Retirement Today_Autumn/Winter 2020

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R E T I R E M E N T

www.retirement-today.co.uk

The magazine for pre and post retirement

FINANCE•LIFESTYLE•TRAVEL•CULTURE•GARDENING•HEALTH•RECIPES

Issue 104 Autumn/Winter 2020 £2.90


E PAR OM

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CONTENTS

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4 How to cope this Autumn and Winter

WELCOME TO RETIREMENT TODAY MAGAZINE

Most of us have been learning to adjust to the ‘new normal’ of living with Covid-19 and for many of us this summer meant being able to re-socialise a little with friends and family - albeit with social distancing. Dr Lynda Shaw offers some advice on how to cope with the coming months.

8 Gift ideas

What do you get the person who has everything this festive season? Need inspiration, take a look at some interesting ideas.

10 Festive Delights

Recipes to make the festive season just as enjoyable for vegetarians and vegans as for meat-eaters.

13 What’s On

Buxton Crescent Visitor Experience Opens Its Doors;Vision & Reality: 100 Years of Contemporary Art in Wakefield; Bill Brandt/Henry Moore.

15 Animal Adoption

A fantastic way of giving someone a truly memorable gift and at the same time making a wonderful contribution to animal welfare. urphotos © Flavo

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19 How to turn your passion into money and joy for others

Now more than ever, retirement means different things to different people. Read how that could be a hobby, a “side-hustle”, or even an entirely new phase in a career.

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Grandparents can be an important part of the family unit and play a vital role in their grandchildren’s upbringing. Here are some of the main factors to be aware of if your time with your grandchildren is cut off through relationship breakdowns.

22 Mystical Places - Loch Coruisk

Fantastic and fearful in equal measure, read about the mystical Loch Coruisk, at the Isle of Skye in Scotland. • Published by:-

25 Charity begins at Christmas

Amra Media Solutions Ltd 2nd Floor Tring House 77-81 High Street Tring Herts HP23 4AB

29 Charity News

• Tel: 01442 891608 • Email: info@amramedia.co.uk • www.retirement-today.co.uk • Designed by: Tom Evans Design All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced without the prior permission of the publisher. The opinions expressed in this magazine are not necessarily those of the publisher. Although every care is taken to ensure the accuracy of the information and the advertisements contained within the magazine, the publishers cannot accept any liability. Retirement Today would be pleased to receive your articles and photographs for possible publication. Although all reasonable care will be taken the magazine can assume no responsibility and contributors are advised to retain a copy.

Am yG r im

20 Your custody rights as a grandparent and what to do if you are refused access to your Grandchild

©

Top left – image from Mystical Places by Sarah Baxter © Amy Grimes (White Lion Publishing) Middle Right © Flavourphotos

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Christmas is the season of goodwill, why not give a thought to charities this year, especially in these challenging times, and see how you could make a difference. Thinking differently about dementia; Little Sisters of the Poor caring for vulnerable older people; Royal College of Surgeons making surgery their Legacy.

30 Charity News

BREAK give vulnerable children the gift of life-long support; Admiral nurses dementia helpline; Dan Walshe from Rethink Mental Illness on Covid-19 and mental illness; InDependent Diabetes Trust offers support and information.

If you would like to receive free digital copies of Retirement Today magazine, please email info@amramedia.co.uk with code ‘Free RT’

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Getting through a second wave will be undoubtedly tough, but there are ways that we can make it that little bit more bearable.

HOW TO COPE THIS AUTUMN & WINTER By Dr Lynda Shaw, neuroscientist, business psychologist and change specialist.

How To cope This Autumn & Winter

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ost of us have been learning to adjust to the ‘new normal’ of living with Covid-19 and for many of us this summer meant being able to resocialise a little with friends and family - albeit with social distancing – which gave us a much needed boost. However, it is evident that coronavirus is here to stay for now and as the colder months are nearing, many of us are wondering how we will cope this winter and whether Christmas will be spent with our families. This uncertainty coupled with a collective disheartenment and mental fatigue has led many of us to figuratively hit a wall so how can we best cope? It is normal to feel as though you are running out of steam, overwhelmed or just generally fed up – we all are! Getting through a second wave will be undoubtedly tough, but there are ways that we can make it that little bit more bearable. Here are some tips on how to cope this autumn and winter:1. Treat others with kindness. During these uncertain times many of us will be feeling confused and anxious. In response to these feelings, our stress hormones rise which prevent us from sleeping properly, leaving us feeling more irritable and shorter tempered. Try and be empathetic towards how others are doing this time and treat each other with kindness. RETIREMENT

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2. Set goals to reach by the new year. Set small, realistic goals and work towards them. Setting overly ambitious goals may leave you feeling worse if you don’t achieve them. Start off with something like learning a new skill or exercising a bit more. You might just feel better for it and it will give you positive reinforcement when you reach your goals. 3. There is no shame in asking for help. If you are feeling overwhelmed at the moment, it is important that you know you are not alone. Speak to a GP for medical advice or a friend or family member. Having a chat with someone who knows you well can often give you a more reasoned way of looking at things and they may have some good advice on how you personally can best cope during these times.

4. Make plans but be flexible. Most of us work better with structure so continue to plan and build new routines where possible. We do not react well to ‘the unknown’ and research shows that uncertainty is scarier to humans than known, bad outcomes. The body responds to threats by releasing stress hormones to narrow down our focus in order to concentrate on survival. Right now we don’t know how lockdown restrictions will change or when these will be put in place. The best way to get ready for any change is to stay nimble, pencil in plans, have a routine but be flexible and prepare to adapt.


6. Keep a positive attitude. Research shows that positivity is contagious and positive people achieve better outcomes, so approach the coming months with as much optimism and good grace as possible to benefit your mental health. Positivity also rubs off on people, especially children, so find things to laugh about with friends and family. Focus on the good things and show gratitude for them.

7. Keep feelings of stress at bay through exercise. Stress hormones like adrenalin and cortisol can negatively impact our body which can lead to increased blood pressure, muscle tension, insomnia, headaches and depression. Physical exercise can help to combat this. Find ways to be physically active. Search for local walking routes and for indoor exercise ideas, look for online Tai Chi or Pilates classes. Not only will you improve your fitness, flexibility and balance, but it may well impact your mood. 8. Maintain a healthy sleep schedule. Stress is the most common cause of sleep loss in the UK. Maintain a healthy sleep schedule to reduce feelings of anxiety and depression. Lack of sleep can also reduce our physical health and it is vital that we protect our immune system during the coming months.

9. Avoid fake news. The news is inherently depressing at the moment so reading and listening to false stories and negative opinions will only leave you feeling more overwhelmed. Stress hormones decrease your rationality and critical thinking, making you more susceptible to believing inaccurate information. Avoid listening to other’s ‘strong opinions’ and check for official advice. 10. Try not to worry about the ‘what if ’s. Worrying about worse-case scenarios is unhelpful. Try to limit this as much as possible. Whilst we think that working through these thoughts may end up proving beneficial in the long run, it can actually just leave you feeling more stressed than you were before. Focus on the now. When you wake up, smile and hug yourself. Today could be a really good day. n

www.drlyndashaw.com RETIREMENT

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How To cope This Autumn & Winter

5. Be flexible about Christmas too. Many of us are already thinking about the current restrictions in place and how these will influence the coming holidays. Christmas is too far away to make predictions now, so all we can do at the moment is try and remain flexible. Ultimately, Christmas is all about togetherness but that might be slightly different this year. Have a plan A and plan B for how this might be achieved and try to feel grateful and happy for the family time you can spend whatever way that will be.

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Gifts for everyone Golf fanatic? History buff? Classical music aficionado? Whatever their interests, friends and family will treasure these wonderfully thoughtful gifts from Jersey Post.

Harry Vardon Souvenir Coin A beautiful 24k gold plated souvenir coin celebrates golfing great, Harry Vardon. Presented in a stunning oak gift box with a numbered certificate of authentication, the coins are strictly limited with only 150 available worldwide. £95

80th Anniversary of the Battle of Britain Exclusive Limited Edition Print Illustrated by esteemed aviation artist, Adam Tooby, this exclusive limited edition print has been signed and numbered by the artist. The print is presented pre-mounted within an aperture mount featuring a special date stamp commemorating the 80th anniversary of the Battle of Britain and the issue date of 15th September 2020. £300

Beethoven Collectables Set This limited edition set includes a 12” transparent vinyl featuring some of Beethoven’s best-loved works and a beautiful silver plated souvenir coin hand-packed in a velvet presentation box with a numbered certificate of authentication. £50

Only 20 available worldwide!

