In The Know - Version 3

Take a look at our Winter Newsletter
http://www.ageukwestsussex.org.uk/uploads/Web_Version_In_the_Know_issue_3.pdf

Thanksgiving at the Redwood Centre, Haywards Heath

Our Redwood Centre celebrated Thanksgiving in style, and Members wrote on the leaves what they are thankful for and hung them on the tree.

Turkey and Tinsel Holiday!

42 members, Donna Parker (Redwood Centre Manager) and Wendy (a volunteer) have just returned from our annual Turkey & Tinsel holiday to Weston-super-Mare. All had a wonderful time, the hotel was a very old family run Victorian building overlooking the sea and pier, it was very clean and the staff always kind, considerate and helpful.  We left Haywards Heath on Halloween and the coach company decorated the coach accordingly, this was changed on Tuesday to Xmas decorations due to Tues being Xmas Eve, Wed Xmas Day and Thurs Boxing Day.  There was excellent entertainment every night which meant lots of dancing.  We had excursions to Clarkes shopping village in Street, Bath and a blue badge tour of Bristol.  Unfortunately one member had a fall the first morning and cut his ear quite badly, Wendy had to take him to A & E  he had 9 stitches and didn’t complain at all and on the journey home we had an accident on the M4 which resulted in the police and ambulances being called, a small car braked suddenly, hit a prisoner transport van (had 2 prisoners in) and we caught the back of the car fortunately due to our drivers excellent control no one was hurt, I think my members actually found it quite exciting once they realised there were no injuries.

Here are a few great photos of the holiday:

Remembrance Day at the Redwood Centre

At the Redwood Centre, Haywards Heath Julia played The Last Post and we had 2 minutes silence then Reveille after which Richard Healy read Richard Brooke’s War Sonnet V: The Soldier.  All members stood to pay their respects for the 2 mins you can imagine how emotional it was.

Julia

 Also I have attached a picture of Ken Richards who lost his sight in 1957 at the Atomic Bomb testing in Maralinga, Australia it is also his 80^th birthday today.

Ken

                Jean Butler, Julia, Beryl Dyer, Melvin Leaney,Richard Healey, Pat Groombridge

A Warning - Passed on by Ken Carter

'I received a call from a 'representative' of BT, informing me that he was disconnecting me because of an unpaid bill. He demanded payment imediately of £31.00, or it would be £118.00 to re-connect at a later date. The guy wasn't even fazed when I told him I was with Virgin Media, ellegedly VM have to pay BT a percentage for line rental!
I asked the guy's name and he gave me the very 'english' John Peacock with a very foreign accent and phone number 0800 0800 152 0800 0800 152
Obviously the fellow realised I didn't beleive his story, so offered to demonstrate that he was from BT. I asked how and he told me to hang up and try phoning someone - he would disconnect my phone to prevent this - AND HE DID!!! My phone was dead - no engaged tone, nothing - untill he phoned me again.
Very please with himself, he asked if that was enough proff that he weas with BT. I asked how the payment was to be made and he said credit card, there and then.
I said that I didn't know how he had done it, but I had absolutely no intention of paying him, I didn't beleive his name or that he worked for BT.
He hung up.
Dialed 1471 and phoned his fictitious 0800 number - not recognised.
I phoned the police to let them know. I wasn't the first! It's only just started apparently, but it is escalating.
Their advice was to let as many people as possible know of this scam. The fact that the phone does go off would probably convince some people it's real, so please make as manay family and friends as aware of this.

Response from Littlehampton police station:
Real con job, don't get caught:
How it was done:This is good but not that clever. He gave the wrong number - it should have been 0800 800 152 0800 800 152 which takes you through to BT Business. The cutting off of the line is very simple, he stays on the line with the mute button on and you can't dial out - but he can hear you trying (this is because the person who initiates the call is the one to terminate it). When you stop trying he cuts off and immediately calls back. You could almost be convinced!
By the way this is not about getting the cash as this would not get past merchant services - it is all about getting the credit card details which include the security number so that it can be used for far larger purchases.

Andy OrpinPolice Community Support Officer

Weight off Workshops - Crawley

Do you want to loose some weight and become fitter in 2012?

Crawley Wellbeing in partnership with Age UK West Sussex and Big Lottery Fit as a Fiddle programme are offering a Weight Off Workshop course on behalf of Age UK West Sussex in Crawley. This is a 12 week weight management programme, covering a weigh-in, nutritional discussion and includes a light physical activity session. This course is particularly targeted at those aged over 50 who want to enter a weight loss programme that they can sustain, it is not a diet but a way of loosing weight gently and enables people to make lifestyle changes to improve health and wellbeing. You can still have a Kit Kat!!!

Start date: - Saturday 14^th Jan, 2012 to Saturday 31^st Mar, 2012 (ideal time to loose that Christmas Weight!!)

