Warwickshire
Now
Solihull’s Jingle Bell Jog See page 31 for more information
HOME ENERGY TIPS ACTION ON ELDER ABUSE FESTIVE THINGS TO DO DECEMBER 2022 - JANUARY 2023 | ISSUE 70 t @NowWarwickshire | G Warwickshire Now | w www.nowmagazines.co.uk 1 n
NEWS • HOMES • GARDENS • HEALTH & BEAUTY • GOLDEN YEARS • PUZZLES • WHAT’S ON
n 2 | Warwickshire Now | Issue 70 | December 2022 - January 2023
08
Warwickshire
Now
14 DEC’ 2022 - JAN’ 2023
16
HOME & GARDEN 08
Home Energy Tips
14
A Fresh Coat of Paint
16
Peter Lanyon Painting Totals Record £98,400
GOLDEN YEARS 18
Action on Elder Abuse
22
Quality care in Leamington Spa You Can Trust
WHAT’S ON 26
Puzzles
28
What’s On
WARWICKSHIRE
NOW 01905 723011
nowmagazines.co.uk PW Media & Publishing Ltd
28 18
EDITOR Dawn Pardoe PW Media & Publishing Ltd dawn@pw-media.co.uk
DESIGN Paul Blyth paul@pw-media.co.uk
ADVERTISING Kate Gilmartin 01905 727904 kate@pw-media.co.uk Rachel Seabright 01905 727900 rachel@pw-media.co.uk
CONTRIBUTORS Ardencote borro-it.com Care UK Energy Saving Trust Kinghams Auctioneers Midlands Air Ambulance Showers to You The National Careline The Royal Spa Centre
ALL RIGHTS RESERVED: Reproduction in whole or in part is prohibited without permission. Colour transparencies, prints or any pictoral media for this publication are sent at owner’s risk and whilst every care is taken, neither PW Media & Publishing Ltd or its agents accept liability for loss or damage. No editorial submissions will be returned unless accompanied by a Self Addressed Envelope. DISCLAIMER: Whilst every effort has been made to ensure that adverts and articles appear correctly, PW Media & Publishing Ltd cannot accept responsibility for any loss or damage caused directly or indirectly by the contents of this publication. The views expressed in this magazine are not necessarily those of its publisher or editor. Please note that if you enter a competition in the Worcestershire Now magazine t @NowWarwickshire | G Warwickshire Now | w www.nowmagazines.co.uk 3 n your name and address may be forwarded to the host of said competition.
THE LATEST NEWS FROM YOUR AREA
A Decade of Air Ambulance Support Droitwich couple, Roger and Diane Cole along with Evesham-based Claire Dyson Racing and Rehabilitation recently commemorated ten years’ support of Midlands Air Ambulance Charity at Stratford Racecourse, after raising £103,000.
Claire Dyson Racing and Rehabilitation has been a steadfast supporter of the charity for many years in loving memory of the yard’s former head girl, Charlotte Cole, who was involved in a tragic equestrian incident in 2011. To raise funds for Midlands Air Ambulance Charity, Claire Dyson Racing and Rehabilitation and Charlotte’s family, Roger, Diane and their daughter Stephanie Cole, have undertaken numerous fundraising initiatives for the air ambulance including open days at Froglands Stud Farm, evening events and annual sponsorship of a race in Charlotte’s memory at Stratford Racecourse. The race, which took place on Thursday 27th October, means the fundraising total has now reached an impressive £103,000, funding dozens of vitally important air ambulance and critical care car missions in the region. To bolster the total, the National Trainers Federation have kindly donated £500 on the day in memory of Charlotte.
