“We used to go to the St Francis dances on a Saturday, we all collected there and at Rosary Church on a Sunday afternoon: where is there for us now, at our age?” Cara participant Ethna, RIP, recently lost to us, asks.
“Ah well now Ethna, that’s what we are working on”
Sara Allkins, Cara Project Worker reports on the exciting Cara project and what’s happened during its first year. Continue reading
But we’re still in August, the kids are still off school, we could have an Indian Summer. All of this is true but there are some things we need to start planning ahead for – the 2017 Winter Wellbeing Small Grants fund is one of them and training to become a Winter Friend is another.
Rebekah Cutter, Project Support Officer (Graduate Scheme) reports back on previous successful Winter Wellbeing Smalls Grants projects and tells us why we want 100 Winter friends. Continue reading
Dementia is a common condition that is commonly misunderstood. Stigma and fear can lead to people losing confidence to do the things they’ve always done, and consequently becoming socially isolated. Dementia Friendly Leeds took a creative approach to overcoming some of the misunderstandings.
So during Dementia Awareness Week 2017 they held a pop up choir to surprise shoppers in St Johns Shopping Centre, and raise positive awareness of dementia. Sarah Goodyear, Leeds Older People’s Forum Dementia Friendly Worker, tells us what went on. Continue reading
Did you know 30 July was World Friendship Day? Many of us consider ourselves a friend to someone or many people infact, but have you ever stopped to consider what friendship truly is? Or how you could be doing more as a friend? If you were aware that it was World Friendship Day last week, what did you do celebrate? Mollie Robinson, Communications Assistant, Leeds City Council, tells us what she did.
For the last few months Leeds Libraries have been working on a pilot scheme aimed at boosting digital inclusion in the city.
The tablet lending scheme shows people the positive changes that can be made to their lives from being online.
Ian McArdle, Communities Librarian (West Leeds)/ Digital Engagement Librarian tells us more about the scheme. Continue reading
This week is Co-production Week – a celebration of the benefits of co-production, shared good practice and the contribution of people who use services to improving and developing those services. It’s all about working with people, through an equal partnership with service users, families, citizens, carers, to give people more choice and control over their social care and support.
Working with people to develop services is a central theme in Leeds City Council’s Better Lives Strategy which sets out a new approach to the meeting of adult social care needs, Through Better Living, Better Conversations and Better Connections. The focus is on identifying people at risk of needing social care earlier and working with them, not doing to or for them, to identify solutions that support them, improve their overall health and wellbeing and help them live more independently, for longer. Cath Roff, Leeds City Council director for adults and health, explains all in her video blog
Alcohol–now there is a tricky word to open with, and for some people, it could be one of the most difficult conversations they will ever have.
Contrary to popular belief, the UK’s real booze problem does not involve inebriated youths binge-drinking at weekends. Instead, it lies with the less visibly drunken mature adults who regularly knock back more than is good for them behind closed doors.
When 1 in 5 people aged over 50 think that the majority of people with alcohol problems cannot recover, and almost half of those think that people with alcohol problems have themselves to blame, how do we talk about how much alcohol we or others are drinking without bringing up a subject that for many is still shrouded in shame? After all, aren’t people entitled to make their own choices? Sian Johnson, Royal Voluntary Service Manager discusses this thorny issue and what you can do about it. Continue reading
