30 June InfoNOW news

News

Using Recite Me to listen to InformationNOW
Thinking about home adaptations
Homelessness for older people
Older People are increasing their use of digital technology
Great Exhibition of the North

Research & Reports

Volunteering has benefits in later life

Opportunities for Action

Free Online Falls course
Have your say – Newcastle Waste Commission
Improvement plans: A1 Scotswood to North Brunton

New on InformationNOW this week!

This week’s events & activities at a glance

See what’s on week c 3rd July.

Updated articles

• Looking after someone
• Keeping safe from attack

Updated organisations

• Disabled access holidays
• Jesmond community leisure
• St Matthew’s Church
• Highways England

Using Recite Me to listen to InformationNOW

If you have trouble reading websites because of a visual impairment, or learning disability we can help to make InformationNOW easier for you to use.

You can open the free Recite ME software by clicking the icons in the right hand corner of any page on the site. This opens the Recite Toolbar where you can can select the format which suits your needs.

For example, to hear the audio file for a page on InformationNOW you need to:
select the white icons button on the page.  This will then produce a selection of options’
find the play arrow, click on the page and it will read the text back to you.When it stops, click again for the next line.
You can create a Recite Me account on the toolbar (the button which looks like a person)  and save your settings so that InformationNOW appears exactly as you need it every time you visit.
How to tailor InformationNOW to your access needs

Thinking about home adaptations

Elders Council are partners in a research project with Northumbria University and Newcastle University. The project wants to ask people about the impact of home adaptations on their daily lives. This could be anything from, but not limited to, grab rails in the bathroom,  a wet room, hand rails for the stairs, a ramp outside your property, electronic garage doors, to a stair lift or reconfiguration of your home. If you have had an adaptation in the last 12 months and are interested in taking part, please contact [email protected] for more information and an Expression of Interest form.

Homelessness for older people

The National Housing Federation launched new report this month. Amongst the issues of homelessness they found that there are a lack of data on the issue of older people who are or may become homeless.  They recommend
giving older homeless people a voice at strategic and policy level. The Social Care Workforce Research Unit at King’s College London, suggests reforming the UK Coalition on Older Homelessness to raise the profile of older people who are worried about becoming homeless.

Older People are increasing their use of digital technology

Ofcom’s annual Adults’ Media Use and Attitudes report, reveals that there is a rise in people over 75 years using tablets and smartphones as well as people born between the 1940s and 1960s creating a digital profile online. That’s great news. However, there are still many who don’t feel confident about using the internet and for those people Information NOW has a series of articles about Getting Online to help you.

Great Exhibition of the North

Following its launch this weekend, the Great Exhibition will engage communities and businesses to enhance the North East’s profile and encourage study, work and investment in the North East.  To keep in touch, sign up for regular updates, opportunities to volunteer or get your school or business involved.

Research and Reports

Volunteering has benefits in later life

The Centre for Ageing has conducted research into the benefits of volunteering in the community. The findings show that those working with older people or funding volunteering activities can be confident that there are wellbeing benefits of making a contribution to the community.   There is evidence that if you feel valued and appreciated in formal volunteering roles, this contributes to reduced depression.

Older people who make voluntary contributions report:
• an increase in the quantity and quality of their social connections
• an enhanced sense of purpose and self-esteem
• improved life satisfaction, happiness and wellbeing

Opportunities for Action

Free online Falls course

Every day in the UK, almost 10,000 people aged over 65 will fall down. The personal costs are staggering, with falls resulting in injury, broken bones, fear of falling and social isolation.

People fall because of a complex mix of factors. To reduce falling, it is important to identify these factors, and recognise those that could signify serious, but treatable, underlying medical problems.

Sign up for this free course provided by Future Learn working with Newcastle University and discover how to prevent and deal with falls in a practical way.

Information NOW has articles and tips on how to keep healthy and what to do if you fall.

Have your say on waste in Newcastle

Newcastle Waste Commission wants your ideas on how to reduce waste, recycle and pass items on.  Do you have any information such as reports or research or are you involved in a local scheme?

To find out more information and leave comments please visit.

There are also a series of Drop-ins:

Wednesday 19th July 4 pm  – 7 pm
Theme: Operations/Innovation/Technologies
Swan Parsons Committee Room, Civic Centre, NE1 8QH
There will also be a focus group at 6 pm in the Armstrong Stephenson Committee Room.
Wednesday 26th July 4 pm – 7 pm
Theme: Partnerships
Swan Parsons Committee Room, Civic Centre, NE1 8QH
There will also be a Focus group at 6 pm in the Armstrong Stephenson Committee Room.

InformationNOW has a series of articles linked to the environment, hoarding, and managing pests.

Improvement plans: A1 Scotswood to North Brunton

Highways England are holding a number of public engagement events to hear your views on the project plans to improve the A1. They are keen to consult with businesses or residents with local knowledge which may influence the design before taking the proposals to the next stage.

Details are available about the proposals and you can give your feedback online.

The events begin at Kingston Park Community Centre on 10 July, 11 am to 6.30 pm and finish on 4 August, Washington Services (junctions 64 and 65) from 10.30 am to 7pm.

There is a list of venues and events available on line.

Events & Activities at a glance

Monday 3rd July

Includes tap dancing, tai chi
yoga and dementia cafe. At a glance

Tuesday 4th July

Includes Rabita Women, Walkerville Over 55s Club,
Canasta and golf.  At a glance

Wednesday 5th July

Includes gardening, tai chi,
carpet bowls.  At a glance

Thursday 6th July

Includes bingo, exercise for men
and Mahila Mandal.  At a glance

Friday 7th July

Includes computer club, dementia carers group and ladies golf. At a glance.

Articles updated

Keeping safe from an attack

Looking after someone

Organisations updated

Disabled access holidays

Jesmond Community Leisure

St Matthew’s Church

Highways England

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We look forward to hearing from you soon.
Best Wishes

Kate Bowman
Development Manager (Information and advice), Quality of Life Partnership
(Maternity Leave)

Last updated: July 2, 2020