View the full range and order online www.jerseystamps.com Email: stamps@jerseypost.com or call us on +44 (0) 1534 616717

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@JerseyStamps


UPDATE Lockdown boosted

neighbourliness and trust, but experts warn that those who need support the most Living in a retirement development offers security are missing out Half of people in their 50s and 60s say they feel more trusting of their and companionship for neighbours as a result of lockdown, according to a new study, while almost half report feeling a greater sense of belonging to their local area and two women living alone thirds saying they know more people they could count on to help if they were ill or unable to leave their home. However, those who are financially less well-off or those with long-term health conditions or illnesses are least likely to have felt these benefits.

Anna Dixon, Chief Executive at the Centre for Ageing Better, said: “The first lockdown was extremely difficult for many of us, but better connections to our neighbours has been one of the silver linings. Our research shows that the experience of lockdown increased people’s feelings of trust in their neighbours and their sense of belonging to their local area. More people also now know people they can count on to help out if they need it. “But it’s worrying to see that people with longterm health conditions or those who are less well-off haven’t experienced these benefits as much. They are less likely to have found people they can count on for support, and less likely to know about voluntary organisations they could turn to. “As many parts of the country begin to face tighter restrictions, it’s vital that action is taken to ensure that people don’t miss out on the support and connections they need. “The response of communities during lockdown was incredible, but we need government to support community organisations and charities to reach and engage people in poorer communities to mobilise this mutual support.”

Girlings Retirement Rentals reports that many older women are choosing to rent in specialist retirement development because of the opportunities to meet and socialise with other people, plus they appreciate living with close neighbours in a secure development. Jamie Turnbull, Business Director at Girlings Retirement Rentals says, “A big attraction of a retirement developments is the social aspect of living with other retired people. Living alone can be lonely and having other people to have a cup of coffee with or being able to take part in social events is attractive. “There is also the security element. Most developments have an onsite manager and a 24-emergency call system in each apartment. Women can live independently, but safe in the knowledge there is always someone around should they need any help.” One Girlings resident enjoying the social element and security of living in a retirement development is Patricia Kelly from Somerset. Patricia decided to retire at the age of 64 and needed to make a big change to her living circumstances to do this. At the time, she owned a lovely house in Frome. While buying a smaller property was her first choice, she did not have enough equity in her house to sell it and buy somewhere else, so renting was the most affordable option. Girlings offer long term assured tenancies which allow residents to remain in the property for as long as they like – the same security as homeownership. Patricia says, “I found a lovely, modern apartment in a development called Chatham Court right in the centre of Warminster near to where I was living it was ideal. The apartment was on the ground floor with a small garden out the front and they were able to accommodate my two cats, so I decided immediately to take it.” It turned out to be the best decision she has ever made.

NOW RETIREMENT READY

66-year-old Barbara from Lincolnshire (centre) was forced to give up the job she loved after a fall at work. She entered retirement much earlier than expected and wasn’t quite ready to give up the buzz of a busy working life.

decided to give her local branch a try.

“Everyone made us feel welcome. I’m a very friendly person but I’m not the sort to hang around if I don’t like somewhere. As soon as we walked in we felt at home.” The Oddfellows is one of the UK’s largest and

oldest friendly societies and offers friendship and support to 43,500 members across its 121 branches. Membership costs from £25 per year. Despite social restrictions, Oddfellows branches are still running online activities and Covid-19 Secure meet-ups for members to stay in touch. There are group holidays planned for 2021, in addition to supportive benefits which include care and welfare advice.

“I didn’t want to be one of those people who woke up every morning, had a coffee and just filled my time with mundane day-to-day tasks,” Barbara explains.

Barbara’s adds: “Life’s too short to be sat doing nothing, whether you are retired or not. I never thought I’d say this but being retired is great. The Oddfellows and the friends I’ve made there have played a huge part in this.”

She first heard about the Oddfellows after meeting someone on holiday who was a member and, on her return,

To receive a free Oddfellows information pack, call 0800 028 1810, or visit www.oddfellows.co.uk/retirement. RETIREMENT

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Update

You long for the freedom retirement affords when working. But when the time comes, and the daily structure disappears, changes to routine can feel less welcome.

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GIFT IDEAS What do you get the person who has everything this festive season?

The decision to know what to buy friends and family seems to get harder each year. Need inspiration, take a look at some unique ideas.

Gifts to treasure Perfect presents for golf aficionados, these wonderful collectables from Jersey Post celebrate golfing legend, Harry Vardon. Harry Vardon became the Champion Golfer of the Year of The Open in 1896, 1898, 1899, 1903, 1911 and then again in 1914. He also became USGA U.S. Open Champion in 1900. With this record of wins, Vardon proved himself to be one of golf's greatest ever players. A beautiful 24k gold plated souvenir coin has been released to mark Jersey born Vardon’s 150th birth anniversary. With only 150 available worldwide, the coin features the design of Vardon’s medal from his first win at The Open in 1896. The reverse shows him driving off the tee, together with a list of his six wins in The Open and his US Open win. Beautifully presented in an oak presentation box, the souvenir coin is accompanied by a numbered certificate of authentication.

Also Available A set of six commemorative stamps features portraits of Harry Vardon, throughout his career. A special miniature sheet features a photograph of Harry Vardon and Ted Ray, a protégé of Vardon and a fellow Jersey native, who won the United States Open Championship 100 years ago, in 1920. The stamps and miniature sheet are available in specially designed Presentation Packs or affixed to First Day Cover Envelopes and make great collectables for golf enthusiasts, and stamp collectors alike.

NEW COMPILATION ALBUM Iconic musician Rick Wakeman lights the fuse…

Gift Ideas

A great gift for ‘rock’ fans.

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One of the UK’s most iconic rock musicians, Rick Wakeman, has compiled 70s Rockdown, a brand new 60-track collection of classic rock, which he says has been “designed to help rock our way through lock-down”. The album features the biggest names of the ‘70s including Queen, Deep Purple, Eric Clapton, Status Quo, Hawkwind, Lynyrd Skynyrd, The Who and Wakeman’s own band Yes, whose hit ‘Wonderous Stories’ catapulted the Prog Rock band into the Top 10 singles chart in 1977, peaking at No.7. ‘70s Rockdown’ is the first release for an ambitious new record label, Xploded TV, which is entering the compilation albums market just as most of the competition is leaving. 70s Rock Down is released on 27th November. RETIREMENT

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The perfect gifts for those with dementia Finding the perfect gift for someone with dementia can be difficult, as it’s important to find something that suits their needs. Relish develops games, puzzles and activities that are designed specifically for the different stages of dementia, recognising unique challenges and abilities. Most importantly, Relish aims to bring joy to those with dementia, their family and carers by promoting wellbeing through meaningful activities. Its range includes 100, 63, 35 or 13 piece puzzles with beautiful pictures that conjure evocative happy memories, specialist dementia arts and crafts activities, or new Music Bingo - perfect for spending joyous time with the family. Spend time chatting together about happy memories with Relish’s Reminiscence Cards, or for later stages of dementia try sensory products, using the power of smell to bring smiles and comfort. Go to relish-life.com to find what’s right for your loved one.

ART & CREAKY BONES A precious gift for seniors who want to enjoy life. The seclusion of the last months has given us a longing for joyful solutions to health and aging problems. A bit of merriment can't go amiss at this moment. The cheeriest and most long lasting health-conscious gift that we've found for the holidays, is a beautiful book called ART & CREAKY BONES. This superb book that's been awarded five prestigious Book Awards, is about becoming creative, even if you've never thought of it before. It explores what happens in the brain, and the author shares proof from the past of why it's true that any inventive activity helps keep you healthier and will help you live longer. She tells why life is so much more lively, vibrant and vivacious if you find something creative that you really love to do. Sheila Reid the author, is an artist with works in Museum Collections in many different countries. She was born in Minneapolis but has lived most of her life in France. Her book is truly a cherished gift, especially the exquisite colourful illustrations of her latest artworks, that are a true inspiration to find a creative activity that will bring you joy. It's a step toward serenity and cheerfulness that makes this book with all it's 5 awards, a perfectly thoughtful and meaningful gift that will inspire those you love for years. Available at Amazon.


Retired? Go to meetings you actually enjoy. You can do as much or as little as you want.

If you’ve recently retired and need the inspiration to create your new routine, then take a look at what your local Oddfellows friendship group has to offer. We’ve social events and activities, group holidays, volunteering opportunities and wellbeing support ready and waiting, as well as plenty of others getting the most out of their retirement. Try adding the Oddfellows to your day, and enjoy your new life on your terms.

