newsletter no. 49
DESCRIPTION
Age Concern Colchester Newsletter No. 49 December 2009TRANSCRIPT
Inside this issue:
Blanket Testing 2009, Age Concern Essex Essay and Poetry Competition, The Big Knit Update
2
News from Age Concern England— Spotlight on Annuities
3
News and Events 4
Things to do in 2010 5
Catch the Mouse 6
Winter Warmth Day & Colchester United Community Sports Trust
7
Toy Boy 8
December 2009
Issue 49
ACCol News Age Concern Colchester, Globe House, 6 George Street, Colchester CO1 1TP
w elcome to our last newsletter of 2009.
Looking forward to 2010 (can you believe we are starting a new decade!), you will find information about some of our services which may help lighten dreary days in January and February. How about joining one of our social clubs or starting a computer course?
For early spring, please put 24 March 2010 on your calendars – this is the date of our next Colchester Association meeting.
2010 looks set to be an exciting year for us. Our new board of trustees is already looking at the services ACC is able to offer people in later life. To help in this task we would really like to know if you think we are offering the right services and what you would like to see. We want to make sure that the charity’s resources are used to benefit the most people in the best way.
All the staff and volunteers wish you, our readers, a joyous and peaceful Christmas.
Rachel Fahie, Chief Officer
The Big Knit 2009
E velyn Fowler, a volunteer at the Colchester office, models some of the wonderful woolly hats received from you all.
Christmas and
New Year Closure
The Age Concern
Colchester office will
be closed after
business on
Wednesday
23 December and
will re-open on
Monday
4 January 2010
A New Year Message from the Chief Officer
Page 2 ACCol News
Essay and Poetry Competition
A ge Concern Essex will be holding their Essay and Poetry Writing Competition
again in 2010. Closing date 1 March 2010.
The titles for both essays and poetry are
Homecoming
Difficult Decisions
Ambitions
Entry Forms are available from Libraries or by telephoning Age Concern Essex on 01245 346106
Another Successful Blanket Testing Day
G lobe House was bursting at the seams for much of Friday 30 October with people bringing in their electric blankets to be tested.
In all some 70 blankets were tested and over 45% of them failed. Following the withdrawal of E-on sponsorship we were unable to replace failed blankets with new ones but we did distribute half price vouchers. Due to the support of The Royal British Legion, we were able to distribute 10 new electric blankets to those eligible through their Forces connections.
A raffle was held for those who had failed blankets and 4 lucky winners received blankets donated by local businesses including Debenham's, Colchester.
We have received a number of thank you letters from those who attended. In particular, they were delighted with their new blankets and praised the Age Concern Colchester staff for their friendliness and the efficient way they went about their tasks.
Blankets tested this year
were not quite as
dangerous as this example
from 3 years ago
A big thank you to all of you who took part in The Big Knit. Our 1,171 Veg Pot Warmers and 849 Hats have been sent and we understand they are adorning pots and bottles in Sainsbury’s.
When we receive our donation from Innocent Drinks we shall let you
know how much you raised.
Again a big thank you to all the knitters!
The World’s Biggest Coffee Morning
The Age
Concern
Colchester
Coffee Morning
raised
£103.85
for Macmillan
Cancer Support
Thank you very much for your support
Page 3 Issue 49
News from Age Concern England
Spotlight on Annuities
A head of next month’s Pre-Budget Report‚ Age Concern and Help the Aged are calling for changes to tax rules and a radical shake up of the annuities market to give hundreds of
thousands of people with small pension funds a better deal.
The recession has thrown the spotlight on annuities‚ with stock market turmoil and falling interest rates hitting annuity rates and reducing the value of pension savings. Yet calls for reform have so far failed to address the needs of those with modest pension savings who cannot afford to wait before cashing in their pensions or who need to draw down their pension early because of redundancy or ill health.
