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annual report 2003-4 |
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Chair’s Report A warm welcome to those attending our 17th Annual General Meeting, and readers of this 17th Annual Report. I would like to thank the staff and volunteers for all their hard work, and my colleagues on the Management Committee. To accompany this report, the Centre has prepared a video outlining the work of the Centre, its successes and concerns, and the activities of the groups that use the Centre. This will be shown at the AGM and will be available for clubs and organisations to see at their request. The material will also be added to our web-site. In a changing world of increased complexity—not only technological but also many new policies, organisations and initiatives—the Centre’s role becomes ever more important, in informing, explaining, training older people and in pressing the authorities and voluntary agencies to discover and respond to the needs and interests of pensioners. The Centre is well-placed to perform this cohesive role, through its popular newsletter, its expertise and the many events and services outlined in this Report. Charles Cherrill Management Committee 2003-2004: Charles Cherrill Val Pickman Audrey Lewis Felix Dicum Joyce Somerville Reg O’Donoghue Azam Khan John Bland William Burnett Henry Quennell Alf Baillie Ambulai Siafa Veronica Ward Link Officer:Sevia John Centre Staff 2003-2004 Centre Manager: Ian Adams Admin Officer: Jackie Hill Advice Worker: Tina Armstrong (from July 2003) Temp Advice Worker Patricia Williams Employment Bureau Organiser: Ian Gardner Community Development Worker: Jon Morgan Aylesbury Project Worker: Marie Johnson Cleaner: Pearl Burton Holiday Organiser: Joyce Thomas Volunteer receptionists: Val Pickman, Rose Howell, Gina Dixon-Fyle, Madeleine Kekwick, Audrey Heron, Kitty Corish, Sheila Nichols Shopmobility Volunteers: Peter Byrne, Carmen Novell, Paul Luchmun, CarlAnderson, Sid Virgo, Ruby Jackson Southwark Pensioners Centre thanks the 27 affiliated groups and 495 individual members for their support. Work Report ADVICE We are gratified to have been awarded the Legal Service Commission’s Quality Mark (General Help with Casework) for our advice service. It gives us great pleasure to have our quality of service recognised, while making the service as accessible and supportive as possible to those who consult us. We are heartened too that so many advice clients - often living alone - use SPC to ease their worries, whether this be forms that need completing, or serious ‘cases’ of debt, court action or complex benefit matters. In the year 2003/4, we helped 597 clients with 865 enquiries (these figures exclude the Aylesbury Advice Service, see below). The main types of enquiries were: Benefits and pensions: 490 Housing: 117 Legal: 60 Debt/consumer: 57 Taxes: 44 Health/social services: 30 Transport: 20 Through the Centre’s work, clients were able to secure £10,281 in capital payments (backdated benefits, charity payments, debt write-offs) and £845.50 in weekly benefits which together represent over £54,000 secured for older people in Southwark. The significant trends ‘behind’ these enquiries were: the introduction of Pension Credit, with corresponding changes to many other benefits continuing difficulties with fuel suppliers, transfers to new suppliers, and estimated bills the move towards Direct Payment of benefit an increasing number of referrals by advice centres and Social Services. We have this year benefited from the presence of a Department of Works and Pensions Official (every third Wednesday) who complements our service with functions only the DWP can perform (e.g. verifying savings, certificates and other documents). On a less positive note, we are sad that our Advice Worker, Tina Armstrong, has had to resign after long-term ill health. We have been lucky that Patricia Williams has been able to stand-in for her for so many months. Our hope is to continue, and expand the Advice Service to meet the needs of more people. EMPLOYMENT The Chair has referred to changing times, especially true of the employment picture for older people. As people over sixty have higher expectations of financial security and a rewarding lifestyle, employment opportunities become more and more important to them. This can only increase if retirement age and pension policy inclines people to work on to 70. Employers will increasingly realise that people have much to offer the labour market, and society, after their sixtieth birthday. We are able to fill jobs even more quickly since we computerised our employment register, on which we now have 218 applicants. This is an attractive feature of our (free) service, but most of all it