December 2016 opening doors london events listings

Opening Doors London: Events

2016

December 2016

Opening Doors London is supported by:

Events December

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Opening Doors London is a charity (1167919) and a company limited by guarantee (10123607)

Opening Doors London: Events

December 2016

Friends of Opening Doors London Support your community and know you are making a difference!

Opening Doors London is here to let all older lesbian, gay, bisexual and trans* people, in London and beyond, know they’re not alone. We want to ensure that older LGBT* people live happily, healthily and independently for longer – free from prejudice and discrimination.

Currently most of our social opportunities are free to members – and we want to keep it that way! But there is no such thing as a free lunch - so we are launching Friends of Opening Doors London. This means we’ll be taking leaflets round with us whenever we have the opportunity to talk about Opening Doors – but we would also really appreciate it if you would also sign up as a Friend!

Can you contribute? Whether it is £5 or £50 per month, your contribution will make a difference to our ability to provide over 40 amazing social opportunities each month, support our growing band of volunteers, produce this newsletter, provide our Befriending Service or deliver training to mainstream providers of health and social care on the needs of older LGBT* people.

How to join Friends of Opening Doors London You can help with the work we do in a number of ways:  Pay online using via www.virginmoneygiving.com/openingdoorslondon  If you would like to set up regular payments via online banking:  Account name: Opening Doors London  Name of Bank: CAF Bank Ltd  Account number: 00029589  Sort code: 40-52-40  If you would like to make a payment by cheque, please make it payable to Opening Doors London.

Please do sign up as a Friend of Opening Doors London and ensure that we continue supporting the older LGBT* community for years to come!

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Opening Doors London is a charity (1167919) and a company limited by guarantee (10123607)

Opening Doors London: Events

Thursday 1st December

Rainbow Surfers’ older LGBT* computer drop-in Computer Suite, Tavis House Our Age UK Camden LGBT* friendly drop-in session provides you with an opportunity to receive IT assistance and guidance from knowledgeable volunteers and staff. For more information please contact Tony on 020 7239 0400.

10am – 1pm

December 2016 the incredible power of a community coming together with love, compassion, and determination.”

Tea and coffee provided. Feel free to bring popcorn and snacks.

Social from: 2.30pm Film starts: 3.15pm Sunday 4th December

Amersham Fairground Organ Museum 28 Plantation Road, Amersham, Bucks HP6 6HJ

Friday 2nd December

Friday Coffee and Cake Club Café, Tavis House Come in for a chat at this mixed peer led social group. Hot drinks can be purchased in the café.

Please feel free to bring your own cakes and biscuits.

Every Friday 10am – 12pm

World Aids Day Tavis House In recognition of World Aids Day on 1 December, we will be screening the Emmy nominated documentary film We Were Here.

Join Tony for a visit to the Amersham Fairground Organ Museum open day. There are seven fairground organs (including organs by Gavioli, Marenghi, Hooghuys, Wilhelm Bruder Söhne and Gebr. Weber), well restored, and in good musical order. It is remarkable to see so many in one place, in working order; playing well known and lesser known tunes.

Tea, coffee, sandwiches and cakes are on sale in the museum café. http://www.fairorganmuseum.org.uk/ http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8QVEG2aJYEU

We Were Here (2011) 1h 30min, directed by David Weissman. “This the first documentary to take a deep and reflective look back at the arrival and impact of AIDS in San Francisco. It explores how the City’s inhabitants were affected by, and how they responded to, that calamitous epidemic. Though a San Franciscobased story, We Were Here extends beyond San Francisco and beyond AIDS itself. It speaks to our capacity as individuals to rise to the occasion, and to Page 3 of 12

Museum admission: free (donations are welcome) Meeting point: by WH Smith on Marylebone station.

Meeting time: 12:30 in order to catch the 12:57 train arriving at Amersham (oyster zone 9) at 13:34.

