Monthly Archives: July 2012
Isolated and lonely older people in Norwich to benefit from charity’s £200,000 lottery windfall
More than £200,000 is to be spent on bringing isolated and lonely older people back into their Norwich communities.
Richard Wheeler Tuesday, July 17, 2012
6.30 AM
Age UK Norwich is searching for 60 new befrienders to keep elderly people active – from a walk in the park to a visit to the pub.
The charity has received £200,000 from the Big Lottery Fund to expand its volunteer project during the next three years to meet an ever-increasing demand.
And now it needs helpers to come forward to put it into action.
The first volunteer event will be held tomorrow at its office in Boardman House, Redwell Street, city centre, from 2pm.
Phil Wells, Age UK Norwich chief executive, said the World Health Organisation regarded loneliness as a “bigger killer than smoking”.
Taking care of the Mind
“One in four people will suffer from a mental health problem at some time in their lives and yet they are worried about telling their employer.”
Bassetlaw Mind held their annual AGM at Worksop Cricket Club and also celebrating 35 years of Mind, pictured are staff and commitee members (w120710-1)
Celebrities admitting mental health problems are helping to break down the stigma associated with mental illness, say staff at Bassetlaw Mind.
But there is still some way to go, with 98 per cent of working people saying they would be worried about telling their boss if they were taking prescribed anti-depressants.
Volunteer coordinator Su Hallam said: “There is still a stigma attached to mental illness, but celebrities talking about it has helped.”
“One in four people will suffer from a mental health problem at some time in their lives and yet they are worried about telling their employer.”
The Government’s Social Care White Paper and White Paper and Draft Care and Support Bill
Part Two: Food for Thought
Having finished my rant about the Government’s lack of backbone to adequately fund social care, here are some of the important points that were raised in the Social Care White Paper and Draft Care and Support Bill.
From 2015 the government will introduce national standards on access to care services. At the moment each council can set its own criteria, creating a so called postal lottery. National standards will help people to understand what they are entitled to.