Create your new routine

For your free information pack

FREEPHONE 0800 Media ref 1900

028 1810

9am-5pm Mon to Thurs, 9am-4pm Fri

oddfellows.co.uk/retirement

The Oddfellows is the trading name of The Independent Order of Odd Fellows Manchester Unity Friendly Society Limited, incorporated and registered in England and Wales No 223F. Registered Office Oddfellows House, 184 – 186 Deansgate, Manchester M3 3WB. Oddfellows_Retirement-Today_135x185_10-20.indd 1

21/10/2020 15:29:29

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FESTIVE DELIGHTS How to make the festive season just as enjoyable for vegetarians and vegans as for meat-eaters

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hristmas is a busy time in the kitchen. However, with a little forward-planning, it needn’t cause a lot of stress. Experts and roving chefs at Vegetarian for Life have some top tips for catering for older vegetarians and vegans this Yuletide.

Since there are only two fully vegetarian care homes in the UK, one of VfL’s major goals is improve the standard of vegan and vegetarian catering in existing homes. They are striving towards a vision where at least 1 in every 6 UK care homes are members of their UK List – and 1 in every 100 will be VfL accredited.

It’s easy to make Christmas a happy time for veggie residents or service-users. What’s more rewarding than bringing pleasure to others in the season of giving? Remember, it’s possible that meat-eaters will like the vegetarian or vegan options, too, so do give them the choice – and make plenty!

FESTIVE GRATIN VEGAN SERVES 4 AS A MAIN, 6 AS A SIDE 1 full broccoli cut into medium florets 400g frozen Brussels sprouts, halved 2 sweetheart cabbages, quartered 1 x 400g tin butter beans 2 onions, thinly sliced 25g non-dairy margarine 25g plain flour 700ml non-dairy milk (make sure it’s unsweetened) 1 tsp Dijon mustard 1 tbsp non-dairy cream cheese

SMOKEY AUBERGINE SOUP

1 tsp dried thyme

Starter

1 tsp dried oregano

SERVES 4 1 bulb garlic, left in skin 2 tbsp olive oil Large aubergine, chopped into large chunks 2 medium white onions, peeled and quartered ½ cauliflower, broken into large pieces 1 tsp ground cumin 1 tsp dried parsley ½ tsp smoked salt or smoked paprika (optional but can add great taste) 75g mung dal (or use other lentils) 1 litre vegetable stock 1 tbsp tahini Juice from half a lemon 1 Preheat oven to 190°C/370°F/gas mark 5.

Festive delights

2 Place garlic in a large roasting dish and drizzle with half the oil. Roast for 20 minutes. 3 Add the aubergine, onion and cauliflower. Drizzle with the rest of the oil and continue to roast for 30–45 minutes. Half way through add the cumin and parsley. 4 Once cooked, remove from the oven and allow to cool. When cool enough to handle, remove soft garlic cloves from the bulb and set aside. 5 While the vegetables are roasting, cook the lentils in the vegetable stock. Timings may vary so check packet instructions. 6 When the lentils are cooked add contents from the roasting dish and blend until smooth. Add a little extra stock if required. 7 Add tahini and fresh lemon juice at the end for taste. RETIREMENT

3 tbsp yeast flakes 2 slices wholemeal bread for breadcrumbs

VEGAN

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100g non-dairy cheese

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1 Preheat oven to 180°C/350°F/gas mark 4. 2 Bring a large pan of salted water to the boil. Add broccoli, sprouts and cabbage then cook for 5 minutes. 3 Drain and tip into a greased ovenproof dish along with the onion. (If using fresh Brussels sprouts these will need to be cooked for longer.) 4 In a large saucepan on a low heat, melt the margarine. Add the flour until it forms a dough. 5 Slowly add the milk and stir using a whisk. The sauce will thicken. After around 10 minutes add the rest of the sauce ingredients, apart from 1 tbsp yeast flakes. Whisk until smooth. Season to taste. 6 Pour over the broccoli, sprouts, cabbage and beans. Top with breadcrumbs, remaining yeast flakes, thyme and oregano. Bake for 30 minutes.


BEETROOT CHOCOLATE BROWNIES CAN BE VEGAN* DESSERT SERVES 8 350g raw beetroot (after peeling) 125g (*vegan) dark chocolate cut into pieces/chocolate chips 100g (*non-dairy) margarine 170g caster sugar 3 eggs/*egg replacer (such as No Egg) 1 tsp vanilla extract 150g plain flour 1 tsp bicarbonate of soda 25g cocoa powder

CHRISTMAS STUFFED CAULIFLOWER VEGAN MAIN SERVES 2-4 1 large cauliflower, leaves removed A good glug of olive oil 4 tbsp breadcrumbs Handful chopped nuts For the cauliflower stuffing 250g Brussels sprouts, shredded 1 tbsp ground linseed 1 onion, diced 3 garlic cloves Handful of fresh sage leaves, chopped 1 tsp chopped rosemary 150g cooked pre-pack chestnuts, finely chopped Zest of 1–2 lemons 1 tsp nutmeg

1 If using raw beetroot, peel and chop into chunks. Place in a microwavesafe dish with 3 tbsp water. Cover and cook for 12 minutes on full power or until soft. If using vacuum-packed beetroot then remove from packet and drain. 2 Preheat oven to 180°C/350°F/gas mark 4. Line and grease a 20cm (8-inch) square cake tin. 3 In a large bowl add 100g dark chocolate and margarine. If using fresh beetroot, add to this mixture straight from the microwave when hot then blend until smooth. If using vacuum-packed beetroot, in 10 second bursts melt the chocolate and margarine in a microwave-safe bowl until soft. Add the beetroot and blend until smooth. 4 Place the sugar, eggs/No Egg, and vanilla into a large bowl. Whisk until fluffy then spoon into the beetroot mixture. 5 Sift in the flour, bicarb and cocoa powder and mix until smooth. 6 Pour into the prepared tin and sprinkle the remaining chocolate on top. Place in the centre of the preheated oven and bake for 30 minutes. 7 If the brownie is still too soft then cover with foil and continue to bake for a further 10 minutes. Because this is a brownie recipe it will be very moist and sticky. The mixture keeps well wrapped in cling film and chilled in a fridge for up to a week in an airtight container. Serve with oat cream or ice cream.

½ teaspoon allspice 1 Turn the cauliflower upside-down and cut out the stalk and core, leaving a hollow cavity. The florets should still be held together. 2 Bring a pan of salted water to the boil (large enough to hold the entire cauliflower). Completely submerge the cauliflower and cook for about 7 mins or until al dente. Remove carefully and set aside to dry. 3 Add the shredded Brussels sprouts to the pan and cook for a minute or so until softened. Squeeze out any excess liquid. 4 Mix the ground linseed with 2½ tbsp water and set aside for 5–10 minutes until gloopy. This is kind of like an egg. 5 Meanwhile, heat 2 tbsp oil in a frying pan. Add onion and a pinch of salt, and cook until softened. Stir in remaining stuffing ingredients, including sprouts, and cook for a minute or so more. 6 Remove from heat and season. Blend with 150ml water and the linseed egg and blitz to a thick purée (best to use an electric blender). Put the mixture into a piping bag. 7 Pipe the stuffing mixture into cauliflower, getting in as much of the purée as you can. Transfer to a lined or greased baking tray.

Festive delights

8 Heat oven to 200°C/180°C fan/gas mark 6. Mix the breadcrumbs with chopped nuts and season. Drizzle olive oil all over the cauliflower, then pat on the breadcrumb chestnut mix. 9 Roast for 45 minutes or until golden brown and crispy on top. Images are ©Flavourphotos

For further information on Vegetarian for Life visit www.vegetarianforlife.org.uk RETIREMENT

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Do you have Diabetes? Do you know someone with Diabetes? As a small charity with a big mission

WE NEED YOUR HELP... We offer free support and information to people with diabetes, their families and health care professionals on the issues that are important to them. Our Helpline offers a friendly, understanding ear when the going gets tough. Your help will enable us to continue to support people with diabetes and provide much needed aid to children in developing countries. We rely entirely on voluntary donations. So, if you are thinking about making a donation to charity, or updating your Will, please consider a gift to help us continue our work. Please make donations to “Diabetes Trust Research and Care Fund.”