Walking: From Amersham station, there is a 3/4 mile walk to the Museum.

Toilet facilities available: In Marylebone station pub, on the train, and at the museum.

Returning to central London: Trains from Amersham back to Marylebone run every half hour.

Opening Doors London is a charity (1167919) and a company limited by guarantee (10123607)

Opening Doors London: Events

December 2016

Opening Doors London

2016 Christmas Party MONDAY 5th DECEMBER 4.30 – 7.00pm

We're delighted that The Breakfast Club has again offered to host our Christmas Party this year. ODL members and volunteers are invited to socialise, listen to music and celebrate Christmas with a complimentary glass of bubbly and canapés provided by The Breakfast Club.

Last year was fantastic fun so come along to enjoy it this year too! Please bring your Christmas cheer and some cash if you'd like to buy drinks at the bar after the complementary drinks run out.

Register online @ https://odlxmas2016.eventbrite.co.uk or call 020 7239 0400

The Breakfast Club, 5-9 Battersea Rise, London SW11 1HG Travel: 0.5 miles walk from Clapham Junction Railway Station. Buses 35 and 37 pass Clapham Common Northern line underground station 1.1 miles away and stop outside the café at the “Eccles Road” bus stop.

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Opening Doors London is a charity (1167919) and a company limited by guarantee (10123607)

Opening Doors London: Events

Tuesday 6th December

Peer led Creative Writing Group Tavis House

December 2016

For our first session, we have free nibbles and drinks on offer, plus a great team of dedicated volunteers who will warmly greet you and introduce you to likeminded people who also identify as LGBT. To register an interest or for more information, please contact ODL on 020 7239 0400 or info@openingdoorslondon.org.uk.

3pm – 5pm Wednesday 7th December

Clive’s Exercise Walk: Walthamstow Market Wander - Shop before the Christmas rush!

ODL member Pat would like to invite other ODL members to join a non-taught Creative Writing Group for people who would like to come together to write.

Contact Kate for further information kate.hancock@openingdoorslondon.org.uk 020 7239 0400

2pm to 4pm

NEW Havering LGBT over-50s Social Group

There are the usual retail outlets within the shopping centre. This has been greatly improved by simple sensitive design recently. There are a host of varying stalls and shops within the market itself. There is an excellent international mini supermarket towards the end of our walk that offers a great variety of olives and Turkish bread. There are flower stalls and Asian stalls and shops as well as all the usual clothing and fruit and vegetable stalls. This is not a posh Portobello Road or Chelsea market but it does have its own great excitement.

Tapestry Stanton Gate Havering LGBT+ Forum is proud to present a new social group for LGBT* older people in the east London/ Essex area. This is a great opportunity to meet up with old friends and make new ones from in and around the Havering area in east London/ Essex.

So if you are age 50 or over and would like to experience some smashing social company within a safe and welcoming space, please get in touch and come along.

Lunch plans: Bring some cash to sample the wide variety of classic coffee outlets and café.

Miles: Walthamstow market is 1 mile long plus some meandering.

Meeting point: “Information Point” at Walthamstow Central Station (Victoria Line and numerous bus routes.

Meeting time: 11am Walk start time: 11.15am

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Opening Doors London is a charity (1167919) and a company limited by guarantee (10123607)

Opening Doors London: Events

Walk end time (approx.): 2.30pm or later if the weather is good and a number of people decide to continue the walk across Walthamstow Marshes.

End location point : St James Street Station is at the bottom of the market. It is on the main line towards Liverpool Street. Buses 158 to Blackhorse Road Tube (Victoria Line) or Leyton (Central Line) or Stratford (mainline and Jubilee Line and DLR) .

No booking necessary. Just turn up.

Bring a bag for your shopping and wet weather gear if it’s raining.

December 2016

Thursday 8th December

Rainbow Surfers’ older LGBT* computer drop-in Computer Suite, Tavis House

Anchor Housing/ ODL Art Group Chigwell Court The art group will be held in the communal room.

