Staywell News 27 Web Version

8/19/2019 Staywell News 27 Web Version

1/8

This year Staywell celebrates 70 years

of supporting people in and around

Kingston, and we find our servicesbusier than ever. Since our foundation,

we have evolved and grown, while

remaining dedicated to the aims

established in 1946, of supporting

people to live independently and be

connected with their communities.

More than ever, Staywell is working

with local partners to ensure we are still

able to meet the demands of our

growing older population. We have

been playing a leading role, working

with our local health providers and the

council, in shaping how community

health and care services will be

provided in the future – to work outhow people can get the support they

need to keep them active, well and

independent, and also to make sure

that when people do need care they

are listened to and have a better, more

‘joined-up’ experience.

Staywell Trustee Anne Cann, who was

last year awarded the MBE for services

to the community, says: ‘It’s wonderful

to see what an influential role Staywell

plays now, but at heart we are still a

grassroots organisation that is close to

the people we serve, and listens and

responds to their needs.’

Celebration

In our 70th anniversary year, we have

many achievements to celebrate. At the

end of January, for the 15th consecutive

year, Staywell’s free Information, Advice

and Advocacy service was awarded the

Advice Quality Standard (AQS). This is a

great triumph, affirming the

consistently high standard of this

specialised service. The AQS is the only

advice-specific, independently audited

quality standard in the voluntary sector,

endorsing the professionalism of the

service and accuracy of the information

and advice given.

The service is being used more than

ever, with queries from over 1,408

individuals being responded to in 2015,

compared to 1,366 the previous year.

While the quality of the service remains

at the top of its game, our advisers are

continually adapting to a changing

landscape of adult health and social

care provisions, and the stream of

queries that result from that.

‘Most of the enquiries we receive

relate to benefits, care and support.

Often, those calling about accessing

care don’t realise there is a national

statutory entitlement to have your

care needs assessed by social services,

FREE!

Celebrating 70 years

Staywell advice – helping people make informed choices

ISSUE TWENTYSEVEN l SPRING 201

regardless of your financial position.

And this applies to your carers too,’

comments senior adviser, Jo Hulton.

‘In recent months, we have also had

an increase in queries relating to the

proposed introduction of new rules

under the Care Act relating to financing

the cost of care and support, originally

planned for April 2016.’

As people live longer, the challenges

faced are becoming more varied and

complex and it’s the Staywell advice

team’s role to be able to respond with

knowledge and support.

‘If we don’t have the information to

hand, we’ll research the issue and come

back with the relevant, up-to-date

advice. And if we can’t help, we’ll direct

you to someone who can.’

The advice team spends a lot of time

guiding people through the benefits

labyrinth and supports them with

their applications, often completing

the forms for them if they can’t do ththemselves. This ‘income maximisat

has resulted in over £670,644 being

claimed in 2015 by clients, many of

whom didn’t know this type of supp

was there. This extra income can ma

all the difference as it can go a long w

to improving quality of life.

Enabled

‘We were extremely pleased with th

help we received from Staywell whic

enabled our mother to obtain the

Attendance Allowance which helps

towards the cost of her care. This ha

allowed our mother to stay in her ow

home – and she is very happy! Than

you!’ wrote one client.

Information and advice can be soug

via the telephone advice line or face-

to-face, by appointment, for more

complex issues. The service is run by a

team of trained advisers, all of whom

help deal with a whole range of issues

enabling people to make informed

choices and decisions.

They are there to support, reassure

help take away some of the stresses o

everyday life. In the words of one clien

‘I can only praise all the different Stay

staff, telephonists and advisers I met f

their professional skills, patience, clarit

and above all their innate kindness w

always left me feeling a happier perso

Advice line 020 8408 8170 is

open Monday – Friday 9.30 am

– 4.30 pm or email advice@

staywellservices.org.uk

THIS ISSUE:

staywell newsa local, independent charity providing services that change lives

Kingston CommunityFurniture – page 2

New State Pension– page 7

Working with thecommunity – pages 4-5


2/8

How to contact us:

Staywell, 14 Nelson Road, New Malden, KT3 5EA

t: 020 8942 8256

e: [email protected] .uk w: www.staywellservices.org.uk

staywell news email: [email protected]

The views expressed in staywell news are not necessarily those of the trustees,

staff or volunteers.

