Silver Dreams News - Issue 1

Silver Dreams News January 2013

Registered Charity No. 249338

Welcome to the first Silver Dreams Newsletter! - written by and for Shine members in the 50 plus age group

New Tele-friendship Groups...

are you interested in having contact with other Shine members of a similar age? Do you find it difficult to get out or to travel to events? If so, why not find out more about joining one of our new telephone groups and talking to others from the comfort of your own home? For more information contact Angie – see below.

In Touch Over 50 Facebook Group... for those who have internet access why not join our lively Group on Facebook for information, tips, support, and discussion? This is a closed group and members’ posts are only seen by each other.

Want to do some good from home? Even in your pyjamas?

We will shortly be launching our microvolunteering opportunities and offering small, “bite-sized” activities that you can do to help others and the Silver Dreams Project. This

could include participating in a craft activity to raise funds, taking photos for a range of different purposes, suggesting places and products that have been useful, writing letters to new parents, writing about your experiences on a particular subject, carrying out small fundraising actions or contributing to a telephone befriending or online support group. Anything in fact that will benefit others and is manageable at home with minimal supervision. Interested? For more information contact Angie.

Would you like to try the internet? Contact Angie for details.

The Dream Team gets going!

We are pleased to announce that we have recruited 10 volunteer members of Shine to help run the Silver Dreams Project. Between them they have skills in charity governance, events management, public speaking, social Continued on page 2

Congratulations to Denise Davies who wins £50 worth of M&S Vouchers. Everyone who contacted us about Silver Dreams by telephone, email, website, or post was entered into the Silver Dreams Prize Draw.

“Thank you. This has made up for the horrible Christmas we had, spent in bed with the Noro virus!”- Denise

Tel: 01308 426372 Email: angie.coster@shinecharity.org.uk www.shinesilverdreams.wordpress.com

Continued from page 1

work, campaigning, website and social media development, fundraising, training, telephony, creative writing and crafting – to name but a few. All have experience of living with spina bifida and/or hydrocephalus and are in the 50 plus age group. They will be working with the Project Coordinator and Shine staff to deliver the Project’s activities over the next year.

If you would like something included in this Newsletter please tell us.

Angie Coster Silver Dreams Project Coordinator Tel: 01308 426372 Email: angie.coster@shinecharity.org.uk Web: shinesilverdreams.wordpress.com We need a volunteer Editor for this Newsletter!

If you are interested please let us know

Top Tip on Welfare Benefit Changes Lynne Young – Support and Development Worker

Try a free online self-assessment for Employment and Support Allowance (ESA) before you are reassessed if you are on Incapacity Benefit, Severe Disablement Allowance or Income Support paid on the grounds of incapacity. To start the free assessment go to: www.benefitsandwork. co.uk/employment-and-supportallowance/start-the-esa-test If you do not get 15 points in this test start seeking advice now from your local Citizens Advice Bureau, Disability or Carers organisation or Shine Support and Development Worker.

How I got my local department store to put in an accessible toilet

by Martin Fenney Not so long ago my carer and I were in my local BHS department store in the city centre.

I needed to pay a visit to the loo and asked a staff member to direct us to an accessible customer toilet.

She said there wasn’t one and instead escorted me to the male staff toilets. I suggested that for a store of this size they

My ACE is ace!

By Christine Helliwell

A few years ago I had the ACE operation which has changed my life very much for the better. This involved putting a hole in my belly button with a tube into the bowel. The tube is used to put fluid in, like a high bowel wash out. Before I had the operation I was getting bladder infections every 6 weeks. I was put on a rotation of 3 different antibiotics which I changed every month. This helped Email: angie.coster@shinecharity.org.uk

should have one that was accessible for disabled customers. She agreed, and several months later, having filled in a suggestion form, we returned to find a really good accessible toilet installed near the café, which they said was thanks to me. It is one of the best in our city centre, and particularly good for people with a visual impairment, as I have, with different colours used for the cistern, toilet and wash basin. There is also plenty of room for a wheelchair. So sometimes people do listen!

me go about 6 months before getting another infection. However, after having the ACE operation I am going over 5 years without getting a bladder infection.

