Welcome to your April Newsletter Sharing the latest guides, activities and resources from Age UK Islington and other local organisations. Hoping that you are enjoying the slightly warmer, brighter days!
Local fire station's Dogs in Service Day The London Fire Brigade Wellbeing Dogs were a huge hit at the recent community Dogs in Service Day at Holloway Fire Station. They are pictured above with Age UK Islington volunteer Irene and with their handler Sarah. For more photos and details of how to make an appointment for a free home fire safety visit, click below. Staying Well: Managing your Health & Keeping Well: Thursday 23 May 10am or 1pm sessions, Jean Stokes Community Centre, N1 Book for a morning or afternoon session - find out about local health services, try fun taster activities, a quiz and enjoy food and refreshments. We are going to be joined by Arsenal in the Community for the morning session including a focus on Men's Health and free Health MOTs.
Alternatively, join us for the afternoon session with an opportunity to boost your mood and senses with iCope and the Recovery College. There will also be money saving tips and guidance about NHS dental services, sight and hearing tests. Spotlight on Cost of Living & Energy Bills The Energy Price Cap (the cost of each unit of gas and electricity used by consumers) will fall by 12% on Monday 1 April, yet energy bills continue to be high, leaving many people struggling.
If you're having problems paying your utility bills, you can contact SHINE London. They provide a dedicated helpline and help to reduce utility bills, tackle energy debt and ultimately help you to stay well and warm.
From April, Thames Water is increasing the number of households that they can offer financial help to. Find out if you might be eligible for 50% off your water bill on the Thames WaterHelp webpage.
Another Cost of Living Event is taking place on Thursday 25 April, 1-3.30pm, this time at Vibast Community Centre, with lots of help on hand.
Click the button below see the Age UK Islington Cost of Living webpage with further details about all these schemes and more.
GET TOGETHERS & SUPPORT GROUPS Please note that booking is essential for all Age UK Islington activities. Get Together Spotlight Lego Get Together: Thursdays, 1.30-3.30pm The Playroom (By the Toy Project), 81 Junction Rd, Archway, N19 5QX
As part of Creativity Month earlier this year, Age UK national's Communications Team did a feature on our LEGO Get Together which we run in partnership with the Toy Project. They spoke to regular attendee Kim and took some wonderful photos!
Kim has been attending the group for the past year and has created some incredible sets, despite never having worked with LEGO before.
Click below to find out more and for details of our weekly and monthly regular Get Together activities, including social sports get togethers, dance fitness, Park Cuppas, online yoga and more.
Let's Talk Peer Event Friday 26 April, 10.30am-3.30pm LIFT Islington, 45 White Lion Street, N1 9PW Book to join us for our monthly Let's Talk event. It's relaxed, friendly & social. This month we'll have talks from prominent guest speakers, information & health checks, stalls from various community and NHS services providing advice and support on Health and Wellbeing. Tech Break Friday 5 April & 19 April,12-1pm (Zoom) Want to explore what your smartphone, tablet or pc can let you do? The next Tech Break session will be on 5th April: Improving photos with simple editing on your mobile phone and on 19th April: Pros and cons of iOS vs Android. A warm welcome will be extended to those people who are new to technology as well as those who are more experienced users.