FOR MORE INFORMATION PLEASE CONTACT US: EMAIL:

InDependent Diabetes Trust P O Box 294, Northampton NN1 4XS

martin@iddtinternational.org or TELEPHONE:

01604 622837

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www.iddtinternational.org Charity Number: 1058284 Registered Number: 3148360

J J COOPER & SONS

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HERE QUALITY & W LIFESTYLE COME FIRST Please contact our Head Office on 0118 942 8782 to discuss your residential park home or holiday lodge requirements. We can supply park homes and leisure lodge homes from any manufacturer. We have an inventory of stock homes from any of the leading manufacturers available immediately, alternatively you can place a forward order for a home of your choice with a lead time of 12 weeks delivery. Our parks are located in Berkshire, Wiltshire, Hampshire, Oxfordshire, Surrey and Essex with our address details listed below. We have in excess of 1200 residents living on our estates and have more than 40 years experience in the industry, with our first park ownership in 1976.

We look forward to welcoming you to one of our parks.

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T: 0118 942 8782

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RETIREMENT today JJ Cooper.indd 1

E: garstonspark@outlook.com

23/03/2018 15:04


Out&About... Bill Brandt/Henry Moore Sainsbury Centre, Norwich 20 November 2020 7 March 2021

This major exhibition traces the parallel and intersecting careers of two leading artists of the 20th century. The photographer Brill Brandt (19041983) and sculptor Henry Moore (1898-1986) first crossed paths during the Second World War, when they created images of civilians sheltering in the London underground during the Blitz. These photographs by Brandt and drawings by Moore today rank among their most iconic works. See almost 200 works including significant sculpture, iconic photographs and drawings, little-known photo collages and rare original colour Standing, Seated and Reclining Figures against a background of bombed buildings – Henry Moore transparencies. 1940©The Henry Moore Foundation, UK The exhibition opens with the moment the artists met in 1942 when Brandt photographed Moore in his studio to accompany a 10-page spread in Lilliput magazine, with juxtaposed the two artists’ shelter images for the first time. Both artists were often drawn to similar subjects. During the Second World War, there was a focus on ordinary people, the home and labour. Their images of coal miners and their families reflect social deprivation, yet an optimistic view in the case of Moore.

Vision & Reality: 100 Years of Contemporary Art in Wakefield 20 November 2020-25 April 2021

As The Hepworth Wakefield approaches is 10th anniversary in 2021, it is presenting a major exhibition celebrating the establishment and growth of Wakefield’s art collection over the past 100 years. The collection began in the early 1920s with gifts of works by local industrialists and benefactors who believed a thriving industrial city like Wakefield should have an art collection and gallery befitting its status. A collection was established with the aim of nurturing an understanding of contemporary art and its relation to modern life. Now comprising over 5,300 works, the Wakefield Permanent Art Collection was built with the support of many organisations, communities and individuals who understand the importance of connecting people to contemporary experience through art. Opening with historic works in the founding collection by many artists James Tissot, On the Thames (or How Happy I Could Be with Either), c. 1876. including James Tissot, with one of his painting ‘On the Thames’, Vision Oil on canvas. 74.8 x 118 cm. Purchased 1938 & Reality will shine a light on the key figures and organisations that have played a crucial role in developing Wakefield’s art collection as one focused on contemporary art. Alongside the gallery is The Hepworth Wakefield Garden, designed by Tom Stuart-Smith, which features sculptures and is free for all to enjoy. For further information www.hepworthwakefield.org

Buxton Crescent Visitor Experience Opens Its Doors!

Out & About

Buxton Crescent Visitor Experience opened its doors to welcome the first local residents and visitors on Tuesday 20 October. The brand-new boutique attraction set in eight rooms in the Georgian Crescent reveals the story of a special spa town, the building’s remarkable restoration and Buxton’s famous water. The area’s most anticipated year-round, all-weather attraction is the perfect starting point for anyone visiting or learning about Buxton. The experience lasts just over an hour and is fully accessible. Entry will be by pre-booked timed tickets, in ‘Buxton Bubble’ groups of between 1 and 6 people. Buxton Crescent Heritage Trust is a registered charity that also runs the Buxton Visitor Centre within the Victorian Pump Room opposite the Crescent and is planning a year-round programme of inspiring events, experiences and learning visits. Tickets and details are available online at www.buxtoncrescentexperience.com. There is a discount for Derbyshire residents. RETIREMENT

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Looking for a unique Christmas gift?

‘Free RT’

Dotty

Sponsor a rescued horse or donkey from Redwings for a whole year from just £15! Upgrade your gift! We have a gorgeous selection of Adoption Star merchandise available in our online gift store

www.redwings.org.uk/shop

www.redwings.org.uk/adopt 0870 040 0033 Legacy quarter page ad.pdf

In August 2020, Margaret provided 84 hours of medical care to a dying horse, saving its life.

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Last year we helped over 80,000 wild birds and animals like Rudolph

Margaret in the 1950s

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Margaret passed away March, 2020.

Create Your Legacy Margaret kindly remembered Bransby Horses in her Will. Gifts left in Wills help our charity rescue and care for hundreds of equines every single year.

T 01427 788464 BransbyHorses.co.uk/legacy

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Please help me get better Not only do we treat more hedgehogs than any other wildlife hospital, but our caring teams save lives every day. Our aim is simple, to treat injured British wildlife, then return them to the wild. Like Rudolph, who arrived badly injured at just five days old. Our specialist care saved this little deer and he is now facing a brighter future. But it is only with your support we can help casualties like Rudolph; please remember Tiggywinkles in your Will.

Our late friend Dame Thora Hird actively encouraged others to help us secure funding for our lifesaving work. In her words "All the little wild creatures and I thank you so very much". For more information please contact: Jenny Babb, Tiggywinkles, Aylesbury, Buckinghamshire HP17 8AF

01844 292 292 mail@sttiggywinkles.org.uk www.tiggywinkles.com Registered Charity No. 286447

Come and have a look around our Visitor Centre. Opening times can be found on our website www.tiggywinkles.com.

Charity No: 1075601. Company Limited by Guarantee Registered in England and Wales No: 3711676 Mrs Penney’s family generously gave permission for this image use and message; continuing Margaret’s incredible legacy. 84 hours based on 6 staff working at our Intensive Care Unit

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is the busiest wildlife hospital in the world.


Animal Adoption – the perfect gift

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truggling to come up with yet more interesting ideas as gifts for friends and family? Whether at Christmas, as a birthday present, or for a special occasion, animal adoption or sponsorship is a fantastic way of giving someone a truly memorable gift and at the same time making a great contribution to animal welfare. It can be a great choice for both children and adults who for whatever reason are unable to keep a pet at home,

or have a larger animal such as a horse, and it can also encourage them to develop an interest in wildlife conservation too. Animal adoption is a very important method of fund-raising and can also build a lifetimes relationship with a charity too. The details of animal adoption vary slightly but the essentials remain the same. Here are some examples of great choices for potential adoptees – take a look and why not this year give a truly giving gift – especially to all the animal lovers in your life n

Redwings Horse Sanctuary Help grant a rescued horse’s wish this Christmas All the rescued horses and donkeys of Redwings Horse Sanctuary want this Christmas is the chance to continue living a life free of fear and neglect. Christmas shoppers can help make their wish come true by sponsoring a Redwings “Adoption Star” as a truly unique gift for a loved one, and every penny goes towards their care and that of their four-legged friends at the Sanctuary – of which there are over 1,500! Sponsorship costs from just £15 a year, and there are more than 20 adorable Adoption Star horses, ponies and donkeys to choose from, each with their own moving story to tell. From gentle giant Shire cross Fox to mischievous donkey Arya, from mini but mighty Sampson to real life ‘Black Beauty’ Maya, there’s an array of wonderful characters enabling everyone to find the perfect new friend for themselves or a loved one!

At a Glance

Buttercups Goat Sanctuary At Buttercups Sanctuary, goats that have been mistreated and abused, starved and abandoned, are taken into care, giving them an environment of love and kindness. Here their “hurts” can be treated and their experience of cruelty is replaced with understanding and trust. Set in ancient Parkland the Sanctuary provides goats who have suffered so much with a safe and loving home for the rest of their lives. As well as open fields in which to roam in, all of the animals at Buttercups have a warm, dry undercover accommodation at night. It is hard to believe that in today’s world, where television brings us such wonderful images of animal life, that man can still create situations of cruelty and hardship to those who share our planet. Buttercups Sanctuary for Goats is now home to over 150 goats plus another 130 staying in wonderful “Foster Homes”. They rely entirely upon the goodwill of Friends to provide financial support through donations and legacies. Buttercups is the only registered goat charity in the UK whose sole aim is to provide relief and care after cruelty and neglect. Why not support them and adopt a goat today, an ideal gift. Contact them at www.buttercups.org.uk

At a Glance

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Adopt today and receive: • Photo of your chosen animal • Details about their story • Quarterly newsletter • Personalised Certificate RETIREMENT

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Animal Adoption – the perfect gift

Adopt today and receive: • An adoption pack including a certificate, beautiful photograph and the Adoption Star’s story • Postal updates on their adventures and antics at the Sanctuary • An invitation to the Adoption Star’s birthday party • Access to an online diary featuring photo galleries and blogs about their life at Redwings • The chance to visit the Adoption Star for free at the visitor centre where they live • A Friendship Card to treasure as a reminder of their adoption. To sponsor a Redwings Adoption Star this Christmas, head to www.redwings.org.uk/adopt or call 01508 481000.

