Caring Together has recently been made aware that there may be a constituency of older people living in the City Centre who would benefit from the type of support offered by Neighbourhood Networks. After discussions with Adult Social Care it has been agreed that Caring Together can advertise our services in the City Centre as part of a project to establish the extent of demand and need and to help plug any gaps in network provision. If anyone knows of any older people over the age of 60 who would benefit from our services provided in Woodhouse and Little London or who would like to see services provided in the City Centre itself please contact the office on 2430298.

The last of the 3 Creative Memoirs Project sessions was held today and focused on dance and memories of music. Once again the session was facilitated by Lauren and Trish from the School of Performance and Cultural Industries at Leeds University. Today they were accompanied by 2 members of the University Dance Society. This was once again a hugely enjoyable session and the feedback from members has already been glowing. Sometimes you offer a small taster of something and it kindles peoples enthusiasm. More of this we say

Caring Together has two vacancies that are currently being advertised.

Post 1:
ACTIVITIES ORGANISER
This post is funded for 2 years, by The Peoples Health Trust with money raised by Health Amaze through the National Lottery.

Post 2: COMMUNITY RESILIENCE WORKER
This post is funded for 3 years, by The Esmée Fairbairn Foundation.

Both posts are to expand our work with older people by supporting existing group work and developing new social, healthy living and educational activities. Post 2 also has responsibilities relating to the recruitment and supervision of volunteers.

Please refer to the vacancies section of our website for further details for both of these posts.

Caring Together members received an invite to attend a Tea Party held yesterday at the University of Leeds. The party, an annual event for older people in the area, and organised and facilitated by students, was a great success. All who attended enjoyed the food, bingo, raffle and entertainment that was provided, Also remarked upon was the warmth and friendliness of the students who served the attendees. A special mention must be made of the Songsmiths and the Cosmopolitones, stalwarts of the A Capella Society, who everyone remarked were fantastic, and who many voiced the hope that they would get to see again. Once again thanks to the University of Leeds and the student volunteers for a wonderful afternoon.

You’ll find Headingley LitFest events happening in bars, cafes, university venues, restaurants, libraries and community venues. The festival is now in its ninth year and runs from 29 February to 22 March 2016.

There are lots of interesting events on, some free, like ‘A Song for my Father’ with Ian Clayton at Headingley Library tonight, Cinema stories on 15th March, a book launch ‘Florence and Jem – The Wooden Dragon’ – a children’s book set in Meanwood Hollies and lots of others, either free or for a small charge

To see the full programme visit their website here.

Caring Together members have started participating in an award-winning city-wide  letter-writing project matching School of English students as pen pals with older Yorkshire residents. With the act of letter writing becoming increasingly less common, this project considers the value of the letter and the power of cross-generational communication. The members have talked about building up images of those with whom they correspond and the anticipation of receiving letters. Increasingly the only letters received are junk-mail and bills. Those participating will meet up with each other in April. Caring Together is delighted to be involved in this project which has been developed by the University of Leeds.

The first Creative Memoirs Session, a joint initiative between Caring Together and the University of Leeds took place today at the Little London Community Centre.

The members of the group write letters to students recalling what life held in store for them when they were in their ‘twenties’. Students will write back explaining what their lives are like as twenty-somethings today.The comparisons should be very startling!

The section where members brought items that represented treasured memories was heart warming and life affirming. The series of sessions are being delivered by Trisha and Lauren from the School of Performance and Cultural Industries. They use Creative Workshops to explore memories in a fun and interactive manner.