Westminster PLUSEssential information for Westminster’s older residents Issue 15 – February 2012

INSIDEOlympics How they will affect you

Keep active New activities at Academy Sport

Diamond Jubilee Organise a street party

Rediscover the West End The exciting places on your doorstep

PLUSWIN theatre tickets

Staying independent

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Keep dancingOver 1,000 residents enjoyed our annual Tea Dance in December. The free event took place in the grand setting of the Great Room of Grosvenor House, a JW Marriott hotel.

The James Platt band provided wonderful music and youth cadets were on hand to dance with guests. Guest of honour Peter Bowles said: “I feel honoured to have been part of this marvellous event and I enjoyed hitting the dance floor with Westminster’s residents.”

Take a look at photos and a video of the event at www.westminster.gov.uk/teadance

The event is funded entirely by sponsorship and staffed by volunteers. It would not be possible without the generosity of Grosvenor House, a JW Marriott Hotel and our sponsors The Telegraph Group and Vertex.

Don’t forget, you can dance throughout the year with classes at The Abbey Centre, Jubilee Hall or the Porchester Centre. Call the Senior Passport line on 020 7641 1444 for details.

Welcome and news

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Welcome and newsWelcome to the spring edition of Westminster Plus, packed with the latest news, advice and information for residents aged 60 plus.

As the days get warmer and the evenings get lighter, we’ve got a fantastic range of activities and offers to help you get going this spring.

Turn to page 4 to find out how to make the most of the West End, from hidden shopping gems to art exhibitions and much more. Plus we’re giving you the chance to win tickets to some top West End shows.

Are you ready for the Olympic and Paralympic Games? Find out what’s happening on pages 6 to 9. And find out how to keep active yourself, with lots of new activities at Academy Sport.

Find out more about personal budgets and how they can help you to get the care you need on page 10.

On page 12, hear the fascinating life story of Westminster resident Shirley Yates, including her emigration to Canada.

Find out how to get involved in local events and activities, from knitting to dance classes. See pages 14 and 15 for details.

Whatever your interests, we’re sure you’ll find something to enjoy this spring.

Councillor AstaireCabinet Member for Adult Services and Health

Councillor Lady FlightWestminster Older People’s Champion

Cabinet Support, 17th Floor, City Hall, 64 Victoria Street, London, SW1E 6QPcllrflight21@btinternet.com

Cabinet Support, 17th Floor, City Hall, 64 Victoria Street, London, SW1E 6QPdastaire@westminster.gov.uk

On the cover: Ken Wood and Margaret Garrity at the Tea Dance.

Did you know...

...you can call the

Senior Passport line

for information on any

council services?

Call 020 7641 1444

Age Concern has movedAge Concern is now at 19-20 Grosvenor Street, W1K 4QH.

Their phone number, email and web address have not changed.

Call: 020 3004 5610Email: enquiries@ acwestminster.org.ukVisit: www.acwestminster.org.uk

Digital switchoverBetween 4th – 18th April 2012, analogue television will be switched off across London. If you don’t have digital TV by then, you won’t be able to watch TV. But help is at hand.

If you’re 75 and over or eligible disabled, the switchover help scheme can arrange for an approved installer to supply and install everything you need to switch to digital TV. Call free on 0800 40 85 900 or visit www.helpscheme.co.uk

If you already have a digital TV, you still need to retune during these dates. You will receive a leaflet through your door shortly letting you know how.

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Out and about

Find out how to make the most of the exciting places on your doorstep.

Out and about WIN Theatre tokens and ticketsEnter our prize draw to WIN £50 of Theatre Tokens, and open the door to some of the world’s greatest theatre. Choose from over 240 different theatres nationwide, including London’s West End, and see plays, musicals, comedies, opera or dance. There is no expiry date on these tokens.

PLUS be in with the chance to win a pair of tickets to: •The Ladykillers, a classic

black comedy featuring a stellar cast of some of the finest stage and screen comedy actors*•The 39 Steps, the hilarious,

Olivier Award-winning comedy based on the 1935 Hitchcock spy film*•Blood Brothers, Willy

Russell’s much-loved tale of twins separated at birth* •Dreamboats and

Petticoats, featuring some of the greatest hit songs of the Rock ‘n’ Roll era*

Did you know......you can now recycle plastic bottles, pots, tubs and

trays? Call 020 7641 2000 or visit www.westminster.

gov.uk/recycling

For people who’ve lived in Westminster their whole lives, it can be easy to forget that one of the world’s most exciting places is so close by. At the heart of Westminster lies the West End; home to world-class shopping, entertainment and culture like nowhere else.

