Scotland’s 50+ health and wellbeing website Living it Up has joined the Scottish Government’s myaccount system. myaccount lets people across Scotland create a single and secure log in to use for many online public services … and Living it Up is now one of them. Continue reading Living It Up: you can account on us!
PILTON EQUALITIES PROJECT
ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING
MONDAY 16 NOVEMBER 11am – 12 noon
Pilton Equalities Project (PEP) welcomes nominations for membership of the Board of Directors from people who live in North Edinburgh and representatives of local organisations who have an interest in the work of the Project.
The maximum number of members of the Board is 11, with a majority of members being elected from groups or activities associated with the Project. If more than 11 nominations are received in time for the Annual General Meeting then there will be a vote at the AGM. A further 4 co-opted places will be available for those who have experience and/or skills which could be of assistance to the directors
Completed nomination forms must returned by Friday 13 November.
If you wish to stand for appointment at the 2014/15 Annual General Meeting of Pilton Equalities Project, please fill in the nomination form (below) and then sign it and return it to Pilton Equalities Project, 3 West Pilton Park, Edinburgh, EH4 4EL
Older Scots urged to ‘embrace the health benefits of poetry’ as new collection on ageing launched
Older Scots are being encouraged to embrace the health benefits of reading and writing poetry as an exclusive new collection of poetry on the theme of ageing is launched this month.
Released by independent charity the Saltire Society in partnership with the Scottish Poetry Library, Second Wind is a collection of almost 50 finely-crafted poems from award-winning Scottish writers Douglas Dunn, Vicki Feaver and Diana Hendry.
Wise, funny, cutting and honest, the poems collected in Second Wind seek to challenge false preconceptions about ageing and tackle a wide range of age-related themes including childhood memories, illness, retirement, absent friends and grandchildren.
Two special readings of the new collection by its authors will take place as part of Luminate, Scotland’s creative ageing festival. Now in its fourth year, the Festival has a busy schedule of events running across Scotland throughout October. The first reading event for Second Wind (already sold out) takes place at the Saltire Society’s headquarters in Edinburgh on 15 October at 6.30pm and the second will be held at 6pm on 26 October at the Aberdeen Maritime Museum.
The Second Wind collection is launched as the most recent survey results from the Scottish Government show that the percentage of Scots aged 60-74 who read regularly for pleasure rose from 65% in 2009 to 73% in 2013, a higher percentage than any other age group.
Recent research from the Mental Health Foundation suggests that participation in cultural activities results in increased confidence and self-esteem among participants, and may help to improve long term cognitive functioning, communication, memory and creative thinking.
For those who would like to explore the Second Wind poems in more depth, the Scottish Poetry Library will also host two specially facilitated poetry reading groups in Edinburgh on Saturday 7 November at 11 am and 2pm. These events will be led by poet, tutor and former Scottish Book Trust Reader in Residence Kate Hendry, who is also the daughter of Second Wind contributor Diana Hendry.
Saltire Society Executive Director Jim Tough said: “There is a growing body of evidence to show that creativity in later life has real health benefits. What is more, this new collection of poems demonstrates just how much older writers have to offer. Hopefully, it will inspire many more from the older generation to get involved both in reading and writing poetry.”
Speaking on behalf of the Scottish Poetry Library, Director Robyn Marsack added: “The later work of artists – think of Beethoven, Matisse, Yeats – often shows their willingness to change direction, their maturity as artists combined with new insights. We’re delighted to have been able to provide the impetus for three poets whose undiminished poetic energy will strike a chord with many readers.”
Port of Leith Housing Association’s PoLCATs (Port of Leith Community Action Team) volunteered at last week’s Older People event at Meadowbank Sports Centre.
The event was attended by more than 400 people, and around 100 took part in a Big Fit Walk, organised by Edinburgh Leisure’s Aging Well group. Three different walks were on offer, bronze, silver and gold, each differing in length and difficulty. All started at Meadowbank, with the silver and gold walks progressing into Queen’s Park.
To ensure the walkers were kept on route the PoLCATs acted as marshalls. They also prepared lunch packs, handed out medals to those completing the walks and carried out questionnaires. The busy team then served up teas and scones to those attending an afternoon tea dance event.
Claire Ironside, Director of Customer Services at PoLHA, said: “We’re committed to helping local neighbourhoods and, having already carried out a number of PoLCATs initiatives, we were delighted to assist with the Older People event.”
