News items from December 2011
Age UK - weekly activity sessions in Hinckley
Did you know that Age UK runs a huge range of activities for older people and carers at the Earl Shilton Senior Citizens Centre on King's Walk, Earl Shilton, LE9 7NL?
Activities include Lunch Clubs, tea dances, computer drop-in sessions for beginners, keep fit, knit and chatter and craft workshops - plus lots, lots more.
Activities run throughout the week and are available in the daytime and evenings.
Click here for a full list of activities
Plus, if you're looking for a room to book to hold an event of your own, the Senior Citizens Centre has rooms available for hire.
To find out more please call Carole Woodward on 01455 847 666.
Age UK - Information & Advice Service
If you care for an elderly person remember that you can get help and advice from the charity Age UK Leicestershire & Rutland.
The charity runs a free, confidential, independent advice service that could help you with the following issues:
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Money Matters
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Welfare Benefits
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Housing & Property
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Residential & Nursing Care
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Leisure & Social Activities
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Family & Personal Matters
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Your Rights
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Local Services
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Most other issues that affect your quality of life
The helpline number is 0116 299 2233.
Helpline opening hours are Monday to Thursday 1.30pm to 4.30pm and Friday 1.30pm to 4.00pm.
Age UK provides a range of other services too including Home Help; a handyman service; personal alarms and help with insurance, funeral plans and even your energy bills!
To find out more about how the charity could help you, call 0116 299 2233, email [email protected] or visit the charity's website.
Age UK is based at Lansdowne House, 113 Princess Road East, Leicester, LE1 7LA.
News from our Carers’ Forum, South Wigston
We held our second Carers' Forum on Wednesday 30th November at Bassett Community Centre in Wigston.
Over 35 people attended including carers, cared for and representatives from various organisations who had information stands.
The morning included a brief presentation from the Support for Carers team about the Support for Carers service, followed by talks from guest speakers. There was a coffee break inbetween talks, giving attendees an opportunity to have a look at the information stands, chat with stand holders and take away information leaflets.
Our guest speakers included a representative from the local pension service who talked about Carers' Benefits and Appointeeship; together with Lawson West Solicitors who talked about Lasting Power of Attorney, Will and Inheritance Tax.
We asked attendees to complete evaluation forms. This kind of feedback will help us to improve our Carers' Forums in the future.
The feedback was very positive and the overall majority attending found the forum informative and useful.
You can read more about what carers thought of the forum here
Many people had travelled from other parts of the county to attend the forum and the evaluation results indicate how successful the event was.
Our next forum will be in North West Leicestershire in March.
Many thanks to all those who attended the forum in South Wigston.
Cigarettes, diet, alcohol and obesity behind more than 100,000 cancers
According to new research by Cancer Research UK, more than 100,000 cancers - equivalent to one third of all those diagnosed in the UK each year - are being caused by smoking, unhealthy diets, alcohol and excess weight.
This figure further increases to around 134,000 when taking into account all 14 lifestyle and environmental risk factors analysed in the study.
This new review of cancer and lifestyle in the UK is the most comprehensive undertaken to date and was published in a supplement to the British Journal of Cancer on 7th December 2011.
Smoking is far and away the most important lifestyle factor causing 23% of cancers in men and 15.6% in women (nearly one in five cancers).
Overall, the review shows that 45% of all cancers in men could be prevented - compared with 40% of all cancers in women.
You can read the review in full on the Cancer Research UK website
Event for carers and carers’ groups
As you may know, the Support for Carers service is run by Voluntary Action South Leicestershire (VASL).
VASL also runs the Harborough District Voluntary Sector Support Forum - which gives local voluntary groups the chance to get together and share experiences and discuss topics of interest.
On Thursday 12th January 2012 the Forum will be meeting to discuss 'how to engage with the new Health Structures'.
For example, the event will look at how the NHS is moving towards GP-led groups commissioning healthcare services and what this means for voluntary groups, such as local carers' groups.
Carers are very welcome to attend the event, especially if you run a carers' group or are thinking of setting one up.
The event is on from 10.30am to 1pm at The Settling Rooms, St Mary's Place, Market Harborough and guest speakers will be on hand to answer your questions including:
Ben Smith - Voluntary Action Leicestershire Health and Social Care Policy Team
Sarah Hill - Harborough District and County Councillor
A Representative from Market Harborough Medical Centre
Saima Khan - Policy Officer, Leicestershire Link and Healthwatch
To book a place or for more information please contact:
Joanne March on 01858 433232 or email [email protected]