is the reliability and experience of older people that attracts enlightened employers. Through the Chamber of Commerce and other channels, we have embarked on a publicity drive, and as more employers approach us, the more we can achieve and exceed our target of filling two jobs a week—within the six hours a week (Tuesdays and Thursdays, 9.30 - 12.30) Ian Gardner staffs the Bureau. HOLIDAYS AND HOLIDAY GRANTS Through our volunteer Joyce Thomas, the Centre continues to offer a range of holidays throughout the year. We aim to cater for different budgets (see Grants below), different locations and different accommodations (hotels and holiday camps). We know that more single-room accommodation is sought after, which we strive to obtain, and which for the moment we ‘ration’ to be fair to all. Whilst there are occasional problems (e.g. the decline in hotel service at the once-popular Burstin Hotel), the satisfaction rate recorded in holiday makers’ questionnaires is generally very high. The holidays clearly meet a need, as these replies indicate: “so nice to have a holiday organised for me, I couldn’t manage it” “I look forward to meeting old friends, and making new ones” “it gives me something to look forward to a complete rest and being spoiled!” The holiday grants programme has grown considerably over recent years, as more and more people discover this facility. In short, Social Services offer a subsidy to help Southwark residents with holiday grants every other year ; applications are processed, submitted and paid out by us. In 2003/4 we handled a total of 366 applications. COMPUTER TRAINING People over 60 are the fastest growing users of the Internet, e-mail and computers generally, we hear. It is thus right that alongside other organisations we offer computer training to pensioners. All too often we hear of the unsuitability of the mainstream computer courses as being geared to younger people and qualifications. The Centre offers: -free access to computers and the web, for those wanting time to use and practise alone -practice sessions in small groups, with someone on hand to assist with difficulties -more formal training courses, with an experienced tutor, some one-day, some 6-8 weeks and hopes shortly to offer -a weekly Internet session (for the intermediate user) with a guide to increase your skills. NEWSLETTER One-In-Five continues to be an important information resource for older people. How do we know? Well, indicators include: the rocketing membership level of almost 500 members; the increasing interest from partnership organisations to include their material; and the times (hopefully few!) when we are told newsletters arrive after an advertised event. The newsletter is mailed first-class to all members, and distributed through the Housebound Library Service. It has become increasingly difficult to deliver via volunteers to unaffiliated groups in the borough but we hope soon to launch an electronic version for organisations (with computers) and their members. PARTNERSHIP A less visible part of our work is supporting other organisations in research, new projects, consultation, performances, and may be one-off, short- or long-term. Leafing through the diary for 2003-4 revealed such collaborative work with the following: Elephant & Castle (and other) history research Complementary Health Project Entelechy Arts Lorrimore Home and Dry Project Various Arts projects ENO & Philharmonic Orchestra Workshops Indian Head Massage Fire Brigade Safety Programme Carers Counselling Live Music Now Southwark Pensioners Forum Old Age Psychiatry Team PCT Crisis Response Project Seniors Creative Network PCT Falls Prevention Project BFI Reminiscence Project Kings College Hospital Research Phial in the Fridge scheme USER GROUPS AND ACTIVITIES Our Annual Monitoring of Centre Users (see p.10) reveals an average 169 people coming to the Centre each week and, while some are users of the services described, the majority are regular attenders of groups each week. These include (see also link to whats on: Monday Art Class(10-12) Originally a beginners’ class, the group have gone to exhibit their work and enter competitions (with success!). Work, with tutor Paul Crewe includes watercolours, line-drawing, and life-drawing. (Monday Exercise Class (12-1) - has been suspended following the loss of its tutor.) Goodrich Club (Mon 1-3) The Club runs quizzes, bring and buy sales, outings, speakers and (when all else fails!) bingo. Also a cards group. New members welcome. Tuesday Art Class (10-12) A more experienced class (but open to beginners) now in its tenth year. Again with tutor support, it includes drawing and painting with a variety of materials. Tuesday Over-Fifties (1.30-3.30) After gentle exercise and movement, this