Author: Pax Barnard

For our older residents in Preston Park Ward, if you are in need of any assistance, please do contact Age UK as they do a fantastic job of finding contacts for people. Happy New Year, FoPP Committee.

Some of Age UK’s local services in Brighton & Hove.

———-

Older People’s Walk-In Hub

If you haven’t come to see us yet at 95 Queens Road – please do! You can walk in to get information and advice from our team including booking an appointment with our Senior Benefits Advisor.

Did you know £23 Billion in benefits go unclaimed every year? This is usually due to people not knowing they’re entitled to claim. Last year, we supported people, to claim £4.5 million, straight back into the pockets of older people.

We also have Digital volunteers who can support with learning digital devices and problem solving.

We’re working on putting some workshops and events on in the new year and sending out more info soon. Do let me know if you are a service interested in delivering something too!

———-

Care at Home

In addition to our Help at Home team providing support with shopping and housework, we’ve just launched our new Care at Home team in Brighton & Hove. Whether the need is personal care, assistance with daily tasks, or simply companionship, our team is here to help.

Our Care at Home services can support in everyday life and helping older residents live comfortably at home.

Find out more in the photos below

———-

** Coming Soon** New Dementia Assessment ServiceWatch this space! In the meantime, a reminder of our service at Tower House, Brighton on Tuesdays.

———-

Reading / useful

This article caught our eye a few weeks ago: https://www.heyheyjoe.info/post/the-ageing-population-what-impact-will-it-have-on-charities

And we released this research in the Autumn which was a mini piece of qualitative research focusing on Ageing in Brighton & Hove: https://www.ageuk.org.uk/westsussexbrightonhove/about-us/news/articles/age-uk-wsbh-launches-new-research-report-on-ageing-in-brighton–hove/

You also might be interested to read more about Silverline, a national offer already helping over 100 people in the city: https://www.thesilverline.org.uk/

Thank you for all that you do in our local communities for Older People – wishing you a happy and healthy 2025!

Brighton & Hove City Council have begun their next round of residents’ meetings. The next meeting will be held at The Park View pub on Monday 2^nd December, in the downstairs area from 4pm until 6pm. The Park View pub address is 71 Preston Drove, BN1 6LD.

The new outdoor gym in Preston Park will be officially opening this Saturday, 16 November from 12 until 13.30.   A Proludic personal trainer will be on-site, sharing fitness tips and demonstrating how to use the equipment safely, as well as boxfit taster sessions from www.fightklub.co.uk Anyone interested is welcome to turn up for a free session or to ask any questions about the equipment.

The new Changing Places toilet in Preston Park will open on Thursday, 31st October. The toilet has a hoist, adjustable changing bench, and height adjustable sink. It is designed for people who are unable to use a standard accessible toilet who require the assistance of a carer or multiple carers. The site will be accessible by the use of a RADAR key. (A RADAR key is used to access accessible toilets across the country. BHCC do provide RADAR keys for free to Brighton & Hove residents if they are eligible. All they need to do is follow the link https://www.brighton-hove.gov.uk/libraries-leisure-and-arts/public-toilets/apply-radar-key where they can complete a form and return it to us. Alternatively, people can buy a RADAR key from https://www.disabilityrightsuk.org/) It will operate during standard public toilet opening hours (10am-4pm during the winter, 10am-6pm during the summer). The site will be locked outside of these hours. The introduction of this Changing Places toilet will increase the accessibility of Preston Park and allow more people to enjoy the city’s green spaces.

Dear Friends,

Please be reminded that our AGM will be taking place on Friday 15 November at 5-7.30pm at St Peter Cricket Club.

We hope to see you there!

Our next walk will be Sue Shepherd’s History of Preston Park Walk on Sunday 17th of November, starting at the Rotunda Café at 14.30. Please sign up at https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/history-of-preston-park-walk-with-sue-shepherd-tickets-854635025367?aff=ebdsoporgprofile

There will be quite a lot of walking around the park which is fairly flat and wheelchair accessible, but please be aware of tree roots, etc.

Many thanks to Huw Morgan from Sussex Wildlife Trust for coming to Preston Park this week to give us some insight into the world of the Pipistrelle bats that like to hang out around various areas of the park. The weather managed to do the right thing and not rain, and we had some lovely evening light to start us off with.

Huw explained the process of using a bat detector and we were soon able to pick up the amazing ultrasonic vocalisations that the bats were giving out as they picked up on their evening snack of flying insects. Different bat species have a different sound pattern, and bats also make different noises depending on what they are doing ie they make different sounds when hunting as opposed to when they are looking for a mate. It was also fascinating to learn that bats are currently in the mating season, but that the females are able to put off pregnancy until May when there is more food availability.

Even once it got dark, we were able to enjoy the sounds and exciting flight displays as the bats zig-zagged over our heads! An enjoyable evening for all ages! For further information on bats, please go to either the Sussex Wildlife Trust website or the Sussex Bat Group.

Our next walk will be Sue Shepherd’s History of Preston Park Walk on Sunday 17th of November, starting at the Rotunda Café at 14.30. Please sign up via Eventbrite. There will be quite a lot of walking around the park which is fairly flat and wheelchair accessible, but please be aware of tree roots, etc..

West Sussex & Brighton & Hove Age UK have opened a new hub in Brighton & Hove. Situated on 95 Queens Road, near Brighton Station, it is hoped the new hub will provide the older population in the city with better information and advice, including money advice, cost of living, fitness tips and how to stay safe from scams and more! Residents can pop in anytime on weekdays from 9.30 until 16.00. For more information, please go to: https://linktr.ee/aukwsbh_brightonhove or contact them at: www.ageukwsbh.org.uk or 0800019 1310

https://www.cpresussex.org.uk/news/logs-brought-into-city-kill-brighton-hoves-precious-elms/

Please note that The Ride, on the southern end of Preston Park will be resurfaced and lines re-marked from 8am on Wednesday 25th September until 5pm on Friday 27th September. The Ride will be closed during this period.