Welcome to your June Newsletter Sharing the latest guides, activities and resources from Age UK Islington and other local organisations. From Celebrating Windrush to Men's Health, there's useful information and events coming up that you might want to know about! Celebrating Windrush Day Monday 24 June - 9.30am - 1.30pm Brickworks Community Centre, 42 Crouch Hill London N4 4BY Come together for a day filled with stories, entertainment, games and culture celebrating the Windrush generation. Listen to first-hand experiences from those who journeyed on the Windrush ship to England, and enjoy live entertainment showcasing the vibrant heritage of the Caribbean community. Book via Equalities team, Islington Council. There were some really engaging talks related to men's health at our recent Staying Well event, with Arsenal in the Community, Rehabit, Errol McKellar prostate charity and Champions For Change. Personal stories about health challenges and their impact emotionally and physically were particularly powerful.
Whether talking more openly about problems, or contacting a GP about any health concerns early on, one of the key messages surrounding Men's Health seems to be "don't wait until it's too late!"
For a comprehensive list of men's health resources and photos from some of the Staying Well men's talks click the button below. There's also a suggested list of actions that you might find helpful. Do you know people who are not online or who would like to know how to manage their money using an online banking app or website? You might want to let them know about an upcoming Digital Day on Thursday 20 June, 9.30am - 4.30pm at the local Natwest branch in Holloway which is closing on 8 August 2024. Drop-in to get one-to-one support to use their online and mobile banking platform.
For information about other bank closures there's a useful Which? article. There is also an Age UK guide to online banking that might be helpful.
For help with adjusting the size of text and other accessibility settings on your digital devices, join our online Tech Break session on Friday 21 June when Simon will be demonstrating what's possible.
For in-person support getting online, there is help available at local libraries for people wanting to start using their public computers and get access to the internet. And Adult Community Learning provide free digital skills courses (if a course is full, then you can email them).
You might also be interested in the Age UK national campaign and petition to ensure that 6 million older people who are not online are not overlooked and still able to access key services.
Sight Checks and NHS Dental Care Last month Mr Kamran Saha, one of the surgeons at Moorfields hosted a webinar for Age UK Islington clients about cataracts with a follow-up Question and Answer session. We also had a talk from Specialist Optometrist, Aarti Dua at our Staying Well event. They both shared valuable information about sight checks and eye conditions that can be picked up during these checks.
Click below for slides and notes from the presentations and useful information about NHS dental services shared by Whittington Dental Health Services at the recent Staying Well event. GET TOGETHERS & SUPPORT GROUPS Please note that booking is essential for all Age UK Islington activities. Age UK Islington Get Togethers Did you know that Age UK Islington provides a number of weekly and monthly regular Get Together activities, including social sports get togethers, dance fitness, Park Cuppas, online music appreciation and more? Park Cuppa Special Edition with British Museum Tuesday 18 June, 10.30am – 12noon Islington Ecology Centre, 191 Drayton Park, N5 1PH Join the Communities team of The British Museum for a special monthly Park Cuppa at the Ecology Centre to explore mystery objects from their handling collection. The session will include exploration, object-handling, as well as tea, coffee and biscuits! Come along, enjoy a cuppa and share your own stories and experiences. Painting Appreciation with British Museum (on Zoom) Tuesday 25 June, 11am-12pm
Join the Communities team of The British Museum for a special edition of our weekly online Painting Appreciation session. The session will include a presentation about ‘Michelangelo - the last decades’ exhibition currently being shown at the museum. Healthy Minds Healthy Bodies Workshop Thursday 4 July, 11am - 1pm Cally Clock Tower Centre, Caledonian Park, N7 9PL Would you like to gain greater awareness around healthy thinking and a healthy lifestyle? Could you do with some inspiration to kick start your own life? Do you really appreciate just how special you are?