As well as the famous theatres, the West End is home to restaurants offering a fantastic variety of cuisines and atmospheres, and renowned music venues. Take a trip down memory lane and listen to jazz classics over a drink or dinner.

The West End is also home to some of the UK’s most famous and respected cultural institutions, including the National Gallery and National Portrait Gallery, the Courtauld Gallery and Somerset House, the Royal Opera House and St Martin in the Fields. From paintings to sculpture and opera to jazz, you won’t find a better place to discover a world of culture and inspiration. For example, visit the National Portrait Gallery’s free display, Queens in Waiting: Charlotte and Victoria, open until September this year.

Try something new and visit the one-off boutiques in the Newburgh Quarter and Carnaby Street or explore London favourites on your doorstep. Why not go for a wander and take in the sights; after all, the West End is part of your city – it’s not just for tourists!

Don’t forget, you can use your ResCard to get some great discounts across the West End.

• StMartinintheFields– discounts on concerts, afternoon teas and brass rubbing, 020 7766 1100

• BBCtours–broadcastinghouse, £2 discount, 0370 901 1227

• LondonTransportMuseum – £1 discount, 020 7565 7299

Even if you don’t win, you can still get affordable tickets from the tkts official half-price and discount ticket booth in Leicester Square. Many shows offer concessions for older people.

To win one of these amazing prizes, simply call the Senior Passport Line on 020 7641 1444 by 18th March 2012.

Theatre Tokens standard terms and conditions apply. No cash alternative will be supplied.

*Terms and conditions apply. Prize must be taken before 18th May 2012. Excluding school holidays. Subject to availability. Prize is as stated and cannot be transferred or exchanged. No cash alternative will be offered.

Rediscover the West End

“When I found out I had won, I was speechless! It was such a lovely way to spend an evening. I will certainly be entering again!”

Winner, Annabel Fried

like nowhere elseshopping, entertainment & culture

The Big Dance Take part in a Zumba and ballroom dancing performance during the Olympic Games. The performance is organised by Open Age for people aged 50 plus and is part of the Big Dance, a national scheme to get people dancing across the UK. Free rehearsals take place at Academy Sport from 2-5pm on the last Saturday of every month from 25th February. Call Jemma on 020 8964 1900 to find our more or to book.

Feli Martinez, 81, says: “I love dancing, but it tends to be for the younger generation. When Jemma asked me to join the Big Dance, I immediately said yes. I enjoyed every minute.”

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“As a 10-year-old listening to the radio, every day I looked forward to it. It wasn’t all about heroes, it was also about people who were well respected and didn’t win, but I remember them more.”

Don Ballet remembers the 1948 Games

Get ready!

Get ready!The biggest sporting event in the world is taking place on your doorstep this summer.

Did you know...For more Olympics memories

visit www.westminster.gov.uk/olymics or call Westminster Archives on 020 7641 5162

for more information.

Get involvedKeep active in the run up to the Olympic and Paralympic Games with new activities for older people through Open Age.

Day Time Activity

Thursday 5–6pm Badminton, table tennis and boules/boccia

5–6pm Relax and dance

Saturday 11am–12 midday Keep fit/get strong

12 midday–1pm Stretch and relax

Sunday 2–4pm Ballroom and Latin dance, (refreshments provided)

Venue: Academy Sport, Harrow Road (opposite Health @ Stowe), Entrance on Torquay Street, W2 5EZ

Nearest tube: Royal Oak Tel: 020 7121 0642

Sporting events Cultural eventsTorch relay Central London 26 July

Archery Lord’s Cricket Ground 27 July – 3 Aug

Beach volleyball Horse Guards Parade 28 July – 9 Aug

Cycle road race Start/finish, The Mall 28 – 29 July

Triathlon swimming Hyde Park and surrounding areas 4 and 7 Aug

Marathons Start/finish, The Mall 5 and 12 Aug (Olympics) 9 Sept (Paralympics)

Celebration Parade Central London 10 Sept

London 2012 Festival Across London 21 June – 9 Sept

West End LIVE Trafalgar Square 23 – 24 June

Exhibition Road Festival Exhibition Road 28 July – 5 Aug

Everyone living in the heart of London will be affected by the Olympic and Paralympic Games. With tens of thousands of spectators and visitors coming to the city, there will be temporary changes to some of your services and you may need to change how you travel around. However, there are lots of benefits from living in the host city, including free sporting and cultural events.