Email activities@ageukislington.org.uk and we'll send you a Zoom link which you can use for both the April sessions. First Aid Workshop Thursday 11 April, 10.30am-12noon North Library, Manor Gardens, N7 6JX Are you interested in learning essential, life-saving first aid skills to help in an emergency? If so, our first aid workshop might be for you. These are interactive workshops, run by experienced British Red Cross educators, that build your confidence to help someone in a first aid emergency, using everyday objects around you. Booking is essential. Saatchi Plant Photography & Drawing Workshop Wednesday 24 April, 2-3pm Cally Clock Tower Centre, Caledonian Park, N7 9PL Inspired by the photos of Edward Burtynsky as exhibited in Saatchi Gallery’s current exhibition Burtynsky: Extraction / Abstraction, this workshop will explore plant photography and drawing. It will include drawing from observation, challenges to encourage a more abstract approach to observational drawing and also experimental photography. Materials will be provided and no previous experience is required. Booking is essential. Intergenerational Event Saturday 27 April, 10am-1pm Islington Ecology Centre, 191 Drayton Park, N5 1PH Celebrating community and nature, we’ll be looking for bugs and plants to take part in the City Nature Challenge, enjoying crafts, live music, meeting some interesting animals with ZooLab and we have a talk on Spring Pollination! Free food and hot drinks. Event will be both inside and outside. It is wheelchair accessible. To book a ticket, email activities@ageukislington.org.uk or ring 020 7281 6018. Please note that for the following Get Togethers there are a very limited number of places and clients who have not previously attended will be given priority booking. Park Theatre Get Together, Thursday 4 April, 1pm Our monthly Park Theatre matinee performance always starts with a social, this month at the slightly earlier time of 1-2.15pm beforehand. The play this time is The Light House. Breakfast Club Get Together, Tuesday 30 April, 2-4pm Our monthly Breakfast Club Get Together is taking place at this popular Angel cafe. Please note that this venue is not accessible - There are five steps to access the cafe and a flight of stairs to get to the toilets. Over 60s group - online know-how Wednesday 3 April, 11am-12pm Central Library, 2 Fieldway Crescent, N5 1PF If you would like to set up an email address, and/or find out how to access online newspapers and magazines for free, join the group meeting for an hour of advice and help. They are going to be meeting in the first floor gallery. No need to book. Stuart Low Trust: THREE Live Theatre Show Friday 5 April, 6.30 - 8.45pm Jean Stokes Community Centre, just off Caledonian Road, N1 0DX Theatre company Dangerosity presents THREE, a tragicomic piece of theatre about what it means to be human, highlighting themes of self-love, compassion, and loneliness. No need to book. Healthy Living in Finsbury Park Event Wednesday 17 April 12 - 3pm Old Fire Station, 84 Mayton Street, N7 6QT Join your local community for sessions on healthy eating and exercise, mental health and wellbeing, women's health checks and screenings, childhood vaccinations and growing healthy food and plants. There will be also egyptian dancing. Brought to you by Network of Finsbury Park Women's Groups, sponsored by Cripplegate. FREE Walking Tour- Tolpuddle Martyrs 190th Anniversary Sunday 21 April, 12, 1 & 3pm (30 minute tours) Cally Clock Tower Centre, Caledonian Park, N7 9PL Come join us for a special walking tour commemorating the 190th anniversary of the Tolpuddle Martyrs! We will explore the history and significance of this event at Caledonian Park. Discover the stories of the individuals who unsucessfully fought for better workers' rights in 1834. Don't miss this unique opportunity to learn about an important chapter in the history of Islington! Green Guardians Gardening by The Garden Classroom Wednesday 17 / 24 April, 10am-12pm TGC Hut, Newington Green, N1 4RF Thursday 18 / 25 April, 10am - 12pm, Hillside Park Entrance by Caxton House Community Centre, N19 3RQ
Friday 19 / 26 April, 10am – 12pm, Market Road Garden, Market Road, N7 9GT Drop-in community gardening in Islington Parks. All tools and refreshments provided. Wear sturdy shoes and dress for the weather. No need to book, just turn up. April is bowel cancer awareness month Bowel cancer (also called colorectal cancer) is the fourth most common cancer in the UK and the second most common cause of cancer death. Around 42,900 people are diagnosed with bowel cancer in the UK each year. Around 268,000 people living in the UK today have been diagnosed with bowel cancer. Find out more about free testing. At Switchboard, they know that some older members of the LGBTQIA+ community experience isolation and loneliness. They want to be able to provide a sense of belonging, purpose and community to our elders, who fought for the rights we enjoy today. That’s why Switchboard is launching an over 50’s club. This club will meet weekly at their London HQ and will see volunteers undertake phone or chat shifts, with time for lunch and socialising before/after. If you’d like to get involved, click on the following link below and apply today. Dementia Friendly Art Workshop Wednesday 3 April, 11am – 1pm
British Library, 96 Euston Road, NW1 2DB Join a monthly creative workshop inspired by the British Library’s collection and designed for people living with dementia and their carers. Each workshop will focus on a different creative process – from printmaking and watercolour to clay modelling. Workshops are delivered by Melissa Fry from Engage Here. No experience needed. Workshops are free and refreshments are provided. For more information, to book a place or refer someone, please contact Emma at outreach@bl.uk or 07849 701 227.
Dementia Information Session Tuesday 9 April, 10-11.30am
Central Library (1st floor gallery), 2 Fieldway Crescent, N5 1PF These 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. Dementia Friends is an Alzheimer’s Society initiative that aims to change the way we think, act and talk about dementia. Booking for the sessions is encouraged, but not essential. Photo ID needed at the London Mayoral election Don't forget you'll need photo ID to vote at the London Mayoral elections on Thursday 2nd May. See this video from Age UK London to let you know more. 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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