Welcome to your April Newsletter We'd like to share information and advice about housing options, pension credit and details of activities and events that might be of interest to you!
Housing options Last week Let's Talk Peer Event invited Islington Council's Housing team to share information about housing options and to give clients an opportunity to ask questions. We've put together a page with information shared by Islington Council about housing options. See our News page with information here.
Are you entitled to Pension Credit? Have you seen the recent Pension Credit campaign that's been run by Mayor of London together with Age UK? Pension Credit is extra money for pensioners to bring your weekly income up to a minimum amount. Although it can provide access to lots of additional financial benefits, many people who are eligible to claim Pension Credit are not aware of it or do not apply for it. To find out more, how to apply and how to get help to apply, click here.
Carer's Credits Unpaid carers often have to take time out of work to look after their cared-for. This means that they may have periods of time when they are not able to contribute to National Insurance payments which count towards things like their state pension. Carer’s Credit helps protect these benefits by ensuring there are no National Insurance gaps. To find out more information about Carers Credits click here to see the guide from our partner Mobilise. OUR GET TOGETHERS & SUPPORT GROUPS Cost of Living Day Event, Thurs 30 March, 1-3.30pm Holloway Neighbourhood Group, Mayton Street, N7 Don't forget the next Cost of Living Day event which is taking place on Thursday 30 March, 1-3.30pm at Holloway Neighbourhood Group (near Nags Head / Morrisons, N7) Organised together with Help on Your Doorstep and Octopus Community Network, drop-in for a chat with members of the Age UK Islington team and other community partners! There's no need to book! Let's Talk Carers, Monday 3 April, 2‑4pm LIFT Islington, 45 White Lion Street, N1 9PW or Zoom Come together with other Islington carers to share what's going on for you! Discover tips and useful resources for anyone looking after a friend or family member. As always, there’s also plenty of time to chat over tea, coffee and pastries.
This month, we'll be joined by a guest speaker from the Recovery College who will share details of their Wellbeing courses. They'll also be providing a taster session for their ‘Understanding Anxiety’ course. First Aid Workshop Tuesday 13 April, 10.30am - 12noon North Library, Manor Gardens, London N7 6JX Even the simplest first aid skills can make a difference, but did you know only one in 20 people would know what to do in a first aid emergency? Book to take part in this interactive workshop, run by experienced British Red Cross educators. It will build your confidence to help someone in a first aid emergency, using everyday objects. London Children's Ballet, 'Snow White' Thurday 13 April, 1pm - 2.40pm (incl 20 min interval) Peacock Theatre, Portugal St, WC2A 2HT London Children's Ballet has commissioned a brand new two-act ballet with beautiful original music, played by a live orchestra, glorious costumes and exciting new choreography. The ballet is full of humour and drama, appealing to all ages. We have a limited number of tickets for Age UK Islington clients (adults 18yrs+). If you'd like to request a place, please email us by clicking below. Healthy Minds, Healthy Bodies Workshops Tuesday 11 April, 10.30am - 12.30pm (under 50s) Thursday 20 April, 2pm - 4pm (50yrs+) Sotheby Mews Day Centre, 2 Sotheby Mews, Sotheby Road, N5 2UP 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. PARTNER EVENTS & SERVICES NHS funded Expert Patient Programme The Expert Patients Programme (EPP) is a six-week course for anyone living with one or more long term health conditions such as asthma, chronic fatigue, COPD, depression, diabetes, heart disease, MS, Parkinson's disease, HIV, ME, on-going back pain etc. Delivered on-line or at a local community venue by tutors with lived experience. Sessions are 2.5 hours long and there are multiple planned dates in the coming months. Stress Project Mindfulness Course (Zoom) Every Tuesday 6pm - 7.30pm, from 4 April to 30 May This 9-week course offers a free opportunity to learn about how to improve sleep, de-stress, and mindfulness. Joining this course requires that you have access to and can use Zoom. If you need assistance using Zoom, help is offered. Run by Holloway Neighbourhood Group, click below for more information. There are also in-person Mindfulness courses running from 14 June to 9 August, 3-5pm, or 6-8pm. Call 020 7700 3938, or for the April course, click below. Strength & Balance Sessions Arsenal Community Hub & Mildmay Community Centre These free sessions with Arsenal in the Community are especially designed to help older adults to improve their wellbeing. The aim is to help local over 55’s become a little stronger and more mobile with this low impact exercise class, and help people maintain their independence. There's a video to give you a taster here. Do you support someone with a drug or alcohol issue? If you provide support to a friend or family member who has a drug & alcohol issue, you might be interested in finding out about support from the NHS Camden & Islington NHS Foundation Trust – Better Lives Programme. This includes a comprehensive programme of support for carers of anyone receiving support from the programme. Their weekly Peer Support Group takes place on Thursdays at their offices 6-7.30pm. For further information about Better Lives and accessing their support, click below to send an email. Dementia Friendly Spaces and Activities Cecilia's Cafe and Singing for the Brain are two great dementia-friendly activities. They run regularly throughout the year and offer supportive social interaction. Cecilia's Cafe provides information and the opportunity to chat to people who have been affected by dementia in a relaxed, social setting. Singing for the Brain brings people affected by dementia together to sing a variety of songs they know and love, in a fun and friendly environment.
The British Library also has places available to book on their Dementia-friendly art workshops - alternate weeks, Wed 12 Apr - Wed 21 Jun 2023, 11am - 1pm. Wishing anyone observing Ramadan, “Ramadan Mubarak” and if you hadn't already heard, to let you know about the Finsbury Park Street Iftar. The event is on Tues 4th April at 6.15pm - 8.30pm, and is going to be held outside Finsbury Park Mosque. 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
Contact the Helpline to receive our newsletter straight to you inbox (if you're not already on our mailing list)! Please leave a Google Review for Islington Carers Hub How do you find the service provided by Islington Carers Hub (run by Age UK Islington)? If you would like to leave a google review, it would help to let others know about our work - please click here. | 