Hanna Sebright, chief executive for Midlands Air Ambulance Charity, said: “Sadly, our advanced critical care paramedics and doctors are called out to a horse rider in desperate need of enhanced pre-hospital care every week, so support from the equestrian community is critical to maintaining our service in the rural communities we serve. “The Cole family and Claire Dyson are very dear to us at Midlands Air Ambulance Charity and we are continually grateful for their unfaltering support of our organisation. Their milestone £103,000 donation over the last ten years has enabled us to assist more than 60
patients in their critical hour of need at the scene of their incident.” Claire Dyson, on behalf of Claire Dyson Racing and Rehabilitation and the Cole family, said: “While the reason we fundraise for Midlands Air Ambulance Charity is out of tragic loss, we are extremely proud to have reached this incredible milestone having supported the charity over the last decade. We would like to offer our enormous thanks to the many people who have supported our fundraising activities. Their unwavering support and kindness has been very much appreciated and gives us some comfort in honouring Charlotte’s memory.” n
Cutest Baby Christmas Outfits - Rented Christmas and festive baby outfits for 0-12 months are now available to rent at Borro - the baby clothes subscription company. From as little as £3/month you can now rent your baby’s Christmas outfit from premium sustainable brands Mori and Kite. Borro is the first service in the UK to enable you to rent new, or ‘good as new’ Christmas outfits for your baby. At a time when families are looking to save money, this is a great way to reduce costs as well as waste, but still ensure that you get the best baby photos! Buying a cute pair of Christmas pudding joggers, or reindeer bodysuit from Mori would set you back £22.50, but at Borro you
can rent them for £3/month. And let’s face it, you only need them for one month! There’s no hassle of trying to resell a Christmas outfit in January either - return it for free and rest easy knowing that another family will be able to love it again next year. “Great quality, sustainable beautiful clothes that I honestly wouldn’t have been able to afford to buy new, that we can wear and return ready for someone else to love when our son has grown out of them! What’s not to love?” Danika, Borro customer “I’m so excited to be offering Christmas outfits at Borro for the first time. We all want a gorgeous photo of our little ones in something Christmassy, but it can be so
n 4 | Warwickshire Now | Issue 70 | December 2022 - January 2023
expensive and such a waste to buy something new - renting is the answer!” - Sarah Green, founder of Borro and mum of two. But what about stains? We all know that babies are messy, but you don’t have to worry about getting gravy down your Christmas outfit as Borro will never charge you for stains, so you can rent worry-free! Borro also stocks a huge selection of everyday wear for 0-12 months from premium baby brands like Mori, Little Green Radicals, Kite, Turtledove London and Pigeon Organics, all available to rent with no minimum subscription and free returns. n Browse Christmas outfits available to rent: borro-it.com/collections/christmas
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HERE & NOW
New Plunge Pool for Winter at The Spa at Ardencote Wa r w i c k s h i re ’s 5-Bubble The
Spa
Spa, at
Ardencote will be encouraging its guests to embrace the cold as its outdoor pool remains open, operating as a plunge pool this winter allowing guests to relax
feel comfortable and experience its optimum benefits. Holly Glynn, Spa Manager at The Spa at Ardencote has provided these top tips for enjoying the wellbeing benefits of hot and cold therapy safely:
to extreme temperatures, such as a hot sauna followed by a dip in a cold plunge pool, is scientifically proven to have several benefits to our wellbeing. From reducing lactic acid build up in the muscles and hormone regulation to increasing the body’s red blood cell count and improving cardiovascular mechanisms. It is also proven to result in increased energy, better sleep, improved metabolism, concentration and even a stronger immune system. However, this practice needs to be done mindfully in order to
by Julia Cave with Choreography
Royal Spa Centre
from
Kirstie
Smith,
Musical
Tim Spencer and Sound Design
family pantomime Cinderella 03 -
from Chris James. The Production
31 December.
Manager is Dan Terry.
Some of the town’s much loved
Poor Cinderella works night and
panto favourites are back including
day but dreams of a very different
the fabulous JP McCue as Dame
life and with an invitation to the
Dolly, funny man Sean Dodds
royal ball it looks as if her wish
playing Buttons and Denise Pitter
may be granted. Will her Wicked
and Kirstie Smith as the Wicked
Stepsisters succeed in ruining
Stepsisters! New faces this year
Cinderella’s dreams of happiness
include Soleil Quarless in the
or will her Fairy Godmother and
title role of Cinderella with Kyle
loyal friend Buttons be able to
• Elite athletes stay in a plunge pool for up to 10 minutes, but we always encourage our guests to listen to their bodies and stay within their limits. For some this could be a matter of seconds and for others this could be a minute or two. n
Copeland as her handsome prince
thwart their devilish plans? Pop on
and Adam Pettigrew as sidekick
your glad-rags and join us at the
Dandini. They will be joined by
ball to find out! n
www.ardencote.com/spa
Theatre. It is written by Janice Dunn
• We recommend that guests spend at least 10 minutes in the sauna to ensure that the body temperature has increased enough before they enter the plunge pool. You may want to consider spending a few seconds underneath a cold shower to ensure that your body doesn’t go in to too much shock with the temperature change.
conditioning, exposing the body
and JP McCue and will be directed
audiences at The
Arrangement and Direction from
hot and cold therapy. Hyperthermic
P a n t o m i m e
this festive season at the magical
• Stay hydrated
as
SPA CENTRE THIS CHRISTMAS in Leamington Spa will have a ball
by adopting the Nordic style of
Known
CINDERELLA AT THE ROYAL
n 6 | Warwickshire Now | Issue 70 | December 2022 - January 2023
Chloe Evans, E. Willcox and Edan Smart plus a local junior ensemble for an evening full of full of sparkle,
Come and join us for everyone’s favourite
rags
to
riches
slosh and laughs galore.
