visit the Help the Aged website www.helptheaged.org.uk Other websites you may find useful are: * www.ace.org.uk – Age Concern * www.digitalunite.net – Digital Unite: encourages older people to get involved in information technology * www.heyday.org.uk – website with news, features and campaigns for people approaching or in early retirement * www.saga.co.uk – Saga magazine * www.silversurfers.tv – website with useful resources for the over-50s Jigsaws and games Association of British Scrabble Players 8 Glen Clova Place Kirkcaldy Fife KY2 6UL Web: www.absp.org.uk The Association co-ordinates all scrabble tournaments in the UK. British Jigsaw Puzzle Library Clarendon, Parsonage Road Herne Bay Kent CT6 5TA Tel: 01227 742222 Web: www.britishjigsawpuzzlelibrary.co.uk A lending library for wooden jigsaw puzzles. The English Draughts Association 54 Mayfield Road Ryde Isle of Wight PO33 3PR Web: http://home.clara.net/davey/ Members can play postal draughts. Local history British Association for Local History PO Box 6549 Somersal Herbert Ashbourne DE6 5WH Tel: 01283 585947 Web: www.balh.co.uk Every year the British Association for Local History delivers an annual lecture on its current research, and holds a regional conference. It also produces a number of publications and arranges guided visits to places not usually open to the public. Libraries also often have local history sections. Also, libraries often have local history sections. Music Benslow Music Trust Little Benslow Hills Benslow Lane Hitchin SG4 9RB Tel: 01462 459446 Web: www.benslow.org Runs residential courses for adult amateur musicians. Making Music (National Federation of Music Societies) 2–4 Great Eastern Street London EC2A 3NW Tel: 0870 903 3780 Web: www.makingmusic.org.uk Contact for details of musical groups throughout the UK. Photography Royal Photographic Society of Great Britain Fenton House 122 Wells Road Bath BA2 3AH Tel: 01225 462841 Web: www.rps.org Can let you know about workshops, field trips and lectures nationally or in your local area. Researching your family tree Tracing back through your ancestors can be extremely rewarding, as well as fascinating, addictive and frustrating! For more information on how to get started, write to: Society of Genealogists 14 Charterhouse Buildings Goswell Road London EC1M 7BA Tel: 020 7251 8799 Web: www.sog.org.uk Talking books Many books, newspapers and magazines are available on audio cassette. These are a great idea for people who have visual problems, reading problems, or people who, for various reasons, have difficulty holding a book. You can often get them from your local library. Alternatively, there are a number of organisations that provide them, as well as tape recorders and specially modified equipment if you have a disability. Often you will need some confirmation from someone like your doctor or social worker to say that you would really benefit from a subscription to a talking book service. For more information, get in touch with the organisations below. Calibre Audio Library New Road Weston Turville Aylesbury HP22 5XQ Tel: 01296 432339 Web: www.calibre.org.uk A lending library of recorded books on tape and CD for people with visual and handling problems. Listening Books 12 Lant Street London SE1 1QH Tel: 020 7407 9417 Web: www.listening-books.org.uk A library service of audio tapes for anyone who has difficulty reading. RNIB Learning & Skills Library PO Box 173 Peterborough Cambs PE2 6WS Tel: 0845 702 3153 Textphone: 0845 758 5691 Web: www.rnib.org.uk Mainly non-fiction and academic talking books for people who are blind or partially sighted. RNIB Talking Book Service PO Box 173 Peterborough Cambs PE2 6WS Tel: 0845 702 3153 Web: www.rnib.org.uk Leisure fiction and non-fiction books on tape for people who are blind or partially sighted. Talking Newspaper Association of the UK National Recording Centre Heathfield East Sussex TN21 8DB Tel: 01435 866102 Web: www.tnauk.org.uk Provides national and local newspapers and magazines on tape, computer disk, email, internet download and CD-Rom. ******************************************************************************** Section 6. Meeting new people and relationships It can be difficult to meet new friends. Many people meet their friends at work, or through friends of their children, and when we become older these opportunities don’t exist in quite the same way. You might find that your circle of friends has become smaller or you might want to widen your social network. Many of the activities mentioned in this sheet could help you to meet new people, and friendships may arise out of this. However, there are some organisations which exist purely to help you meet people. Contact the Elderly organises volunteers to provide transport for and host groups of people wishing to meet for tea on Sunday afternoons. Contact them at: Contact the Elderly 15 Henrietta Street London WC2E 8QG Tel: 0800 716543 Web: www.contact-the-elderly.org.uk The magazine Yours has a ‘Friends of Yours’ section in each edition. People have the opportunity to write a few words about themselves and their interests, and invite people to reply to them – this could be to find a new partner, pen friend or just someone to talk to. It’s a free service, and you can either write in yourself, or answer people’s appeals. Or you could register with the www.friendsofyours.com website which offers the same finding a new friend or partner service as the magazine. Yours also has a ‘Where are you…?’ section in the magazine where you can help readers find their long-lost friends, relatives or comrades. You can also write in yourself if you are looking for someone. Yours is a fortnightly magazine and you can get a copy from your newsagent. Relationships If you are looking for romance, or maybe even a marriage partner, you can try all of the above ways to meet people. You could also try the ‘lonely hearts’ columns in newspapers and magazines, the Internet, dating agencies or marriage bureaux. If you do decide to meet someone, always be aware of your personal safety. Make sure that you arrange to meet people in public places and, if you can, let someone know where you’re going at all times, or even take a friend with you. ******************************************************************************** Section 7. Pets Having a pet can be a very happy experience. Animals provide companionship, loyalty and love. They can also make you feel less isolated and alone, and can even relieve stress and lower your blood pressure! However, getting a pet is something you need to think about very carefully, as all animals need varying degrees of care, attention and money spent on them. The RSPCA produces factsheets on different animals which could help you to decide which pet may be suitable for you. These factsheets look at the needs of the animal as well as preparing your home for a pet and possible costs. You might want to consider adopting a rescue animal. The organisations listed below all have centres with animals that desperately need loving homes: The Blue Cross Shilton Road Burford Oxon OX18 4PF Tel: 01993 825500 Web: www.thebluecross.org.uk Cats Protection National Cat Centre Chelwood Gate Haywards Heath RH17 7TT Helpline: 0870 209 9099 Web: www.cats.org.uk Dogs Trust 17 Wakley Street London EC1V 7RQ Tel: 020 7837 0006 Web: www.dogstrust.org.uk RSPCA Wilberforce Way Southwater Horsham RH13 9RS Helpline: 0870 333 5999 Web: www.rspca.org.uk If you don’t want to commit to having a pet you could always volunteer for an organisation that helps pet owners. The Cinnamon Trust has a national network of volunteers who help in several ways, including visiting dog owners who find it difficult to go out, dog walking and dog fostering. For more information contact: Cinnamon Trust 10 Market Square Hayle Cornwall TR27 4HE Tel: 01736 757900 Web: www.cinnamon.org.uk ******************************************************************************** Section 8. Volunteering According to the last national survey, there are around 22 million adult volunteers in the UK, with the number of older volunteers increasing. (1997 National Survey of Volunteering in the UK, Institute for Volunteering Research, www.ivr.org.uk) There are lots of good reasons to volunteer: * use your skills or learn new ones * put something back into the community * make new friends and get out of the house * have fun and be part of a team or group. Older volunteers in particular can have a great deal to offer, because of their broad range of experiences, skills and flexibility. In addition, research has shown that older volunteers tend to be more loyal to the organisations they work for and generally more content with their voluntary activities. If you decide that you’d like to be a volunteer, take some time to think about the kinds of things that you like doing and what you are good at. For example, if you’re a sociable person who likes group activities you might like to help out in a day centre or club; if you’re a careful driver, you might consider helping to transport people to hospital or on outings; or if you are particularly organised or good with money, you would probably be happy working in an office or on a local committee. You might also like to think about the kind of organisation that you want to help. Some examples of organisations you could approach are: * your local church or faith group * your favourite charity – you could contact a local group, or ring a national charity’s head office * your local Citizens Advice Bureau – it relies on volunteers to provide advice and information; you will need to undergo training (volunteer hotline: 08451 264 264) * The Samaritans – you will be trained (tel: 