Time: - 10am - 11.30am, weekly for 12 weeks

Venue:-The

Silver Birch Centre Shackleton Road

, Tilgate, Crawley, RH10 5DF

Cost: - £25.00 per person, per course, payable in advance to Age Uk West Sussex. Cost covers the whole course  including a weekly exercise class.

To book: - or for further details please call 01293 585317 or wellbeing@crawley.org.uk

Cherry Tree Centre visit Gatton's School

Photo of Andrea and Barbara (Managers of Cherry Tree Activity Centre, Burgess Hill) at the Gatton’s School who kindly gave us their harvest festival goods.  Cherry Tree were invited along to their assembly on 28^th September and spoke to the children about the centre and what fun we have.  We had also sent the School some pictures of our members ‘doing’ activities, such as the Royal Wedding, IT Suite, Bluebell Railway visit etc. which the school displayed on a loop on a big screen during the assembly so the children could have a better insight of what the centre is about. Thanks for having us Gatton's School!

Annual General Meeting

Hi All,
On Wednesday 21st September, Age UK West Sussex held our Annual General Meeting at the Redwood Centre, Haywards Heath.
Visitors were supplied with scrumptious cupcakes accompanied with tea and coffee to start. (yummy)
Diane Henderson our Chief Executive thanked her Staff, Board Members and our impressive 500+ volunteers, who without we wouldn't be able to provide the service we do today. All in all it was a very succesful meeting. The meeting closed with a fantastic production from our very own Tamarisk Choir - 'The Music Makers' which managed to get the visitors singing and clapping along!

Community Force

Dear all

Christel Malham has done a sterling job to enter us for this funding opportunity here in Crawley. We would be grateful if you could spend a small amount of time to place a vote and encourage your members, families and friends to do so.

The easiest way for people to vote for your project is to use the following URL http://communityforce.natwest.com/project/3503, voting opens Monday 26th September at 9am. At this time a voting button will be present on your profile page. Please note that all persons wishing to vote via the website must register to the website in order to do so. For anyone wishing to vote who does not have internet access can call 0800 2100 246 and leave a message, one our team will then get back to them within 2 working days. Customers with hearing and speech impairments can contact us by Minicom number 0800 0155 545. There will also be an option on the website to search for your project by town, postcode and project name. Please note voting closes Sunday 23rd October at midnight. There are also buttons on your profile to automatically share your project profile on Facebook , Twitter and via e-mail. Unfortunately, only votes registered on the website or by telephone count.

Many thanks for your support.

Claire Jones

Day Services Manager

Crawley

Pomp & Circumstance

Donna Parker - Redwood Centre, Haywards Heath Manager:
"Here are some pictures from our Pomp & Circumstance lunch held last Thurs 8th September.

We had approximately 65 visitors for a wonderful full roast beef lunch with apple crumble and custard, complimentary wine and a quiz.  There were prizes for the best dressed and the wackiest hat/wig.  Richard our Redwood Support Worker, thoroughly enjoyed conducting the members whilst they all sang along with Land of Hope and Glory, Jerusalem and Rule Britannia and asked them all to stand whilst the national anthem played before lunch.  As you can see from the pictorial evidence I was able to cajole my 2 new support workers to wear our national colours even though Richard is from New Zealand and Meg is from America. A thoroughly great time was had by all."

Staff Away Day - Laburnum Centre

Age UK West Sussex held their annual staff away day at the Laburnum Centre this year, I must admit, from spending previous years at Arundel Castle and Butlins, the Laburnum Centre didn't seem like much of a thrill.. but I was pleasently surprised at what a lovely day was had.
We started the day off with some team building excersises, viewing pictures on the wall and guessing where they were taken, watching our new TV advert and discussing the pro's and cons and discussing how we would produce our own advert and in what way it could be most effective. I was slightly excited at the fact there were Terrys Chocolate Orange segments scattered amongst the tables, but this was completely overruled by the delicious strawberry cheesecake that was made by our very own Andrew Rowlatt - Chef at Laburnum Centre. I beleive even some members of staff went back for seconds!
We finished the day off with Tracy Taylor-Becks "pub quiz".
We had to all pick a team name, and being blessed having Ray - Finance Manager on our team, we decided to call ourselves "Everybody Loves Raymundo!" this then led us on to being crowned the winners of the pub quiz! We all got to pick a box of chocolates choosing from Malteasers, Toblerone and After Eights.
So all in all I thought it was a very successful day, and would like to share some photos with you!



Redwood Centre Summer Fayre

The Redwood Centre in Haywards Heath held a fantastic Summer Fayre on 30th July, consisting on Bric-a-Brac, tombola, guess the weight of the cake and there was even a fabulous bouncy castle! Not to mention chuck a wet sponge at the boss!
Some Great Photos of the event: