Welcome to your December Newsletter Sharing our latest news and updates!
Are you financially prepared for the festive season?
December is often a busy month for many people, and one that can be expensive. With the strain on household finances that so many people are experiencing, you might like to drop into the next Cost of Living event at Brickworks Community Centre on Friday 8 December, 11am - 2pm. No need to book, just come along!
Maybe of interest are also these Ten Top Tips to Avoid a Christmas Debt Hangover from Citizens Advice and Barclaycard.
Now for some festive fun!
There's lots of fun festive events lined up for you in the run up to Christmas - from Age UK Islington and other Islington organisations - from Christmas Fairs to Walks, Lunches and Illuminations.
We'd like to share a printable flyer of Age UK Islington December Get Togethers including in-person and online activities, plus a round-up of other Islington Festive Activities that are taking place across the borough: click the button below. GET TOGETHERS & SUPPORT GROUPS Staying Well Event, Thursday 25 January We'll be running another Staying Well event, this time with a focus on 'Keeping Active & Connected'. Look out for more details, coming soon! Let's Talk Peer Event, Festive Edition Monday 13 December, 10.30am - 1.30pm LIFT Islington, 45 White Lion Street, N1 9PW Join us for a Special Festive Edition of our monthly Let’s Talk Peer Event! Enjoy a Christmas meal, socialising and dancing to live Jazz festive songs from the legendary Nick Pritchard (photo at the top of this newsletter!) There will also be a raffle and Christmas gifts! Tech Break Friday 8 December, 12-1pm (Zoom) Want to explore what your smartphone, tablet or pc can let you do? The next session is on December 8th - Keeping track of data & Wi-Fi usage on mobile including how to monitor your usage and share data across devices. Park Theatre Get Together 13 Clifton Terrace, Finsbury Park, London N4 3JP
Park Theatre will be taking place on Thursday 7 December at 2pm, with the matinee at 3pm. This month's performance is the Time Machine. Please note that there are a limited number of places for these events and clients who have not previously attended will be given priority booking. Intergenerational Carol Singing Monday 18 December, 4 - 5.30pm Islington Ecology Centre, 191 Drayton Park, N5 1PH Celebrate the season and come sing old winter favourites with us!
This event is joyfully intergenerational, with all the ages coming together to sing. The event will be inside, both seated and standing. Free hot drinks available. No need to book, just turn up! Pulmonary Rehab Classes Whittington Health - Islington venues Did you know that Whittington Health provide free group sessions which are available in Islington to help those living with the symptoms of long-term lung disease? (COPD, asthma etc). Participants are individually assessed by a physiotherapist who will design a series of exercises specifically tailored to meet your needs. If you would like to know more, please speak to your GP or Practice nurse. They can refer you to us. Click below for more info.
“I wish I had started sooner! I am feeling so much better and feel like I can do more day to day”. “It’s become the highlight of my week”. City Lit Courses - Skills for Life
Wednesday 13 or Monday 18 December, 10am - 12pm 1-10 Keeley St, London WC2B 4BA
City Lit 'Skills for Life' courses can help improve your skills and confidence from going to the doctors and filling out forms to talking about politics and discussing art. They can help you develop the most in-demand workplace skills and at same time improve your general communication, with English, ESOL, Data Literacy, Maths and Digital Skills.
They are organising a special tour of the building for Age UK clients, when they will introduce some of the courses and activiities available. Most of their courses are FREE if you are on a low income or claiming benefits.
Call 0204 582 0423 or contact Heather at City Lit by email: heather.james@citylit.ac.uk, to let her know you're planning to attend. Or to arrange another time when you can pop down to see them.
Islington Mind Latest Activities Timetable Islington Mind offers daily drop-ins and a variety of activity groups, as well as small support groups that offer a safe space to discuss difficult topics such as grief, anxiety and isolation. The majority of their activities and support groups take place in-person at our day centres. Click below for their latest timetable.
Trained support workers are available on site every day to provide support to those in crisis and they have an Out of Hours Crisis Cafe service. Loos for Islington petition Loos for Islington are a group of residents campaigning for better provision of public toilets in the borough - to tackle social isolation, make Islington more inclusive and to undo the Islington 'loo leash'. If you are an Islington resident please support this petition. Additional way to book Dial-a-Ride London Dial-a-Ride have introduced a new mobile app which means you can now book and manage your journeys from a smartphone. Also to reassure you that they haven't changed their telephone booking system - you can still book by phone if you prefer. London's Transport Network: A Survey Transport for London have a survey that seek the views of people with autism, learning disabilities or difficulties and their supporters, as well as those who are less regular users of the transport network. They are looking to understand what barriers people face travelling around London and how they could improve the services they offer. Free blood pressure checks for over 40’s Everyone over 40 can now benefit from a free blood pressure check and blood pressure advice at their local pharmacy. High blood pressure can increase the risk of developing serious health problems like heart attacks and strokes if not treated. This quick test could save a life. Read more.
World Aids Day - 1 December: the number of new diagnoses of HIV is declining year on year. However, the high rates of HIV seen in London compared to other areas of England is a reminder of the importance of combination prevention. Find out more about the campaign.
Winter wellness As the weather gets colder, there are three key things to do: Reduce infection risk - Get your COVID-19 and flu vaccines if you’re eligible; Make sure you can stay warm – Make sure your heating is working, block out draughts and check if your eligible for financial support to help with fuel bills. Read more.
Free lateral flow tests As of 6 November 2023, eligible patients who are at the highest risk of becoming seriously ill from COVID-19, can pick up free rapid lateral flow tests from a local pharmacy. 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.
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