Nobody Left Behind

The latest annual report from Dr Ian Cameron, Leeds Director of Public Health, makes for fascinating reading. Warning of challenging times for Leeds health, he focuses on a key areas for concern and highlights recommendations for improving progress.

If there was a Carers Flag it would be flying high on top of LeedsTown Hall this week!

This Carers Week the theme is looking at ways to support carers to stay Healthy and Connected. Building communities which support carers to look after their loved ones well, while recognising that they are individuals with health and wellbeing needs of their own.

Val Hewison, Chief Executive of Carers Leeds gives us some insight into what she and her team have been working on for this Carers Week.

Celebrating the benefits of volunteering at Richmond Hill Elderly Action

Volunteers’ Week is a chance to say thank you for the fantastic millions of volunteers throughout the UK. It takes place 1-7 June every year and is an opportunity to celebrate volunteering in all its diversity.  Darrell Xavier, Operations Manager for Richmond Hill Elderly Action (RHEA), a Leeds Neighbourhood Network, celebrates a long-standing volunteer scheme which has helped RHEA and their members.

Senior citizens visit Siegen

International Relations Leeds

“Why should only young people have all the fun?”, a woman at Haus Herbstzeitlos, a centre for senior citizens in Siegen, said to Frances Jones, then councillor for Morley, during a visit in 2001.

Since then there has been a series of exchange visits between Siegen and Morley/Leeds involving up to 25 people at a time. However, it took a few years before the Germans came over to Leeds because they wanted to learn English first. When language lessons were advertised at Haus Herbstzeitlos, 120 older people turned up and, continuing to this day, the students of these English lessons form the core of the Siegen group involved in the exchange with Morley.

This year’s visit took place from 02 to 07 May 2018. A group of twelve people from Morley aged 66 to 89 years went over and, as usual, everyone stayed with the older people in Siegen. Some were able to communicate in various levels of…

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Let’s sing about death – the Swan Song project in Leeds

Talking about death our own, or those closest to us, is one of the hardest things anyone can do.  During Dying Matters week we’re looking at different ways of starting such a conversation.

The Swan Song Project gives people facing end of life and bereavement the opportunity to write and record an original song. They record the song and put it on a cd, they can keep their song private or share it on the project website.   Ben tells us more about this moving project.

Celebrating a life during Leeds Dying Matters week

As part of Leeds Dying Matters week one of the actions to consider is letting your loved ones know your funeral wishes: this is more than taking out a funeral plan which looks after the financial side but gives guidance as to the sort of funeral you would like.  Contemplating your own funeral service is very thought- provoking and if you are not a religious person may leave you wondering what options are available.

Until relatively recently, if you needed someone to conduct a funeral and had no particular church connections, the funeral director (FD) would provide the name of a local vicar. However, there are now other options available.  Bob Bury, a Humanist funeral celebrant, tells us more about humanist funerals.

Let’s talk about death – time to say goodbye

As part of Dying Matters week we’re looking at how you can help yourself, your family, your friends and your community.

When someone close to us dies it can be a very stressful and confusing time, whether the death was expected or not. And you might be left wondering what you have to do next, who to call, what to say.

Here is a practical guide, drawn up with the help of Sarah Jones, an independent Funeral Director.