Basic materials will be provided for the informal dropin session. Volunteer artists on hand. 2pm – 4pm

See the first Thursday of the month Every Thursday 10am – 1pm

NEW LGBT* café in Bow E3

Saturday 10th December

Muxima Local 50+ LGBT* folks and LGBT*carers sought for coffee, cake & conversation.

More info: 07572 548 592

London Gay Symphonic Winds presents CAMP AS CHRISTMAS St Sepulchre-Without-Newgate, Holborn Viaduct

4.30pm.

Women's Wednesdays – last session!

G24 Common Room, UCL Foster Court

Join us for the last session of Women’s Wednesday where we’ll be watching the last three episodes of series 1 of the TV show Orange is the New Black.

Members are invited to bring nibbles to share with the group. No booking necessary.

Men’s Pimlico Social Pimlico Room Friendly drop-in coffee evening.

6pm – 9pm

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Come and join London Gay Symphonic Winds for their annual festive concert. This afternoon concert will be packed full of fun medleys, festive classics and some new discoveries, all served with LGSW’s usual flair.

ODL are also deighted that LGSW will be supporting ODL by promoting the charity to the audience on the night.

Would you like a seat reserved for you? If so get in touch with Liam beforehand to book a space at the front of the audience on Liam.ODriscoll@openingdoorslondon.org.uk or 020 7239 0400.

Cost: You will need to buy your ticket directly from the concert box office. £7.50 for pre-purchased online sales: https://www.ticketsource.co.uk/lgsw . £10 on the door.

Opening Doors London is a charity (1167919) and a company limited by guarantee (10123607)

Opening Doors London: Events

December 2016

Monday 12th December Sunday 11th December

Sunday Lunch & Film Club Henderson Court Resource Centre

Bridge and Scrabble Club Lumen Café

Join us for a lovely home cooked lunch before we watch the film: Singin' in the Rain (1952) 1h 43min “A silent film production company and cast make a difficult transition to sound.”

Directors: Stanley Donen, Gene Kelly Stars: Gene Kelly, Donald O'Connor, Debbie Reynolds

On the second and fourth Monday of the month the wonderful Black Olive Cooks at the lovely Lumen Café will provide space for ODL members to play Bridge and Scrabble. Beginners welcome! Scrabble boards will be provided.

Lumen Café are offering ODL members discounted tea for 50p and filter coffee for 80p.

Beginners welcome. No need to book.

2pm – 4pm

Tea Line Dance Cost £5.

Booking for lunch essential. RSVP before Wednesday via: https://dec2016odlsundaylunch.eventbrite.co.uk or 020 7239 0400.

Social: 12pm Lunch: 1pm Film starts: 2pm

Second Sundays Social/ Lunch Group

Tavis House Café Join us for our tea dances whether you are an experienced dancer, a beginner or have never danced before –there is room for all! Peter will instruct and lead us in Line Dancing. Please bring LGBT* friends of any age.

5.30pm –7.30pm Tuesday 13th December

Chelsea Theatre Join us for our Chrissy do! We'll have nibbles and drinks and some festive entertainment. No RSVP required. If you have any questions email fiona.addison@openingdoorslondon.org.uk or text/ call leaving a message: 07435 356 951.

12:30pm-4pm Questions about groups, ev ents and activ ities? If there are contact details next to the specific ev ent check the back of this publication to find the full details.

Call 020 7239 0400 or email

Mens' Group Walk December's walk will again be truly seasonal and is being repeated for Christmas 2016 by popular demand. We shall do something that all but the bravest Londoners usually avoid. Our afternoon walk will be spent admiring the glittering Christmas lights and the gleaming shop windows of the West End of London. Before you decide that this reckless excursion is best avoided, please understand that a secret route is again being carefully planned, avoiding all the worst excesses of Oxford and Regent Streets and concentrating on the dazzling displays in London's hidden and least known little shopping quarters that will take your breath away. We will, however, conclude on a traditional note at the Christmas Tree in

info@openingdoorslondon.org.uk Page 7 of 12

Opening Doors London is a charity (1167919) and a company limited by guarantee (10123607)

Opening Doors London: Events

Trafalgar Square and retire, enchanted and glowing with Christmas cheer, for coffee and mince pies nearby.

