Ageing Well Torbay
Summer 2017
Newsletter
£200,000 Innovation Fund Launches!
Ageing Well Torbay have launched a £200,000 Innovation Fund. Tenders range between £5000 - £25,000 and are open to organisations that can demonstrate they can tackle the 3 key aims of the fund; which are to increase the range of affordable activities available, increase the opportunities for people to benefit from the skills of older people and finally to create better access to affordable technology for information and social connection, as well as increased opportunities between generations to connect. Ageing Well Torbay are recruiting a panel of older people to be responsible for making the recommendations as to which projects or activity should receive funding. Applicants over 50 who would like to be on the panel should contact Sue McDermott at Ageing Well Torbay 01803 212638 to register their interest. The closing date for tenders will be the 17th July. Sue McDermott, Programme Manager for Ageing Well Torbay says of the launch “Launching the Innovation Fund is a very proud and important moment for the Ageing Well Torbay programme. It creates the opportunity for many groups and organisations to be involved in changing Torbay resident’s experience of being an older person in the area using their ideas, creativity and specialisms. Equally it enables older people to be in the driving seat of the activities they would like to see funded by and incorporated within the Ageing Well programme.” For more information phone Ageing Well Torbay on 01803 212638
AGeINg WeLL Torbay
INnovation FuND Available teNDers betwEEn £5000 - £25,000 To tackle the foLLowINg themes: Theme One: Increasing the range of affordable activities & more opportunities for older people to enjoy the surroundings Theme Two: Increased opportunities for others to benefit from the skills of older people- Peer Support Theme ThrEE: Greater access to affordable technology for information/social connection & increased opportunities between generations to connect.
Closing date: 17th July 2017 See www.ageingwelltorbay.com for more information AgeINg WeLL Torbay ARe recruitINg people oVEr the age of 50 to joIN the INnovation fuNDINg pANel. The pANel wiLL make recoMMeNDations AS to which projects shOUld receiVE fuNDINg. Contact Sue McDErmoTT 01803 212638 if yOU ARe INterestED.
symposium of ideas
Nearly 400 people attended Torbay’s first ever Symposium of Ideas, which was held at Central Church, Torquay on Saturday 6th May. The Symposium of Ideas was an idea by the Festival Steering Group, who are all older people, to build on the incredible success of their first festival at Torre Abbey in October 2016. Events in the day included circle dancing, talks on subjects including creativity, astronomy and geology, as well a talk by legendary music promoter Lionel Digby. There was also the chance to get advice from professionals and take part in arts and crafts.
The feedback from the event has been resoundingly positive. ”The Symposium was excellent, very well organised and very enjoyable” “I would like more of these events with activities so people get together and not feel isolated” “Time went too quickly. Right now I would rather be dancing than writing!” The Festival Steering group work closely with the Ageing Well Programme Office promoting positive ageing across Torbay. Central Church, Tor HiLL Road, Torquay
Symposium of Ideas Saturday 6th May 2017 10.00am - 5.00pm
JoIN us for... Talks, workshops, stories, dANcINg, advice, ARts & crafts!
Free entry
Life Looking Up! Written by Nicola Jones It happens every evening, the sun sets and the stars come out. But how often do we take the time to look up at the heavens and really marvel at the beauty and complexity of the night sky? Have you ever thought about swapping the TV screen in your living room for the living screen outside your back door? Thanks to Martin Bastian from the Torbay Astronomical Society and his very informative talk, many of us who attended Ageing Well’s Symposium of Ideas now know how easy it is to take up astronomy as a hobby.
All you need is a clear night, somewhere safe to stand outside, a map of the night sky, a torch and to simply look up. Each month the BBC Sky at Night Magazine has an easy to use starchart which will help you spot the five planets observable with the naked eye and identify the constellations visible from the UK that month. Astronomy is an ideal hobby for those living on their own, but it can also be an opportunity for neighbours to stargaze together over the garden wall and for grandparents to share with their grandchildren. For more information about astronomy contact Torbay Astronomical Society: astrosecretary@gmail.com or call Chris Nearchou 07516 340091.
Your stories... One Day with the Rhoko Frog by Lin Marshall
I heard the news today Oh boy And yes
the end of the rainy season and my birthday,
that news was rather sad – it said – “More
so despite my initial reservations I set off
trouble and unrest in Nigeria” And so
in early September for what was to become
those interconnecting pathways in my
the adventure of a lifetime.
brain start to click into that place once again.They shimmer and sparkle and flood
Eight days later, I am in a large clearing in
me with amazing memories of just twenty-
the Rhoko forest, sitting in the “office”. This
two days which changed my life in so many
is actually a dark wooden shed with a tiny
ways.
lean-to kitchen and a wood fire for cooking
My daughter Nicky was back from Nigeria for Xmas and we were celebrating New Year’s Eve in our traditional fashion
This was definitely a crazy idea
with the family all together for once. 2005 was fast approaching and we
– mostly my attempts at one-pot meals in the evenings. I am listening to the torrents of rain hammering on the tin roof. So much for the end of the rainy season! Apart from Nicky, there are 3 volunteers and we are all
gazing at a large wooden wheel segmented
were sipping bubbly and happily toying with into twelve parts like a clock, each segment improbable resolutions. Nicky said “Why
to represent one highly endangered
don’t you come out and see my work mum
animal species. When finished, it will be
and celebrate your sixtieth birthday with a
an educational tool for the school children
challenging experience”.