Published by Staywell (Age Concern Kingston upon Thames )

Registered charity no. 299988 Company no. 2272550

Design: Eileen Higgins, e: [email protected]

Print: Full Spectr um Print Media Ltd, t: 01268 288637.

Printed on 100% recycled paper

As the winter draws to a close and we

start to enjoy that first burst of spring

blossom, many of us take to our

homes with scrubbing brushes. For

some, the spring clean extends to

redecorating and perhaps the

replacement of our sofas and soft

furnishings. Our homes are

rejuvenated, but why is it that every

year thousands of tonnes of perfectly

good sofas are thrown away and can’t

be given to families who want them?

Sitting in the warehouse of Kingston

Community Furniture (KCF), which

offers cheap household goods to

people on low incomes, is a chocolate

brown sofa barely a couple of years old.

Having been replaced by this year’s

model and colour, its previous owner

sent it for disposal.

‘It’s in absolutely perfect condition,’

says a hopeful Toby Bintcliffe, from

KCF, as he lif ts the cushions and

rummages about in the lining. ’But the

big question is – does it have a fire

safety label?’

Safety

Fire safety labels are the bane of Toby’s

life. Ever since 1988, and the

introduction of the Furniture and

Furnishings (Fire Safety) Regulations, all

sofas sold in the UK must be treated

with fire-retardant chemicals and display

a label to prove it. No label means no

good. KCF calculates that more than50% of the sofas they could send to new

homes have to be scrapped because

they don’t have the correct labels.

‘Obviously it’s important for furniture

to pass the fire and safety regulations,

but the way the labels are attached

seems a bit of an after-thought. They

W h o w e a r e

2 l ISSUE TWENTYSEVEN

New partnershipsOn 1 April Staywell will be taking

over the management of three

community centres in the borough

of Reigate and Banstead, which

house some of the area’s services f

older people.

Staywell, which won the contract

run the three centres through an

open, competitive tender process,says it will work closely with

residents, volunteers and staff to

continue delivering the services

currently being provided. Over the

longer-term the charity hopes to

work in innovative ways with local

people to devise and deliver the

services they want – just as it has

done in the Royal Borough of

Kingston over the last 70 years.

Why is Staywell venturing into a

neighbouring borough? ‘To be

awarded this opportunity to

manage these centres demonstra

how highly the local authoritiesregard Staywell’s services for olde

people. Our wider reach will mean

helping more people to remain

active in their communities, which

in turn will help secure our future

a key provider in health and adult

social care,’ commented Chief

Executive, Shane Brennan.

Staywell remains committed to t

Royal Borough of Kingston and wil

continue to develop and deliver its

award winning services.

If you want to find out more

about Reigate and Banstead’s thre

community centres: WoodhatchCentre, Banstead Centre and

Regent House Centre, go to

www.staywellservices.org.uk .

If you have any questions about

this, then please do email us at

[email protected]

or call 020 8942 8256.

So many sofas, so little use

Toby Bintcliffe (left) and Declan Smyth

sit on the discarded brown sofa

Staywell is an independent charity; based in New Malden, we work

with communities in Kingston upon Thames and the surrounding

areas. We have 70 years’ experience of supporting people to live

safely and independently in their own homes and over the years have

won awards for this, the most recent being the 2013 Charity Award for Social Care and Welfare.Our vision is to make your life a greater life. We have a history of working in innovative ways

with local people to deliver the services that they want, and of working in partnership.

We provide a range of community-based services which help and support people to live in

their own homes. These include information, advice and advocacy; practical help in the home

(eg handyperson services, cleaning and domestic help, shopping, support after a hospital

stay) and social ac tivities (social centres, lunch clubs, telephone befriending, dementia club).

These services are accessed by hundreds of people each year.

Our staff are supported by over 120 trained volunteers who add value and huge

commitment to all the services we provide.

staywellservices that change lives

frequently dangle beneath cushions

and get in the way, so you can

understand why people might cut

them off. If they were sewn onto the

sofa base on all four sides of the label,

no one would even consider cutting

them off. This one small step could

make all the difference to the

percentage of sofas that are re-used.’