December 2016

could either go bowling after lunch or visit one of the two excellent cinemas.

Lunch plans: There is a JD Weatherspoon’s pub as an affordable back up. This can serve as a base as coffee is cheap. (Clive will have breakfast there) But there are also a number of alternative places to get coffee or dine. There are two historic pubs.

Miles: 1-2 miles approx.

If you would like to join the walk you can either: Book a free ticket upon Eventbrite (using password "sparkle"), which will instantly guarantee you a place: https://menswalkinggroupchristmaslights.eventbrite.c o.uk Or call 07804 329 416 but you will need to wait for a reply before you can be sure that a place has been booked for you.

Meeting location point: The lobby at Romford Main Line Station. (This is on the line from Liverpool Street, Stratford and Ilford. There is a bus terminus adjacent.)

Meeting time: 11am Walk start time: 11.15am Walk end time (approx.): 2pm approx. as agreed by attendees. Later if people choose to go ten pin bowling or visit the cinema.

End location point (including transport info): Reassemble at JD Weatherspoon’s for a coffee before parting.

No booking necessary. Just turn up.

These walks are proving popular so if you find yourself unable to come along, having booked, kindly let us know so that your place can be offered to someone else on the waiting list.

2.15pm for a 2.30pm start

Men’s Speaker Night Christmas social Henderson Court Resource Centre There will be no speaker this month. Instead, we’ll be having a Christmas social so please bring nibbles and drinks to share. After the social at Henderson Court some of the members will go to a local pub.

Christmas social: 6pm

LGBT* café in Bow E3 Muxima Local 50+ LGBT* folks and LGBT*carers sought for coffee, cake & conversation.

More info: 07572 548 592

4.30pm.

Wednesday 14th December

Clive’s Exercise Walk: Romford Market Roam - Before the Mad Xmas Rush Romford is an historic market that was once thriving but is still worth a visit. It has a definite lively hum about it. There are the usual retail outlets in the two main shopping centre areas. If people are keen we Page 8 of 12

Opening Doors London is a charity (1167919) and a company limited by guarantee (10123607)

Opening Doors London: Events

Thursday 15th December

CANCELLED: ‘Rainbow Surfers’ older LGBT* computer drop-in Women’s Film Night G24 Common Room, UCL Foster Court As requested we will be showing the old favourite Desert Hearts (1985)

“It is 1950s Nevada, and Professor Vivian Bell arrives to get a divorce. She's unsatisfied with her marriage, and feels out of place at the ranch she stays on, she finds herself increasingly drawn to Cay Rivers, an open and self-assured lesbian, and the ranchowner's daughter. The emotions released by their developing intimacy, and Vivian's insecurities about her feelings towards Cay, are played out against a backdrop of rocky landscapes and country and western songs.”

Friday 16th December

ODL East Dinner Club Positive East An ODL event This will be a festive feast! Come along to enjoy an early Christmas meal amongst friends. If you’d like to take part in the Secret Santa, please bring a wrapped gift worth £5 or less.

Cost of meal: £6.50.

Booking essential: please let Kate know you’re planning to attend on: Kate.Hancock@openingdoorslondon.org.uk

Start: 6pm Dinner: from 7pm Ends: 9pm Page 9 of 12

December 2016

Christmas Lunch Friday 16 December 2016 LGBT* Connect & Lumen Cafe Festive Lunch Lumen Café, 88 Tavistock Place, London WC1H9RS

Michael Turner, ODL member and LGBT* Connect volunteer invites you to join him and the Black Olive Cooks at Lumen Café Christmas Lunch Set Menu

Menu MAIN COURSE Turkey with all the trimmings or Poached Salmon or Galette with roasted vegetables all served with Roast potatoes and vegetables of the day

DESSERT Christmas Pudding with Cream or trifle or Tiramisu Coffee or Tea & Petit Fours Drinks not included in price of meal. Feel free to bring a bottle.

