Tag: wellbeing

Stronger My Way | Physical Activity Resources

The Chartered Society of Physiotherapy has released a series of resources for organisations that support people living with health conditions to perform strengthening activities.

The Chartered Society of Physiotherapy has released resources to help organisations to support people living with health conditions to perform strengthening activities to help them to feel better and stay active. Organisations can access their evidence base, links to training and resources, and a forum to share information and experiences. Click here to view the resources.

New Wellbeing Webinar from Zurich – “The Power of the Morning Routine!”

Zurich are hosting a wellbeing webinar hosted by a leading wellness coach, to discuss how having a morning routine can help your overall wellbeing.

Zurich are hosting a wellbeing webinar hosted by leading wellness coach, Kate Horwood, to discuss how having a morning routine can help your overall wellbeing. You’ll receive lots of tips, tools, exercises and advice around how best to manage your time and energy, and be more productive as a result. The webinar takes place on Wednesday 20th April from 10-11am and you can book your place here.

To add a little spring in our step, sparing a little time for ourselves to look after our mental, emotional and physical wellbeing is so important. In a modern world, where there are so many ways we can connect, it can sometimes be difficult to switch off, and how your morning starts can have an impact on how you feel for the rest of the day.

What you’ll learn…

  • Why a morning routine is so powerful  
  • How it sets you up for a positive and productive day  
  • The difference between being in a proactive versus reactive state  
  • Locus of control – what it is and why it’s so important  
  • Example morning routines of well-known, successful people  
  • Examples of what participants can do to start their own morning routine  
  • How to create a successful morning routine for yourself  
  • Participants leave with a plan for their new morning routine 
click here to book your place

Programme Funding Survey – Thank You!

A huge thank you to the 84 Partners who responded to the survey on programme funding from Age UK’s Wellbeing Department. Find out details of the survey findings below.

A big thank you to all of you who responded to our survey on new programme funding from earlier this year. 84 local Age UK partners responded and the findings have been hugely helpful in enabling us to think ahead about what our programmes could look like in future. Find out full details below.

Insights from the survey included:

  • The majority of partners are still keen to see further funding for I&A, Exercise/Physical Activity and Digital Inclusion, as well as Socialising & Activities
  • Many partners would like to see larger grants over a longer period of time, for example £25k or more over 2 years or more
  • The challenge of monitoring and reporting requirements was a common barrier which discouraged partners from applying for programme funding

Although we can’t control the decisions of the funders we work with, having the evidence provided by this survey helps us to influence their decision-making to make our programmes more beneficial for older people and for the Age UK network. Many thanks for the time you have taken to respond, it really is appreciated.

If you have any queries please contact Alison Ingram – alison.ingram@ageuk.org.uk.

Reminder – Survey on new programme funding

A reminder that Age UK’s Wellbeing Department have created a short survey to find out how to ensure future funded programmes are as beneficial to the Age UK Network as possible.

Thank you to those who have already responded to our request for feedback on new funded programmes. If you haven’t had chance to complete the survey yet, this is a quick reminder that the deadline is 14th January. You can read the original article below to find out full details, or click here to get started.

Age UK has been providing grant-funding through our programmes for many years and 83% of the local Age UK network received some funding via this route in 2020/21. The Age UK Wellbeing Department is continuing to develop new programmes and we are keen to ensure that these new schemes are impactful for older people and are beneficial to the Age UK network. To that end, we would be grateful if you could complete this short survey by the end of the day on 14th January 2022, to help us to understand more about what you would like programme funding for in the future. The survey should take no more than 10 minutes.

Please note that, although we will endeavour to generate and provide as much funding as possible to the local network, we can’t guarantee that we will be able to offer the programmes identified through the survey – but we will certainly do our best!

If you’ve any queries about this survey please contact Alison Ingram – alison.ingram@ageuk.org.uk.

Survey: Future Programme Funding for the Age UK Network

Age UK’s Wellbeing Department have created a short survey to find out how to ensure future funded programmes are as beneficial to the Age UK Network as possible.