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Wild Futures Wild Futures is a primate welfare charity rescuing, campaigning, educating, and runs a sanctuary for rescued primates. It is currently legal to keep primates as pets in the UK, but primates are wild animals inherently unsuitable for keeping in domestic situations, and they often suffer both physically and mentally, as a result of being kept as a pet. Wild Futures campaigns against this trade and provides a home for life for monkeys rescued from situations of abuse and neglect at their Monkey Sanctuary in Cornwall. They are home to 40 monkeys, each with their own distinct characters and personalities. As pets, many of these individuals were left alone in tiny, barren cages and fed inappropriate diets, some were even physically abused. They offer them a chance to heal and socialise with others of their own kind, and experience a natural environment to explore, forage, play and climb trees in. Through their adoption scheme, you can help contribute to the care of the monkeys rescued from the UK primate pet trade. Adopting a monkey means that you are helping to provide the resources to give them the best life possible and enable them to continue their vital work campaigning and educating against the UK primate pet trade. Please visit www.wildfutures.org/adopt today to see their rescued monkeys and pick which one you would like to adopt!

At a Glance

Animal Adoption – the perfect gift

Adopt and receive: • A soft toy • Personalised certificate of adoption • Photo of adopted monkey • Your monkey’s story • Species factsheet • Wild Futures bi-annual newsletters • Discount to our Monkey Sanctuary Contact fundraising@wildfutures.org for more information or visit our website www.wildfutures.org

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HorseWorld Adopting one of the HorseWorld herd makes the perfect gift! Every one of the HorseWorld herd has their own special story to tell, but they’ve all got something in common: each one has been given a second chance at life. Whether they’ve recovered from terrible cruelty, found comfort after being abandoned, or learnt to trust again after being abused – they’ve rescued them, helped them heal, and are now giving them the life they deserve. But they couldn’t do it without the support of people like you. Adopting one of the HorseWorld herd is a fantastic way of ensuring they can continue to help the horses, ponies and donkeys who need them the most, whilst celebrating just how far these excellent equines have come! Plus, you’ll know that the gift you’re giving will help them to rescue even more animals in need. Your support will have a direct impact on the work they’re doing every day to give scared, vulnerable, sick and abandoned horses their second chance at life. If you choose to adopt one of their ‘Discovery Stars’, you’ll be playing a part in giving a vulnerable young person a second chance at life too. Adoption costs from just £24 a year and you’ll receive:

At a Glance

• A cuddly toy of your favourite equine in a lovely presentation box. • A beautiful photo of your chosen chum. • A keyring of your four-legged favourite. • A certificate to show you’ve got a new best friend! • Regular updates from your adopted animal. You can adopt online by visiting www.horseworld.org.uk/adopt-a-pony or calling the HorseWorld Adoption Hotline on 01275 893020.

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Looking for the perfect present?

Registered Charity no. 1121920

Choose a HorseWorld adoption and give rescued horses, ponies and donkeys a second chance at a happy life.

e im D e rs o h e ir h s Rescued www.horseworld.org.uk/adopt-a-pony Or call 01275 893020

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And finally …… Honouring Bransby Horses’ new Sponsorship Star!

An easy and rewarding way to support Bransby Horses is through their Sponsorship Star Scheme. It offers a wonderful opportunity to get to know one or more of the horses, ponies, donkeys or mules that reside with the Lincolnshire equine charity. When sponsoring a star for just £3 a month, you receive regular updates about your chosen star and their life at Bransby Horses. You also receive a lovely photo and an exclusive gift. Sponsoring one of their stars makes the perfect gift, which helps support this hard-working charity. In 2020, the charity introduced three new stars; Honour, Woody and Ferguson.

More about Honour

Animal Adoption – the perfect gift

Tiggywinkles

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Tiggywinkles is the world’s busiest wildlife hospital, helping over 12,000 wild animals every year. They are there 24hrs a day, 7 days a week, 365 days a year to take in any wild animal in need. It takes a huge amount to keep their hospital open all year round and an excellent way to ensure they can continue to help British wildlife is to support our Adoption Scheme. Through their Adoption Scheme, you can help care for all the beautiful birds of prey that pass through their doors. They provide the best care, treatment and medicine to make sure these majestic birds take flight once again. They help buzzards, red kites, kestrels and sparrowhawks, to name just a few. These amazing birds are rushed in for treatment for all manner of reasons including broken wings, head trauma and parasites. They also take in lots of orphaned baby birds of prey in the busy summer months. Their aim is to get as many of these stunning animals on their feet again and released but the birds of prey that cannot return to the wild live in safe, purpose-built aviaries on site where they can give them all the care they need. If you choose to adopt their birds of prey, or another species, you will ensure Tiggywinkles continues to rescue, rehabilitate and provide sanctuary for any needy wild animal who has no one else to help them.

At a Glance Adopt today and receive: • Photo of your chosen animal • Adoption certificate • Detailed history of your chosen animal • Factsheet • Fridge Magnet • The Chronicle (history of Tiggywinkles) • One free entry to Visitor Centre RETIREMENT

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The day before VE Day in 2017, Honour, befittingly named by staff, arrived as part of multi-agency rescue of a Shire horse herd. This rescue was initiated after concerns had been raised for the welfare of these magnificent horses ahead of the cold, harsh winter months. Mares and foals including Honour, who was only 2 years old at the time, appeared to be abandoned in a field in the West Midlands, left with no food nor shelter to keep warm. Honour arrived at the charity on a cold winter’s day as a frightened youngster, but has soon blossomed into a striking, confident 16.3hh mare. She soon started her career as a ridden horse in their Riding Barn, but sadly had to retire due to lameness in her hind leg, possibly due to the poor start she had in life. This doesn’t stop Honour enjoying her days at Bransby Horses, being out in the field with her friends and meeting visitors on our Visitor Centre yard. Your kind sponsorship of Honour will help their vets to continue to assess and keep her comfortable. It will also help towards hay and feed costs – a horse of her size certainly keeps staff and volunteers busy with filling her forage feeders! Bransbyhorses.co.uk

At a Glance Sponsor today and receive: • A5 Certificate • Postcard together with background information/characteristics of your chosen equine • Leaflet about the charity • Online updates • Visit your chosen Sponsorship Star


How to turn your passion into money and joy for others

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ow more than ever, retirement means different things to different people. For some it means putting their feet up, for others it means spending more time with friends and family, and for a whole other set of people it means finally having the time to pursue their passion project. That could be a hobby, a “side-hustle”, or even an entirely new phase in a career. That's the one I’d like to talk about today. A lot of people leave their jobs full of experience and of ideas of how they would have done things better or differently and, for many, “retirement” is the perfect time to prove this thanks to the many wonders of technology, following this new path has never been easier. Speaking from my own experience, I have been a composer in the world of theatre, the arts in general and TV in particular for decades. If you’ve ever happened to hear the UEFA Champions League Anthem, then you’ve heard some of my work. I have also had a parallel career as a music and arts director and producer for film and television and during this more recent period I became increasingly concerned with the way that the industry was evolving in its endless race for ratings and attempts to capture the younger audience. Documentaries became almost exclusively presenterled, and music performances always tended towards mainstream ensembles and repertoire. Coverage of the visual arts is predominantly historical and dance and jazz virtually never appear on BBC 4 and Sky Arts, which are

