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FOR THE ONE IN FIVE PEOPLE IN SOUTHWARK WHO ARE 50 OR OLDER
MARCH - APRIL 2016
Newsletter
One in 5 Newsletter
is produced and published by Southwark Pensioners Centre (SPC). The Centre works in partnership w i t h S o u t h w a r k Pensioners Forum (SPF) a n d S o u t h w a r k Pensioners Action Group (SPAG).
Views expressed in One in 5 are not necessarily those of SPC.
How to get One in 5
All members of SPC receive the newsletter every two months. Suppliers of an e-mail address can receive it more quickly and cost-effectively. Affiliated groups receive 20 copies.
2016 Membership fees:
Individual £10 Affiliated groups £50
Please contact us at:
305-307 Camberwell Road, SE5 0HQ Tel : 020 7708 4556 [email protected]
INSIDE THIS ISSUE From the Chair / SPAG 2
Advice / Activities 3
Dates / Events 4
50p for non-members
PENSIONERS’ FORUM 25th FEBRUARY 2016
AGEING WELL: Making Southwark
An Age Friendly Borough
Over 50 people from all parts of the borough attended a community conversation event at Walworth Methodist Church on 25th April.
The focus of the discussion was what was needed to make Southwark an age friendly borough. After a brief presentation from Jessica Leech, discussions took place on round tables in groups of 5 – 10 people on themes such as health, housing, communication, employment, transport and open spaces. From the noise level, there was a lot of discussion at the tables. We’ve printed a few pictures here which give you an idea of the event.
This community conversation is going on until 1st May around the bor-ough, so look out for other opportunities if you missed this. (If you did, you missed a great sandwich and cake lunch from the feedback we re-ceived!). We have questionnaires at the Centre if you want to make your views known.
PENSIONERS FORUM and SPAG (Southwark Pensioners Action Group)
The Trustees have agreed the Centre should explore supporting and developing the work of Southwark Pensioners Forum and SPAG. We are in the process of engaging with a few people who have been active with these two groups.
BUT WE NEED MORE PEOPLE. If you are interested in helping with the development of these groups, please get in touch with the Centre staff to find out what might be involved.
The Forum was originally set up with Southwark councillors requesting a vehicle through which they could consult and discuss various relevant issues, (e.g. health, housing, benefits) with pen-sioners. As a result of interest by local MPs, a Pensioners Parliament was developed.
SPAG was more focussed on campaigning around specific issues and would organise activities such as demonstrations, petitions and lobbying. Their first campaign (c. 30 years ago) led to the creation and funding of the Centre. They received a National Lottery Fund Grant and with it, or-ganised a number of local activities to celebrate the centenary of the introduction of the old age pension.
You will see that there is a SPAG newsletter inserted into this newsletter. If you read your local newspapers you will see that Tom White, a Centre Trustee and SPAG member, has been very ac-tive around mental health matters.
There is going to be an open meeting for people interested in SPAG here at the Centre on 1st April at 10:00am for 10:30am start.
PLEASE COME ALONG TO FIND OUT MORE.
Charlie Smith addressing the Peckham and Nunhead Community Council, 06/02/16.
From The Chair
Hello. I went to a well-attended Peckham and Nunhead Community Council on the 6th of February. I spoke about the Southwark Pensioners Centre, how it works and what it offers. I asked for new members and also for anyone who may be interested in becoming a Trustee of the Centre. If you know anybody who might want to be a member, please pass on the Membership Application form enclosed with this Newsletter. The more of us there are, the merrier and stronger we will be!
Charlie Smith
DAY TRIPS AND HOLIDAYS 2016
Tickets are still available for day trips to Herne Bay, Folkestone and other destinations. The trip to the Eastbourne Christmas Market will take place on 8th December 2016.
The day trips cost £14 for members and £16 for non-members. Book at the centre, phone 0207 708 4556 or e-mail [email protected]
On Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays at the Southwark Pensioners Centre, we offer free assistance and
Welfare Advice on a wide range of topics, including:
Housing Consumer Issues Debt Benefits
P l e a s e C o n t a c t 02077084556 for an ap-pointment to see our Advi-sor on the days above to ex-plore the matter further.