For everything to work well I have to stay on a high fibre diet, drink plenty, and keep off the cheese and eggs. To keep healthy, and for the ACE procedure to only take only 30 minutes from beginning to end, I have to do it every other day and blow lots of pretend bubbles! I am now free from pain, dry all day, and much healthier. www.shinesilverdreams.wordpress.com

OWZAAT

by Nick Woodward My drama group in Aldershot North East Hampshire is something that I enjoy and which has really helped improve my confidence.

OWZAAT stands for Older, Wiser, Zanier, Adult, Acting Troupe. It is a group for people aged 18 to 80 and we meet every Tuesday night in a local community centre. Participants sign up on a termly basis and many have been with the group a long time. I have been with the group for over three years. Most of what we do is improvised and we make it up as we go along – similar to the series “Whose Line is it Anyway?” We have done one scripted play, but I found it quite difficult to learn all the lines.

The Group is led by a wonderful teacher called Bekki and we put on two plays a year in front of

an audience, usually of family and friends. The play we put on in July is just our group and is a comedy with a serious message. The play we did last year had very little oral communication so we had to practice our non-speaking communication skills – using body language and acting without saying anything.

In December each year we put on a play with a younger group aged 7 to 19. The theme is usually fairy tales or Christmas, with some pantomime and comedy thrown in for good measure.

The benefits of being in this drama group for me include improved self confidence, thinking on my feet, working within a group, and helping others of mixed abilities and ages. It is also great for socialising and we quite often meet up at each others’ houses. I would recommend this if there is anything similar in your local area – check out local adult learning courses.

Realising Your Dreams

by John Richards, Shine Support and Development Worker It’s alright, it’s ok, doesn’t really matter if you’re old and grey It’s alright, I say, it’s ok, listen to what I say It’s alright, doing fine, doesn’t really matter if the sun don’t shine It’s alright, I say it’s ok, you’re getting to the end of the day.

We over 50s can surely relate to this song

by Dennis Waterman at the beginning of the TV programme about a group of older police officers. I have the same feeling about having spina bifida and NPH when it comes to believing that I can still enjoy life and, more importantly, contribute to the lives of people around me, many of whom are half my age.

With the new Silver Dreams project Shine is now putting a greater emphasis on the health factors that may befall us oldies with SB and/ or H, and looking at how they might affect the interests and hobbies, not to mention lifestyles, we might seek, despite having these “old friends”.

Personally, I am married with a son, am a Christian and lead Milton Keynes Torch Fellowship Group for visually impaired Christians. I am also passionate about cricket. I enjoy visits to the theatre, music,

and eating out (probably a factor in my being overweight!)

Many people enjoy more adventurous activities. Some people have mobility or cognitive issues and may need encouragement to overcome these difficulties particularly by learning of sources of support, advice, and the friendship which comes from shared hobbies.

The Silver Dreams Project aims to encourage members to share ideas and opportunities for their leisure time, pursued independently of their families and/or the people with whom they live, thus enriching the relationship when coming back together, as both parties have something new to talk about. Therefore, let’s not only embrace 2013, but also resolve to take advantage of the benefits of this new project.

Top Health Tip from Gill Yaz Health Development Manager Make sure you keep your Vitamin D levels up during the dark winter months. Vitamin D is essential for keeping bones strong and may help to prevent depression and heart disease.

It is mostly made by the skin when the sun shines on it, and between October and April, the sun isn’t strong enough in the UK to produce this effect.

Top up your intake with oily fish and fortified foods such as dairy products and cereals, and when Spring finally arrives, try to get out in the sun for half an hour a day. Avoid strong midday sun and getting burnt, and, if you get the chance, ask your GP to check your Vitamin D levels. gill.yaz@shinecharity.org.uk

In the next newsletter… l

Surviving social occasions with Normal Pressure Hydrocephalus l To use or not to use a wheelchair l Loving my ipad …and more!

To get involved or to find out more about the Silver Dreams Project contact Angie Coster, Project Coordinator on T: 01308 426372 E: angie.coster@shinecharity.org.uk

www.shinesilverdreams.wordpress.com