Age UK has been providing grant-funding through our programmes for many years and 83% of the local Age UK network received some funding via this route in 2020/21. The Age UK Wellbeing Department is continuing to develop new programmes and we are keen to ensure that these new schemes are impactful for older people and are beneficial to the Age UK network. To that end, we would be grateful if you could complete this short survey by the end of the day on 14th January 2022, to help us to understand more about what you would like programme funding for in the future. The survey should take no more than 10 minutes.

Please note that, although we will endeavour to generate and provide as much funding as possible to the local network, we can’t guarantee that we will be able to offer the programmes identified through the survey – but we will certainly do our best!

If you’ve any queries about this survey please contact Alison Ingram – alison.ingram@ageuk.org.uk.

Healthy Ageing and the LGBTQ+ Divide – Virtual Conference 2021

Opening Doors are hosting a virtual conference “Healthy Ageing and the LGBTQ+ Divide” on Wednesday 1st December from 11am-1pm. Find out full details, including how to book your place.

Opening Doors’ latest research, and that of their partners, informs the Pride in Care quality standard and other training that they offer to health and social care services throughout the UK. To help further the impact of this research, recent findings will be presented at their virtual conference, Healthy Ageing and the LGBTQ+ Divide: Virtual Conference 2021 on World Aids Day (1 December from 11am – 1pm), with presentations from Dr. Michael Brady (LGBT Health Advisor to the Government), Marc Thompson (The Love Tank, Team Prepster), Helen Belcher (TransActual UK) and more.

All attendees will receive the Opening Doors LGBTQ+ 50+ Health and Wellbeing Survey Report 2021 and links to the speakers’ research presentations.

Click here to book your place


Opening Doors would love to see you there! Alternatively, if this might be of interest to others you know, you can share some info about it by clicking: Facebook, Twitter or Instagram.

Loneliness Community of Interest Meeting – Wednesday 1st December

Find out all the details of the upcoming Loneliness Community of Interest Meeting on Wednesday 1st December, including how to book your place.

After the recent loneliness survey and workshop, a Loneliness Community of Interest is being set up. This Community of Interest (CoI) will be facilitated by Age UK and will build on four elements that emerged from the workshop. The first Loneliness Community of Interest is being held on 1st December 10.00 – 11.30. Click here to register or read on for more information.

The four elements that emerged from the recent Loneliness Workshop are: 

  • Identifying and assessing loneliness risk and need. This includes how to raise the issue with service users and/or customers and the use of scales  
  • Guided Conversation and goal setting that includes discussion of a person’s capability, opportunities, and motivation 
  • Community asset mapping and exploring local partnerships. This involves understanding local need, the local system and improving access to support across local communities and populations 
  • Delivering a multi stranded offer to older people 

It is expected that each element will be explored by a sub-group within the Community of Interest, so experts across the Network can help shape our work. 

The structure, format and timings for each sub-group will be the primary focus of the first Loneliness Community of Interest. It is planned to agree the CoI’s aim and broader objectives, the frequency of meetings, outputs, and activities. It is envisaged this is a six-month commitment and local Age UKs may wish to involve more than one person from their organisation.

The first Loneliness Community of Interest is being held on 1st December 10.00 – 11.30. At this meeting participants will be asked to select which sub-group they wish to join and a timetable of attendance will be outlined.

If you would like to join the Loneliness Community of Interest, please register via this link.  

If you have any questions or comments, please contact Sarah Jewell: sarah.jewell@ageuk.org.uk.

Free Webinar: Avoiding Burn Out and the ‘Always On’ Culture with Kate Horwood

Our corporate partner Zurich is running a free wellbeing session on Thursday 11 November from 10-11am, hosted by leading wellness coach, Kate Horwood.

To weave ourselves healthily through the winter months, we need to be proactive in looking after our mental, emotional and physical wellbeing. In a world where there are so many ways we can connect, both in person and digitally, it can sometimes be difficult to know when to switch off, and allow yourself enough time recharge. Our corporate partner Zurich is running a free wellbeing session on Thursday 11 November from 10-11am, hosted by leading wellness coach, Kate Horwood. Click here to register or read on for more information.

This webinar is specially designed to offer advice on Avoiding Burnout and the ‘Always On’ Culture. You’ll receive lots of tips, tools, exercises and advice around how best to manage your time and energy, and be more productive as a result.