homely club runs tea and bingo. Occasional outings too. All welcome. Welcome Singers (2-4 Wednesdays) As the name implies, this new group welcomes new singers to join in a range of musical styles. Thursday Pop-In (11-1) A range of topical debate, combining the London Coffee House with the Internet Café!. All welcome. Anxiety Support Groups supporting people in the community after hospitalisation take place each Tuesday, Thursday and Friday afternoon. Members (referred by GP only) enjoy the genial atmosphere of a community setting, whilst being supported by community health workers who can access services quickly. Lorraine Harris points out these save the health budget £15,000 a year. Groups (not meeting weekly) at the Centre include: Southwark Explorers Club holds planning meetings, and occasional events at the Centre, but primarily uses the Centre as a base for its trips to places far and wide. This very popular group, with over 250 members, issues a monthly programme - of several monthly events - to members, and considers the Centre to give ‘a lot of support’ in its activities. Southwark Pensioners Action Group similarly meets at the Centre several times a month. Besides its own membership of over 200, it has sister organisations in Bermondsey, and in East Dulwich and Peckham. Jon Morgan gives active support to all these organisations, and others... COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT WORK In February SPAG organised a day-long health conference in conjunction with Kings College Hospital that has paved the way for more involvement and consultation by pensioners in the planning of health services locally. Members have consulted with Social Services on the drafting of new contracts for community care. They also campaign and keep a watch on a range of care issues like direct payments, hospital transport, hospital discharge and day care. SPAG continues to hold public meetings with policy makers, such as Stephen Ladyman, Minister for Social Care (a packed-out meeting), Valerie Shawcross, GLA member, and local councillors. S.P.A.G. is also involved in pressing for the implementation of the national ‘Pensioners’ Manifesto’ and are holding a celebration in December to this end. Look out for details in their monthly newsletter, which is sent to all Centre members. The groups in Bermondsey and East Dulwich and Peckham continue to keep pensioners informed on issues that affect them in their areas. They offer information, news from around the borough and beyond and a chance for members to question and consult with officials and agencies that directly affect them. S.T.U.N.G. (Southwark Transport Users Negotiating Group) has had its best year yet with its first A.G.M. in April, two very successful public meetings on bus routes and bus design and has secured its first funding. Congratulations on its successful campaign to keep the 42 bus route. S.T.U.N.G. was also involved with the protest against the barriers in Dulwich Park. Like all the groups, STUNG welcomes new members. Meetings and events are advertised in the One in Five. Clubs and groups meetings offer a chance for those who run them to meet and discuss issues in common. SPC continues to support groups with advice on funding, access to training, new premises, professional help and other development needs. SPC continues to run the only regular shopping trips for less mobile older people in Southwark. This year shoppers have been able to travel in more comfort and safety thanks to minibuses hired from LaSCoT (Lambeth & Southwark Community Transport). We have been able to accommodate more shoppers per trip and LaSCoT also help with driver and escort training. New volunteers are always welcome and always needed. Health and Empowerment Project (Aylesbury Estate) Thanks to funding from the New Deal for Communities, and the New Opportunities Fund, the Centre is able to deliver many similar activities direct to the Aylesbury Estate (north of Burgess Park, SE5). This estate is one of several large estates or ‘regeneration areas’ in the Borough, where residents are facing social deprivation, e.g. poorer housing, high unemployment, a high fear of crime, social isolation. As both cause and effect, mainstream services including voluntary organisations are less ‘connected’ or used by residents. This is especially serious for older residents. Our Health and Empowerment Project (Older People) seeks to reverse this, by bringing services to the estate and by responding to residents’ needs. SPC employs a Community Worker and part-time Advice Worker to bring about these changes and in the last year has: -carried out a survey of older people’s needs -developed new activities: - Healthy Walks (in partnership with Sports Action Zone) - Line-dancing