the only broadcasters that even still try to cover these genres. This, combined with a general dumbing down and streamlining of arts content to appeal to a younger audience, left me feeling more than a little disillusioned with the industry - and led me to creating my own alternative in The Arts Channel. This was all amplified by knowing I wasn’t alone. I spoke to countless people of my own age who felt that the current crop of mainstream arts programming was too patronising for them to enjoy. Particularly frustrating was the fact that I knew from experience that there was a wealth of arts content out there, from all round the world which covered a wide range of topics - and respected its audience’s intelligence - which just wasn’t being picked up by the major platforms. No-one enjoys being talked down to but, when that programming is all that is available, the only choices are to grin and bear it or switch off entirely. And that's no good! Particularly at a time like this when the live arts scene is hamstrung by the recent pandemic, and will continue to be for some time to come. So, I decided to do something about it. A decade ago the idea of starting a channel to fill the gap left by the big broadcasters would have been a fairly ludicrous idea to try when one was at retirement age. The BBC and Sky and the other major traditional channels remained the gatekeepers for so long because of their established distribution networks and their ability to access the latest technology. But technology is no longer the barrier that it was to getting things done. And I say that as someone with no technological experience in this field to speak of whatsoever. For that I turned to SupaPass, an out of the box solution for pre-built content websites and apps. The team there supplied the kind of platform which, up until very recently, simply didn't exist for niche projects with limited budgets. The whole process of setting up was complicated for a luddite like me, but they made it work for me and continue to do so - they also seem to share my passion for making all the elements of the online and app package clear, simple and very stylish. The ability to upload anything I wanted and have the whole

technology headache taken away was the difference between toying with the idea and it becoming a profitable passion project. There was something very liberating about the idea of launching a channel filled with the kind of content that I felt had been missing from the mainstream for too long. Thanks to my experience and industry contacts, I knew just where to get this content. I started by speaking with my friend, mentor and veteran of the international television arts scene; Reiner Moritz - a distributor and producer at Poorhouse International. Through him I secured the use of over 50 hours of content to use on the channel and have been steadily building it from there from my colleague around the world and the UK ever since. I know the experience of wanting to fix the mistakes of an industry you’ve effectively moved on from isn’t universal to everyone of my (or indeed Reiner’s) age, but I’d say the willingness to embrace technology to do whatever you’ve wanted to do absolutely is. Whether you want to seek out the entertainment you enjoy (perhaps from somewhere like The Arts Channel), or better master a hobby you finally have time for or, like me, turn a passion project into something that brings joy to others - technology is the enabler, not a barrier. I can’t imagine actually ‘retiring’ in the conventional sense – but I am lucky to be able to fill my hours with work, both as a composer and with TAC on my own terms, with my own goals and without outside interference and this has helped me to re-engage with the very industry with which I was so frustrated. Being able to remain niche, and create a curated platform of quality that others enjoy arguably keeps me busier than ever! We are all living longer and we all want to be useful and to be engaged for longer. The next phase of my life is about continuing to deliver something very special and unique. Not to expand, because that would change the situation into it being just another job. Some passion projects can remain passion projects, and the current pandemic conditions gives people the perfect opportunity to experiment with that as I have. n RETIREMENT

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How to turn your passion into money and joy for others

by Tony Britten, Composer and Founder of The Arts Channel

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YOUR CUSTODY RIGHTS AS A GRANDPARENT and what to do if you are refused access to your grandchild Dementia Adventure is an award-winning charity that specialises in dementia training, supported holidays, short breaks and outings. We rely on donations to support people living with dementia to get outdoors, connect with nature and their community and retain a sense of adventure in their lives.

W: dementiaadventure.org T: 01245 237548 E: info@dementiaadventure.co.uk Dementia Adventure CIO is a registered charity in England and Wales (1163163)

2020: International Year of the Nurse and Midwife

Registered charity 213128

The Queen’s Nursing Institute is the world’s oldest nursing charity* that champions and supports the work of community nurses.

Your custody rights as a grandparent

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We help community nurses in financial trouble due to adverse life events, such as serious illness. This help changes lives, enabling many nurses to return to the workforce. We encourage social interaction between current and retired nurses (who are often housebound) through our telephone project, ‘Keep in Touch’. We provide educational grants to support community nurses’ continued training. Donations in the form of gifts in Wills or legacies are crucial in enabling the QNI to continue supporting these nurses who look after us all in our time of need.

To find out more: www.qni.org.uk 020 7549 1400 mail@qni.org.uk RETIREMENT

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*as certified by the Guinness World Records

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randparents can be an important part of the family unit and play a vital role in their grandchildren’s upbringing. In fact, research estimates as much as 60% of all childcare in the UK is provided Lucinda Holliday is head by the grandparents . of family & divorce at However, in the event of a family Blaser Mills Law. or relationship breakdown, some may find they are denied access to their grandchildren, and this can be devastating for both the grandparent and the grandchild. There are a number of things grandparents must consider to secure the relationship with their grandchildren during such disputes. Here are some of the main factors to be aware of if your time with your grandchildren is cut off.

Your legal rights as a grandparent

In England and Wales, grandparents do not have the legal right to see their grandchild, nor do they have automatic parental responsibility of their grandchildren, however the parents of the child do and can decide who their children see. Therefore, it is always recommended to try and keep an open dialogue with the children’s parents. If arrangements to spend time with the grandchildren cannot be reached, grandparents can apply for permission to undertake a court order to seek contact, and it is very rare that a court would refuse the grandparent permission to make the application.


There are a number of things grandparents must consider to secure the relationship with their grandchildren during disputes

During a court hearing to grant grandparents contact with their grandchild, the court will consider a variety of factors. These include the grandparents’ relationship with the grandchild, the reason and nature of the application, if granting contact would be harmful to the child and if continuing the contact would negatively impact the rest of the family. If your application is successful, you can then go ahead and apply for a contact order via the court to gain access. In most cases the two applications are combined and this is something to bear in mind when considering your application for permission. If the child’s parents raise objections, you will have to attend a full hearing, with both parties providing strong evidence for their case. Seeking legal help from a family lawyer will help you formulate your evidence to prove that your grandchild would benefit from grandparent contact. The court will consider all the child’s circumstances and will only make an order that would better enrich their life. For example, if granting access will cause further family disputes, it may be ruled that it is not the right decision to grant the grandparent access.

Seeking legal advice

If you have been refused access to your grandchild and are unsure about the best way to approach the situation, it is always recommended that you speak to an experienced family lawyer who can discuss options with you. They will have a greater understanding of your individual situation and provide the best advice in line with your unique circumstances. Some family lawyers are also trained mediators, and therefore can help evaluate whether mediation is a viable option before seeking help from the courts n

Other potential avenues

If you believe you are in a good position to negotiate with your child and/or their spouse regarding contact with your grandchild, mediation could be a good option to explore. Mediation can be an extremely useful way of helping both parties resolve any disputes and can allow them to work towards an agreed outcome. RETIREMENT

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Your custody rights as a grandparent

Court considerations

It encourages parties to negotiate practical arrangements that are best for all involved, including the child. Suggesting and being open to mediation also shows you are willing to be co-operative and want to do what is in the best interests of your grandchild. A mediator will meet with both you and the child’s parents to discuss the issues that need to be resolved to enable contact. During the current pandemic, mediation can be offered via video conferencing, which can be more convenient for both parties. When approaching mediation, it is important to keep your grandchild central to your actions, whilst maintaining an open mind and being willing to negotiate. It can also help to try and put yourself in the child’s parent’s shoes, to understand how they may be feeling about the situation. Showing your understanding of their point of view can help prevent heated arguments and keep the discussion on track. The mediator will arrange a meeting or video conference between all involved parties and help you discuss and work through the issues you are facing. Once an agreement is reached and all parties are happy with the outcome, the mediator will provide a summary outcome statement to help everyone adhere to the agreed arrangements. However, it is important to remember that this is not legally binding. If the parents do not uphold this agreement, it puts you in a good position when approaching the courts, as you have evidence that you have tried to come to an agreement that suits all parties prior to seeking a court order. In some instances it might be appropriate to use a mediator who is able to undertake Child Inclusive Mediation which involves the mediator seeing the children separately to see what their wishes and feelings might be and potentially feeding this back in to the mediation process.