0870 562 7282) * a charity shop – call in at charity shops in your high street; even if they don’t need help in the shop, it may have information about other help it needs * a youth group – if you like working with children, why not find out if there are groups, such as the Brownies or Scouts, that need help; your local newspaper or library should have details of local groups. Details of other organisations that can help you find volunteering opportunities are given below. Anyone can be a volunteer – we all have skills and talents that we can use to help other people. There are so many different things that you can do to help that there should be something to suit everybody. Many people get a lot of satisfaction from knowing that they are helping out and providing a service for free. Volunteering can be a good way to meet people and make new friends. Most volunteers are paid something for expenses, say for travel or meals. Organisations that can help you find voluntary work Intergenerational Programme Age Concern England 1268 London Road London SW16 4ER Tel: 020 8765 7231 Web: www.ageconcern.org.uk Local projects arrange for older volunteers to work with young children and young people in England. Northern Ireland Council for Voluntary Action (NIVCA) 61 Duncairn Gardens Belfast BT15 2GB Tel: 028 9087 7777 Textphone: 02890 877 776 Web: www.nicva.org Umbrella body for voluntary, community and charitable groups in Northern Ireland. REACH 89 Albert Embankment London SE1 7TP Tel: 020 7582 6543 Web: www.reach-online.org.uk Finds part time, unpaid roles for professionals in voluntary organisations. RSVP (Retired and Senior Volunteer Programme) 237 Pentonville Road London N1 9NJ Tel: 020 7643 1385 Web: www.csv-rsvp.org.uk Places older people as volunteers in their local communities. Unit 57, Volunteer Development Scotland Stirling Enterprise Park Stirling FK7 7RP Tel: 01786 479593 Web: www.vds.org.uk Scotland’s national centre for volunteering. Volunteering England Regents Wharf, 8 All Saints Street London N1 9RL Tel: 0845 305 6979 Web: www.volunteering.org.uk Provides an information service on volunteering and can tell you where your nearest volunteer bureau is. Wales Council for Voluntary Action Baltic House, Mount Stuart Square Cardiff CF10 5FH Tel: 0870 607 1666 Web: www.wcva.org.uk Offers advice on how to get into volunteering in your local area. WRVS Garden House Milton Hill Steventon Abingdon OX13 6AD Tel: 01235 442 900 Textphone: 0845 601 4670 Web: www.wrvs.org.uk Arranges for volunteers to assist in delivering ‘meals on wheels’ or helping to provide services in hospitals and during emergency situations. Volunteering for Help the Aged Help the Aged needs volunteers who can both help out occasionally or on a more regular basis. If you wouldd be interested in becoming part of a friendly and dedicated team, and can spare some time every week, you may like to become a volunteer in one of our Help the Aged shops. You will be given full training in all aspects of retail work. For more details call Katie O'Neil on 020 7239 1451 or ask at your local shop. Local Committees help raise money by organising events such as fetes, fun runs, dinners and art exhibitions. If you would like to become involved call Gill Sargeant on 020 7239 5536. The Church is a valuable point of contact for many people. As a Help the Aged Church Friend you could become the main contact between the Charity and older people in your parish. If you’d like more information, call Gill Sargeant on 020 7239 5536. You could join our Readers’ Group and give us feedback and comments on our advice leaflets – both the printed and online versions. If you would like to help us keep our information relevant and useful please call the Information Resources Team on 020 7239 1847 for more information. ******************************************************************************** Section 9. Public life You may want to play a role in public life, using your experience and skills to make a contribution to your community through public service. There are many different public bodies, forums and committees that you may be interested in getting involved in. More information is given about some of these in this section. School governors and other public appointments A public appointment is an appointment to the board of a public body. These are bodies set up by the Government either to provide independent advice or to deliver public services. They are involved in all sorts of activities including the arts, sports, education, health, the environment and more specialised areas. There are: * national public bodies, for example the National Consumer Council * regional bodies, for example primary care trusts * local bodies – one of the most common local appointments is as a school governor. Some public appointments are paid and some are voluntary. To