A keen crew from Scotland’s 50+ health and wellbeing website has boarded a branded bus and went out on the road across Lothian to spread the word about livingitup.org.uk – and you can jump aboard at Pennywell shops tomorrow!
Living it Up is a digital service with health, care and wellbeing tools and information for people over the age of 50 in Scotland. It’s supported by NHS24 and the Scottish Government, and covers local activities and services in Lothian, Forth Valley, Highland, Moray and Western Isles.
Over the next two weeks, Lothian locals can check out the tour bus and get some Living it Up freebies, or step inside the bus for a website demo to find out how Living it Up can work for them.
The two-week tour began yesterday (Monday 5 October) outside Asda in Dunbar, followed by Tesco in Musselburgh and will run until Saturday 17 October. The latest dates are listed below, but more info will appear on Facebook @Livingitup_Scot
Denyse Aitken, Living it Up’s project manager for Lothian, explained how the tour came about: “We’re keen to spread the word about this great digital platform, so we thought that by taking it on tour we could guide people through live demos and explain what it can do for them, rather than relying on leaflets and things.
“We hired a bus, kitted it out with Living it Up gear and put computers and seats on board. We made a timetable of places to stop off at across Lothian – some because they’re popular places (like supermarkets) and some because popular events will be running at the same time – for example, next week we’ll be outside Hibernian football ground before a family match.”
Denyse added: “Most people have been happy for us to park-up and spread the word about Living it Up. We genuinely want to put ourselves in the limelight and boost awareness of our website and show people how it can really help them to enhance their lives.”
Living it Up Lothians ‘pit-stops’:
Thursday 8 October: Pennywell shops, EH4 4DP
Friday 9 October: Castle Street, Edinburgh
Tuesday 13 October: Gilmerton Community Centre (AM) and Moredun Library (PM)
Thursday 15 October: West Lothian Braid House
Friday 16 October: The Centre, Livingston
Saturday 17 October: Castle Street, Edinburgh (AM) and Hibernian FC, Easter Road stadium (PM).
Living it Up’s website has four strands: DISCOVER, SHINE, CONNECT and FLOURISH – all of which have different health and wellbeing themes and resources.
The FLOURISH section hosts experience guides. These are written by real people to shed light on living with specific conditions – and to highlight coping mechanisms for life experiences.
In the SHINE section, there’s inspiration to re-ignite old hobbies or skills, perhaps in a voluntary capacity.
The website’s CONNECT area teaches people about the latest technology, with step-by-step-instructions. It also inspires some ‘upskilling’ by highlighting local classes for like-minded people.
By clicking on the DISCOVER section, users can type in their local area and find activities and resources relevant to them within reach.
A free informal learning event for older people this evening
To celebrate International Older People’s Day, come along a fun-filled afternoon at Meadowbank Sports Centre tomorrow (Thursday 1 October from 12.30 – 4pm).
Organised by Edinburgh Leisure, experience a great afternoon with exciting stalls, energetic and toe-tapping demonstrations, and take a partner for a fun-filled tea dance!
Eleven projects that encourage some of Scotland’s least active people to become more active have been awarded grants as part of the legacy of the Commonwealth Games. Edinburgh Leisure is among the recipients and the organisation will use it’s share to support older people living in poorer areas to get more active.
The projects, spread throughout Scotland, work with groups who are most at risk of inactivity, and use physical activity to improve health, wellbeing and social cohesion.
The Legacy 2014 Physical Activity Fund is funded by the Scottish Government and managed by Spirit of 2012. Spirit was a partner of the 2014 Commonwealth Games, and was chosen by the Scottish Government to create a sustainable physical activity programme to support the objectives of getting the least active people in Scotland more active.
Physical activity improves physical fitness and mental wellbeing, and can help to empower disabled people, connect generations, bring communities together and reduce isolation.
The eleven project, who each received grants up to £70,000, are as follows:
• Dumfries & Galloway Council: training programme for staff and volunteers to help older and/or vulnerable adults get active in all the area’s care homes as well as day care settings.
• North Ayrshire Leisure: supporting people with mental health issues to become more active through condition specific classes such as yoga and tai chi
• NHS Highland: using dance and walking to increase activity levels among the least active in the Highlands, including young people, women, older people, disabled people and those with long-term conditions
• Midlothian Council: bringing together two projects that use intergenerational volunteering to promote wellbeing; younger people coming into care homes to help older people become more active.