Booking Essential on: https://lumenxmas.eventbrite.co.uk Cost £22.50. £5 due before 25 th December. Balance of £17.50: due before 2 nd December.

Social: 12.30pm Lunch: 1pm

Opening Doors London is a charity (1167919) and a company limited by guarantee (10123607)

Opening Doors London: Events

Friday Coffee and Cake Club Tavis House See first Friday of the month for more details.

December 2016

This is a Joint event with Outings in Art and Women’s Walking and Herstory group.

Meet 2.00 pm Main Entrance Museum of Childhood Entrance Free Text/Call Chris on 07528 423 698 Email chris.barlow@openingdoorslondon.org.uk

10am – 12pm Wednesday 21st December Monday 19th December

Anchor Housing/ ODL Art Group Chigwell Court

East London ODL Drop-in An ODL event @ Positive East Come and join our friendly East London afternoon social. We will include ‘A Voice for Older People’ as a regular slot in the last half hour of our drop-ins. This is an opportunity to give your views on services in East London, whether you live, work, or socialise there. This will be fed back to the Older People’s Reference Group.

Drop in any time between 4.30pm – 6.30pm

“From Barbie to Mecanno”: A Seasonal Visit to V&A Museum of Childhood

The art group will be held in the communal room.

Basic materials will be provided for the informal dropin session. Volunteer artists on hand .

LGBT Café in Bow E3 Muxima Local 50+ LGBT* folks and LGBT*carers sought for coffee, cake & conversation.

More info: 07572 548 592

4.30pm

Make new friends and try new activities with members of the older Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Trans* community.

ODL membership is free and is aimed at all who identify as LGBT*, and are over 50. We have members from across London, and beyond. As well as our events, we also offer:  A befriending service  Policy, campaigning and training

Thursday 22nd December

CANCELLED: ‘Rainbow Surfers’ older LGBT* DO YOU HAVE ACCESS REQUIREMENTS? If there’s an event you’d like to attend but you’re not sure if you’ll be able to make it due to your access requirements, please contact us so we can help make sure you get the most out of being part of Opening Doors London. Contact us on 020 7239 0400 or Info@openingdoorslondon.org.uk

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Opening Doors London is a charity (1167919) and a company limited by guarantee (10123607)

Opening Doors London: Events

December 2016

Friday 23rd December

Friday Coffee and Cake Club Tavis House See first Friday of the month for more details.

10am – 12pm

Informal Art Group Tavis House Join Angie and Alan for an informal art group for all abilities - come and do your own creative thing, or improve and expand your drawing skills with gentle guidance from an experienced volunteer teacher.

Whether you are a traditional sketcher or an outrageous avant-gardist this group will supply encouragement, support, plenty of dialogue....and maybe an exhibition. Basic materials provided, but feel free to bring your own sketchbooks and non-messy kit.

Christmas and New Year changes Between Monday 26th December to Monday 2nd January the following events have been cancelled due to the Christmas break:       

Bi the Way Bridge and Scrabble Club Coffee and Cake Islington Older LGBT Drop In Men’s Film Night Rainbow Surfers Tony’s Walk about, Talk about, and Pig out (look out for two events in January instead!)

12.30pm – 3pm Thursday 29th December

Exercise walking: Gerry’s gentle stroll in Regent’s Park and along the canal: time for some fresh air after the festivities!

Route: we will follow the canal to Regent’s Park, and will walk by the boating lake to St John’s Lodge gardens.

We will finish at Baker Street Station.