What you’ll learn…
  • What is burnout and the always-on culture.
  • What contributes to burnout.
  • Internal factors – ways of being, traits, coping mechanisms that contribute to burning out and always being on.
  • External factors – workload, expectations, toxic environments etc.
  • Identifying which apply to you and what is fully in your control (internal) versus what is external.
  • Creating awareness around how to best support your wellbeing so as not to burn out.
  • Learning tools and techniques to manage your time and energy better.
  • Discussing boundaries – internal and external.
  • Discussing focus and productivity – deep work.
  • Stress – how we must complete the cycle.
  • The importance of rest.
Click here to register for this webinar

Zurich look forward to welcoming you and any of your colleagues to the session on Thursday 11 November. In the meantime, if you have any questions, please get in touch with Sarah Covington – sarah.covington@zct.org.uk

Inclusive Summer of Sport Festival 2021 – Showcase Presentation

Disability Sport Coach are hosting a two day virtual event as part of the Inclusive Summer of Sport Festival, including a short online presentation and panel discussions which you can sign up for below.

Throughout August, Disability Sports Coach has hosted an Inclusive Summer of Sport festival, in celebration of the upcoming Paralympic Games and the recent return of grassroots sport. As part of festival, they are hosting a two-day virtual event on 24-25 August, including a short online presentation and panel discussions which you can sign up for below. We’re sorry this is at such short notice but we have only just been made aware of this opportunity and still wanted to share it with you in case you are able to attend.

The Inclusive Summer of Sport Festival highlights the importance of community in making physical activity inclusive, and how their Community Clubs ensure disabled people aren’t left behind as activities reopen.

Presentation

Ahead of the virtual festival, the team will host a short presentation online from 10.30-10.55am on 24 August, covering the topics below. The presentation includes:

  • A review of the impact of Covid-19 on our charity and our members
  • Disability Sports Coach’s response, including their work with Sport England through TIF
  • Share key lessons and future plans, including their upcoming strategy and brand new Empowering Partners programme

You can join the presentation with the following details:

  • Join Zoom Meeting here
  • Meeting ID: 848 9043 1529
  • Passcode: 114383
View panel discussions

Alongside the Showcase, Disability Sport Coach would like to invite you and your networks to two exciting panel discussions:

  • Tuesday 24th August – 14:00-15:00
    • Leveraging Digital Communities in Inclusive Sport – featuring disability bloggers Shona Louise and Dee Reilly, sharing their experiences.
  • Wednesday 25th August – 14:00-15:00
    • Why Community is Key in the Future of Inclusive Sport – speakers from Activity Alliance, the Peter Harrison Centre for Disability Sport at Loughborough University, and the brand new Accessercise App.

The sessions are free to attend and you can book on Eventbrite

If you have any questions, please get in touch with info@disabilitysportscoach.co.uk. To find out more about the festival itself, please click here.

Save Free Prescriptions for 60 – 65 year olds – #BitterPillToSwallow Campaign

Age UK has launched the #BitterPillToSwallow Campaign to save Free Prescriptions for 60 – 65 year olds. Find out all about the campaign including how your organisation can get involved.

The Government has launched a consultation on plans to move the qualifying age for free prescriptions from 60 to the State Pension age 66. Although the Government has said its preferred option is that anyone who is 60 or over when the changes are introduced won’t start paying, this change would still mean 60-65 year olds in future will have to pay for their prescriptions if they don’t qualify for certain benefits or have a medical exemption.

We are deeply concerned this will have a major impact on people managing multiple serious or long-term conditions and that older people will be deterred from seeking medical attention for fear of incurring extra costs. This self-defeating policy will only put people at risk of being unable to control long-term medical conditions that if left untreated, will only add to the pressure on the NHS.

No one should be forced to choose between paying their bills or having essential medication. It’s not too late to fight back – but we only have until 2nd September to flood the Department for Health’s consultation with responses.

How you can get involved

We would be very grateful for your help to spread the word on this issue far and wide.

If you have time, please encourage your supporters to respond to the Department for Health’s consultation through our website https://campaigns.ageuk.org.uk/page/87230/action/1?ea.tracking.id=LAUK or they can visit www.ageuk.org.uk/savefreeprescriptions for more information.

Please get in contact with luke.pilot@ageuk.org.uk if you would like more information on the campaign.