tale – book your tickets at
Cinderella is produced by Imagine
visit imaginetheatre.co.uk
warwickdc.ticketsolve.com
or
HERE & NOW
t @NowWarwickshire | G Warwickshire Now | w www.nowmagazines.co.uk 7 n
HOME & GARDEN
Home Energy Tips
The EnergySaving Trust been encouraging people to insulate their homes for over two decades now, and many millions of homes have been insulated in that time. As with any building work, the quality of installation has varied from house to house, and unfortunately some homes will have had a decidedly substandard job. As the years have gone on, most standard insulation opportunities have been taken up and the focus has shifted to older and more complex properties, presenting new challenges that some in the industry may have limited experience in overcoming. As these millions of refurbishments have gone ahead, while many have been highly successful, poor workmanship and misunderstanding have led to problems in some cases. Most of the problems we hear about are to do with damp. Working to improve the process Representatives of the insulation industry are keen to stress that they have learned from previous failures. Certification bodies have
been working to improve the certification and installation process, introducing measures such as increasing the number of trained operatives on site and mandating a verbal handover to owners, among others to reduce the likelihood of insulation failure. The proportion of insulated homes with related damp problems is very small but, because of the scale of the work that has been carried out, the number of problem homes is still significant. If you were faced with problems due to a botched installation job, what could you do about it? Try to find the cause of the damp If damp problems turn up after you have installed floor, solid wall, cavity wall or roof insulation, there are four likely possibilities: • There is a new damp problem that occurred around the same time as the insulation as installed, but that’s not actually related to the insulation.
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n 8 | Warwickshire Now | Issue 70 | December 2022 - January 2023
• The house was not suitable for the insulation measure installed (for example, the location was too exposed for standard cavity wall insulation). • The installation was not carried out correctly (for example, external wall insulation has bridged the damp proof course – a barrier that sits just above ground level to prevent damp rising through your walls). • There was an existing damp problem, and the insulation has made this more obvious (for example, a gutter was leaking into a cavity, and now cavity wall insulation is allowing that water to reach the inner leaf of the wall). Most householders won’t be able to diagnose the first two, but you may be able to check for an existing or new damp problem that’s separate to the insulation, if only to rule it out. Common things to look out for are: CONTINUED OVER THE PAGE
t @NowWarwickshire | G Warwickshire Now | w www.nowmagazines.co.uk 9 n
HOME & GARDEN • Damaged or blocked gutters. • Damaged or blocked downpipes. • Missing slates or tiles. • Missing or damaged flashing (this is usually made of metal and helps to protect parts of the roof or external walls that are particularly prone to leaks and water damage). • External ground levels that are now higher than the damp proof course. • Failing doors or windows. • Blocked air bricks (these look like regular bricks, but they have holes in them for ventilation), or other ventilation issues. • Damaged bricks, pointing or render. • Plumbing leaks. • Excessive moisture production, such as drying clothes indoors.
However, if you can’t find an obvious cause for the damp problems and you suspect an installation problem, you need to move on to the next step.
Unfortunately, it doesn’t always go that smoothly – the company may no longer be in business, or they may be difficult to find, or they may turn out not to be as helpful as you would hope. If that happens, then there are a few things you can try.
details of who to contact if there’s a problem.
If you used a reputable installer, they will have carried out a pre-insulation survey that should have picked up many of these issues at the time. But if any of these have happened since the insulation was fitted, and you own your own home, then it’s up to you to fix the problem.
Check for a guarantee You may think a guarantee is useless if the company that did the work is no longer in business. But it’s become increasingly common for insulation work, and especially wall insulation, to have a long-term guarantee that is provided by someone other than the installer, so you can still get help if the installer has disappeared.
support you in the case of poor workmanship.
Once the damp problem is sorted, you may need to get a specialist to check that the insulation is still OK, and that any water that has built up anywhere has the chance to dry out.
Speak to your installer Most installers should be willing to come and check out any problem and do their best to work out the cause. And if it turns out that there was a problem with the installation, they may simply offer to fix the problem for you.
insulation for many years, and the Solid Wall Insulation Guarantee Agency (SWIGA) now does the same for solid wall insulation. And there are a number of insurance companies
that
provide
independently
backed guarantees for various insulation jobs – there’s a list of the key providers on Trustmark’s website. If you have some paperwork about a guarantee for your insulation work, then it should have If not, but you think you might have had an independent or extended guarantee, you can try contacting the schemes to see if they have a record of your property. Bear in mind that these guarantees will only If the damp problem is the result of any other issue, such as poor building maintenance, the guarantee won’t help you, although the guarantee provider may provide advice on how to put the issue right. Contact the funder If you had your home insulated through a funding scheme, such as the Energy Company
The Cavity Insulation Guarantee Agency (CIGA) has been providing 25-year independent guarantees for cavity wall
Obligation or a local authority scheme, then CONTINUED OVER THE PAGE
Tel: 01789 868 682 or 07899 246 702
Email: theroofer221@outlook.com n 10 | Warwickshire Now | Issue 70 | December 2022 - January 2023
HOME & GARDEN
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HOME & GARDEN you can try contacting the funder to see if they can help resolve the problem. It’s not always
it’s demonstrable you caused the problem yourself. And if the landlord doesn’t help,
the legal market that encourage homeowners
obvious who provided the funding, but your
contact your local council, even if you rent
worst-case scenario can mean people losing
local council and your energy supplier are good places to start. Failing that, it could have
from a private landlord. Citizens Advice also has useful information on how to resolve
their homes if they lose the case.
been one of the other larger energy suppliers operating at the time of your installation.
damp issues with your landlord.