The best way to prepare is to plan ahead. Before travelling in or around central London visit www.getaheadofthegames.com for the latest information on road closures and bus routes. Areas most affected are Marble Arch, Hyde Park Corner, Victoria Embankment and Trafalgar Square.

You can also check the travel hotspots so you can avoid the crowds at peak times, before or after sporting events.

Transport for London will provide a London Travel Information service on 0843 222 1234.

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Find out moreArea forumsFind out more at your local area forum in February/March and June/July. Visit www.westminster.gov.uk/areaforums, contact your ward councillor or ask at your local library for details.

Sign up for our Olympic e-newsletterTo keep you updated before and during the Games, you can sign up to our Olympic e-newsletter at www.westminster.gov.uk/olympics Printed copies will also be available in your local library.

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Stay healthy in 2012

Find out where you can go for medical treatment or advice during the Olympic and Paralympic Games.

Stay healthy in 2012

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“When the Games were over we felt we had witnessed a great event and that Britain had put on a jolly good show.”

Douglas Model on the 1948 Games.

HEALTH FOCUS

During the London 2012 Games, 850,000 extra people are expected in London. This means that services will be oversubscribed and getting around will be more difficult. If you are ill or injured during the Games, choosing the right service will mean that you will get the quickest and most accessible treatment.

Get advice from homeLots of injuries and illnesses, including cuts and grazes, coughs and stomach aches, can be treated at home without the need to see a doctor or nurse. To get advice on how visit www.nhs.uk

You can also visit your local pharmacy to get advice and medicines for minor illnesses. You can get face to face advice for conditions like eye or ear infections, sickness or fevers and allergic reactions and can buy your medicines over the counter. Pharmacies are available on most high streets and there’s no need to make an appointment.

Walk-in servicesIf your illness needs immediate attention and you need to see a health professional, the NHS provides a range of walk-in services. With no need to make an appointment, walk in services are a convenient way to get treatment, and many are open outside office hours. To find your nearest walk-in service visit www.nhs.uk

Plan aheadWhen planning your journeys during the Games, consider walking shorter distances. TfL provides free ‘Why not walk it?’ maps of Westminster. Pick one up at your local tube station.

However you travel, make sure you drink plenty of water to stay hydrated and carry any medication you may need.

Get set for a healthy 2012 Games

In an emergencyIf you need emergency hospital treatment, you should visit your nearest A&E department. If you or someone you know needs emergency care fast, call 999 or 112 for an ambulance.

Remember, only call an ambulance or visit A&E in an emergency. If your illness is not an emergency you may have to wait a very long time and there are lots of other services that can help you more quickly in these cases.

For more information, or to find your local services, visit www.nhs.uk

Photo: London 2012

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Stay independent

Stay independentOur new approach to adult social care helps you to make choices about your care, live in your own home for as long as possible and stay active.

Get back on your feetGet help to settle back in your home after a hospital stay with a new scheme from The British Red Cross, in partnership with NHS Westminster and Imperial College Healthcare NHS Trust.

Next Steps is available at St. Mary’s Hospital in Paddington to help patients after they leave hospital for up to 72 hours a week.

The transition from hospital to home can often be an unsettling experience. They will accompany you home when you first leave hospital, and offer both emotional support and practical assistance to help with your shopping, collecting prescriptions and getting to your GP and outpatient appointments, to make your return home a happy one.

Judith* says: “The Red Cross provides that little bit of extra help when you need it most. They really help you to regain your confidence and treat you with a great amount of humility and respect.”

For more information please call 020 3312 2174.*Name has been changed for confidentiality.

Patricia Alexander, 74, from Pimlico started using a personal budget in 2009. She says: “Before I went on to a personal budget, social services sent me a carer to help with my shopping, washing and cleaning. But they often didn’t turn up and it was very stressful.

“I spoke to Age Concern who told me that I could choose my own carer if I moved on to a personal budget. They helped me to apply and I chose to receive the money directly from the council through a direct payment into my bank account.