• Fife Sports and Leisure Trust: walking and GP referral programme for people with mental health issues and those with dementia
• Leisure & Culture Dundee: bringing ante natal women and their families in Dundee together through swimming to be active, have fun and improve their wellbeing and resilience
• Stirling Council: offering an extended buggy walks programme for parents, as well as, strength and balance classes and jogging for older people. The focus of all these activities is the most disadvantaged communities
• Cairngorms National Park: This project offers health walks in Highlands, Aberdeenshire and Moray, and targets people with long term conditions, women and older people
• Changes Community Health Project: walking, cycling and other healthy recreational activities will benefit people with mental health conditions
• Drumchapel Sport: the new funding will extend their existing highly respected programme of sport used to unite the community and improve wellbeing, working with children and young people, women and girls
• Edinburgh Leisure: support people over the age of 45 living in areas of multiple deprivation to become more active.
Jamie Hepburn, Minister for Sport, Health Improvement and Mental Health, said: “I’d like to congratulate all of these projects on their successful applications to the Legacy 2014 Physical Activity Fund. They are all working to promote physical activity in their communities, concentrating on some of the groups that are most at risk of inactivity, and giving them the confidence to change their lifestyles.
“This fund is one of the ways we are securing the legacy of the Commonwealth Games, encouraging people to live more active lives. Physical inactivity leads to 2,500 premature deaths in Scotland every year. It’s linked to a host of health problems including diabetes, heart disease, dementia and depression. If we can encourage people to make even small changes to their lives we can make a big difference to Scotland’s health.”
Dugald Mackie, Chairman of Spirit of 2012 said: “Our aim is see personal and community wellbeing increase and to see a positive change in the perception of disability. I’m delighted that we’ll be supporting so many projects that work with disabled people (including those suffering from mental ill health). In the current climate it’s vital that public investment delivers results, and so we are committed to collaborating closely with the Scottish Government and the 11 local partners to discover what works and what we could do better.”
Debbie Lye, Chief Executive of Spirit said: “Our ultimate ambition is to use the learning from this pioneering Scottish initiative to inform the way we and others tackle the UK wide imperative of increasing levels of physical activity.
“Spirit will host a conference in January 2017 where all partners will bring together research and findings from the projects. This will be a key step in making Scottish physical opportunities more effective, engaging and efficient.”
Craighall Centre Health & Social Care event
The three month public consultation on the Edinburgh Health and Social Care Partnership’s draft Strategic Plan and Joint Strategic Needs Assessment ends on 31 October and the Strategic Planning Group, which is overseeing the consultation, is keen to hear from citizens, communities and stakeholders.
The city council is inviting local community groups, organisations and individuals to participate in and give their views on the integration of health and social care services and has organised a number of events across the city to enable you to find out what’s been proposed and have your say.
The local event takes place at Craighall Centre, 210 Ferry Road on Monday 28 September from 1 – 2.30pm (note change of time).
There is a web link included in the flier so people can access to view the plan:
https://consultationhub.edinburgh.gov.uk/
https://consultationhub.edinburgh.gov.uk/
https://consultationhub.edinburgh.gov.uk/
https://consultationhub.edinburgh.gov.uk/
People aged 65 years and over in Edinburgh and East Lothian are being offered free exercise classes as part of a new research project being undertaken by Edinburgh’s Queen Margaret University (QMU).
Scientists at QMU are studying how lifestyle changes can improve quality of life in people aged 65 and over, including how exercise and nutrition plans can help people increase their lean mass and strength.
The exercise classes will take place between September 2015 and April 2016 at QMU’s Sports Centre and will include balance, aerobic and resistance exercises provided by trained physical instructors.
The study is being conducted by QMU’s department for Dietetics, Nutrition and Biological Sciences, so some participants will also receive free nutritional plans.
The research-active unit offers a range of undergraduate and postgraduate courses in the fields of diet, human biology and health. Their staff have particular expertise in public health, clinical nutrition and metabolism, as well as complementary medicine.
Nutritionist and fitness trainer, Christos Theodorakopoulos, who is leading the research at QMU, said: ‘It is never too late to start exercising and enjoy the benefits of healthy living, so this is a great chance for over 65s living in Edinburgh and East Lothian to get fit with our experts for free.”
People interested in taking part in the study can contact Christos Theodorakopoulos at QMU to find out if they are eligible to participate: email: CTheodorakopoulos@qmu.ac.uk