Hopefully it won’t come to this. If things do
Taking it further
successfully resolved – as detailed above.
Contact your installer’s trade association or accreditation scheme Most specialist insulation installers are
There should always be a material supplier or industry body that will provide advice and support. But if you don’t have a guarantee
There’s also some good general advice on
members of one or more trade associations or
and can’t get your installer or a scheme funder
and your specific consumer rights on the
certification bodies, and these organisations
to sort the problem out for you, then you’re
Which? website.
will generally have some sort of code of practice for their members. If your installer has failed to follow the guidelines of an
left with two options:
to take out loans to go to court, which in the
go wrong, there are a few ways it could be
how to complain if building work has gone wrong, as well as how to escalate the issue
The key to a positive experience, as with any • Bite the bullet and arrange for another
other building work, is to be careful about who
company to come in and fix the problem.
you employ to do the job. Request quotes from multiple installers, we recommend
Look at any paperwork the installer gave you,
Some issues are quite cheap to sort out, while others can be worryingly expensive, but it might be worth getting a few quotes
such as brochures or headed paper, or look at
to find out.
or pressure to sign on the day. Always insist
organisation they belong to, you might get some support from that organisation.
their website. You should find reference to any organisations the installer is a member of or is
• Take advice on whether you can pursue a
accredited by.
legal case. This is a big thing to take on – you might want to talk to Citizens Advice first to
What if I rent my home?
get some idea of your options.
If you rent your home, whether privately, from the council or from a housing association,
Both the major insulation guarantee providers,
speak to your landlord first about any damp problems. It’s their job to sort it out unless
CIGA and SWIGA, urge caution here. They claim that there are fraudulent operators in
n 12 | Warwickshire Now | Issue 70 | December 2022 - January 2023
at least three. Avoid heavy-handed sales techniques, like highly discounted prices on any work having a third-party guarantee and check the length of that guarantee, and choose an installer that’s signed up to a trade association like CIGA or SWIGA. Choose the right installer in the first place, and you should have a positive experience. n www.energysavingtrust.org.uk
HOME & GARDEN
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t @NowWarwickshire | G Warwickshire Now | w www.nowmagazines.co.uk 13 n VIEW OUR FULL RANGE OF BOSCH PRODUCTS AT WWW.CHAPMANSRETAIL.CO.UK
HOME & GARDEN
A Fresh Coat of Paint
White is the most Googled ‘bathroom paint’ in the UK - but psychologist says it’s ‘uninspiring’ Shower Enclosure Experts, have partnered with Psychology and Wellbeing Consultant Lee Chambers MSc MBPsS to highlight what paint means when it comes to the powder room. First, Shower Enclosure Experts used search volume tool Ahrefs to extract the number of times per month Brits research different paint shades. Then, Lee Chambers MSc MBPsS provided expert commentary on the psychology behind some of the shades. White: The analysis found that ‘white bathroom paint’ ranks top and is searched for in Google over 8,000 times a month [8,400] - almost double the number of searches for ‘blue bathroom paint’ [4,800]. Additionally, experts have claimed Farrow and Ball’s ‘All White’ [No. 2005] to be among the best shades of white paint to choose. It contains no other pigment except for white, creating a soft and sympathetic colour palette. But, despite many DIYers opting for white paint, as it’s typically viewed as a clean and timeless shade, Lee Chambers notes: “An all-white bathroom is very clinical, clean and spacious, but lacks character and can be uninspiring, especially for females, studies have shown.”
