Page 6 - link magazine

AGE Jubilee
newsletter

.1I
Celebrating 50 years to the day

Age Concern Swindon invites you to the second FREE Making more of life Exhibition
on Thursday 27 June, 10am to 3pm at the Upper Room, Regent Street
(over the Savoy in the old cinema, next to Swindon Information Centre)
Displays and information about dozens of Swindon services for older people: housing, social activities,
educational opportunities, products and services.
Save money - whatever your age by visiting the Age Concern Energy Services stand.
Bring one year's gas and electricity bills for comparison and a quote and we'll give you a free energy saving light bulb.
Making more of life Exhibition is sponsored by Warm Space Insulation

Making more of life - with your help!

Volunteer- escorts to day centre needed
Nearly 70 older people living in north and All out of pocket expenses are met so a strength is needed. We make sure people
west Swindon enjoy a day a week or more bus fare or car mileage to get to and from know how to do the job safely and with
at Age Concern Swindon's day centre based home is paid by Age Concern Swindon. confidence.
at Fessey House in Brookdene, Haydon "This voluntary job will be ideal for some- "We are also looking for a volunteer be-
Wick. They get to and from home in Com- one living in north or west Swindon who is tween 10am and 3pm on Saturdays to act
munity Transport minibuses — you've prob- able to commit a couple of hours regularly" as a general helper to work alongside the
ably seen them in their familiar yellow and says Patricia. "You do need to be able to centre's paid manager and care assistant. For
blue livery on the roads around the town. help people on and off the bus and some- that you need to be reasonably outgoing
Essential to their safety are the volunteer times push a wheelchair, so some physical with some energy, initiative and enthusiasm
escorts who help people get on and off to help make it an enjoyable day out -
and to their front door. And that's where enabling people at the centre to do the
you might come in! things they want to do".
"We urgently need more escorts to There's great satisfaction in know-
help every day, Monday to Saturday," ing you really are making a difference
says Patricia Chandler who is responsi- to the lives of people coming to the day
ble for the day centre. We especially centre at Fessey House. Just ask them
need people on Wednesday afternoon and they'll tell you!
but almost any day more help would be Please will you help Age Concern
welcome. The escorts help out from Swindon celebrate 50 years making
8.45am to 10.15am or from 2.45prn to more of life this June by giving some
about 4.15pm. In the morning they meet of your time? To volunteer or just to
the minibus at Community Transport's arrange a visit to find out more, con-
base in Rodbourne Cheney. In the af- tact Patricia Chandler on (01793)
Jack Wills and Mervin Hutchins at Brookdene with volunteer
ternoon they start from Fessey House 692166 or write to Age Concern Swin-
Tina Armour, care assistant Lyn Webber, volunteer Hazel
in Brookdene, Haydon Wick. McVay and centre manager Jackie Bunce don at 14 Milton Road, SN1 5JE.
The book that puts pounds back into pockets

As the benefits available for older people scheme which is due to be introduced "Many older people
increase, the need for up-to-date informa- in October 2003. The Pension Credit struggle to make ends meet
tion becomes even more essential. Fortu- is intended to provide additional in- without realising they are
nately, each year Age Concern publishes come for low and modest income entitled to benefits" says
Your Rights, a must-have handbook to help pensioners who currently feel penal- Paul Mortimer, welfare ben-
older people claim the money benefits they ised for having saved. efits service manager at Age
are entitled to. It is estimated that up to 770,000 Concern Swindon. "Your
Your Rights is written by Sally West, one older people are already failing to Rights is an essential refer-
of the country's leading experts on the ben- claim up to £940 million in income nee guide which gives older
efits system for older people. The annual support alone. Backed by a week of cam- people and their families information about
publication provides just the information paign activity by Age Concern Swindon these benefits at their fingertips".
you need to boost your weekly income. The during Your Rights Week, the aim of the Priced at £4.75 + £1.95 p&p, the guide
book is full of information about the range book is to reach older people who are miss- has 160 pages of clearly-written informa-
of benefits available, including useful facts ing out - and help put pounds in their pock- tion to help you through the benefits maze.
about the Government's new Pension Credit ets. Now available from Age Concern Swindon.