Start time: 11am Meeting point: Meet in the ticket hall of Warwick Avenue tube station (Bakerloo Line) End point: Baker Street tube station End time: 2pm approx.

DATES FOR YOUR DIARY Sunday 8th January Sunday Lunch & Film Club Henderson Court Resource Centre Join us for a lovely home cooked lunch before we watch the film.

Quartet (2012) 1h 38min

Stars: Maggie Smith, Michael Gambon, Billy Connolly Cost £5.

Booking for lunch essential. RSVP before Wednesday via: https://jan2017odlsundaylunch.eventbrite.co.uk or calling 020 7239 0400.

Social: 12pm Lunch: 1pm Film starts: 2pm Page 11 of 12

Opening Doors London is a charity (1167919) and a company limited by guarantee (10123607)

Opening Doors London: Events

December 2016

Venues & How to Get There The Breakfast Club in Battersea Rise The Breakfast Club, 5-9 Battersea Rise, London SW11 1HG Travel: 0.5 miles walk from Clapham Junction Railway Station. Buses 35 and 37 pass Clapham Common Northern line underground station 1.1 miles away and stop outside the café at the “Eccles Road” bus stop.

Muxim 618 Roman Road, E3 2RW

Chelsea Theatre 7 Worlds End Place, Kings Road, London, SW10 0DR.

Positive East 159 Mile End Road, London E1 4AQ.

Chigwell House Anchor Housing/ Art Group Community Room Chigwell Court, 99 Balance Road London E9 5SQ.

St Sepulchre-Without-Newgate, Holborn Viaduct EC1A 2DH Transport: Buses stopping outside the church: 8, 25, 46, 242, and 521. Trains and tubes: Church is opposite north entrance of City Thameslink station. 5 minute walk to St Paul’s on Central Line. 7 minutes walk to Blackfriars on District (south) and Circle Lines. 7 minute walk to Farringdon with District (north), Hammersmith &City, Metropolitan.

Concert starts: 3pm prompt

Havering LGBT Tapestry Stanton Gate, Mawney Road, Romford RM7 7HL Transport: 0.7 miles walk from Romford station with connections to Upminster, Stratford and Liverpool Street.

Henderson Court Resource Centre 102 Fitzjohn’s Avenue, London NW3 6NS. (Entrance on Prince Arthur Road)

Pimlico Room Back of St. Saviour’s Church, St George’s Square, London SW1V 3QW.

Tavis House 1-6 Tavistock Square, London WC1H 9NA.

Lumen Café 88 Tavistock Place, London WC1H 9RS Transport: 0.3 miles from Russell Square underground station or 0.4 miles from King's Cross St. Pancras London station. No need to book.

Museum of Childhood Cambridge Heath Road E2 9PA www.museumofchildhood.org.uk Tube: Bethnal Green [Central Line] Bus: D6,106,254,309 and 388

UCL (UNIVERSITY COLLEGE LONDON) G24 Common Room, UCL Foster Court, Malet Place, (off Torrington Place) London WC1E 7JG Travel: Come into UCL from the entrance opposite Waterstones on Torrington Place. Foster Court is on the right and half way along there is an archway also on the right, with a set of automatic double doors on the right the Common Room is through those doors and up 3 stairs but also has step-free access. If you would like someone to meet you at a tube station or bus stop please contact Fiona on Fiona.Addison@openingdoorslondon.org.uk.

PLEASE NOTE: From the start of 2017 we will be scheduling Sunday Lunch and Film Club on the first Sunday of each month wherever possible. But please check listings for exact date. www.openingdoorslondon.org.uk

020 7239 0400 Info@openingdoorslondon.org.uk

twitter.com/OpeningDoorsLdn facebook.com/openingdoorslondon

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Opening Doors London is a charity (1167919) and a company limited by guarantee (10123607)

Your NEW events news l etter i s des i gned by vol unteer Ruth Si l vers tone