Greys and Greens: Following, ‘grey bathroom paint’ and ‘green bathroom paint’ rank in second and third place - with 5,700 and 5,100 searches per month, respectively. Indeed, “When it comes to helping us find a calmer moment of serenity in the evening, or as you rush around in the morning, cooler colours that still have vibrant elements, such as light greys, blues and greens, can help us feel assured in ourselves and convey a message that we can handle the day’s challenges.” Black: Interestingly, ‘black bathroom paint’ ranks mid table, with over 1,000 Brits searching for the hue per month. But colour psychologist, Chambers, warns: “Dark bathrooms can feel enclosed and uninviting unless the lighting is beneficial, and mirrors are used to create the perception of space.” Metallics: ‘Metallic bathroom paint’ ranks last with 8,380 less [20] Google searches per month than the top colour white. Although, according to the analysis, metallics in the bathroom are seemingly unpopular with Brits, Lee Chambers notes it’s worthwhile to consider thinking outside the box and incorporating metallic shades and texture too: “Consider patterns and textures; natural materials are grounding, such as metallic,
n 14 | Warwickshire Now | Issue 70 | December 2022 - January 2023
stone and wooden elements, and they can help us to feel more connected to ourselves.” Reds and oranges: Other paint shades ranking low in the table are red and orange [120 and 280 searches per month, respectively]. However, Chambers adds although unusual - a bold shade could be just what your bathroom [and you] needs: “If you want to start the day with a stimulating boost, bold shades of warm colours like reds, oranges and yellows have the power to make us feel energised, and this can be incorporated through accessories and decoration on a more muted colour palette if preferred.” If you are bold enough to opt for reds, Alan Boswell Landlord Building Insurance recently discovered Farrow and Ball’s ‘Sulking Room Pink’ [No. 295] to be this autumn’s trendiest paint colour, with romantic muted rose hues, it’s supremely versatile. Things to consider: Finally, Lee Chambers shares: “The last thing to consider is your colour preferences. If there’s a particular shade that you feel expresses you, you have a personal connection, and that is powerful when deciding what colour to use. Just ensure that the colours you choose let you have that moment of peace in a place that feels like home.” n www.showerstoyou.co.uk
HOME & GARDEN
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HOME & GARDEN
Peter Lanyon Painting Totals Record £98,400 A small recently discovered painting by one of the most important 20th Century British artists has recently totalled a record £98,400 at a Cotswold auction (9th October). to gain a deeper understanding of his native landscape. It was a gliding accident in 1964 at the age of just 46 which abruptly ended his career. Head of paintings at Kinghams Auctioneers, Adrian Rathbone, (assisted by ex-Sotheby’s Old Masters
Consultant
Andrew
Bowyer) is on hand to advise clients on all aspects of paintings, from antique to contemporary works. With rapidly changing values, it is more important than ever to ascertain the current value of paintings, antiques and works of art. Free valuations for all manner
The work titled
Estimated
‘Portreath
at
£30,000-50,000,
-
works rarely appear at auction
Roadmenders’ is
and as such immense pre-sale
by celebrated Cornish artist Peter
interest from private collectors
Lanyon, (1918-1964). Depicting a
and the art trade resulted in it
stylised view of the north Cornish
surpassing this to finally sell to a
fishing village Portreath, the work
UK based trade buyer who bid
shows the harbour and surround
£98,400 to secure it.
2
landscape and is dated 1949. In a typically muted palette, the work measures just 28 by 23cm and was consigned by a Devon based
private
client
whose
parents in law had purchased it directly from the artist sometime in the 1950’s.
of pictures, jewellery, watches, silver, ceramics, glass, antiques and collectables are held at the Moreton in Marsh auction centre every Tuesday from 11am to 4pm. Free home visits are available for large/multiple items, estate clearance and downsizing advice. For further information, please contact Adrian Rathbone on 01608 695695 or email adrian@kinghamsauctioneers.com. n By Adrian Rathbone, Associate Director, Kinghams Auctioneers, Moreton in Marsh. Note: figures quoted include the 23% plus VAT buyers premium and any other additional fees where applicable
SPECIALISTS IN SINGLE-OWNER COLLECTIONS NATIONWIDE VALUATIONS & ADVICE Jewellery | Watches | Silver | Ceramics | Glass | Decorative Arts Paintings | Furniture | Clocks | Design | Books | Designer Goods
Peter Lanyon was a British painter of landscapes leaning towards abstraction and one of the most important artists to emerge in post-war Britain. He received tuition from fellow celebrated Cornish artist Ben Nicholson in the late 1930’s. His body of
Moreton in Marsh auctioneers
work are the most important
Kinghams
the
reappraisals of modernism in
work carried out further research
painting anywhere. In 2018 Toby
and were grateful to have it
Treves published the catalogue
authenticated
raisonne
who
handled
Peter Lanyon (1918-1964), Portreath 2, oil. Sold for a Record £98,400
of
FREE HOME VISITS FOR LARGE/MULTIPLE ITEMS, ESTATE CLEARANCE & DOWNSIZING ADVICE
Lanyon authority, (and catalogue
research. In the late 1950’s he
10-12 Cotswold Business Village, London Road, Moreton-in-Marsh, GL56 0JQ
raisonne author) Toby Treves.
trained as a glider pilot in order
by
the
Peter
after
n 16 | Warwickshire Now | Issue 70 | December 2022 - January 2023
decades
01608 695695 enquiries@kinghamsauctioneers.com www.kinghamsauctioneers.com
HOME & GARDEN
Grace Gradon Interiors opened in Warwick in July this year, as a sister showroom to Cygnet Interiors, which opened in Buckingham in 2005. Having moved to the area in 2020, we are delighted to have the opportunity to offer our services in Warwick, with the launch of Grace Gradon Interiors. As our second showroom. With a huge array of fabrics, and wallpapers, from leading brands. We pride ourselves in helping clients finding exactly what they’re looking for offering a wide range of services and products. Cushions, throws, lamps, headboards... and much more.
19 Old Square, Warwick, CV34 4RU OPEN Tues-Sat 10am-2pm
Bespoke curtains and all types of blinds and upholstery are our speciality. Sofas, chairs, headboards made in the UK from many leading brands We can supply your truly bespoke sofas and chairs, from our vast library of upholstery fabrics. We also offer a furniture restoration and re-upholstery service. Often the process begins with a chat in the showroom or your home to discover what you’re are looking for. It could be a single window dressing or a whole house, and everything in between. We would love to help, with our extensive knowledge of fabrics, wallpapers, and interiors. We look forward to welcoming you to our showroom in Warwick.
