Welcome to your April Newsletter Sharing the latest guides and activities from Islington Carers Hub, Age UK Islington and other local organisations. Click on the links to access a wealth of resources and find out what's available to you here in Islington! Need help to save money on your energy bills? The energy price cap is going up on 1 April 2025 which will affect the energy bills for those people who are not on fixed rate energy tariffs. Click below to find out how this likely to affect you in our 'Making Savings on your Energy Bills' guide. This includes resources from our Energy Saving Workshop last month delivered by Islington Adult Community Learning (ACL) and details of services that can offer further support. Keeping Active, including an offer for carers The March 2025 Let's Talk was all about the benefits of keeping active and how it can play an important role in helping to reduce the risk of physical health conditions, such as a stroke or dementia and also in reducing joint pain. Find out details of free and affordable ways to keep active that were shared at the last Let's Talk event including the Nuffield Health Joint Pain programme.
Throughout ‘Active April’ - 1st April -14th May, members of Carers UK or anyone who is in receipt of Carer’s Allowance will be able to take out membership at their local Better leisure centre at the discounted rate of £30 per month. This provides access to the gym, swimming, fitness classes and the health suite. See the Better website for more information. Happier Outdoors Festival The Happier Outdoors Festival is back for 2025. Being in nature is good for us! Research reveals that being in a green space for just two hours a week can make us feel better mentally and physically. With this in mind and to make the most of the wonderful spring weather, we've put together a guide of outdoor free and affordable activities. 15 signs I might be grieving Taking care of someone often means dealing with lots of different, and sometimes difficult, emotions. But a big one, that can sometimes sneak up on us, is grief. This complicated feeling shows up in different ways. Sometimes, we don't even realise it's grief, especially if the person we care for is still with us. For the full article by partner Mobilise click below. Carers for Carers Meet-up
Tuesday 8 April, 10.30am- 12pm (monthly) Duke of Cambridge, 30 St Peter's St, N1 8JT Book to join us for this monthly carers meet-up, run by carers for other Islington carers. Supporting a loved one while trying to cope with everything else that’s going on can be rewarding but it can feel overwhelming at times. Don’t feel that you have to navigate your caring journey alone. It can sometimes really help to talk to others in a similar situation who understand, and so you can support each other.
You'll receive a warm welcome! You'll need to book, but you can drop in at anytime between 10.30am and 12pm. Park Theatre for Islington Carers Thursday 17 April, 2pm (3pm performance) 13 Clifton Terrace, Finsbury Park, N4 3JP Book to join us for our monthly Carers event at the Park Theatre in Finsbury Park from 2pm every third Thursday of the month. It's Pay What you Can (suggested £3). We kick off with teas and coffees on the first floor (accessible by lift) for an opportunity to meet other carers before the matinee performance. The matinee this month is 'Jab'.
Please note that as our tickets are part of the Pay-What-You-Can scheme, the box office is not able to indicate the size of our allocation till 24 hours before the performance. Occasionally we do not receive any places or only a very small number. We will be able to confirm places the afternoon before the performance. Carers Spring Walk Saturday 26 April 10.30am-12pm Meet at Tottenham Hale train station N17 9FD Discover the beauty of London's waterways with a scenic walk along the River Lea, stretching from Tottenham Hale to Hackney Wick. This 4.2-mile route will pass vibrant canal-side parks, residential waterside living mixed with bustling urban areas. It will make for an ideal escape for nature lovers and urban explorers alike and a great opportunity to meet other carers! Please click below to book a place. Let's Talk: Lunch clubs and Digital Support Thursday 17 April,10.45am-1.30pm Islington Council Community Space, 222 Upper Street N1 1XR Don’t miss out on the next Age UK Islington Let's Talk event! This monthly forum is a fantastic opportunity to stay informed and connect with others in a relaxed and social atmosphere.
This month, we're going to be hearing from partners in Islington about nutrition for good health, how to do an online supermarket shop so you can have groceries delivered to your home and an introduction to the digital support that is available in Islington.
Join us for an engaging and informative morning, with refreshments, a light lunch, and plenty of time for discussion. Tech Break
Friday 4 April,12-1pm via Zoom Join knowledgeable volunteer, Simon, for this month's Tech Break. In this session Simon is going to be showing us how ChatGPT enables us to 'speak' to Chat GPT using our voices rather than typing in text to a digital device. This can enable any digital device to be used like a voice operated digital speaker - a bit like the way Amazon-owned Alexa is used. Click below to book and get a Zoom link to join the session.
Workshops for Black and Asian Kinship Carers Thursday 3 April (online) and 24 April (London venue), 10am Are you Black or Asian and raising the child of a family member or friend? If so, Kinship, the leading charity in England and Wales for kinship carers, would like to hear from you.
Kinship are building on recent research into the needs and experiences of Black and Asian kinship carers. They are bringing together Black and Asian kinship carers and professionals that work with them, to listen to their experiences and needs, identify priorities and come up with ideas and ways to better meet their needs. There's £140 for those who take part. You'd need to be able to attend both workshops. St Luke's Eid Party Friday 4 April, 4-7pm St Luke's Community Centre, 90 Central St, EC1V 8AJ You are warmly welcomed to join the Eid celebrations at St Luke’s Community Centre. Including food, singing, dancing, kids’ activities and your wonderful community. Free entry.
