Page 41 - link magazine

The Link Magazine • January 2003 41
Arctic adventurer meets ice racer Looking for age achievers
with help from The Link Older people in the work place are set to be recognised by a new
award being launched by Third Age Challenge later this year.
Norman Butler, Swindon's entry into the first ever polar ice race to Because, with proposed legisla- The awards celebrates the
the Magnetic North Pole (MAG) in April, has been given a few tips tion on age discrimination sched- achievements of older people in
on what to look out for by somebody whose 'been there and done it.'
uled to come into force at the end the workplace and community.
of 2006, and the demographic move There are four category of award,
towards an older workforce, or- open to those 50 or above on 1
ganisations will need to incorpo- January 2002 covering employees,
rate non-ageist policies on all as- job finders, vocational learners and
pects of recruitment, selection, pro- community volunteers.
motion, retention, training and re- The directory questionnaire and
tirement. details for making an award nomi-
Swindon Third Age Challenge nation can be found on the TAC
(TAC) supports older people with web site at www.thirdagers.net
1 their career development and pro- call Julia Falaki on 533370.
For hard copies of both forms,
motes the advantages of an age
diverse workforce. Older people
make an important contribution
to business success and a healthy
society, and TAC are producing a
directory of age friendly organisa-
tions in Swindon. To compliment
it, they are also organising an
'Achievers in Their Third Age'
award.
Both the directory and the
Norman and Richard in front of his sponsorship appeal display awards will be promoted at a con-
ference on Thursday 6 March.
The Link suggested Norman But- three over the ice for up to thirty
For the directory, all organisa-
ler from Westlea contact Richard days. He's discovered that at 6' 5" tions in the town are invited to
Bull from Hayden Wick who ap- he is too tall for a standard tent and complete a questionnaire on their
peared on the Link front pages in could suffer frost bite on his feet if human resource policies and
August 1998 and in June 1999 after he does not find a solution. workforce forecasts. It will be pub-
taking part in expeditions to the "Without doubt Norman will lished early next year, and will be
MAG in aid of charity. He has made find things uncomfortable out on available free of charge to all older
six arctic trips since. the ice, it's an unforgiving place," job seekers, recruitment agencies,
Norman said he was very said Richard, who runs Wiltshire nd 1 ntar odiou
y
pleased to meet somebody who Valeting Supplies. "You have to be a y e.
has made the trip. "The more I find permanently cold because sweat
out about the arctic, the more I instantly freezes and will not
realise how tough it is going to be. evaporate which means hypother-
Richard is willing to help with mia can set in.
equipment and has provided a "Norman won't be able to stop
wealth of useful information about and give up; he'll just have to keep
conditions and the level of mental going. And after six to eight hours
toughness I will need to have to pulling a sled he'll then have to
win the race." spend two hours cooking; melting
Norman is no stranger to mental enough water to drink takes ages.
and physical stress. During the "What you find out there is com-
Autumn of 2001 he spent over 90 pletely unpredictable. Storms can
days rowing across the Atlantic. whip up in moments and tempera-
The polar race will involve ski- tures can drop to minus thirty.
ing and pulling sleds in a team of Polar bears are a constant worry
and whilst they look cud-
dly, they are both curious
and very fierce, they
should be avoided.
"Having met Norman
and learnt about his At-
lantic row, he has a
headstart in the necessary
preparations."
However Norman still
needs major sponsorship
to get him to the start line
and would like to hear
from Swindon businesses
interested in finding out
how he can put their name
on top of the world.
Call him on 882197 or
mail: norman@benwell
The Link at the MAG. Richard holding close.freeserve.co.uk For
the June 1998 edition which featured details of sponsorship, go
the visit by Princess Anne to Westlea School to www.swindonlink.com