M: 07769 606697 T: 01926 290414
E: hello@gracegradoninteriors.co.uk W: www.gracegradoninteriors.co.uk
Collections including: Anna French Casamance Colefax & Fowler Designers Guild James Hare Jane Churchill Lewis & Wood Manuel Canovas Morris & Co Nina Campbell Osborne & Little Sanderson Thibaut William Yeoward
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GOLDEN YEARS
Action on Elder Abuse The National Careline are here to help What is Elder Abuse? On our helpline at The National Careline, we get many calls from very distressed people who are either calling about themselves, their mother/father or other close relative about the actions being done by someone to another person. This is usually a family member to another one, but it can be a person such as a neighbour who is distressed by the way an older person they know is being abused and wants to report it. The term “Elder Abuse” has been adopted by many bodies including the World Health Organisation and other notable organisations and countries and is established to mean: ‘A single or repeated act or lack of appropriate action, occurring within any relationship where there is an expectation of trust, which causes harm or distress to an older person’. Because the core of the definition is an ‘expectation of trust’ that an older person may rightly establish with another person,
but which is subsequently violated, it mostly takes the form of abuse which happens within families and those within close relationships. It doesn’t usually happen with strangers unless those strangers have also abused the older person’s ‘expectation of trust’ and thus also become a source of elder abuse.
society. So, if you feel that someone is being financially, physically or mentally abused then it is important that you contact their local council and report it to the Adult Safeguarding Unit in their Social Services and to the Police. The Mental Capacity Act 2005
Safeguarding Adult Boards (SABs) These became a statutory requirement under the Care Act (2014) in all local authority Social Services. They bring together other safeguarding partners such as police, health and housing and are critical in taking the lead to respond to adult safeguarding cases in their areas. They have done, and continue to do, significant work on investigating financial abuse but, with the most common place that financial abuse taking place is in the home by family members, more work needs to be done within SABs to ensure that cases of theft and fraud are investigated properly by their teams.
It is important for anyone acting as an attorney or deputy to remember is that any decisions made for the person must be made whilst adhering to the five statutory principles of the Mental Capacity Act (MCA) 2005. These are: • Every adult has the right to make his or her own decisions and must be assumed to have capacity to make them unless it is proved otherwise. • A person must be given all practicable help before anyone treats them as not being able to make their own decisions.
Elder Abuse is a crime against the members of one of our most vulnerable sections of
n 18 | Warwickshire Now | Issue 70 | December 2022 - January 2023
CONTINUED OVER THE PAGE
Anya Court has proudly been rated ‘Good’ by CQC
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GOLDEN YEARS
• Just because an individual makes what might be seen as an unwise decision, they should not be treated as lacking capacity to make that decision.
This member of the family will then use controlling behaviours to persuade their victim that is would be a good idea to give them a Lasting Power of Attorney (LPA).
• Anything done or any decision made on behalf of a person who lacks capacity must be done in their best interests.
From here, it is just a short progression into the victim having their money stolen from their accounts, without their permission and without any other family members knowing what has happened. Left unchecked, this can progress to the point that the victim’s future financial security is threatened. If they are already in care, this is where the Social Services must step in to stop the person being evicted.
• Anything done for or on behalf of a person who lacks capacity should be the least restrictive of their basic rights and freedoms. On the helpline, we take calls from people who are either the victims of elder abuse or they know of someone who is suffering from someone’s abusive behaviour towards them or someone they know of, and they want to know how to report it. The abuse can be physical or, more often mental and is usually towards people who can no longer defend themselves. It often starts when a person is finding it difficult to cope with living on their own anymore and the offer of help from a relative or friend to move in and provide the necessary care so that the person can remain in their own home rather than going into care seems an ideal solution. In most cases this is a very good arrangement however it can go very wrong with the helper taking steps to isolate the victim from other members of their family. They will do this by telling family members that the person doesn’t want to see them anymore or other blocking tactics with the intention of keeping other relatives and friends at a distance so that they cannot see the victim and report the abuse that is going on.
