People are being urged to help the frail and elderly this winter. This is a key message of the NHS ‘Stay Well This Winter’ campaign. Keep a watchful eye on elderly neighbours and relatives, and encourage them to stay warm and visit their pharmacist at the first sign of a cough or cold and to get their flu jab. Find out how some of Britain’s favourite and best known TV stars and celebrities have backed this year’s NHS winter campaign. Age UK is also running the ‘No one should have no one at Christmas’ campaign, which highlights that over a million older people say they haven’t spoken to a friend, neighbour or family member for over a month.
Category Archives: Communication
Older People in the Media
A selection of items from the Guardian. Also …..
‘Better Shed than Dead’ This is a 2014 documentary about the Men’s Shed movement by director David George http://www.bettershedthandead.co.uk
Aardman and the Bristol Ageing Better (BAB) have teamed up to create a short film illustrating local older people’s experience of social isolation in the city, and what they can do to be less lonely.http://www.aardman.com/aardman-create-film-for-bristol-ageing-better/
Could you help people with sight loss experience how the internet could enhance their lives?
Are you able to help people with sight loss explore the options of getting on-line? Imagine how being able to access the internet could enhance their lives. Could you share your knowledge and enthusiasm to help people engage with technology? The Royal National Institute for the Blind (RNIB) needs volunteers to show people how to use a computer, tablet or smart phone to get on-line.
Volunteers with great communication skills, patience and an interest in everyday computing technology are needed to support local blind and partially-sighted people who are feeling isolated from the benefits of these technologies, which we take for granted.
Hate crime reporting helpline in North Yorkshire
Stop Hate UK provides a 24 hour 7 days a week access to an independent and confidential helpline to aid victims and witnesses of hostility based on personal identity to report incidents, access advice and support and, when consent is given, provide referrals to both the police and other agencies throughout North Yorkshire.
The service can be accessed by Phone, Text, Text-Relay, Email, Online Form, Webchat and BSL interpreted reporting.The main telephone contact point is 0800 138 1625, for details of other access options, follow this link
Update: The North Yorkshire Hate Crime Report 2015 is available on our ‘Publications‘ page.
Insights into loneliness
A poll carried out by the charity ‘Campaign to End Loneliness’ suggests that one in five people over the age of 60 experience loneliness. A recent television programme highlighted the problem and provided insights into it. Click here to see a 90 year old’s experience.
New mediation service
IARCH is now an independent charity and provides services throughout Harrogate District and neighbouring areas of Yorkshire.
ARCH continues to provide neighbour mediation at no cost to all residents of the Harrogate District and now also provides mediation for young people and families (intra-family) and the various forms of commercial mediation – including family, employment & workplace, property, education, financial services and professional negligence.
Could you be a good neighbour?
Good Neighbours’ schemes are being rolled out across North Yorkshire to offer practical support to people living in rural areas.
Good Neighbours schemes are so-called because they offer low-level help to older and vulnerable people within a community, are volunteer-led by local residents (i.e. neighbours), and contribute towards a greater quality of life for all in rural areas.
The latest edition of the Forum newsletter is now available
Read all about the activities of the forum in our latest newsletter. Find out what we have been doing and also our plans for social events between now and Christmas.
‘The Voice’ is available on our ‘Publications‘ page.
Having problems with your TV reception?
This is a reminder that the roll out of 4G mobile phone services continues across Harrogate District and could possibly cause disruption to TV reception.
Here is some information to help you help others
The likelihood of this happening is very low and will only affect Freeview TV – anyone who receives TV via cable or satellite is most unlikely to experience any problems. Continue reading
Difficulty in communicating with other people?
Blue Assist is for anyone who has difficulty getting their message across for any reason. Blue Assist provides a simple system that allows people to ask for help, to ask for something in a shop or to tell someone what they need. Find out more, follow this link.