Vibast’s 2nd Anniversary Eid Celebration Saturday 5 April, 12-3pm Vibast Community Centre, Old Street, EC1V 9NH Come along to mark the end of Ramadan and two fantastic years of Vibast! Fun for all the family with a bouncy castle, popcorn, candy floss, face painting, henna, arts and crafts. Free food. Everyone welcome. Community mental health: Camden & Islington Tuesday 8 April,12.45 – 4pm Ground Floor, St Pancras Hospital, 4 St Pancras Way, NW1 0PE Come along to hear about changes to
community mental health services in
Camden & Islington and onput your views. There will be lunch at 12.45pm. Free Art Classes Wednesdays 9 and 16 April, 11.30am-1.30pm Old Fire Station Community Centre, 84 Mayton Street, N7 6QT Free art classes at the Old Fire Station. No need to book. For more information call 020 7607 9794 or pop into reception at the Old Fire Station. For the latest timetable of activities at the Old Fire Station, click below.
Healthy Minds Healthy Bodies Walk Wednesday 16 April, 9.30am Highbury Leisure Centre, Highbury Crescent, N5 IRR Healthy Minds Healthy Bodies are doing a special walk on 16th April where they will be joined by the Islington Mayor. They will leave from outside Highbury Leisure Centre for three leisurely laps around Highbury Fields then head over to the White Swan Wetherspoons for a coffee. All welcome, no need to book!
Islington Adult Community Learning Enrolment Days Thursday 24, Friday 25 April, 9.30am-4pm (last assessment 3.15pm) The Community Centre, 76 Parkhurst Road, N7 0FF If you are 19 or over and either unemployed or earning less than £27,007 you are eligible for these free courses with Islington Adult Community Learning. Topics include digital skills, English, maths, employability skills and English as a second language. Click below for details about their enrolment days. Sewing Course with Adult Community Learning New course 24 April, Thursdays 10am to 12pm Hilldrop Community Centre, Community Lane, Hilldrop Road, N7 0JE Free 10-week course for sewers who want to improve their skills, get creative with their own projects or collaborate on community works. All levels are welcome. Equipment provided. To register your interest please email: acl@islington.gov.uk or pop in to speak to the tutor on Thursday mornings. Whittington Health Expert Patients Programme Starting Wednesday 23 April,10am-1pm (Wednesdays for 7 weeks) Manage your Type 2 diabetes and gain control of your health in just 7 weeks. For more information Tel:0207 527 1189/1558/1707 or e-mail: whh-tr.Self-Management@nhs.net Cycling Opportunities in Islington Islington Council and partners run free classes for all ages and abilities. On Mondays, there are ‘silver cycling’ sessions for people over 60 in Highbury Fields, with adapted bikes to make cycling accessible for all and women-only sessions at the Andover estate with JoyRiders. General adult sessions take place at Winton Primary School on the first and third Saturday of every month. Yoga and Keep Fit Classes Highbury Roundhouse, 71 Ronalds Road, N5 1XB Chair based Pilates with Kate: Tuesdays 10.30-11.30am, £3 per session Keep fit with Gee: Tuesdays 1.30-2.30pm, £5 per session Keep fit with Liz: Wednesdays 10.30-11.30am, £3 per session. For the latest timetable of activities at Highbuy Roundhouse, click below. Knit & Natter Thursdays 12pm–1pm Whittington Park Community Centre (Lounge), Yerbury Road N19 4RS Looking for a cosy way to spend your Thursday afternoon? Come along to Knit & Natter the perfect spot to meet new people and enjoy a good chat while your knitting needles (or crochet hooks) click away. Whether you're an experienced knitter, or just starting out, everyone is welcome. It’s a warm, inclusive space open to all ages and genders. Free. No need to book. For the latest timetable of activities at Whittington Park Community Centre, click below. Booking Dial-a-ride trips Dial-a-Ride is a community mini-bus service for people who have difficulty using regular public transport due to disabilities, health conditions, or mobility limitations. Passengers pre-book to be picked up and dropped off at their homes or desired destinations and it operates 7 days a week, 7am - 11pm. Passengers can book journeys through a phone call or online app. For more information about how to book, click below. Mental Health Training webinars Islington Council have hosted mental health training webinars on topics including 'responding to a mental health crisis' and 'mental health awareness in practice'. These are now available on-demand so they can be easily accessed at a time that suits you. Click the button below and find the webinars under the 'available training' heading. Scotscare is a London based charity helping first or second generation Scots resident in London. Their services include grant giving for essential household items only, and education and training for adults. Income will be checked prior to grant allocation. Also sheltered housing for those 55+, or 50 with disability although there is a current waiting list. For more information click below to visit their website. Contacting Islington Carers Hub If you are in need of financial or practical guidance related to your wellbeing or for the person you care for, or simply need a listening ear, don't forget that you can call the Islington Carers Hub Helpline on 020 7281 3319 (Mon to Fri 9am to 5pm) or email info@islingtoncarershub.org. | 