This is just a small part of what we hear on The National Careline Helpline and the financial cost to the individual, to the teams investigating the crimes and to taxpayers picking up the bill are just a part of widespread theft and fraud within families in Britain today. So, what can we do? What should we do? The thing we should remember that if we are not part of the solution we are by default, part of the problem. We all need to be aware of the problem and should never stand by and let abuse take place without reporting the circumstances to the relevant authorities. We need to work responsibly towards a society where older people and their rights are respected and to raise awareness in practitioners working in this field so that they can act appropriately when circumstances of abuse and coercion occur. If you are worried about a family member and suspect that something is amiss but need to
n 20 | Warwickshire Now | Issue 70 | December 2022 - January 2023
find out more, do contact us on our helpline number 0800 0699 784, as we can often help by using the appropriate channels. In all cases contact the Office of the Public Guardian if you have concerns about an attorney, deputy or a decision they’ve made for someone else. For example: the misuse of a person’s money, decisions made that aren’t in the best interests of the person they’re responsible for or any criminal activity. Email: opg.safeguardingunit@ publicguardian.gsi.gov.uk Telephone: 0300 456 0300 Textphone: 0115 934 2778 Monday to Friday, 9am to 5pm (except Wednesday) Wednesday 10am to 5pm The Office of the Public Guardian can help if there is a registered lasting power of attorney, a registered enduring power of attorney or a court order. If one of these isn’t in place, you may have to contact: • the Department for Work and Pensions for concerns about benefits. www.gov.uk • your local adult social services for concerns about care or safeguarding • your local police if you think someone is not in immediate danger but the attorney has committed a criminal offence • Call 999 if someone is in immediate danger. n The National Careline Helpline: 0800 0699 784 Email: office@thenationalcareline.org
GOLDEN YEARS
ANSWERS
Warwickshire
Now
If you would like to advertise in our next issue please contact our sales team. Kate Gilmartin
Rachel Seabright
Tel: 01905 727904 Email: kate@pw-media.co.uk
Tel: 01905 727900 Email: rachel@pw-media.co.uk
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GOLDEN YEARS
Quality care in Leamington Spa you can trust When a family is thinking about care for a loved one, they want the best - they want to know that the care home they choose will put their loved one’s safety, happiness and wellbeing first. Care UK’s Priors House care home in Leamington Spa provides residential, dementia and nursing care, giving families peace of mind that their loved ones can stay living at the home should their needs change. Living at Priors House is all about quality of life. Every colleague in the home is passionate about enabling residents to enjoy a fulfilling lifestyle, tailored around their unique needs and preferences. The lifestyle team organises a huge variety of group and one-to-one activities, with plenty going on each day. The team at Priors House are proud to have achieved some great results in the recent relative survey, in fact 90% of families feel the staff know and treat their loved ones as individuals^. Once their relative has settled into Priors House they are able to focus on spending quality time with them again just enjoying each other’s company. With the extra support that Priors House offers, new residents are often surprised at
what they can do, whether that’s being able to continue with an activity they’ve enjoyed in the past, or even discovering new hobbies with our daily activities. Priors House is part of award-winning provider, Care UK – one of the UK’s most successful care home operators* with over 40 years’ experience of delivering high quality care to older people. n
n 22 | Warwickshire Now | Issue 70 | December 2022 - January 2023
Priors House care home Old Milverton Lane, Leamington Spa, CV32 6RN 01926 953095 Careuk.com/priors-house *As rated by the Care Quality Commission in England and the Care Inspectorate in Scotland. ^Care UK relative survey March 2022/August 2022. Study operated by QRS Market Research, an independent survey agency.
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n 24 | Warwickshire Now | Issue 70 | December 2022 - January 2023
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Puzzles
SUDOKU - HARD
If you get stuck, the answers can be found on page 21 4
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VEGAN SULPHATE FREE PARABEN FREE QUINOA PROTEIN SUNFLOWER OIL GLUTEN FREE nat26 | Warwickshire | Issue 70 | December 2022 - January 2023 Mavericks Hair Now & Beauty ORGANIC
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t @NowWarwickshire | G Warwickshire Now | w www.nowmagazines.co.uk 27 n
EDUCATION What's On
DECEMBER
performances, so in the words of Daisy the
year around 1,000 lanterns parade through the
cow, you’ll have to moooooove quickly if you
town, whatever the weather. Entertainment
want to get the best seats at the best price on
starts at the Pump Room Gardens Bandstand
Warm Hub Feeling the cold or just fancy a chat? Orangemabel Alecester is a dedicated ‘Warm Hub’ join us for a Complimentary Hot Drink & Treat at our Chatty Cafe. 9am - 12noon. Tel: 01789 766300
your preferred date! www.belgrade.co.uk
approximately 30 minutes before the parade
Every Tuesday
Until Sunday 8th January Jack and the Beanstalk Belgrade Theatre. Visit the village of Prickly Bottom where the evil giant Blunderbore is causing havoc! What the village needs is a hero brave enough to climb up to the giant’s castle and send him packing. Will Jack and his mysterious beanstalk prove to be the heroes we are looking for? There’s only one way to find out! Once again written by and starring Coventry’s favourite dame Iain Lauchlan, Jack and the Beanstalk will feature spectacular scenery, stupendous costumes, magical mayhem and a show stopping giant that make a trip to the Belgrade panto an unmissable Christmas treat for thousands of families every year. Funny, festive and extremely feel-good, don’t miss out on this absolute GIANT of a show. Tickets for Jack and the Beanstalk are selling fast, particularly for the most popular
sets off. The route winds its way around the
Until Saturday 24th
Pump Room Gardens, up Bedford Street to
Reindeer Trail
Warwick Street and then along to the Parade
Compton Verney. Take part in our festive
before heading back down to the Town Hall,
reindeer trail within our stunning landscape.