“I decided to go through an agency which means they take on the responsibility of being an employer, rather than having to do it myself. I pay the agency using my direct payments and they pay my carer for me.

“The paperwork is hard but once I got over my initial worries, it was OK. I like the system much more, it’s so much easier as I get to choose how to spend my social care money.”

We want to support more people to live independent and fulfilled lives by taking responsibility for their care. We will do this by:• helping people with health

problems to recover, recuperate and rehabilitate so they are able to live as independently as possible• investing in community

schemes so that people have local support•using new technology to

help people to live safely in their own homes•movingeveryonewith

long-term care needs on to a personal budget by March 2013.

A personal budget is money you receive from the council so you can choose and manage your own care, rather than it being decided by the council.

We will help you to create a support plan with details of how your personal budget can be spent. Depending on your care needs, you may choose to employ a carer, buy equipment you need to help you in your home or use it to get out and about.

For more information contact the Senior Passport line on 020 7641 1444.

Westminster Falls Prevention ServiceThere are lots of ways to prevent falling. If you are worried about falling or have a history of falls, contact Central London Community Healthcare NHS Trust’s Falls Prevention Service for help. They can assess you and may refer you for extra support. They will help you regain your confidence and independence after a fall, guide you through strengthening exercises and give advice on diet, general health and footwear, to help make sure you don’t fall again.

Laurie Phillpotts, 89, says: “Falls groups help people with different conditions, including some people in wheelchairs. The exercise classes especially are very good.”

For more information, or to make a referral, please call 020 7641 4001.

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“In 1959 I moved to Labrador to work for a

charity called The Grenfell Association. This was the job that changed my life.”

My life in Westminster

Resident Shirley Yates tells us about her life, including working for a charity in Canada and later running their offices here in Westminster.

My life in Westminster

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“My name is Shirley Yates, and I was born in London in 1933 and grew up here. My mother died suddenly when I was 12. My father sent me to live with my aunt and I didn’t see him again after that year.

“When I left school I worked as a secretary in a solicitor’s office. But as my aunt’s family couldn’t afford for me to train as a solicitor, I decided I wanted to work abroad.

“In 1959 I moved to Labrador in eastern Canada to work for a social charity called The Grenfell Association. This was the job that changed my life. I was collected by a nurse and then taken by snowmobile to a small hospital with an adjoining home for children. I worked with the patients, managed administration and operated the radio telephone.

“Life wasn’t easy – we worked seven day weeks and were often up at 4am to send out the hospital plane. The plane was our only means of transport over the lakes and it travelled on floats in the summer and skis in the winter. We lived on a limited diet of caribou stew or salmon and arctic char, depending on the season.

“But despite these difficulties I enjoyed working for such an amazing charity.

“I returned to London in 1962 and got a job in Westminster working for an insurance company, where I worked my way up to Assistant Secretary in charge of PR and advertising.

“I moved to Westminster in the 1970s and in 1971 The Grenfell Association asked me to run their office here in Westminster. Although it was probably not a good idea financially, the charity had always been such a big part of my life, so I agreed. My work included fundraising and recruiting doctors and medical students to travel to Canada.

“I retired in 1994, but have stayed active and have done a lot of volunteering, including work with In Deep, a fantastic charity based in Vincent Street, which runs breakfast clubs and community projects. I enjoy keeping busy and going out and about in Westminster.”

If you have a story to tell about your life in Westminster, email westminsterplus@westminster.gov.uk

Charity Christmas cards for The Grenfell Association

The charity In Deep encourages friendship in the community. To find out more call 020 7834 5204 or visit www.in-deep.org.uk

The Diamond Jubilee takes place from 2nd to 5th June 2012, celebrating 60 years of the Queen’s reign. Why not take the opportunity to celebrate with your neighbours at a street party or community event?

If you are planning an event during the Diamond Jubilee or the Olympic or Paralympic Games, please let us know as soon as you can. Our special events team can give

If you are interested in holding a street party visit www.westminster.gov.uk/events or call 020 7641 2390.

you advice and guidance to help you with a range of issues from how to get people involved to whether you need to apply for any licences.

The Big Jubilee Lunch will also be taking place on the 3rd June. It aims to get as many people as possible from across the UK to have lunch with their neighbours, for fun, friendship and community spirit. To find out more visit www.thebiglunch.com

Celebrate the Diamond Jubilee

A street party to celebrate the Coronation in 1953

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Do you think NHS transport services could improve? Have your sayTell us your views and you could win £30 of shopping vouchers.

