25 February InfoNOW News

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With the help of the information in The Little Orange book, published by the Newcastle Gateshead Clinical Commissioning Group (NGCCG) we have published a new article on Children’s Health aimed at parents, carers and families.  Our aim is to quickly signpost you to help and support from the NHS.  We hope that it helps.

Explore the North East using active travel

If you’re struggling to find things to do that won’t break the bank, take a look at Go Smarter, Go Active’s free Active Travel Days Out guides and interactive maps to occupy your time and make lasting family memories.  There are 16 fun-filled guides for you to try. Packed with fun facts, folklore and history, all of the guides are illustrated in a way that brings each of the areas they cover to life.

Designed to be walked or cycled, there are shorter routes, ideal for families with young children, and longer cross-boundary routes for those looking to make a day of it. Each guide is designed to help you discover amazing and perhaps previously uncovered parts of Durham, Gateshead, Newcastle, Northumberland, North Tyneside, South Tyneside and Sunderland.  They offer an abundance of options for days out, whether you want to explore your local area or somewhere completely new.

InformationNOW has an article on:  Day trips and visits

Council Jubilee Awards

Would you like to nominate a staff member at the Council or YHN for the Making a Difference Award?

To celebrate thee Queen’s Platinum Jubilee 2022 the Council is inviting nominations from members of the public, employees and community groups that recognise the contribution that Newcastle City Council and Your Homes Newcastle employees make to the City, its communities and people.

You can submit your nomination online

Spotlight on

National Grounds Week, 28th February to 6th March

The Grounds Management Association launched this awareness raising week last year, to say thank you to all the staff and volunteers that help maintain our sports and activity areas across the country.  Without their dedication, we couldn’t undertake the wealth of sports, fitness and hobbies that we have access to.

Last year’s #GroundsWeek campaign reached more than 135 million people, secured support from 1,193 organisations and individuals across sport and generated more than 3,000 mentions on social media. Many messages were also shared beyond our industry – allowing more people to better understand what a job in grounds management entails.

So much time and effort goes into maintaining a golf course for instance, so that Golf in Society can offer their services to people who feel isolated, and would like to get out on the course and socialise.  Think of the rangers and volunteers looking after the Urban Green parks and gardens or our local National Trust grounds. Locally, we have St James’s football pitch and the Newcastle United Foundation activities and further afield we know that there is a team preparing for Wimbledon.

InformationNOW has articles on: parks, gardens, forests and woodlands, fitness activities and hobbies

Have you thought about looking for a job in grounds maintenance? Contact the Skills Hub

Research & Reports

Planning ahead for retirement

According to Cerebral Cortex, published by Oxford University Press, older people know how to use their abilities well and respond to changes with a wisdom based on experience. This is one of the reasons we need to retain older people in our workforce.

The Centre for Ageing Better has released their report, Reframing ageing: public perceptions of ageing, older age and demographic change.It shows that just 2:5 of those in their 50s and 60s feel positive about ageing.  Right around this same time of life, many people realise the importance of having made good financial decisions in their earlier decades.

If you are looking towards your retirement, 50 years and upwards, it makes sense to look into your finances: check into your National Insurance contributions to access your state pension; make a plan to pay off your mortgage early if you can; put your Will in place, think about your housing options, home care and care homes.

Across all ages,the Centre for Ageing Better report found that most people agree that our experience of ageing is determined by circumstances and the way that society is structured (40%), rather than just our life choices (21%).

InformationNOW has sections on all these topics, just click the hyperlinks above.

Get involved with research at VOICE

VOICE has lots of online and face to face opportunities to share your experience to help us advance our medical and social thinking. Examples include:

Share your experience of remote GP consultations
How to measure walking and mobility in the real world
Understanding how technology could be used for daily living

InformationNOW has a section on volunteering

Resources & Training

Training coming up

Cultural competency; working with ethnically minoritised communities
English as a second language classes take place across Newcastle and the region
Building confidence to challenge honour based violence
Learning Together programme exploring social prescribing with VONNE

InformationNOW has an article on lifelong learning

Dental care myth-busters

Healthwatch Newcastle and teams across the North East region have seen a significant increase in concerns about seeing an NHS dentist. Together, they have produced a ‘myth busting’ booklet to dispel the most common rumours about NHS dentistry.

The booklet gives information on topics, such as, what it means to register with a dental practice, why you may be offered a private appointment and what is meant by the term ’emergency care’.

Download the myth-busting booklet

InformationNOW has an article on: dentists and healthy teeth

Interested in climate issues and want to get involved?

IPPR North is the dedicated think tank for the north of England with bases in Manchester and Newcastle.  They have released a report, Net zero places: A community-powered response to the climate crisis that they’d like to discuss with you in a webinar on 7th March. Book your place and be inspired.

New on InformationNOW

This week’s events & activities at a glance

Friday Friends at St Martin’s Centre
Fit and Fab and over 50 at St Martin’s Centre
Crafty and Social at St Martin’s Centre
Tai Chi with Chain Reaction
Tai Chi at St Martin’s Centre

Rossini with the Jesmond Choral Group
Newcastle Cathedral has a series of events from tours, tour and draw, wedding gowns and organ recitals

Articles Updated

Buying or renting ordinary housing

Organisations Updated

Being Woman
The Buffalo Community Centre Blyth
Sunderland City of Sanctuary
Migrant Help UK

Last updated: February 25, 2022