Do you enjoy knitting? If so, would you like to help us meet a challenge and raise funds for Age Concern Calderdale and Kirklees?

"Cat and Spider" - an entry from 2007

Last year, we knitted over 4700 mini Bobble Hats to put on ‘Innocent smoothies’ in Sainsburys stores. This year, we want to more than double that – knitting 10,000 to raise £2,500 for vital local work.

We’ll be running a campaign for the best hat, with prizes awarded. You can contact us to find out more, or download the Knitted Hats Information pack. All completed hats need to be returned to us by 1st October 2010.

The latest issue of Newsage is available to download here.

Features include information about Fit as a Fiddle, advice on pension changes, staying safe from flooding, and news of the official launch of AgeUK

Are you in need of a short break or a holiday?

Grants of up to £250 are available for Calderdale residents aged 60 plus towards the cost of a holiday. Funds are limited, and are only open to people who have not received a grant in the past from the Halifax Holiday Fund.

For more information and an application form, please contact us.

We have recently heard of a number of companies contacting older people advising they can have their council tax bands re-evaluated and reduced, along with reimbursement of overpayments.  These companies charge for their service and, whilst not illegal, are capitalizing on the credit crunch and taking money for a service that is offered free by the Local Authority.  Some state no win no fee, however, this is not always the case.

Some key points to bear in mind:-

• The Local Authority will re-assess any property for Council Tax free of charge at the request of the home owner
• Council tax bands were set in the early 90’s and based on property values at the time.  Some households were wrongly banded at this time – hence the onset of companies prepared to challenge LA’s.
• Anyone can pursue a clain against the LA if they strongly believe that they were wrongly banded in a higher band in the first instance and this can be done free of charge.

It is IMPORTANT to note that it is also possible that a re-assessment may increase the council tax band rather than decrease it.

• Obviously, people are free to use the agencies that charge for the service – BUT please, always read the small print and be clear on charges, plus the possibility of no financial return before signing any agreements.

If you have any concerns or want advice on this issue, please contact our information service.

From 1^st June 2010, the Calderdale Shopmobility service transferred to Age Concern Calderdale and Kirklees (ACCK).  We are very pleased to be the new guardians of Calderdale Shopmobility and are excited at the prospect of managing and developing the service to meet the mobility needs of people living in the Calderdale area.   Whilst we have now taken the Calderdale Shopmobility service, we do not run the Kirklees Shopmobility service and this remains a separate, independent organisation.

Calderdale Shopmobility complements many other services that ACCK runs throughout Calderdale and Kirklees, including information and advice, home care services, shopping and cleaning, home from hospital, day care, active befriending, community link services, advocacy, charity shop, insurance and energy products.

For the time being the Calderdale Shopmobility service will continue to operate from the current premises at Wards End.  There will be no change in how users and members access mobility aids and scooters and we will continue to provide the exceptional service that people are used to from our valued staff and volunteers. However, we will need to relocate to new premises later this year as the lease on the Wards End premises expires and we are unable to renew it.  We will keep you informed of our plans over the coming months.

If you have any questions you might wish to ask about the service, or indeed have some ideas about how you think the service might be developed to assist you, then please contact us Pat Akerman on 01422 399830, or via the contact form on this website.

You can also find out more about Shopmobility from the existing Calderdale Shopmobility website.

Sue McGrotty, Manager of the service, will be retiring at the end of this month and I am sure that you will join us in thanking her for all her hard work over the years and wishing her a healthy and happy retirement.

Age Concern Calderdale & Kirklees/Calderdale Shopmobility are extremely grateful to Voluntary Action Calderdale who have hosted Calderdale Shopmobility for the last 9 months.  They have done an excellent job in not only securing the future of this valued project but also in overseeing and developing the service through some extremely difficult times and supporting the staff and volunteers.

We’re working with Kirklees libraries to help grandparents and grandchildren living in the Denby Dale area share family treasures by making memory books together.

There’ll be five weekly sessions over the summer to create family scrapbooks with photos, text and art materials.

Places are limited, and there is a small charge – so please book early. Download the poster for more details and a booking form, or email Kate Billson.

World Elder Abuse Awareness Day takes place on 15th June each year. Established by the United Nations, the day is about everyone working together for greater recognition of the mistreatment of older people wherever they live throughout the world.

In the UK, the day is coordinated by Action on Elder Abuse (AEA), who recently lost their Governemtn grant funding.

Find out more about Elder Abuse Awareness Day from the AEA website.

Age UK’s General Election campaign website contains information about the five key issues we want people to raise with election candidates. There’s also information about the number and influence of older voters in each constituency, and a facility to email your local candidates.

You can visit the website at http://election.ageuk.org.uk/.

Did you know? It’s likely that almost half the people voting in each of our local constituencies will be 55 or older!

The next Home Safety Forum is in Hebden Bridge on 25th May, at the old Council offices on St Georges Street. The Forum is open for drop ins from 9.45am to 2.00pm.

As well as Age Concern Calderdale and Kirklees, the organisations with stands and information will include the Council Home Energy Team, Pennine Housing, the Environment Agency, West Yorkshire Police, the Handyperson service, Fire Service, Pensions Service, the Carers’ Project, the Acorn Centre – and others.

Free admission, free tea and coffee, a free prize draw, and a limited supply of free Carbon Monoxide detectors.

Come along and join our springtime walk at Manor Heath Park on

Thursday 15th April 2010.

Meet outside the Jungle Experience, Manor Heath Park at 12.30pm

Enjoy the blossoming spring flowers whilst delving into the history of the surrounding area, on our guided springtime stroll.

A choice of 2 walks available for all abilities.

Please dress appropriately for the weather.

Each walk will last approx one hour.

After the walk take part in our planting demonstration workshop and plant your own spring bulbs!