Environmental cost

Apart from being wasteful, not being

able to re-use the sofas means extra

taxes to pay for disposal, and it costs

the environment too. When the team at

KCF can’t re-use a sofa, they strip the

wood and metal for recycling, but the

cushions have to go to landfill. If

storage space is short, sometimes the

whole sofa will have to go to the tip

and that’s all at great cost to theenvironment. It is estimated that

re-using a tonne of sofas would save

1.5 tonnes of CO2 emissions, according

to the anti-waste task force Wrap UK.

This need to cut CO2 emissions seems

ever more pressing after the appalling

floods witnessed in the north of

England and Scotland last winter.

‘Many people don’t necessarily know

the importance of keeping the fire

safety label on their sofa, and perhaps

retailers could improve their customer

care by informing people when they

buy new furniture,’ continues Toby.

Campaigning

The big question is, how willing is the

furniture industry to help reduce the

numbers of sofas being sent to landfill?

According to James Bell, of the

Furniture Industry Research

Association, manufacturers are

beginning to encourage re-use. He says

the problems with fire safety labelswere partly a result of old regulations

which had been around unchanged

since the 1980s – a time when there

were fewer environmental concerns.

‘Our members are certainly

receptive to the idea of looking at

practical solutions to simplify

potential re-use,’ he says. ‘The

industry will look at better ways of

fixing fire safety labels to products to

facilitate end of life recovery.’

While this may take some time to

come into effect, we as consumers can

take action by ensuring we don’t cut

the fire safety labels off our ownfurniture. The potential impact of this

simple gesture alone, will contribute

towards increasing furniture re-use, and

decreasing CO2 pollutants. If you have

an old sofa you would like to dispose of,

with or without the fire safety label, call

KCF on 020 8942 5500.

CommunityFurnituremaking homes, saving waste

Kingston

mailto:[email protected]://www.ageconcernkingston.org/http://www.ageconcernkingston.org/mailto:[email protected]


3/8

Alfriston Day CentreAlfriston Day Centre has been providing day

care for older people for over 60 years. Based in

Surbiton it is not just a day centre, it is a place

where opportunities, support, and friendship is

available to all older people in our community.

Open Monday to Friday every week, Alfriston

also provides a monthly Sunday lunch.

To find out more contact us on 020 8399 4289,

[email protected]

3 Berrylands Road, Surbiton, KT5 8RB

EDITORIAL

Welcome to the first edition of our new look newspaper

staywell news. It is well over a year since we changed the

name of our organisation to Staywell; one of the reasons w

did this is because the name bet ter describes what we do

help people stay well. Since then we have received greatfeedback regarding the name change, and find our service

busier than ever.

Listening

We have changed the name of this newspaper after listenin

to you. People have told us they like the format, look and fe

of the newspaper, however on a number of occasions peop

have also said it was not clear what agenda news was or who

produced it.

We also felt that because this is the newspaper of

Staywell it is important to be clear about our association

The name St aywell is becoming more widely known in th

community and more people are recognising it. We see

this as a good thing, helping more people to find us easi

when they need us, and it’s our aim that people will

associate Staywell with quality.

Your views

To reassure our regular readers, the name may have change

but the paper is still the same, it still remains your newspape

with your news and views. Besides informing people about

our own services and activities, we will also continue to cove

wider news and issues that are important to our readers.

2016 is a big year for us as we celebrate being 70 years old

We want to make this year a year where, as well as revisiting

our historical roots as an organisation founded by local peo

who wanted to make a difference in their community, we lo

to the future and to what residents will want from Staywell 5

10, 20 years ahead.

Thank you for your feedback, we are always keen to hear

what you think – email your views and comments to

[email protected] or write to the

address at the top of the page.

Changed agenda…

Please send your letters & feedback to staywell news

Staywell, 14 Nelson Road, New Malden, KT3 5EA

or email [email protected] Letters

ISSUE TWENTYSEVEN l

Malden Golf Club selects Staywell as Charity of the Year

Towards the end of last year, the Lady Captain of Malden Golf Club, Kate Barnett, was looking for a

local charity to support for her Charity of the Year. After a tour of Staywell’s social centre at Raleigh

House, she was inspired by the positive impact the organisation had on the lives of older people in the

area, and selected the organisation as her Charity of the Year 2015/16.‘This is a great opportunity for Staywell to raise the profile of our services, as well as being the

beneficiary of the fundraising activities organised by the Lady Captain,’ commented long-standing

trustee and New Malden resident Anne Cann, MBE.