Join Lazza and Jack for a fun interactive session to discover what micro-changes we can make in our lifestyles to improve our confidence and wellbeing. Their enthusiasm is infectious! There is information about The Windrush Scheme on the Age UK national website and how to get further help. This is a government initiative to help and support people who arrived in the UK a long time ago but don’t have documents that confirm their immigration status. There is also a Windrush compensation scheme for people who in the past have had problems because they haven’t had documents to prove their right to live in the UK. Interview Skills and Mock Interview Practice Workshop: Excelling in the Spotlight Monday 3 June, 11am-1pm KX Recruit, 11 Stable Street, Kings Cross, N1C 4AB A successful interview is often the key to securing your dream job. This Interview Skills and Mock Interview Practice Workshop empowers participants with the skills and confidence needed to excel in various interview formats. Reserve your spot now and embark on a journey towards success! Camden and Islington residents only. London Symphony Orchestra Relaxed Friday Lunchtime Concert Friday 7 June, 12.30pm LSO St Luke’s, UBS and LSO Music Education Centre, 161 Old Street, EC1V 9NG This short concert will introduce you to orchestral instruments and chamber music. The presenter will guide you through the concert and large print programmes are available for free. These relaxed concerts are tailored for people who have sensory and communication impairments, learning disabilities, or who are neurodiverse. Doors open at 12pm. The seating is unreserved with limited places, so it's recommended that you arrive in good time to secure your place. Cost of Living Day Event Thursday 27 June, 1 - 3.30pm
Light Project Community Hub, WatkinsonRd, N7 8DE Drop-in to another Cost of Living Day event organised by Help on Your Doorstep, Octopus Community Centres and Age UK Islington, there will be practical help and advice about energy bills, debt and other issues, with support and information to take away. Hot food and refreshments will be available, plus a pop-up vaccine clinic and some give-aways.There's also the option to arrange follow-up appointments. Tranquil Health and Wellbeing Workshop Summer Party Saturday 29 June, 12-4pm Brickworks Community Centre, 42 Crouch Hill, N4 4BY Activities include, speakers, exercises, sing-along songs, poems, quiz, music, dancing. Refreshments served from 1-1.30pm. For more information telephone 020 7263 1067 or email inspire777@btinternet.com. Dementia Information Session Thursday 13 June, 10.30am-12pm Arsenal Hub, 56 Benwell Road, London N7 7BY
Around 1,500 people in Islington live with dementia. This free Dementia Friends sessions can help you understand more about the signs and symptoms of dementia. You will also get tips on making a difference to the lives of people affected by dementia. Complimentary tea and coffee will be available. A free half an hour stadium tour is available for those that attend after the Dementia Friends session. Stuart Low Trust Choir Thursdays 5.30 - 7pm The Stuart Low Trust runs a friendly community choir that meets on Thursdays. The choir is led by Cici, an experienced choral conductor and an accomplished musician. Spaces are limited, so please email info@slt.org.uk or call 020 7713 9304 for more information and to book a place. It might be nearing summer, with less need to crank up the heating, but it's worth reviewing what you can do to reduce your bills and what help there is available if you find yourself struggling to pay. Click below for an article from Money Saving Expert. You can also contact the SHINE energy service in Islington for help from their advisors. Healthy Ageing Projects - Imperial College Imperial College London are looking for people aged 65 or more living in London to take part in projects on the use of technology among older adults to keep people healthy for longer and a study focused on brain plasticity and its relation to age-related hearing loss. To specifically take part in the hearing loss study email plasticity.resrearch@ucl.ac.uk. Otherwise please click below to request participation in the Healthy Ageing Projects. Free Short Courses from Capital City College Do you want to learn a new skill, boost your career, or get a taste of a full-time course? Expand your knowledge and skill set with a diverse range of FREE short courses for adults from Capital City College. While some courses are face-to-face, many are online so you can study from the comfort of your own home. Details of the courses can be found at the following link. Contacting Age UK Islington If you are finding things difficult and need someone to talk to, don't forget that you can call the Age UK Islington Helpline on 020 7281 6018 (Mon to Fri 9am to 5pm) or email gethelp@ageukislington.org.uk.
Contact the Helpline to receive our newsletter straight to you inbox (if you're not already on our mailing list)! | 