who regularly visit the monkey sanctuary in Calibar City, but for now it needs a painting
This was definitely a crazy idea. I knew
of each animal and a spinning arm attached
Nicky was proud of her work and would love to the centre of the wheel. a family member to travel out and see it for themselves, but we had listened to some
Nicky again. “What would be a great idea
hair-raising stories and I was anxious about
mum, would be for you to write a poem for
her return. Her job as deputy manager
each animal. Put in some accurate details
for a charity aiding the preservation of
but make it FUN”. The last time I wrote any
long-tailed forest monkeys and forest
poetry was forty-five years ago under duress
conservation seemed fraught with dangers.
at school so I wasn’t very keen on the idea.
She suggested September to coincide with
Just at that moment the sun came out so my pressing need is to try and dry my washing. My t-shirt is a write-off, stained red from the muddy, red river waters encountered on the journey to the forest, a journey I will never forget for so many reasons, but I have hopes for my underwear and socks. That
At night in the forest, the frog chorus can be deafening
done, I grab my camera and wait for the myriad of colourful butterflies and moths that come to drink at the kitchen drain, shooting streams of liquid behind them. Catching them at the right moment with their wings outspread is quite tricky and usually beyond my skills. Back in the shed I decide to have a go at the poems, which will at least let me off any attempt at the painting. Looking at the list of animals, I realise that I need to do some research and turn to the books on forest life sitting on the shelf above the table. At night in the forest, the frog chorus can be deafening and it doesn’t surprise me that there are many undiscovered species hopping around. And so it happened that a new frog was found just before our arrival, but whilst waiting for a meaningful Latin name it is simply known as the Rhoko Frog. I decide to start with the frog as I am fairly confident that the children will have seen plenty of them and I doubt that this one has anything special as frogs go. The rest of the poems get done eventually but this is the one the children liked best...
The Rhoko Frog I am a very important frog, I’ve only just been found In forest near to Rhoko camp I’ve swum and hopped around. I breathe in through my skin as I need to keep it wet I sing all night by croaking. I am so glad we met.
Ageing Well Boat Trip
We had the perfect weather for Ageing Well’s first ever boat trip! The wildlife cruise around the Bay was organised by Liz Rayner, following conversations from our recent Food For Thought events. The afternoon cruise attracted lots of interest from keen sailors from all over Torbay filling the boat to capacity.
Above: Passengers enjoying the cruise Below: Two dogs enjoying the afternoon cruise
On the day we saw lots of birds including a Peregrine Falcon guarding it’s chicks in a nest.
The boat trip proved so popular, that there will be a Fish & Chip cruise running on the 7th June. For more information contact the Ageing Well office.
Above: Paul enjoying the view of the boats in Brixham Harbour Bottom Left: Torbay’s unique geology
Find out more about Ageing Well activities on our website www.ageingwelltorbay.com or by contacting the office on 01803 212638. Your local Community Builder will also have lots of information too!
Wellswood Writers Group Community Builder, Marianne writes... One of our writers from the Wellswood Writers Group, Jane Hill, (aka Jill) is going to have her novel, ‘A Broadway Dream’ published by Amazon next week! In the photo she is talking to Helen Barbour who read us her poem, ‘For The Ravaged Grieving World’ today. It is a beautiful, poignent poem for our ravaged war torn world today. We are hosted by Marion in her lovely flat every third Wednesday of the month in Middle Warberry Road at 2.30pm. We are a friendly group writing in a variety of genres where anything goes from short stories to memoirs and plays. We always welcome new members so come and join us! If you would like to attend contact Marianne, Community Builder for Wellswood for more details on 07469 660875 or marianneparker@torbaycdt.org.uk
An extract from Helen’s poem: Is it easier to forgive If your own are not among the dead? Forgiveness is from the heart Not the head Ageing Well Torbay is a 6 year, big lottery funded programme to reduce social isolation in people over the age of 50. The programme is delivered by the following organisations:
Community Builders
01803 212638
My Support Broker
0800 994 9944
WEllBeing Co-ordinators
01803 555181
What’s on
A few regular Ageing Well events that you might enjoy! Check our website or your local community magazine for even more things to do.
Brixham Ageing Well Festival, 30th September 2017 at Lupton House. Join us for a 60s themed weekend of activities!
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Paignton
Torquay
Occombe Farm Club Join for tea, coffee, cake and chat at Occombe Farm, every Tuesday between 10.30am - 12.00 noon. Contact Christine Durrant for more information. 07469660887
Men ROC Every Thursday 10.30-12.30 for men over the age of 50. Come along and enjoy drinks, games, films, food and more. Riviera Life ROC Centre, Old Mill Road, nr to the Chelston Grill, Torquay, TQ2 6AU.
Contact Ageing Well Torbay Ageing Well Torbay 4-8 Temperance street Torquay TQ2 5PU Phone: 01803 212638 Email: ageingwell@torbaycdt.org.uk www.ageingwelltorbay.com
would you like to write a piece or set a puzzle? let us know!
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