The main event of the year was January’s Malden Golf Club coffee morning. A morning of buzzing

activity, with a range of interesting stalls, fun competitions and delicious refreshments, the event raised

a spectacular £1,147. The New Malden branch of Barclays then matched this with a further £1,000 giving

a grand total of £2,147.

‘We would like to thank the Lady Captain and all those who supported the event, as well as Barclays

for match giving. This tremendous sum will make a big difference to a lot of older people in and around

New Malden, and is greatly appreciated by all,’ said Anne.

iPad: A new world opensTo all at Staywell

‘Please accept my thanks for

all the care and attention

extended to me during my

twice weekly visits and the

daily preparation of my meals

and the cleaning of my home.

The tasty Christmas Lunch

that would give the chefs at

The Ritz hotel something to

think about and the talented

violinist who ended a

pleasing day with her skills

and charm.’

John White

As tasty as The Ritz

Bradbury member Mary

Bowles wrote to us about the

fruitfulness of the iPad tuitionshe received from volunteer,

David Broughton:

‘Just sending you an e-mail to

send best wishes and to show

you how all your tutoring

efforts have not fallen on stony

ground and which have born

fruit. I can truly state that using

this iPad has opened up a new

world of sending e-mails,

checking the weather, knowing

when the next bus is coming

and being able to listen on the

radio and catching up with

missed TV programmes. I amtrying to find new things in the

App icon, such as the garland

above which I am chuffed to

have been able to attach.

A big thank you for your

help and patience, and for

putting such useful Apps onto

my iPad. I hope that you may

be able to spare me some of

your time in the future to

show me some more.’

There is ongoing iPad tuition

at The Bradbury, so if you’d like

a little guidance on how to get

more out of your tablet, call

The Bradbury on 020 85491230 or email bradbury@

staywellservices.org.uk

mailto:[email protected]:[email protected]


4/8

FEATURE


1940s – pioneering

In 1946, a group of motivated residents

established the Malden and Coombe

Old People’s Welfare Association (M&C

OPWA). Their mandate was to help and

support local people through weekly

clubs, meals-on-wheels, home helps, a

visiting service and suitable housing.

1950s – development of

core services The 1950s saw the development and

implementation of M&C OPWA’s core

services, many of which continue in

some form to this day. Recognising a

lack of medical care, M&C OPWA

successfully campaigned for the

appointment of a community

geriatrician, and launched chiropody

clinics. Holly Lodge in New Malden was

acquired as the HQ for cooking meals-

on-wheels, as well as being used as a

day centre.

A Helping Hands scheme was set up to

assist people with a little basic help. The

first befriending service, Sitters In, began

to help relieve the isolation of some

members of the community; visiting

was carried out by volunteers under the

supervision of a part-time organiser. In

recognition of M&C OPWA’s work, the

borough council’s treasurer, Herbert

Emery, awarded the organisation its

first grants. So committed was Emery to

M&C OPWA’s work, in the 1970s he went

on to become its Chairman.

1960s – influence

The M&C OPWA’s work started to

influence other local organisations.

Kingston Rotary Club launched an

older people’s project and its

president, Harold Bardwell, set up a

day centre at Bardwell House, adjacent

to today’s The Bradbury.

‘It was a marvellous place,’ recalls

former trustee Maurice Tate. ‘The day

centre was open five days a week and

put on a host of activities. Hot lunches

were available, and even hairdressing

and a chiropody facility. It was ground

breaking stuff for the 60s.’

Meanwhile, The Royal Borough

of Kingston was formed, with new

responsibilities for older people’s care,

and a Coordinating (later ‘Liaison’)

Committee was formed with Surbiton

and Kingston Old People’s Welfare

Associations, to bring a more joined-up

approach to supporting people.

70 years in the communityIn 2016 Staywell celebrates 70 years of working in, and with,

the local community, originally as Malden and Coombe Old

People’s Welfare Association, founded in 1946. staywell news

takes this opportunity to reflect on the organisation’s history,

and the achievements of the last seven decades.

Before the Second World War the welfare of older people

was largely ignored. Peacetime did not mark an immediate

improvement in the situation, as priority housing was given

to families. This left many older folk living in bed and

breakfast, having to wander the streets, rain or shine,

between breakfast and the evening return.

