celebrated national Older People's Day
on 22 October 2009: at the
Cliffe Hall in Lewes. Prof. Dorothy Sheridan,
Development Director of the Mass
Observation Archive
at the
University of Sussex spoke about
LIFE ON THE HOME FRONT,
using archive material. After questions and answers, the full house of
eighty persons who attended had an opportunity to
remember, speak and
hear about the War years and their aftermath. The event concluded
with tea &
refreshments. |
|
had a stall at the Lewes Farmers'
Market in most months to October 2009, recruiting new members,
discussing issues with members and others and following them up. |
|
held a coffee morning in
Ringmer on 23 April 2009. Points made by those who attended have
been passed on to the Chairman of Ringmer Parish Council, among
others. |
|
The
Annual General Meeting was held at the Cliffe Hall, Lewes, on
Thursday 26 March 2009.
Jean Gaston-Parry was elected
chairman,
Dr Arnold Goldman was elected vice-chairman.
Keith Barker and David Glen (the outgoing chairman) were
elected to the Forum committee, joining Elizabeth Newton-Price.
There were presentations from the police service and the fire
service. They were much appreciated and many questions and
comments were put to them. [Subsequently, Wendy Johnson, Richard
Kemp and John Wingate have joined the Management Committee.] |
|
On 18 March 2009, the
The Pyramid Theatre
Company presented
BIG LITTLE
HEART,
a play about
heart disease and stroke in the Main Hall at Meridian Centre,
Peacehaven,
followed by refreshments. The event was sponsored by
&
Meridian Mature
Citizens' Forum. Read the press release by
clicking here. |
Sussex Express published
chairman David Glen's letter (Friday
6 March 2009) about age discrimination, drawing attention to the House of
Commons Early Day Motion 458:
EQUALITY BILL AND AGE DISCRIMINATION
14.01.2009
That this House notes the
Government's manifesto commitment to bring in a single comprehensive
Equality Bill within the lifetime of this Parliament; welcomes the
Government's commitment to banning age discrimination in the
provision of goods, facilities and services as part of this Bill;
urges all hon. Members to support this Bill; recognises that health
and social care is one of the key areas in which older people face
unfair discrimination; is concerned that this discrimination has a
major impact on their quality of life and, in extreme circumstances, can
deny them potentially life-saving treatment; understands that the
Government intends to introduce provisions on age discrimination in
health and social care by secondary legislation; and is concerned
that the provision for this and detailed guidance should be brought
forward as soon as possible after Second Reading of the Bill and not be
subject to a lengthy delay before enactment.
The Forum had asked Norman Baker MP
to sign Early Day Motion 458, which he has done. (There were 147
signatories as of 9 March 2009.) |
|
had a stall at the Lewes Farmers'
Market in February and March 2009. |
|
The
petition to make
buses freely available to seniors at 9am (instead of 9.30am),
signed by 150 people and presented to Lewes District Council in December
2008 - was successful. David Glen,
chairman, said, "This is important
because it allows older people to use earlier buses to get to hospital and
doctors' appointments. See
www.directgov.uk/buspass for information about free bus passes. |
|
The Winter
Newsletter was sent to members. |
|
held a coffee morning in
Cooksbridge on 2 December 2008. |
|
John Appleyard, chairman of the East Sussex Seniors
Association (ESSA) and of the Hastings & St Leonards
Seniors Association
died on Friday, 14 November 2008. Our
thoughts are with his wife and family. |
|
The Autumn
Newsletter
was
sent to members with the ESCC Forward from 50 handbook |
|
representatives attended the
October Help the Aged South East
Speaking Up for Our Age AGM in London |
representatives
lobbied Parliament
(with Forum members from Seaford)
about pensions on 22 October, in support of the National
Pensioners' Convention |
|
was in discussions about the development of
the Phoenix Centre in Lewes |
|
is participating in the
AgeWell project in four residential homes in Ringmer |
|
had a stall at the Lewes
Farmers' Market on Cliffe High Street |
|
organised a
petition over bus times - to get the hour at which bus passes are valid moved back to
9am - click here
for the result |
|
has had a successful networking at the
"Bonkers" Peacehaven event in September |
|
members are actively involved
with the ESCC Adult Social Care Independence First (POPP) initiative,
currently on its Reference Group and with the
Navigator Service and the MAST programme (Memory Assessment
Support Team) projects |
members regularly
attend
Lewes District and town meetings and groups
they report back to the Forum committee -
items are put forward to other meetings and are publicised in the
Newsletter
|