In its new report 'Coping with the crunch: the annuity challenge'‚ the charity says people with small pension pots often get a poor deal from annuities due to complex regulations and unfair tax rules which mean they can face a heavy tax penalty when they cash them in. The report calls for changes in tax rules so that people with pension savings too small to annuitise can draw them in cash without being penalised.
The report also calls for a radical shake up of the annuities market‚ where the largest 10 firms corner nearly 90 per cent of the sector and more than two-thirds of pension providers only offer annuities to existing customers. Although the Association of British Insurers’ ‘Options’ programme is working to speed up the exchange of information and funds between pension and annuity providers‚ the charity believes more should be done to increase competition and help people choose the right annuity by:
Introducing a new online annuities brokerage system to help people choose the best deal‚ with access to independent advice for those who need it Requiring all annuity providers to publish benchmark rates
Developing a kitemark scheme to ensure annuity providers meet minimum standards With the introduction of auto-enrolment in 2012 likely to lead to a rise in demand for annuities and an increase in the number of people retiring with small pension funds‚ the charity is calling on ministers to use next month’s Pre-Budget Report to signal a shake up of the annuities system.
Andrew Harrop‚ Head of Public Policy at Age Concern and Help the Aged said:
“Despite the impact of the recession‚ the right annuity continues to offer a secure way of turning retirement savings into a stable source of income. But the tax system penalises those with small pension pots and the annuities market is hamstrung by legislative complexity and dominated by a few major players. This adds up to a poor deal for people with small pension pots. The Pre-Budget Report provides an opportunity for ministers to signal a shake up of the system and ensure it is fit for purpose when auto-enrolment is introduced by 2012.”
Page 4 ACCol News
T he Age Concern England Shop (a travelling version!) has called in at meetings of the
Autumn Leaves Club, the Marks Tey Thursday Get-Together and Friday Coffee Club. This has
been a really good opportunity for members to buy Christmas cards and small gifts which also sup-
ports the work of Age Concern Colchester. The shop is planning to get out during 2010 as well.
A utumn Leaves Club, meeting out of the Highwoods Community Centre, has met recently to
have a presentation by Body Shop, and a Home Fire Safety Talk which was well received.
The club met for its Christmas Meal on 9 December with entertainment by Johnny Cashbox.
News and Events
I t is with great regret that the decision has been made to close the Marks Tey Thursday Get-together Club. The last meeting took place with a Christmas Carol session followed by a
Christmas Lunch at The Chequers, Great Tey.
David Beale, the organiser, is stepping down at Christmas and all of us at Age Concern Colchester wish to express our gratitude for all his efforts. He will be much missed!
News from Tiptree Day Centre
Tiptree Edwardian Evening
The Tiptree Edwardian Evening was held on Thurs-day 26
th November. The Day Centre was asked by
the organisers to run a stall, and it was decided to hold a Tombola. Both guests and staff donated prizes and £120 was raised for the Day Centre So-cial Fund.
There was a fantastic atmosphere all evening. Church Road was closed, and there was a stage with entertainment. Four schools, The Salvation Army Band and Carol Singers providing additional entertainment.
There was a snow machine along with a multitude of stalls selling lots of Christmas items. Street entertainers and many people dress ed in Edwardian costume added to the atmosphere.
Private Guests at Day Centres
I f you would like to join our guests at any of our Day
Centres in Tiptree, or Centres at Winstree Court and
Grymes Dyke Court in Stanway, we accept Private Guests
who do not meet Essex Social Care criteria.
For leaflets and further details telephone Globe House
01206 368420.