We also run an Outreach session
every first Wednesday of each month, between
10.00am -1.00pm at:
Darwin Court 1 Crail Row
London SE17 1AD
Tel: 02070214670
Tax Credits Community Care Funds Social Funds
Personal Independence Payments (PIP) Attendance Allowance (AA) Employment and Support Allowance (ESA) Job Seeker’s Allowance (JSA)
If you require help with issues not normally dealt by us, give us a call and we may be able to sign-post you to other local service providers.
We are able to help prepare documents for our clients’ tribunal hearings.
There has been an increase in clients receiving letters about Council Tax arrears. We have been able to negotiate payments for clients who are liable for the debt in order for them to man-age repayment of Council Tax arrears.
The new welfare reforms have brought a reduction in benefit caps for those with unoccupied rooms. They are having to top-up their payments to make up the rent. The reduction in housing benefit is due to the imposition of the “bedroom tax”.
We have assisted and encouraged our clients who are eligible to apply for Discretionary Housing Payments (DHP).
We have also encouraged those who are eligible, to take ad-vantage of assistance from the Mayor’s Trust for grants for house-hold items and can even contact other charities on behalf of those struggling and in need of household items.
BOOK CLUB 1:30pm, Tuesday 29th March (Day after Easter Monday) then last Monday of month.
New Camberwell Library 48 Camberwell Green, London, SE5 7AL
Current Titles:
“The Third Policeman” Flann O’Brien
“The Painted Veil” Somerset Maugham
ADVICE
JEWELLERY CLASS
Have you ever wanted to create and take home your own unique jewellery items? Davina Timoll has the tools,
the materials and the know-how. Wednesday 10:00am. £3 fee (including materials).
FILM CLUB Main Activities Room, First Thursday of each month, continuing with…
Vertigo Starring James Stewart and Kim Novak - Thursday, 7th April, 3:30pm
Indiscreet Starring Cary Grant and Ingrid Bergman - Thursday, 5th April, 3:30pm
Southwark Pensioners Centre is a community resource centre working to promote choice, opportunity and quality of life for people aged 50+.
The services and activities programme aims to keep older people independent and active into a healthy old age.
Dates for your Diary DATE & TIME EVENT & PLACE Monday 14/03/16 7:00pm - 10:00pm
Borough, Bankside and Walworth Community Council: Walworth Academy, Shorncliffe Road, SE1 5EJ
Tuesday 15/03/16 7:00pm - 10:00pm
Bermondsey and Rotherhithe Community Council: St James Church, Thurland Road, London SE16 4AA
Tuesday 15/03/16 7:00pm - 10:00pm
Dulwich Community Council: Kingswood House, Kingswood Estate, Seeley Drive, SE21 8QR
Saturday 19/03/16 1:00pm - 4:00pm
Camberwell Community Council: Walworth Methodist Church, 54 Camberwell Road, London SE5 0EN
One in 5 - it’s your newsletter! To submit an article or anything else to One in 5, e-mail via [email protected] is preferred, but
we also accept articles by post or by hand at the centre. (See contact details below). Many thanks to all contributors.
IF YOUR OLDER PERSONS FREEDOM PASS EXPIRES
IN MARCH 2016, YOU NEED TO RENEW IT.
www.freedompass.org
THE FREEDOM PASS STAY CONNECTED
Freedom Pass is paid for by your local council.
HAVE YOU RENEWED YOUR MEMBERSHIP?
PLEASE DROP IN TO DO SO.
DO YOU HAVE ANY FRIENDS WHO WOULD ALSO BE INTERESTED?
PLEASE PASS ON THE ENCLOSED FORM.
DO YOU HAVE ANY IDEAS FOR NEW ACTIVITIES? PLEASE LET US KNOW.
DID YOU KNOW THAT YOU CAN HAVE YOUR
ISSUE OF ONE IN 5 SENT TO YOU BY E-MAIL ?
Let us know your e-mail address and in future, it can be sent to you quickly and cost-
effectively.
305-307 Camberwell Road, SE5 0HQ Telephone: 020 7708 4556 Email: [email protected] Website: www.southwarkpensioners.org.uk
Southwark Pensioners Centre is a Registered Charity (299416) and a Limited Company (2161913).