meeting Santa’s reindeer along the way. The
Do you know your Monet’s from your Morag
Royal Spa Brass Band then join in for Christmas
Myerscough? Our large wooden reindeer
carols on the Town Hall steps. Create your own
will be richly decorated in the style of
lanterns, meet at the Pump Room Gardens
contemporary and classical artists. Come
and light up Leamington Spa! 4:15pm - 6pm.
and find all nine of Santa’s faithful reindeer
www.leamingtonlanternparade.co.uk
friends in their fresh new colours. Once you have completed the trail, head into the
Monday 5th - Saturday 24th
shop to collect your reindeer food, ready for
Santa’s Sleigh
Christmas Eve! £3 per entrant. The Reindeer
Santa’s Sleigh will be visiting parts of Warwick
Trail is included in every child ticket for Santa’s
collecting for Myton Hospices. 6pm to 8pm.
Grotto. www.comptonverney.org.uk
Schedule can be found at www.mytonhospice.
Sunday 4th Lantern Parade Pump Room Gardens, Leamington Spa.
org/our-events/event/santas-sleigh-warwick
Tuesday 6th Bach Christmas Oratorio
Leamington’s Lantern Parade, join in with
Collegiate Church of St Mary, Warwick. The
your beautiful handmade lanterns to Light
Christmas Oratorio is a collection of cantatas
Up Leamington Spa! Cost: Free A welcome
composed for the festive season which
return for this community events which brings
celebrates Bach’s genius in writing intensely
people together for a magical evening lighting up our beautiful town centre. Every
n 28 | Warwickshire Now | Issue 70 | December 2022 - January 2023
CONTINUED OVER THE PAGE
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What's On beautiful melody and counterpoint, alongside
be on Waterside, Bridge Street, Henley Street,
through the script on the Friday evening,
his flamboyant orchestral compositional style.
High Street and Meer Street, with stalls which
rehearse on Saturday and Sunday, and
Written for chorus & orchestra with fanfare
will include street food and drink-related
perform Sophocles gripping Greek tragedy
including some of the most virtuosic trumpet
produce being positioned on Wood Street.
‘Antigone’ on Monday evening on stage at
writing in history. www.armonico.org.uk
www.stratford.gov.uk
the Bridge House Theatre. £75 per participant.
Wednesday 7th
Tuesday 15th
A programme of festive favourites
Christmas Family Workshop
Sunday 20th
www.bridgehousetheatre.co.uk
All
Fields,
Hill Close Gardens. 11am - 1pm. Festive arts
Armonico Consort’s President’s
Emscote. 7.30pm. Divertimento Choir – In
Saints
Church,
Vicarage
and crafts to make your Christmas sparkle.
Christmas Carols
Festive Mood. Tickets £15, under 18s free.
Please book a place. Tel 01926 493339 or
Warwick Castle. 7.30pm. Join a select
www.divertimento.org.uk
email centremanager@hcgt.org.uk
group of Armonico Consort’s finest singers
Wine Tasting
Heigh Ho Holiday
they welcome Christmas in the magnificent
Olim Gifts, 30 Smith Street. 7pm – 8.30pm.
St. Mary’s Church. 7.30pm. 17th Century
setting of the Great Hall at Warwick Castle.
Christmas Day Wines. £28. Welcome drink.
London Christmas Revels with The City
Armonico Consort will perform traditional
Six wine tastings, canapes and goody bag.
Musick. Tickets £26, £18, £12 (£1 students
carols in this unique setting, steeped in
olimgifts.co.uk/collections/events
and children) including mulled wine and
history, featuring pieces which may have
mince pies, from Warwick Visitor Centre or
featured in festive celebrations at the castle
www.leamingtonmusic.org.
throughout the past almost 1000 years!
for this brand new and exclusive event as
Thursday 8th - Sunday 11th
www.armonico.org.uk
Victorian Christmas Market The
award-winning
Stratford-upon-Avon
Wednesday 16th - Saturday 19th
Victorian Christmas Market is a themed event
Antigone!
Tuesday 22nd
with stall holders dressed in Victorian costumes.
Bridge House Theatre, Myton Road. Join
The Snowman
There will be entertainment throughout the town;
Bridge House Young Company for their ‘Three
St. Mary’s Church. Three screenings of ‘The
a stage in Henley Street will host a programme
Day Play’ - Antigone! Young performers aged
Snowman’ with live orchestra – at 12noon,
of performances. There will be a traditional
12-18 are invited to create a new version of
2pm and 4pm. Adults £13, Children (under
funfair, which will include a carousel situated at
Sophocles’ classic ‘Antigone’ over a long
16) £5. Family (2 adults and up to 2 children)
the bottom of Wood Street and on the Rother
weekend. Guided by professional theatre
£28. Under-threes free if sitting on adult’s lap.
Street market area. The Christmas market will
practitioners, the young performers will read
thesnowmanwarwick.eventbrite.co.uk
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