find out about local public appointments you can contact whichever local government or NHS organisation covers the area that interests you – for example your local education authority or your primary care trust. If you have internet access you can search a database of national and regional public appointments at www.publicappts-vacs.gov.uk To find out more about applying for public appointments contact: Public Appointments Unit Cabinet Office, Room 2.15 Admiralty Arch, The Mall London SW1A 2WH Tel: 0845 000 0040 Web: www.publicappointments.gov.uk Public Appointments Unit (Wales) Welsh Assembly Government Cathays Park Cardiff CF10 3NQ Tel: 02920 825372 Web: www.wales.gov.uk (use the A–Z index to find the Public Appointments pages) The Public Bodies Policy Unit (Scotland) The Scottish Government 3–G (Dockside), Victoria Quay Edinburgh EH6 6QQ Tel: 0131 244 3861 Web: www.scotland.gov.uk/topics/government/public-bodies The Central Appointments Unit (Northern Ireland) Room E4.15, Castle Buildings Stormont Estate Belfast BT4 3SR Tel: 028 9052 8192 Web: www.ofmdfmni.gov.uk/public-appointments Local council Contact your local council to find out about local area forums or committees. These forums or committees meet to discuss local issues and give people the opportunity to raise views and concerns to the council. PPI forums If you want to get involved in the way local health services are run in your community, you may want to join a Patient and Public Involvement (PPI) Forum. PPI forums are made up of local people who volunteer their time, skills and expertise. They were set up to increase public influence on the way health services are organised. Forums raise awareness of the needs and views of their community. They also visit and produce reports on the quality of local health services. There is a PPI forum for every NHS trust and primary care trust (PCT) in England. By law, the trusts must listen and respond to what the forums say. Your local forum should hold regular public meetings. So even if you don’t want to join, you may still want to go along to the meetings and get involved that way. To find out more about your PPI forum contact: The Commission for Patient and Public Involvement in Health The Help Desk 7th Floor, 120 Edmund Street Birmingham B3 2ES Tel: 0845 120 7111 Textphone: 0121 222 4587 Web: www.cppih.org ******************************************************************************** Section 10. Working in retirement Once you reach retirement age, currently 60 for women and 65 for men, you may wish to carry on working full-time or part-time. This could be because you don’t want to stop working yet, or because you need to carry on earning money. If you are looking for a new job, or are out of work, here are some suggestions for where to start looking: * your local jobcentre – it may run a counselling service to help you find a suitable job, and may even be able to help you with job training * employment agencies – look in your high street, or in the phone book; they can find you temporary as well as permanent jobs * local and national newspapers – many of the national papers run different types of jobs on different days * The Age and Employment Network (TAEN) – a network of member organisations with a shared objective to ensure better opportunities for mature people to work, earn and learn; contact TAEN on 020 7843 1590 or write to TAEN, 207–221 Pentonville Road, London N1 9UZ or visit its website www.taen.org.uk Hopefully there is something in this information sheet that interests you, or that will encourage you to contact an organisation for more information about a particular activity. If you have something you’d like to do in mind, but can’t find out how to go about it, ask at your local library or get in touch with the Information Resources Team and we’ll see if we can help you. ******************************************************************************** For further information contact: Information Resources Team Help the Aged 207–221 Pentonville Road London N1 9UZ Tel: 020 7278 1114 If you have access to the Internet you can download our advice leaflets and information sheets by logging on to www.helptheaged.org.uk SeniorLine is the free welfare rights advice and information service run by Help the Aged for older people and their carers. Trained advice workers offer free, confidential and impartial advice about: * welfare and disability benefits * care at home * residential care * housing options and adaptations * access to health and community services. Freephone: 0808 800 6565 Textphone: 0800 26 96 26 9am to 4pm, Monday to Friday If you are in Northern Ireland, contact SeniorLine on 0808 808 7575 IS(NO) 25 Last updated: July 2007 (LWB) Next update due: January 2008 Help the Aged is a registered charity No. 272786, registered in England at the above address.