Come to the Stowe Centre, 258 Harrow Road, W2 5ES, on Monday 26th March at 1pm.

For more information call 020 7723 1216.

In the loop

Read all about the latest news and events in Westminster.

In the loop

Visit your Community HubOur new community hubs provide support, information and advice services for people over 50. You can get involved in activities including social groups, physical activities, computer classes and creative and performing arts.

For example, if you’re green-fingered, or would like to be, why not join the friendly volunteers at Penfold Community Hub to learn about seed planting and plant in the Penfold Garden? It takes place each Wednesday from 7th March at 2.30pm and costs just £2 a session. Please book in advance.

To find out what else is on offer, call your local hub.

Your community hubs• Churchill

Tel: 020 7976 6354• Queen’sParkand

Harrow Road Tel: 020 8964 1900•Westbourne

Tel: 020 8964 1900• PenfoldCommunityHub

(formerly Church Street Hub) Tel: 020 8762 3082

Knit for the OlympicsIf you’re a keen knitter why not join the Churchill Ward knitting group?

The lively group knits for charities and good causes, including blankets and cardigans for premature babies. They also work on creative projects, recently knitting a copy of St. Edward’s Crown, part of the Crown Jewels, which is now being used by children and visually impaired people at The Royal Palaces. They are currently working on an Olympic blanket which will be displayed at Westminster City Archives next year.

The group meets every Wednesday at Glastonbury House, Warwick Way, SW1V 4NT from 10am – 12 midday.

Did you know......you can call the Senior Passport line for information on services

for older people? Call 020 7641 1444

Getting aroundThere are lots of ways for you to get out and about.

If you have a disability that means you can’t use public transport and you have a low income, you can apply for a Taxicard. Otherwise, private taxi firms like Green CT Cars can offer accessible vehicles to people who live in the northern parts of Westminster; for more information call 020 8969 8886.

For help with getting to hospital and medical appointments, ask your GP or hospital doctor about Patient Transport Services. Alternatively Westminster Healthlink offers free door to door services to the main hospitals for those who live in W2, W9, W10, W11, NW1 or NW8 postcodes. To find out more call 020 8968 4056.

You can get free information and advice on all your travel options from Transport For All. Call 020 7737 2339 or visit www.transport forall.org.uk

Taster eventCome and find out about our community services and all the exciting things going on for older people in Westminster, from arts and crafts to keeping active, and give them a try at our free taster sessions. To find out more or book your place call the Senior Passport Line on 020 7641 1444.

When: 26th March, 11am

Where: Regent Hall, 275 Oxford Street, W1C 2DJ

Dance MovesDo you enjoy dancing? Don’t miss Dance Moves for the over 50s – a lively exercise class with easy dance moves.

Rosamund Lyons attends the class regularly. She says: “I like to go to the Dance Moves class to keep fit, but also because it’s fun and friendly.”

If dancing isn’t for you, there’s also an aqua exercise class in warm water.

Where: The Porchester Centre, Queensway, Baywater, W2 5HS

Dance Moves class: Tuesdays from 2–3pm

Aqua exercise class: Thursdays from 1.15–2pm

Call: 020 7792 2919

Cost: £1.60 per class

Margaret pays her council tax by Direct Debit – the easy way to pay.A direct debit is an arrangement with your bank where payments are made automatically on a set date but you stay in control – it can be cancelled at any time.

Everything is protected by the Direct Debit guarantee – you’ll get a full refund from your bank if there is a mistake.

You can trust Direct Debit to be totally secure – so just relax and enjoy the way it frees up your time.

To set up a direct debit for council tax call us on 0845 302 3400, 8.30am – 6pm, Monday – Friday.

Textphone: 0845 070 0281 (call charges will vary). The textphone telephone service is for people who are deaf, hard of hearing or have speech difficulties.

For CityWest Homes residents – ask at your estate office about Direct Debit for rent and service charges.

Westminster City Council Westminster City Hall 64 Victoria Street London SW1E 6QP

020 7641 6000 westminster.gov.uk

“I used to go into the One Stop every month to pay my council tax by cheque. Now I’ve set up a direct debit which means I don’t need to worry about missing a payment, and it’s easy to plan my budget.”