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Mystical Places Loch Coruisk

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LOCH CORUISK

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ANTASTIC AND fearful in equal measure, the inky water lurks beneath a forbidding range of sheer, sharptoothed mountains about as welcoming as barbed wire. No roads lead here. The only way to this dark chasm is a long, hazardous walk or aboard a little boat, that putters inland from the sea and anchors just shy of this tucked-away corrie. When the weather comes in – which is often – this spot seems almost erased: the sky sinks into the land, the cloud shrouds even the grassy knolls, the whole scene is seemingly whisked off by the elements into a different realm. Just the spot, then, for mythical creatures to do the same ... When the Scottish writer Sir Walter Scott visited Loch Coruisk in 1814, he was both impressed and alarmed. In his romantic poem, The Lord of the Isles (penned a year later), he describes this ‘dread lake’ on the Isle of Skye as a fractured landscape where it ‘Seems that primeval earthquake’s sway / Hath rent a strange and shattered way / Through the rude bosom of the hill / And that each naked precipice / Sable ravine, and dark abyss / Tells of the outrage still’. More than 200 years on, little has changed. Loch Coruisk – in Gaelic, Coire Uisg, the ‘Cauldron of Waters’ – lays at the foot of the gnarly Black Cuillin mountain range and appears like creation ground-zero: raw and rugged, no softened edges, little influence of man. The traveller and geologist John MacCulloch, who visited Loch Coruisk in the same year as Scott, remarked on the silence, the starkness and the effect it had on local people. While at the loch, MacCulloch left an experienced seaman to look after his party’s boat but the man became so terrified at being alone that he ran away, preferring to risk the destruction of the vessel rather than stay on his own in this haunting spot. Indeed, legends circle here. As Scotland’s Loch Ness has its monster, Coruisk has its own creature of the deep. It’s said a kelpie lives here, one of the shapeshifting, horse-like water-demons of Scottish folklore. Although kelpies can assume human form, they often appear as lost ponies; the only signs giving away their spectral nature are their eternally dripping manes and backward-facing


Where? Isle of Skye, Scotland What? Breathtaking lake, with natural drama and supernatural inhabitants Above: LochCoruisk_View

Above: LochCoruisk-Ferry Below: LochCoruisk-Memorial Hut

Mystical Places Loch Coruisk

hooves. Kelpies have, they say, the strength of ten or more horses; their sonorous whinnies echo right around the mountains. They are devilish too, prone to coaxing victims onto their backs before plunging them into a watery grave and, in grimmer cases, throwing their entrails back onto shore. At a time when many people lived by the coast but were unable to swim, these drag-you-to-the-deep steeds were a mystical manifestation of the communal fear of water, a terror felt so keenly it took on its own form, and became culturally ingrained. And why not a horse? When the surface of a loch whips into white-tipped waves – like the flailing manes of stampeding stallions – a waterhorse might have seemed an almost logical conclusion. Coruisk is also a place of inspiration. It was here that one of Scotland’s best-known songs was born. A lady called Annie MacLeod was crossing Loch Coruisk when the oarsmen started singing the traditional Gaelic shanty, ‘Cuchag nan Craobh’ (the Cuckoo in the Grove). She remembered the tune and, in the 1870s, married with Sir Harold Boulton’s words, it became the anthemic ‘Skye Boat Song’, which recounts Bonnie Prince Charlie’s sea escape after his defeat at Culloden in 1746. The easiest way to reach Coruisk is still by boat, a spectacular sail from the coastal village of Elgol up Loch Scavaig, sharing the water with seals and porpoises. From the jetty, it’s a short walk along the River Scavaig, the short stream that separates freshwater Loch Coruisk from the sea. Around Coruisk itself, the mountains loom angrily above the tufty grass and ebony water. A hut, built in memory of two climbers who died on Ben Nevis, is the only sign humans have been here before. Maybe the kelpies like it that way... n From Mystical Places by Sarah Baxter,White Lion Publishing, rrp Illustrations ©Amy Grimes RETIREMENT

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EMERGENCY APPEAL TO HELP SUPPORT OUR CARE HOME STAFF AND RESIDENTS

The Little Sisters of the Poor is a charity committed to supporting the needs of vulnerable older people, by providing a caring home with safe accommodation, respite provision, and palliative end of life care. In these unprecedented times, our staff and volunteers are going above and beyond to make sure our high quality care continues. However, due to the COVID-19 lockdown measures, our care homes are finding the current economic climate increasingly more demanding. Visitation restrictions and event cancellations have had a massive impact on the donations we rely on to help fund our increasing running costs. In response to the pressures faced by our Homes, we are appealing for your urgent support to help us meet the ever-evolving needs of our Sisters, staff and residents. Please visit www.littlesistersofthepoor.co.uk/donate-here/ and make a secure online donation to help us to continue to provide safe, affordable care to older people in need. You can make this Christmas extra special for all our residents, who have endured so much during this difficult year. Thank you so much.

Registered Charity No. 234434 (England & Wales)

Little Sisters of the Poor

2a Meadow Road, London SW8 1QH Tel: 020 7735 0788 www.littlesistersofthepoor.co.uk

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CHARITY BEGINS AT CHRISTMAS

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hristmas is the season of goodwill and a time not just of giving but with the huge challenges of Covid-19, a time to reflect on our place and meaning in the world we live in. At the essence of our role in society is what steps we take to support those in need and the causes that matter. Charities work tirelessly all year round to find a way either to help those in need and to make the world a better place. Perhaps it is time to reflect on how they manage to survive in these challenging times and our role in helping them do so, as now more than ever they need your help.

‘One of the most important things that one can do in their lifetime is to leave a legacy to charity’

being unimagined. Most charities would be unable to survive without legacies and by remembering them in this way you ensure that their work lives on. A monthly direct debit donation can be a great way to make an immediate difference to a charity. Choose an amount you can afford. This can be as little as a couple of pounds a month. Every little helps. Also, with Gift Aid the charity will receive even more. Donating through gift aid means charities can claim an extra 25p for every £1 you spend and it doesn’t cost you any extra but only if the donor has paid the same amount through income tax or capital gains tax that year. Websites such as www.gov.uk provide very useful information on this which help the donor seek clarification.

‘The great use of life is to spend it for something that will outlast it’ -William James

Many readers have now reached a time in life where they have all the material things they could possibly want. Why not ask friends and

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One of the main ways of supporting is to give a legacy, a note of intent in one’s Will. With careful consideration and wise investment this could be a great asset to a charity (or charities) that are chosen. Anyone can leave money to charity in their Will, but it can sometimes be a delicate subject when approaching family members.

The Institute of Fundraising has guidance and principles on the topic. Making a Will is very simple, firstly find a solicitor or professional Will Maker. In fact, some charities are offering fee Will writing services. You can also amend an existing Will to include a legacy to one or more charities as many people prefer to help more than one cause. It is a gift that will help those who need it most, even the smallest of legacies can make a huge difference to a charity that on a daily basis raising funds is a challenge. Within the magazine there is a diverse cross section of charities all very worthy of consideration. Spend the time reading up about them and their work and the difference you can help them make. Follow a cause that is close to your heart, the reward will be a feeling of well

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Charity begins at Christmas

From leaving a legacy to purchasing Christmas cards, there are many ways you can help charities at Christmas and beyond

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family to donate to a charity of your choice instead of purchasing an unwanted gift. Likewise, when it comes to buying gifts for friends and family why not find a way to do this through charities. Go online. Most have a fantastic range of gifts available. It also introduces the recipient to the charity and maybe helps build what might be the start of a lifetimes relationship. Another way of helping is to buy charity Christmas cards. There are many to choose from. Most charities have their own designs. A quick online search will bring up a fantastic array to choose from. Perhaps sponsor instead, many charities have unique schemes which provide much needed support. Many of our high streets have an abundance of charity shops. Why not take the time to search for a unique gift. A close friend last year set up a ÂŁ10 challenge. Friends and family all had to purchase gifts from charity shops spending no more than ÂŁ10 per person. Buying over 30 gifts in total individually and within a group of 11 meant a substantial amount of money ended up in the hands of charities. I believe it should be the aim of people, especially at Christmas, to

give and to help others less fortunate than ourselves. Of course, there is no compulsion to do this and it is up to the individuals who participate in this to chose what organisation they are going to support. However, as I have found, it does give one a great sense of satisfaction to know that there are others who are better off due to our involvement n

With a gift in your Will, you can be a lifesaver for families devastated by dementia.

Charity begins at Christmas

A gift in your Will to Dementia UK will help fund more specialist dementia nurses - called Admiral Nurses - so no family ever has to cope with dementia alone.

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After family and friends have been taken care of, any gift, however small or large, will help families facing dementia long into the future. Order your free Gifts in Wills guide today: Visit: www.dementiauk.org/GIW Call: 0300 365 5500 Email: giftsinwills@dementiauk.org Dementia UK, 7th Floor, One Aldgate, London EC3N 1RE Registered charity in England and Wales (1039404) and Scotland (SC047429) RETIREMENT

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CATASTROPHES CAT atastrophes Cat Rescue CATASTROPHES CAT RESCUE RESCUE

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Raising funds for a new Treatment, Recovery and Rehabilitation Centre.

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If we don’t, who will? You and I know what it’s like to try and navigate the healthcare system to get the help we need for our loved ones. We’ve lived through the anger and frustration. And we don’t want other families to have to face it alone. We know that mental illness isn’t necessarily a popular cause. So because of those we’ve lost. And because of those we’ve saved, it’s down to us. We can change how mental illness is treated, by leaving a legacy to Rethink Mental Illness.