Page 5 Issue 49
Things to do in 2010
Colchester
Odeon
Senior Screen
Tuesdays
11am
0871 22 44 007
Colchester Leisure World
Free Swimming for over 60s. Apply to Leisure World for a free swimming
card on 01206 282000
For 2010 why not
join the Borough
Council`s
Healthy Walk Group
Ring
01206 853588
New Reading
Circle
Meeting once
a week
At Age Concern Ring Lin 368420
Page 6 ACCol News
Learn how to
use the computer
Three one hour one to one
sessions
Levels from “how to switch
on” to Advanced
If you are ex-Forces you
may be able claim a free
concession
Computer courses
for older people
Computer courses for absolute beginners to
advanced
If you have a computer but are uncertain
how to make best use of it then one of our
computer courses may be for you !
We do not ask for any previous knowledge
and when you book our friendly staff will ask
you where you would like to begin - whether
you want to know how to switch on or are
more advanced.
We have 3 new tutors so the current waiting
list should fall quite quickly. We are now tak-
ing names for 2010. Tutorials will be one
hour long and will take place either on a
Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday or Thursday
morning from 9.30, 10.30 and 11.30 am.
You will be offered three one hour slots on
the same weekday. Monday and Tuesday
afternoons will also be offered in 2010.
Ring the office on 368420 to put your name
down.
Age Concern
Colchester supports
older people by looking
after their interests
Please contact us on
01206 368420 if you
have a matter that is
causing concern
Page 7 Issue 49
Winter Warmth Day Lion Walk Activity Centre
Friday 27 November 2009
C oncerns over the well-being of older people during the winter months led Age Concern Colchester to hold a very successful
Winter Warmth Day at the Lion Walk Activity Centre in Eld Lane, Colchester on Friday 27 November.
The purpose of the event was to provide older people with benefits advice and up to date information on home insulation, changing energy suppliers, home safety and keeping healthy.
There were a number of display stands and staff from Colchester Borough Council including the Warm Homes Team and Anchor Staying Put, the Hearing Centre, The Royal British Legion, Oakhouse Foods, Age Concern Essex and Age Concern Colchester were on hand to give help and advice. A winter warming soup Tombola was also held for all attending.
Lin Roberts of Age Concern Colchester said “Winter can be a very difficult time for many older people with worries about keeping warm and managing on limited means so we were delighted to be working with many other organisations on this project. The Winter Warmth Day was an opportunity for people to get information, help and support so that they can look forward to spring and summer with a greater confidence in both health and financial matters.”
Do you want to get out of the house, meet new people, try new activities, learn new skills
have some fun and feel part of the community?
Then Colchester United Sports Community Trust Plus could be just the thing for you.
Football Plus is a new social group which is set to launch in the New Year. The group will
meet once a week at the Weston Homes Community Stadium, and we want to know what
kind of activities you would like to be on offer.
Contact Angie Syrett at the Sports Trust, Shrub End Community and Sports Centre in
Boadicea Way, Shrub End, Colchester, CO9 9BG Telephone 01206 572378
Colchester United Community Sports Trust
Globe House
6 George Street
Colchester
CO1 1TP
Phone: 01206 368420
Fax: 01206 500984
Email: [email protected]
Web: www.ageconcerncolchester.org.uk
Our aim is simple: to help everyone make the
most out of later life. We believe that old age
should be valued. That choice is important
through life. And we believe in your right to stay
independent as long as possible.
So, volunteers give practical support. We have
expert information and advice you can rely on.
We can insure your house, your travel and give
you peace of mind in other ways. And we cam-
paign for your rights. Working for all older people in the Borough of Colchester
I'm looking for a Toy Boy
Any size would do
He could be as wide as 5 foot 5
Or as tall as 6 foot 2.
I don't mind if he is going bald
And has to wear a vest
As long as when he takes it off
He has a lovely hairy chest!
I must admit I can be fussy
As I'm very hard to please
But I wouldn't keep him begging long,
I merely like to tease!
‘TOY BOY’ by Mary Wiggins
I'll take such loving care of him
And keep him fit and healthy.
I'll even clean his blessed shoes
Especially if he's wealthy!
I will always look after him
And never ask a fee
As long as he remembers to make a will
And leave everything to me!