The Finchley Charities’ Newsletter
April 2018
The Finchley Charities’ Newsletter
A word from the Chief Executive, Susan Faridi. Dear Residents, A Happy Easter to you all and welcome to our spring newsletter. This newsletter is prepared for all residents of The Finchley Charities and I hope you find it interesting and informative. Please let us know if there’s anything you would like to include in future editions – we welcome your comments and suggestions so please tell your Sheltered Housing Officers. I hope to see you all over the next few months at one of our planned events. Sheltered Housing Officers are working very hard to organise activities throughout the year. Please let them know if you have any suggestions.
Susan Faridi Chief Executive
In This Issue Welcome & Farewell to staff Pg 2
Update on New Build
Events & Local news
Age UK Barnet News
Pg 2
Pg 3
Pg 4
The Finchley Charities’ Newsletter
Diary dates Wilmot & Thackrah
New build update
Monday Coffee Morning. 10.30am. Tuesday Bingo first Tuesday, every month. 2.00pm. Wednesday Computer Club. 2.00pm. Thursday Bridge Club. 1.00pm. Walking Club Second Friday every month. Music daily in the main hall. Monday 9th April Bacon butties. 9.30am. Tuesday 17th April Cheese & Wine. 2.00pm. Tuesday 1st May Quiz afternoon. 2.00pm. Gardening Club at Wilmot Close Now that the Spring weather has arrived Mim and Margaret would like to remind residents that Gardening Club will be starting again in April every Friday. 2.00pm.
Diary dates Homefield Gardens: Every Monday Coffee Morning. 11.00am. Friday 13th April Fish & chips. 12:30pm. Thursday 19th April Bingo. 2:00pm Delta News The new Delta Careline system is now up and running! Finally Congratulations to a Homefield resident (who wishes to remain anonymous). He was awarded a certificate and orchid plant for his 20 years’ voluntary service to the Royal Free Hospital. Continues on page 3
Our new development is near to completion and we hope to move new residents in very soon. New residents visited their allocated flats on the 21st and 22nd March and are looking forward to being part of The Finchley Charities and moving into their new home.
External Works at Wilmot & Thackrah Close We are very proud of the much needed resurfacing works at Wilmot and Thackrah Close and are hoping for completion at the end of March. Staff and Trustees thank you all for your cooperation and patience during this time.
Welcome & farewell to staff Central Services & Compliance Manager
Welcome to Adam Alive, our new Central Services & Compliance Manager. Adam joined The Finchley Charites at the end of last year. His background is in social care management, having worked mainly in the mental health sector in both residential and day services. Before joining The Finchley Charities Adam held a similar position at Zacchaeus 2000 Trust (Z2K), a welfare benefits advice charity.
Housing Services Manager
The Finchley Charities are sad to announce the departure of Housing Services Manager Tracy Hedges. Tracy will be leaving The Finchley Charities at the end of April and moving out of London to the greener pastures of Norwich. Tracy joined The Finchley Charities in March 2017 and we are sure you will join us in thanking Tracy for all her hard work and wish her every success in the future.
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April 2018
Diary dates cont... Pewterers Court Coffee mornings are held weekly in the Communal Hall at Pewterers Court from 10:30am on Thursdays. Barbara Finnemore often bakes cakes for residents to taste at these mornings and it’s an excellent chance for neighbours to get together and chat. Tuesday 1st May Quiz afternoon. 2.00pm
Be Safe & Secure in your Home A reminder about the importance of staying safe and secure in your home and local community. Please remain vigilant should you suspect anyone, whether they are alone or in a group: Do not challenge, go to the nearest call point and inform the person who answers, giving as much detail as possible. Do not let anyone into the blocks if they are not known to you. Check who is calling you before opening any doors. If you are not expecting anyone, you can go to the nearest call point and inform the person who answers. In the near future, Sheltered Housing Officers will be organising for local Police to come along to a coffee morning and speak to residents about how to stay safe and secure in their home. Please check the Community Hall noticeboards for dates.
St George’s Day at The Finchley Charities According to legend, England’s patron saint, St George, was a soldier in the Roman army who killed a dragon and saved a princess… He was reportedly born around the year 280 AD in what is now Turkey. He rose up through the ranks of the Roman army, eventually becoming a personal guard to the Emperor Diocletian. He was executed for being a Christian on April 23rd 303 AD and is buried in the town of Lod in Israel.
Each site will be celebrating St George’s Day on Monday, 23rd April: Wilmot Close
Residents will be treated to a full English Breakfast.
Homefield Gardens & Pewterers Court
Residents will be treated to a delicious afternoon tea with cakes and sandwiches.