1970s – consolidation

Due to the changing role of the

national Older People’s Welfare

Association, the new name ‘Age

Concern’ emerged. Locally, the Liaison

Committee compiled the first ‘Blue

Book’ outlining information and

services for older people in the

borough. During this decade, Meals-on-

Wheels became a statutory service,

with the local authority taking it over.While this meant Holly Lodge was no

longer used for this purpose, as a day

centre it was bursting at the seams.

A period of consolidation and strategic

planning was now underway.

It also meant the organisation could

now own property, therefore easing

the route to merging with the Mald

and Coombe Housing Society in 198

Through the merger, M&C OPWA no

owned Raleigh House – later

developed into a lively social centre

replace the overflowing Holly Lodge

Kingston OPWA became Age Conce

Kingston, based at Bardwell House.

1990s – partnership

M&C OPWA changed its name to

Age Concern Malden and Coombe

and for the first time, signed a

service agreement with the Borou

formalising a working partnership

that continues to this day. As a res

an Information Centre was set up

providing information on local

services. As the Community Care

Act came into force, the strategic

direction of the organisation move

away from housing, and concentra

more on community-based service

such as Raleigh House day centre t

was opened to the over 65s in this

decade and rapidly earned a

shining reputation.

In 1999 Age Concern Malden and

Coombe, and Age Concern Kingsto

merged to become Age Concern

Kingston upon Thames, incorporat

Surbiton Senior Citizens Care

Association to become a new

borough-wide organisation.

1980s – becomingincorporated

M&C OPWA came of age by becoming

incorporated, meaning it was now

accountable to all its stakeholders.

Harold Bardwell, president of Kingston

Rotary Club


5/8

ISSUE TWENTYSEVEN l

The futureThe organisation has come a lon

way over the last 70 years, and th

need to evolve and innovate wil

continue to intensify as more

people live longer, with higher

expectations of services. We are

working more closely than ever

with partners such as the counci

our community healthcare

provider, Your Healthcare CIC; an

other voluntary organisations, to

provide high quality, cohesive

services that support people to

their lives independently and wi

dignity, and promote wellbeingand resilience.

We would like to thank all thos

who have supported us on our

journey – volunteers, trustees,

supporters, funders, partners an

our staff, past and present. We

look forward with enthusiasm to

our development in the decades

ahead, and hope you will want to

be part of it.

2000s – mass expansion ofcommunity-based services

This was a decade of new services and

projects, and the awards won in

recognition of their quality. To meet the

demand for information on older

people’s services and help with benefits

applications, our Information, Advice

and Advocacy service and advice line

was born, and obtained the Community

Legal Services (now AQS) quality mark.

We built a brand new centre, wholly

financed by fundraising. With the aim

of promoting active living in later life,

The Bradbury was opened by stage and

screen star Richard Briers in 2005.

As statutory services tightened their

criteria for supporting people, we

recognised that many people would

need ‘a little bit of help’ in order to stay

well and independent in their own

homes, as they wanted to, and, with our

first healthcare funding, established our

Home Response and Stay Well services.

To help reach the borough’s most

isolated people, the In Touch

telephone befriending scheme began.

In the days when the abuse of adults

was barely recognised as an issue, we

embarked on our pioneering Elder

Abuse project, funded by Comic Relief,

which won the Help the AgedCampaigner of the Year Award.

As an organisation, we recognised

the need to raise awareness of issues

affecting older people, both on a local

and national level, and so started our

own newspaper, agenda news – just

renamed staywell news.

2010s – diversification

As life expectancy continues to rise,

so too must services continue to

develop and evolve to meet people’s

changing needs. With the increased

occurrence of dementia, the Saturday

Club for people living with dementia

and their carers was launched. Toensure our staff are able to provide

the best support, we introduced an

accredited 6-month training course,

Best Practice in Dementia Care,

developed by leaders in the field at

the Stirling Dementia Services

Development Centre.

This decade has also seen the

development of the Fit as a Fiddle

programme, encouraging older

people to eat healthily and kick-start

a return to exercise, winning the

national Guardian Public Services

Award for Care of Older People.

Our handyperson servicewas launched to help older and

disabled people with basic home

maintenance needs, and returning

to our roots in the 40s, the Help@

Home service was developed to

help with housework, shopping and

getting to appointments. Our Stay

Well at Home service was featured

in a parliamentary report and later

beat stiff competition to win the

prestigious national Charity Award.