classes (Tuesday mornings/Thurs. evening) - Exercise class - Health talks - Outings and parties -built up a ‘database’ of 140 older residents, who receive a special Aylesbury newsletter -provided welfare rights advice to 112 clients on 188 enquiries, many being quite serious, complex and distressing, in keeping with local poverty. Annual Monitoring : what our users say …. Although we receive regular feedback from users and strive to improve our services, the annual questionnaire is a useful formal process of profiling our users and their views. The findings of the last monitoring of users in one November week included: 127 different people visit the Centre weekly a further 42 people visit again that week 50% of people come to activity groups (see pp.6-8) and 50% use other services 20% are over 80, 35% are 70-79 and 35% are 60-69 75% are women, and 25% are from black and minority ethnic communities 91% value SPC as good or very good... The Centre evaluates this (and much more) data in its planning and seeks to remedy and improve. Your further comments and suggestions are most welcome. The Centre extends special thanks to… London Borough of Southwark, the Aylesbury New Deal for Communities and the New Opportunities Fund for its financial support to our work Chris Booth, Chris Haydon and Southwark TV for website and video training Peta Smith and Sean McCormick at Southwark Social Services Holidays Section Dele Martin and colleagues at the City Learning Centre Kunle Aketoja and Simi Johnson for computer training support Catherine Flynn and Keri Lewis at Aylesbury Healthy Living Network Cathie MacIver and colleagues in Aylesbury NDC team South-East London Community Foundation LBS Special Library Services Outreach workers for the English National Opera, British Film Institute and London Philharmonic Orchestra, and Live Music Now & all who participated in the video! Financial Report : Income & Expenditure Account 2003/4 Southwark Pensioners Centre gratefully acknowledges the financial assistance of L.B.Southwark, and Aylesbury New Deal for Communities and the New Opportunities Fund Healthy Living Partnership. The following is a provisional income and expenditure account for the Centre for the year to 31 March 2004, pending the complete audit by Southwark Local Accountancy Project, whose final accounts will take account of sundry creditors and debtors at 1.4.2003 and 31.3.2004. INCOME EXPENDITURE LBS Grant 112855.00Salaries 96626.80 Admin Grant 1300.00 Rent & Rates 23775.05 Holidays/outings28177.41 Holidays/outings23433.50 Holiday Grants 36460.00 Holiday Grants 36942.00 Minibus 763.10 Minibus 3341.81 Subscriptions 1153.70 Subscriptions 746.75 Printing 1068.89 Printing 1782.56 Interest 465.75 Bank charges 723.99 Room Hire/Rent 5568.00 Repairs/Maint. 2222.11 Fund-Raising/donations1041.05 Cleaning 1540.20 Development 165.00 Telephone 2821.93 Insurance claim 739.30 Insurances 843.49 Equipment grants1068.05 Equipment 2218.92 Miscellaneous 396.44 Gas/Elec 995.20 Diaries 126.50 Stationery 943.30 Postage 1929.01 Audit Costs 840.00 Miscellaneous 922.00 Training 497.50 Vol.ExpensesFares 890.70 Total 191348.19 Total 204036.82 Copies of audited accounts of the above account, and of the Health and Empowerment project will be available on request Felix Dicum,Treasurer Access to Southwark Pensioners Centre Building access : SPC has full disabled access with use of lift to downstairs meeting rooms, and external ramped access (by arrangement). On ground-floor level (no steps) are: reception, information and advice, Employment Bureau, and all staff offices. Toilets on both floors are adapted for wheelchair access. Train: nearest BR stations are Denmark Hill (half mile) and Loughborough Junction (three-quarters mile approx) Also Elephant & Castle. Tube: there is no local tube station, but there are good bus links with Elephant & Castle (Northern Line), Waterloo (Northern) and Brixton (Victoria). Buses: SPC is very close to Camberwell Green which is served by the following buses: 12, 35, 36, 40, 42, 45, 45A, 68, 171, 176, 185, 436 and 484 Car: On-street parking is possible in Elmington Road and Lomond Grove. Two disabled bays in Bullace Row (adjoing the Centre). How to join Southwark Pensioners Centre You can join Southwark Pensioners Centre as an individual member (£3 p.a ) or affiliate as a group (£8 p.a ). For the fee, you receive a monthly “One in Five” newsletter (1 for individuals, 10 for affiliated groups) and other mailings, can use Centre facilities at advantageous prices or in some circumstances free, are invited to members’ meetings and can vote and stand for election at the Annual General Meeting. For more information please contact Jackie at the Centre. |
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