Older people challenging isolation and loneliness in our community
Posts by volunteers, staff and session workers
On the day that Tracey Crouch announces the UK government strategy to combat loneliness, Hackney elders discuss their own understanding and experiences of loneliness and isolation.
The voices belong to: Andreas, Marylin, Mimi and Sallie.
Recorded 15 October 2018 in the Dalston Eastern Curve Garden, London E8 3DF.
An experiment in online gatherings and workshopsSaturday 20 Oct, 2 to 4 pm
This is something we have been thinking about for several years. We don’t like the fact that our inclusive drop-in sessions do not include some of the people who most need it – people who are housebound, always or occasionally, for any reason.
Can we create an online drop-in that is tied to the real drop-in, so that everybody feels that they belong, everybody feels more connected, and everybody gets help and support if they want it?
Online gatherings with video and sound are not new. Businesses have been doing it for at least 20 years. The technology already works well. It’s available to anyone who has an Internet connection (at home or anywhere else) and a device with a video camera and a microphone. That’s a lot of people. The challenge is learning how to make it work for everybody who visits the IT drop-in, and everybody who cannot.
Right now, it’s not obvious how we could include housebound IT beginners. That’s a goal we should work towards, from where we are now – a plausible starting point, which we think could be Hangouts Meet.
Learners on our recent mini-course G Suite apps helped to test Hangouts Meet, which we can offer as a free resource for chat, information and learning. Of course, we couldn’t test it fully because we were all in the same room! But it seems to have everything we need: business-level privacy, designed for regular scheduled sessions at which everyone can get to know everyone else, good sound quality over wifi (reasonable video too), the ability to break out to smaller group chats, participants can create their own sessions if they want to, and even the possibility of running online workshops.
So the next step is to pilot it — schedule a date and time for an open online session in which nearly everybody will be somewhere else, probably at home. We hope you can find time next Saturday to join an experimental session. Details below …
If you would like more information about this idea, please email helpteam@hellohackney.net
If you would like help with your equipment, or maybe even try a dummy run, please come to one of our four drop-in sessions this week.
A message from the Speaker of Hackney …
Sunday 7th October, 1pm – 4pm,
Hackney Town Hall – Assembly RoomsSunday 7th October is Silver Sunday and events will be taking place across the UK to celebrate older people.
We are inviting Hackney’s over 50’s to join us for a sing-a-long event at Hackney Town Hall. There will be a performance by the Hackney Empire Community Choir and plenty of opportunity for everyone to join in and sing a mix of songs together.
The event is free to Hackney residents aged over 50 (tickets are available for carers of any age) and there will also be refreshments, goodie bags and a raffle.
To book tickets, contact Eda on 020 8356 3591 or email speaker@hackney.gov.uk
Hackney elders talking with the young PEER UK ambassadors about growing up and living in Hackney.
The oldie voices belong to: Marylin, Paula, Peter, Rick, Sallie, Walter. The PEER UK voices belong to Alice, Davinia, Dela, Elise, Mariam.
Recorded 21 September 2018 at PEER UK, London N1 6QL
Two workshops in SeptemberClick for ALL the details about the Bowel Cancer workshop
Click for ALL the details about the Smokefree workshop
Hackney oldies look back on their lives in a conversation that begins and ends with Hackney Carnival.
The voices belong to: Andreas, Mark, Paula, Peter and Rick.
Recorded 11 September 2018 in St Mary’s Secret Garden, London E2 8EL
These free IT courses might be exactly what you are looking forThe courses will be at Kingsland Hub in Kingsland Road — very close to Whitmore Community Centre.
They will be run by Peter Bedford Housing Association (PBHA), who have sent us this information …
‘This short taster course is for people who have not used computers before and wish to sample what computers are about before pursuing the next step. The course runs twice weekly’
‘This course is for people who have done the Taster course and wish to continue learning’
We cannot answer any questions about these courses — so for more information or to register for a course, please contact PBHA as soon as possible …
Hackney elders sharing how they keep themselves physically and mentally fit. Part 1 of a longer session.
The voices belong to: Andreas, Janette, Maralyn, Margaret, Paula, Peter and Sallie.
Recorded 28 August 2018 in St Mary’s Secret Garden. 34 minutes.
Hackney elders talking about housing problems. Part 2 of a longer session. Listen to Part 1 first.
The voices belong to: Alice, Andreas, Maralyn, Paula, Peter, Sallie and Walter.
Recorded 28 August 2018 in St Mary’s Secret Garden, London E2 8EL
A course for adventurous oldiesEvery Wednesday morning during September
Learn how to use apps for communication – slides, flyers, poster, video calls, messaging (and maybe improve your email skills).
You will be using our classy new laptops, exploring ways to be useful with the help of simple and free software.
At 3 of the 4 sessions, we will be joined by teams of young volunteers from the City.
Finish with a sense of achievement, knowing that you have learnt something new, and a certificate to prove it.
Update 26 September