This is the decade where we

diversified and took on furniture

recycling scheme Kingston

Community Furniture, and changed

our constitution to enable us to work

beyond Kingston, and with different

kinds of beneficiaries. As a reflection

of the changing nature of ageing and

the services we provide, theorganisation changed its name to

Staywell, which was popularly

received. Our latest development has

been to take over the management of

three community centres in the

nearby borough of Reigate and

Banstead, which house some of that

area’s services for older people.

‘The best thing about coming

here is the company. I’ve made

friends here and the whole

team working here are lovely.

Very helpful, and very patient

with all our quirks. There’s

always lots of laughter.’

‘I love The Bradbury. When you

live on your own it’s so lovely

to come down here, everyone

is so friendly.’ ‘Our Help@Home worker is

outstanding, she has changed

our lives. She is an amazing

person and so kind to my

husband, she is very tactful and

relates very well to people.’

Richard Briers opens The Bradbury

Throughout the decades

A consistent feature throughout

our history is the dedication and

commitment of all the volunteers

who have worked tirelessly to

support people in their

community. The work of our

volunteers is wide and varied,

from directly supporting people in

their homes; to fundraising to

further develop our services, such

as building The Bradbury, and

supporting staff in our socialcentres and offices – with our

innovative intergenerational work

winning us the Queen’s Award for

Volunteering and even taking us

to Buckingham Palace! Without

volunteers, the services we

provide would not exist, so we are

committed to supporting and

developing them in their roles,

recognised last year by winning a

Kingston Quality Award for

volunteer management.

FEATUR


6/8

On 31 December 2015, The Bradbury

was launched into millions of homes

on the BBC London News, thanks to

the centre’s craft group and their

partnership with innovative fashion

company, Birdsong.

Set up by three friends, Birdsong is an

online company providing a platform

for women’s organisations to sell their

handmade products and raise

awareness about the work they are

doing. They source ethically made

products from charities and community

groups, and give them the branding,

marketing, photography and reach theyneed to sell their products.

Inspiration

One of Birdsong’s 14 global suppliers is

The Bradbury craft group. Sarah Beckett,

one of the founders of Birdsong,

volunteered at The Bradbury as a

post-graduate via social enterprise Year

Here last year and got to know the craft

group members. The group became

part of the inspiration for setting up

Birdsong, and Sarah invited them to

become suppliers. The group has

continued to power through limitless

bags of wool to produce beautiful

products, including colourful scarves

and the best-selling Heather jumper,

featured in The Guardian last year. 70%

of the sales income comes back to The

Bradbury, supporting the sustainability

of the group and the centre.

The BBC picked up on the story in The

Guardian last year, and came to film the

group in action just before Christmas. It

was quite clear how much the ladies


The Bradbury

The Bradbury offers a lively, vibrant and friendly

atmosphere, with a wide range of activities from

tai chi and yoga, to dancing classes or computer

lessons. Just a ten minute walk from Kingston

town, The Bradbury is a good place to come for a

bite to eat. Our café serves drinks, snacks,

lunches (including a roast lunch on a Wednesday)

and plenty of homemade cakes. When the

weather is good you can eat al fresco

as we have a pleasant patio garden.

Manager: Laura O’Brien

The Bradbury, 37b Grange Road, Kingston KT1 2RA

Telephone: 020 8549 1230

Email: [email protected]

Raleigh House

Raleigh House provides a warm and friendly

environment for those who are seeking

companionship and daily activity.

You can choose to attend for a full day, including a

hot lunch, or half a day. Transport is available to and

from the centre for those who need it, every day

except Wednesday, or we can help you access

alternative transport.

The centre is spacious, with a large lounge and dining room, an arts and crafts

room, hairdressers, a coffee lounge and a pleasant courtyard garden and terrace.

One-to-one computer lessons, podiatry and holistic therapies are also available for

members and non-members. Opening times: Monday – Friday 10.00am – 4.00pm.