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Friday 29th June Fish & Chip lunch. 12.30pm Finally A reminder that residents can answer their SHO’s morning call from any room in their flat, not just from the monitor.
Polite Reminders Drivers Please drive slowly when entering or leaving the premises. We have a few road runners at present and an accident waiting to happen! Recycling Please could all residents use the recycling bins where necessary. The bin men will not empty the bins if refuse is not put in the correct bin. Smokers Please could you use the designated smoking areas at each site and dispose of cigarette butts in bins or dispose of in your homes. Chewing gum Please dispose of chewing gum in the bins. Pigeons Please do not feed the pigeons. They can create a nuisance and are a health hazard. Drains Please be aware of what you pour down the sink – we have had a few problems with blockages recently. Any oils or food waste should be bagged and binned – it is a good idea to pour boiling water down the sink to keep the drains clear.
The Finchley Charities’ Newsletter
April 2018
Age UK Barnet launches new scams awareness service A new service has been launched by Age UK Barnet to tackle the rising problem of financial scams, which are most likely to target the over 55s. It is reported that financial abuse is the second most common form of abuse and it has been estimated that almost £10 billion is lost to personal fraud by over three million victims in the UK annually. The new service offers support to individuals who are already a victim of a scam, or who may be at risk of being scammed. Once referred to Age UK Barnet’s Scams Awareness Project Manager, we can offer support on a one to one basis. The service also raises awareness among relevant groups such as care home residents. Scams are organised and run by criminals. Their aim is to try to trick victims into sending cash, transferring money or disclosing personal information. Their tactics are misleading, predatory, detrimental and fraudulent. Scammers are professional hoaxers, they are friendly, well spoken, know how to dazzle you and make you focus on the prize. They refer you to what seems to be a legitimate website, offer false testimonial and give themselves important sounding titles. They use fictitious charities and distressing photographs in order to pull at your heartstrings. This is organised crime.
Reporting a scam
Here are some of the organisations a scam or suspected scam should be reported to: • Call the police on 101. • Trading Standards who work to disrupt scammers and rogue traders 020 8359 7575 https://www.friendsagainstscams.org.uk/. • Citizens Advice Bureau 0300 456 8365. • Take Five, takefive-stopfraud.org.uk • Action Fraud, the UK’s national reporting centre for fraud and cyber-crime www.actionfraud.police.uk/report_fra, 0300 123 2040. If you would like to make a referral or discuss any aspect of scams awareness, please contact Helen Nicolaou, scamsawareness@ageukbarnet.org.uk, telephone: 020 8432 1419.
Join in at Ann Owens Centre in East Finchley Age UK Barnet has a full activity programme with something for everyone. Why don’t you pop along to the Ann Owens centre to pick up a full activity guide to what’s on there and further afield across the Borough of Barnet. Join us every Tuesday, Thursday and Friday for a full day of activities at The Ann Owens Centre in Oak Lane, East Finchley. It’s up to you whether you come along for one or all of the activities. We start the day with tea and a chat from 10-11am, then gentle exercise from 11am to midday. A two course lunch is served at 12.30pm, followed by afternoon entertainment – which might be a quiz, a game of bingo, a sing-along or some board games. Costs are £1 for tea, £3.50 for the exercise class, £5 for lunch and £3 for the afternoon activity. We can arrange transport if you would like to come for the whole day, with a total cost of £15 including lunch and all activities.
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Spring Poem Spring BY CHARLES D’ORLEANS Gentle Spring! in sunshine clad, Well dost thou thy power display! For Winter maketh the light heart sad, And thou, thou makest the sad heart gay. He sees thee, and calls to his gloomy train, The sleet, and the snow, and the wind, and the rain; And they shrink away, and they flee in fear, When thy merry step draws near. Winter giveth the fields and the trees, so old, Their beards of icicles and snow; And the rain, it raineth so fast and cold, We must cower over the embers low; And, snugly housed from the wind and weather, Mope like birds that are changing feather. But the storm retires, and the sky grows clear, When thy merry step draws near. Winter maketh the sun in the gloomy sky Wrap him round with a mantle of cloud; But, Heaven be praised, thy step is nigh; Thou tearest away the mournful shroud, And the earth looks bright, and Winter surly, Who has toiled for naught both late and early, Is banished afar by the new-born year, When thy merry step draws near.
Local services & events East Finchley The Library has re-opened. A new Community Centre A brand new Community Centre on Tarling Road will open in autumn 2018. This will replace the Old Barn Community Centre and create new facilities providing a shared space for local community groups. Once a month France comes to East Finchley High Road with a delicious French food market. You will see the stalls set up near East Finchley Station. The next visit is on 27—29th April.