November Forum

As usual we had a lively forum, Dot has done a little write-up below. Don’t forget to come to the next one on January 15th, where we will have the Mayor, Teresa Debono and Garry Dwyer from St. Mary’s Ward Police, and in February we have Jennette Arnold and a speaker from Action on Hearing Loss.

“RIGHT UP THERE IN OUR CAMPAIGN AGAINST LONELINESS”

What a meeting! Packed with optimism and right up there in our campaign against loneliness. . . there could be no better place to bring these three dedicated people together than our Islington Pensioners’ Forum (November) monthly meeting!

Clare (Fuel Poverty Action), Alf (Kevin Richards Foundation) and Patrice (Islington Carers’ Hub) gave us the benefit of their experience, speaking with such feeling and commitment.

Fuel Poverty Action has an 8-point Energy Bill of Rights laying out the basics needed to prevent people having to choose: “heat or eat?” This can be accessed on www.fuelpovertyaction.org.uk. They also have “keep warm” cafes. The government figure for cold-related deaths (winter 2012-13) was 31,000! Fuel Poverty Action was calling a demonstration to coincide with the announcement of the 2013-14 figure on 28 November.

The Kevin Richards Foundation is a charity set up in memory of a much-loved son who died in a road accident seven years ago. Based at the Baptist Church in Hilldrop Road, Holloway, N7 0JE, the Foundation is bubbling with activities: a luncheon club, bingo, dominoes, interest groups (e.g. flower arrangement, basket-work, knitting), big birthday parties four times a year, outings, music and dancing! Everybody welcome!

The Islington Carers’ Hub (www.islingtoncarershub.org 0800 085 1141 or 020 7561 5517) is based near Finsbury Park Station at 225-229 Seven Sisters Road, N4 2DA. Many people do not think of themselves as carers. They are “simply doing what comes naturally – looking after a loved one”, but the wear and tear, the strain of caring can mean stress illnesses which creep up and suddenly become unbearable. So get in touch with Islington Carers’ Hub in good time – there are weekly get-togethers in different parts of the borough, and help with anything a family carer needs (however big or small). So if you or anybody you know needs assistance, get in touch with the dedicated staff – they work directly with the Council.