Manager: Cathy Weight, Raleigh House, 14 Nelson Road, New Malden KT3 5EA

Telephone: 020 8949 4244 Email: [email protected]

The Bradbury craftgroup makes BBCLondon News

Last winter, thanks to additional funding to support vulnerable people through

the winter months, Raleigh House trialled monthly Saturday openings. There

has long been a demand for the centre to open at weekends and last year’s

sessions proved so popular that from the summer of 2015 Raleigh has thrown

open its doors to welcome people every Saturday.

The Saturday Social brings welcome companionship and lively activity to a

growing number of local residents. And the hot fish and chip lunch has proved to

be a real draw for many!

Ann Walls, aged 84, said, ’I came to the original Raleigh Winter Saturdays last

year and was hoping a regular weekend service would be available, and I am so

happy it now is.’

‘It’s a brilliant step forward for Raleigh House,’ says centre manager Cathy

Weight. ‘Many people who use Raleigh live alone, and sometimes the weekends

can feel long, especially in the dark days of winter.’

Loneliness and isolation are real issues for older people and can lead to

depression, anxiety and poor eating and general health. The topic has been given

much prominence in the media this winter, but many people tell us that this is a

year-round problem.

‘Meeting up with people at the weekend is a great help to me, I thoroughly

enjoy the company,’ says Ann.

If you are over 60 and would like to come along to the Saturday Social or find out

more, just call us on 020 8942 8256 or email [email protected] .

New members are always welcome.

The Saturday Club for people living with dementia and their informal carers

continues to meet as usual on the second Saturday of each month.

Donald Blouet

and Michael Blake

enjoying a chat

over lunch

Raleigh House extends weekend openings

loved their labour as the needles

clattered above the sound of their

chatting and laughter! Birdsong mo

and craft group knitter, Edna, took t

hot seat and delivered a fine intervie

‘I’m getting quite used to my new

role in the spotlight!’ commented Ed

‘It was a privilege to represent this

industrious partnership between Th

Bradbury, Birdsong and us, the knitt

Birdsong has now partnered the

talented crafters with knitwear desig

Laura Newton, who has come up wit

some beautiful designs, all using Brit

wool. If you are interested in joining

craft group, then call centre manage

Laura on 020 8549 1230 or email

[email protected]

Experienced and novice knitters

all welcome!

BBC interviewee and Bradbury memb

Edna, models for Birdsong

If you would like to find out

more about Birdsong, or are

keen to see the latest range in

The Bra dbury knitwear or any

other ethically sourced products

on their website, then go to

www.birdsong.london

mailto:[email protected]:[email protected]:[email protected]:[email protected]


7/8

ISSUE TWENTYSEVENl

Advice Line l 020 8408 8170Staywell’s telephone advice service, open Monday to Friday 9.30am – 4.30pm

On 6 April 2016, the State Pension is

changing. If you reach State Pension

age on or after that date you’ll get the

new State Pension. The new State

Pension is designed to be simpler but

there are some complicated change-

over arrangements that you need to

know about if you have made

contributions under the old system.

From 6 April 2016 the old two-tier

system (Basic Pension plus Additional

State Pension) will be replaced a by a

single-tier system and Additional State

Pension will be abolished. The full new

State Pension is £155.65. How muchyou get will depend on your National

Insurance record. However, if before 6

April 2016, you did not contribute to

the Additional State Pension e.g. SERPS

or S2P, because you ‘contracted-out’ to

pay into a workplace pension scheme,

you may receive less than the full new

State Pension sum. After 6 April 2016

you will no longer be able to be

‘contracted-out’ and will pay more

Free legal advice surgery

Staywell works in partnership with local solicitors Sheridan Law to provide afree monthly legal advice surgery. Basic advice and recommendations can b

provided on the following areas:

l Wills and probate

l Free wills

l Estate planning

l Court of Protection

l Property issues

l Community Care

l NHS Continuing Healthcare

Free basic Wills can be drafted for people over 60. To make an appointment, o

if you have any queries relating to this service, please call the Advice Team on

020 8408 8170. Appointments are booked on a first come first served basis.New State Pension

National Insurance contributions.

For a number of years the old and

new systems will run alongside each

other. If you have made significant

contributions under the old system,

this will ensure that you do not end up

worse off under the new scheme.

If you reach State Pension age after

6 April 2016, you can still defer your

State Pension to boost how much you

will eventually receive, however you

will no longer be able to claim this as a

lump sum.

