Newsletter No. 49

Inside this issue:

Blanket Testing 2009, Age Concern Essex Essay and Poetry Competition, The Big Knit Update

2

News from Age Concern England— Spotlight on Annuities

3

News and Events 4

Things to do in 2010 5

Catch the Mouse 6

Winter Warmth Day & Colchester United Community Sports Trust

7

Toy Boy 8

December 2009

Issue 49

ACCol News Age Concern Colchester, Globe House, 6 George Street, Colchester CO1 1TP

w elcome to our last newsletter of 2009.

Looking forward to 2010 (can you believe we are starting a new decade!), you will find information about some of our services which may help lighten dreary days in January and February. How about joining one of our social clubs or starting a computer course?

For early spring, please put 24 March 2010 on your calendars – this is the date of our next Colchester Association meeting.

2010 looks set to be an exciting year for us. Our new board of trustees is already looking at the services ACC is able to offer people in later life. To help in this task we would really like to know if you think we are offering the right services and what you would like to see. We want to make sure that the charity’s resources are used to benefit the most people in the best way.

All the staff and volunteers wish you, our readers, a joyous and peaceful Christmas.

Rachel Fahie, Chief Officer

The Big Knit 2009

E velyn Fowler, a volunteer at the Colchester office, models some of the wonderful woolly hats received from you all.

Christmas and

New Year Closure

The Age Concern

Colchester office will

be closed after

business on

Wednesday

23 December and

will re-open on

Monday

4 January 2010

A New Year Message from the Chief Officer

Page 2 ACCol News

Essay and Poetry Competition

A ge Concern Essex will be holding their Essay and Poetry Writing Competition

again in 2010. Closing date 1 March 2010.

The titles for both essays and poetry are

Homecoming

Difficult Decisions

Ambitions

Entry Forms are available from Libraries or by telephoning Age Concern Essex on 01245 346106

Another Successful Blanket Testing Day

G lobe House was bursting at the seams for much of Friday 30 October with people bringing in their electric blankets to be tested.

In all some 70 blankets were tested and over 45% of them failed. Following the withdrawal of E-on sponsorship we were unable to replace failed blankets with new ones but we did distribute half price vouchers. Due to the support of The Royal British Legion, we were able to distribute 10 new electric blankets to those eligible through their Forces connections.

A raffle was held for those who had failed blankets and 4 lucky winners received blankets donated by local businesses including Debenham's, Colchester.

We have received a number of thank you letters from those who attended. In particular, they were delighted with their new blankets and praised the Age Concern Colchester staff for their friendliness and the efficient way they went about their tasks.

Blankets tested this year

were not quite as

dangerous as this example

from 3 years ago

A big thank you to all of you who took part in The Big Knit. Our 1,171 Veg Pot Warmers and 849 Hats have been sent and we understand they are adorning pots and bottles in Sainsbury’s.

When we receive our donation from Innocent Drinks we shall let you

know how much you raised.

Again a big thank you to all the knitters!

The World’s Biggest Coffee Morning

The Age

Concern

Colchester

Coffee Morning

raised

£103.85

for Macmillan

Cancer Support

Thank you very much for your support

Page 3 Issue 49

News from Age Concern England

Spotlight on Annuities

A head of next month’s Pre-Budget Report‚ Age Concern and Help the Aged are calling for changes to tax rules and a radical shake up of the annuities market to give hundreds of

thousands of people with small pension funds a better deal.

The recession has thrown the spotlight on annuities‚ with stock market turmoil and falling interest rates hitting annuity rates and reducing the value of pension savings. Yet calls for reform have so far failed to address the needs of those with modest pension savings who cannot afford to wait before cashing in their pensions or who need to draw down their pension early because of redundancy or ill health.

In its new report 'Coping with the crunch: the annuity challenge'‚ the charity says people with small pension pots often get a poor deal from annuities due to complex regulations and unfair tax rules which mean they can face a heavy tax penalty when they cash them in. The report calls for changes in tax rules so that people with pension savings too small to annuitise can draw them in cash without being penalised.

The report also calls for a radical shake up of the annuities market‚ where the largest 10 firms corner nearly 90 per cent of the sector and more than two-thirds of pension providers only offer annuities to existing customers. Although the Association of British Insurers’ ‘Options’ programme is working to speed up the exchange of information and funds between pension and annuity providers‚ the charity believes more should be done to increase competition and help people choose the right annuity by:

Introducing a new online annuities brokerage system to help people choose the best deal‚ with access to independent advice for those who need it Requiring all annuity providers to publish benchmark rates

Developing a kitemark scheme to ensure annuity providers meet minimum standards With the introduction of auto-enrolment in 2012 likely to lead to a rise in demand for annuities and an increase in the number of people retiring with small pension funds‚ the charity is calling on ministers to use next month’s Pre-Budget Report to signal a shake up of the annuities system.

Andrew Harrop‚ Head of Public Policy at Age Concern and Help the Aged said:

“Despite the impact of the recession‚ the right annuity continues to offer a secure way of turning retirement savings into a stable source of income. But the tax system penalises those with small pension pots and the annuities market is hamstrung by legislative complexity and dominated by a few major players. This adds up to a poor deal for people with small pension pots. The Pre-Budget Report provides an opportunity for ministers to signal a shake up of the system and ensure it is fit for purpose when auto-enrolment is introduced by 2012.”

Page 4 ACCol News

T he Age Concern England Shop (a travelling version!) has called in at meetings of the

Autumn Leaves Club, the Marks Tey Thursday Get-Together and Friday Coffee Club. This has

been a really good opportunity for members to buy Christmas cards and small gifts which also sup-

ports the work of Age Concern Colchester. The shop is planning to get out during 2010 as well.

A utumn Leaves Club, meeting out of the Highwoods Community Centre, has met recently to

have a presentation by Body Shop, and a Home Fire Safety Talk which was well received.

The club met for its Christmas Meal on 9 December with entertainment by Johnny Cashbox.

News and Events

I t is with great regret that the decision has been made to close the Marks Tey Thursday Get-together Club. The last meeting took place with a Christmas Carol session followed by a

Christmas Lunch at The Chequers, Great Tey.

David Beale, the organiser, is stepping down at Christmas and all of us at Age Concern Colchester wish to express our gratitude for all his efforts. He will be much missed!

News from Tiptree Day Centre

Tiptree Edwardian Evening

The Tiptree Edwardian Evening was held on Thurs-day 26

th November. The Day Centre was asked by

the organisers to run a stall, and it was decided to hold a Tombola. Both guests and staff donated prizes and £120 was raised for the Day Centre So-cial Fund.

There was a fantastic atmosphere all evening. Church Road was closed, and there was a stage with entertainment. Four schools, The Salvation Army Band and Carol Singers providing additional entertainment.

There was a snow machine along with a multitude of stalls selling lots of Christmas items. Street entertainers and many people dress ed in Edwardian costume added to the atmosphere.

Private Guests at Day Centres

I f you would like to join our guests at any of our Day

Centres in Tiptree, or Centres at Winstree Court and

Grymes Dyke Court in Stanway, we accept Private Guests

who do not meet Essex Social Care criteria.

For leaflets and further details telephone Globe House

01206 368420.

Page 5 Issue 49

Things to do in 2010

Colchester

Odeon

Senior Screen

Tuesdays

11am

0871 22 44 007

Colchester Leisure World

Free Swimming for over 60s. Apply to Leisure World for a free swimming

card on 01206 282000

For 2010 why not

join the Borough

Council`s

Healthy Walk Group

Ring

01206 853588

New Reading

Circle

Meeting once

a week

At Age Concern Ring Lin 368420

Page 6 ACCol News

Learn how to

use the computer

Three one hour one to one

sessions

Levels from “how to switch

on” to Advanced

If you are ex-Forces you

may be able claim a free

concession

Computer courses

for older people

Computer courses for absolute beginners to

advanced

If you have a computer but are uncertain

how to make best use of it then one of our

computer courses may be for you !

We do not ask for any previous knowledge

and when you book our friendly staff will ask

you where you would like to begin - whether

you want to know how to switch on or are

more advanced.

We have 3 new tutors so the current waiting

list should fall quite quickly. We are now tak-

ing names for 2010. Tutorials will be one

hour long and will take place either on a

Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday or Thursday

morning from 9.30, 10.30 and 11.30 am.

You will be offered three one hour slots on

the same weekday. Monday and Tuesday

afternoons will also be offered in 2010.

Ring the office on 368420 to put your name

down.

Age Concern

Colchester supports

older people by looking

after their interests

Please contact us on

01206 368420 if you

have a matter that is

causing concern

Page 7 Issue 49

Winter Warmth Day Lion Walk Activity Centre

Friday 27 November 2009

C oncerns over the well-being of older people during the winter months led Age Concern Colchester to hold a very successful

Winter Warmth Day at the Lion Walk Activity Centre in Eld Lane, Colchester on Friday 27 November.

The purpose of the event was to provide older people with benefits advice and up to date information on home insulation, changing energy suppliers, home safety and keeping healthy.

There were a number of display stands and staff from Colchester Borough Council including the Warm Homes Team and Anchor Staying Put, the Hearing Centre, The Royal British Legion, Oakhouse Foods, Age Concern Essex and Age Concern Colchester were on hand to give help and advice. A winter warming soup Tombola was also held for all attending.

Lin Roberts of Age Concern Colchester said “Winter can be a very difficult time for many older people with worries about keeping warm and managing on limited means so we were delighted to be working with many other organisations on this project. The Winter Warmth Day was an opportunity for people to get information, help and support so that they can look forward to spring and summer with a greater confidence in both health and financial matters.”

Do you want to get out of the house, meet new people, try new activities, learn new skills

have some fun and feel part of the community?

Then Colchester United Sports Community Trust Plus could be just the thing for you.

Football Plus is a new social group which is set to launch in the New Year. The group will

meet once a week at the Weston Homes Community Stadium, and we want to know what

kind of activities you would like to be on offer.

Contact Angie Syrett at the Sports Trust, Shrub End Community and Sports Centre in

Boadicea Way, Shrub End, Colchester, CO9 9BG Telephone 01206 572378

Colchester United Community Sports Trust

Globe House

6 George Street

Colchester

CO1 1TP

Phone: 01206 368420

Fax: 01206 500984

Email: [email protected]

Web: www.ageconcerncolchester.org.uk

Our aim is simple: to help everyone make the

most out of later life. We believe that old age

should be valued. That choice is important

through life. And we believe in your right to stay

independent as long as possible.

So, volunteers give practical support. We have

expert information and advice you can rely on.

We can insure your house, your travel and give

you peace of mind in other ways. And we cam-

paign for your rights. Working for all older people in the Borough of Colchester

I'm looking for a Toy Boy

Any size would do

He could be as wide as 5 foot 5

Or as tall as 6 foot 2.

I don't mind if he is going bald

And has to wear a vest

As long as when he takes it off

He has a lovely hairy chest!

I must admit I can be fussy

As I'm very hard to please

But I wouldn't keep him begging long,

I merely like to tease!

‘TOY BOY’ by Mary Wiggins

I'll take such loving care of him

And keep him fit and healthy.

I'll even clean his blessed shoes

Especially if he's wealthy!

I will always look after him

And never ask a fee

As long as he remembers to make a will

And leave everything to me!