Rethink Mental Illness help stop people with mental illness falling through the gaps in the system, but they rely on gifts in wills to fund their Advice and Information Service, peer support groups and campaigning work.

If you’d like a little more information first, visit rethink.org/wewill to request a free guide or call Dan Walshe on 020 7840 3032.

Leave a legacy to change how mental illness is treated Rethink Mental Illness is a charity that believes a better life is possible for the millions of people affected by mental Illness. For almost 50 years they have brought people together to support each other through their services, groups and campaign. Rethink Mental Illness Registered Office 89 Albert Embankment London SE1 7TP United Kingdom email: info@rethink.org Registered in England Number 1227970. Registered Charity Number 271028 28

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Charity N E W S Making Surgery their Legacy

Caring for vulnerable older people Choosing to leave the Royal College of Surgeons of England (RCS) a legacy in your will can have a direct impact on the future of surgery and on the patients it saves. Past legacies have enabled the charity to purchase essential equipment and support a range of projects in surgical education and research. A recent legacy has funded a one-year research fellowship, which costs in the region of £65,000. The fellowship awarded with this generous bequest was to a urology surgeon whose project is looking at determining the genetic drivers of bladder cancer. Bladder cancer affects approximately 10,000 people each year in the UK. It is more common in older adults and men with one of the most common symptoms being blood in the urine. This research aims to help sufferers of bladder cancer by looking into the genes, which play an important role in driving the cancers and their responses to treatments. In the short term, the project hopes to discover new ways to diagnose bladder cancer and predict patients’ responses to treatments and in the longer term, will aim to identify treatments that are more effective. The number of excellent fellowship applications received has doubled since the scheme was introduced in 1993 and the RCS are unable to support 80% of applicants. They are always in need of more funding to enable projects that address the health challenges of modern society, supporting the development of pioneering ideas across the NHS. With each small success, the RCS takes another step towards the next big breakthrough. www.rcseng.ac.uk

The Little Sisters of the Poor charity addresses the growing need for affordable older-person care, with admission to our Homes open to lowincome elderly regardless of race, nationality or religion. With a rapidly ageing population, how can they support older people to be able to live well, when existing health and social care systems already struggle to cope? 3 million people aged 65+ in the UK are living in relative poverty or just above the poverty line and increasing numbers of them are at risk of missing out. This is where the Little Sisters can make a real difference. They strive to ensure the neediest are included in society and can lead fuller, more independent lives. Unfortunately, the cost of running their Homes far exceeds the income they receive. Emergency lockdown measures have had a massive impact on their fundraising activities, which they rely upon to help meet their increasing running costs. Without financial help, their charity is in real danger of being unable to remain financially viable, impacting on the thousands of people relying on them for their care. Help them safeguard their care homes and continue to provide safe, affordable, quality care and assistance to older people in need – not just now but for future generations. Please visit www.littlesistersofthepoor.co.uk/donate-here to make a secure online donation. All gifts, no matter what size, will be very gratefully received and will make a real difference to people’s lives.

THINKING DIFFERENTLY ABOUT DEMENTIA Ruth from Dementia Adventure noticed a real change in John. “At the start of the outing John was not really communicating but by the end he was using more words and interacting with both Gill and I”.

Getting outdoors and engaging with nature has a hugely positive effect on people living with dementia. Evidence shows that it can improve wellbeing, reduce anxiety and even delay the progression of the disease.

Gill cares for her husband John who was diagnosed with early onset dementia in 2012. She has found things very difficult during lockdown. They have not been able to go out and Gill feels that his dementia has deteriorated because of this. Dementia Adventure recently supported them to visit a local RHS garden. Gill said “It was lovely to

Since the trip, Gill feels that John has continued to be more responsive and she feels more confident about getting out and about.

look at the plants and relax. I wouldn't normally be able to do this, as I would need to keep an eye on John all the time. Gill continues “Queueing can be really stressful. John doesn't understand social distancing, can become frustrated and walk off. With Dementia Adventure, I could leave John and queue up for an ice cream without having to worry”.

With the support of the Player’s of the People’s Postcode Lottery, Dementia Adventure has enabled thousands of people to think differently about dementia. But, with the number of people living with the condition predicted to rise to 1.6 million by 2040, we need to do more. A regular donation to Dementia Adventure will support more people like Gill and John to live healthier, more active and enjoyable lives. Visit dementiaadventure.org RETIREMENT

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Charity News

Dementia Adventure believes in thinking differently about dementia. With the right support, people with the condition can continue to enjoy an active life. The charity provides dementia training, supported holidays, short breaks and outings.

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Charity N E W S Give Vulnerable Children the Gift of Life-Long Support

Whatever a child’s start in life, BREAK believe that with the right support there is no limit to what they can achieve. Through innovation, lifelong relationships, and keeping our young people at the heart of what they do, they are transforming futures and changing lives. By establishing trusting, positive, and caring relationships with their young people they are able to work with them to offer experiences and support beyond what’s expected of them. Whenever the help they need is missing, they are there for them. From pairing them with a mentor to organising an apprenticeship, they are committed to providing exciting and life-changing opportunities while walking alongside them every step of the way. A gift in your Will can help them continue giving vulnerable children and young people the time, support, and care they need to achieve their full potential, for today and tomorrow. www.break-charity.org fundraising@break-charity.org

Admiral Nurses Dementia Helpline Dementia UK’s Admiral Nurse Dementia Helpline has reported a 36% increase in calls this year, with an increase in coronavirus-related calls at the end of March 2020, and continuing to peak in April and May. This can be attributed to support services being put on hold, changing behaviour in the person diagnosed due to long periods of isolation, limited stimulation and lack of respite; and more strain amongst family carers as a result of uncertainty around lockdown rules and guidance. Susan Drayton, Clinical Lead of the Helpline said: “This is an extremely challenging time for families with dementia, who have had entire routines swept from under their feet overnight. As dementia is a condition which affects comprehension and communication, it can place huge strains on family carers and the person diagnosed to keep up to date with changing guidance. “These issues are compounded by dwindling support services which can increase deterioration in the person with dementia and the emotional toll on the carers themselves. It’s vital that we continue to highlight the needs of people affected by dementia at this time, particularly as they are now known to have been disproportionately affected by coronavirus.” When things get challenging or difficult for people with dementia and their families, Admiral Nurses work alongside them, giving the compassionate one-to-one support, expert guidance and practical solutions that can be difficult to find elsewhere.

InDependent Diabetes Trust Dan Walshe from Rethink offers support and information Mental Illness on COVID-19 and mental illness If you need further advice and support, please contact 0800 888 6678 or helpline@dementiauk.org

The InDependent Diabetes Trust (IDDT) offers support and information to people with diabetes, their families and health professionals on the issues that are important to them. Our Helpline offers a friendly understanding ear when the going gets tough.

Charity News

IDDT supplies a range of FREE Information Packs to people with diabetes, their families, carers, health professionals and teachers so they understand the needs of people living with diabetes. The Trust also provides much needed aid to children with diabetes in developing countries.

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Diabetes can cause serious long-term complications and a cure is still illusive so IDDT funds essential research, as well as-day-to-day advice and support As a registered charity IDDT relies entirely on voluntary donations so if you are thinking about making or reviewing your will, a gift to the “Independent Diabetes Trust” would be most gratefully received. www.iddtinternational.org RETIREMENT

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Covid-19 poses a threat to both our physical and mental health. We know that living with a severe mental illness can be challenging. And the current coronavirus pandemic could create additional problems. The things known to be good for managing our mental health like getting outside and staying connected have suddenly become more difficult to maintain. Living with the virus will almost certainly increase levels of anxiety, distress, and trauma in the general population. Some people will experience significant mental health problems for the first time, an unsettling and distressing experience which may be compounded by other consequences of the pandemic, such as unemployment, homelessness, or bereavement.

If you want to know more about how to manage your mental health, or help with a loved one, during the pandemic then we have a whole range of resources which you might find helpful. Visit www.rethink.org for practical support and information on a range of these topics.


Lyle House Care Home

Luxury residential and dementia care We understand how difficult things are for the elderly population right now. If you’re concerned about how your relative is coping and would like them to have more support, Lyle House provides family-led care in a luxurious and homely environment. Our highly trained staff follow thorough practices to ensure the health and wellbeing of all those in our care, allowing them to live safely and as they wish.

020 8878 3806 207 Arabella Drive, Roehampton, London, SW15 5LH www.countrycourtcare.com

Join the Country Court family, near you. Country Court operate 33 beautiful, family-led care homes across the UK. To find out if we have something available near you, please visit www.countrycourtcare.com

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