If you want more information about

the new State Pension or what yourstate pension is likely to be, anyone

over 55 can request a pension

statement from the Pension Service on

0800 731 7898 or visit www.gov.uk/

state-pension-statement.

If you have any concerns regarding the

new State Pension, ring us on the

Staywell Advice Line Tel: 020 8408 8170,

Mon-Fri 9.30am – 4.30pm.

Pension age rises for women The age at which women qualify for State Pension rises to 65 years in November

2018 and 66 years by October 2020, which is faster than originally promised. As

a result, over 2 million women will be worse off. In response to this, the Women

Against State Pension Inequality Campaign was created and is expected to hold

a protest at Parliament in London.

To find out more, go towww.facebook.com/WASPI-Women-Against-State-

Pension-Inequality-Campaign-877054125688402/

Other useful websites

Which? www.which.co.uk/money/retirement/guides/state-pension-

explained/how-much-state-pension-will-i-get/

The Pensions Advisory Service www.pensionsadvisoryservice.org.uk/

The Bradbury

Tues 15 Mar – Bradbury Film Club – ‘The Lady in the Van’, £3

Tues 22 Mar – Easter Quiz & Afternoon Tea 2 pm – 4 pm, £3

Thurs 7 April– ‘Beyond Beauty’ spectacular Egyptian Exhibition in London, £

Tues 3 May – Red Carpet Fashion Show, 2 pm – 4 pm, £3

The Bradbury Centre Lunch Club Wednesdays 12 pm – 2 pm

Counselling at The Bradbury Fridays 10 am – 1 pm

Information & Advice at The Bradbury Tuesday 29 March 1.30 pm – 3.00 pm

To book onto any of the events or for counselling, call The Bradbury on020 8549 1230 or email [email protected]

Raleigh House

The Saturday Club A service for people living with dementia, their families

and carers. Second Saturday of the month, 11 am – 2 pm.

Next dates: 12 March, 9 April, 14 May, 11 June

Saturday Social Weekend opening has arrived with the Saturday Social! Ope

every Saturday (except the second Saturday of the month), 10.30 am – 2 pm.

Join us for lively company, fun activities and a hot fish and chips lunch.

Transport available if needed.

Contact 020 8942 8256 or email [email protected] for more

information or to book a place on either of our Saturday events.

What’s on in KingstonThe Vintage Banquet Every Thursday, 11 am – 3 pm. Activities and lunch at S

Peter’s Church, London Road, Norbiton. Call 07529 890678 to book a place.

U3A Kingston First Monday of the month, 1.30 pm at the Richard Mayo Hall,

United Reformed Church, Eden Street, Kingston. For more information see th

website www.kingstonu3a.org.uk or call 020 8399 0163.

Kingston Pensioners’ Forum Second Monday of the month at Richard Mayo

Hall, United Reformed Church, Eden Street, Kingston.

For more information call the secretary on 020 8241 9913.

DIARY DATES


8/8

For further information please contact us:

020 8942 8256 [email protected] www.staywellservices.org.uk

Charity no. 299988

Friendly practical support

in and around the homeHelp@Home

With our Help@Home service you’re in the driving seat.

Our purpose is to support your independence, not take

it away. We can assist with housework, shopping and

household tasks as well as companionship, conversation,

outings and appointments.

We pride ourselves on the personal touch. Our team of

friendly, reliable, fully trained staff, who are security

checked and supervised, give that little bit extra where

and when you need it, making all the difference. Our

Home Helpers are supported by our friendly team in the

office and will make sure you can benefit from other

services provided by Staywell if needed.

‘Thank you forsuch a goodservice and

making thingsso easy.’

Handyperson

Our Handyperson service can carry out small repairs,

maintenance and adaptations around the home. We

aim to ensure that our customers feel safe, warm and

happy by completing jobs like fitting grab rails and

curtain rails, changing light bulbs, putting up shelves

and fitting key safes. We also provide help with

computers, televisions, etc.

If our Handyperson is unable to carry out the work you

need we will always aim to put you in touch with one

of our Trusted Traders. Get those practical tasks sorted

out with the reassurance of a security-checked helper

from a reputable charity with 70 years’ experience of

supporting people.

Affordable services from a trusted local charity

stay wellservices that change lives

‘The handypersonwas polite and

friendly andthe whole

experience wasvery pleasant.’

Staywell News 27 Web Version

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