The Age Friendly Ambassador role is flexible, both in terms of time commitments and types of activities undertaken. The roles suits anyone who is willing to connect with others and is passionate about making Middlesbrough better for people all ages. It is also a good way for a business or organisation to show commitment to making Middlesbrough and Age Friendly town. Age Friendly Middlesbrough E-bulletin April - May 2023 Become an Age Friendly Middlesbrough Ambassador Join the network of Age Friendly Ambassadors, individuals who take action to help raise awareness and spread the Age Friendly message to others. How to register as an Age Friendly Middlesbrough Ambassador ? Please complete the Age Friendly Ambassador Sign Up form to express your interest in the role or get in touch by email: agefriendly@middlesbrough.gov.uk or call Anya Deputat on 01642 728634. To find out more email: agefriendly@middlesbrough.gov.uk Festival of Creative Wellbeing. Improving Health, Wealth and Happiness for over 50s. 16th May, 10am - 2pm at Middlesbrough Town Hall Join us on 16th May between 10am and 2pm at Middlesbrough Town Hall for a free event that promotes wellbeing, creativity, health and happiness. No booking required, light refreshments will be provided. Age Friendly Middlesbrough Training The "Getting ready for an Age Friendly Middlesbrough" training looks at the principles that support older people to age better and live healthy and active lives in their communities. To book face to face training follow the link: Age Friendly Middlesbrough Training (face to face) Tickets, Multiple Dates | Eventbrite Online training session: Age Friendly Middlesbrough Training (online) Tickets, Multiple Dates | Eventbrite We can also organise a bespoke session for your group, team or organisation. To find out more email: agefriendly@middlesbrough.gov.uk Age Friendly Employment Pledge Creating a more inclusive workforce recognise the importance and value of older workers are committed to improving work for people in their 50s and 60s (and beyond) are prepared to take action to help them flourish in a multigenerational workforce The Age-friendly Employer Pledge is a nationwide programme designed by Centre of Ageing Better for employers who recognise the importance and value of older workers. Employers commit to improving work for people in their 50s and 60s and taking the necessary action to help them flourish in a multigenerational workforce. Who's the pledge for? The Age-friendly Employer Pledge is a nationwide programme for employers who: Signing up to the Age-friendly Employer Pledge shows your commitment to older workers. To find out more visit Age-friendly Employer Pledge | Centre for Ageing Better (ageing-better.org.uk) Voter ID resorces The UK Government has introduced a requirement for voters to show photo ID when voting at a polling station at some elections. This new requirement will apply for the first time in England at the local elections on Thursday 4 May 2023. We know that older people are more likely to experience barriers in preparing for this change and may need support to access photo ID. The Electoral Commission have created the information pack licked below, It’s designed to help you raise awareness, and support people you work with to apply for a Voter Authority Certificate, if needed. This pack also includes information on voter registration. www.electoralcommission.org.uk/i-am-a/partner-charity-or-local- council/voter-id-resources Can She Fix It? - local DIY and craft group for women Every Penny Counts drop in Monday evenings, new term starts on Monday 17 April to Monday 10 July. £3.50 per session A friendly and accessible group who enjoy singing for fun. For more information visit MTH Community Choir - Middlesbrough Town Hall An informal and relaxed way to experience classical music. The doors open at 2pm for cake and refreshments followed by an hour-long concert. The dynamic violin and piano duo ‘Dyad’ unites David Murray and Iona Brown, two of the north- east’s top performers, both passionate to perform the rich and varied sonata repertoire for this combination. 1 Sunday afternoon per month. Tickets: £4.50 (under 16s go free) For more information visit: What's On - Middlesbrough Town Hall MTH Community Choir at Middlesbrough Town Hall Classical Café at Middlesbrough Town Hall Where is Mrs Christie? - Middlesbrough Theatre Thursday 13 April, 7.30pm Tickets: £16.50 including booking fee The mysterious 11-day disappearance of Agatha Christie in 1926 was as worthy as one of her own detective thrillers. Was it amnesia as she claimed? A publicity stunt? Or something much more sinister? All will be revealed! The Upbeat Beatles - Middlesbrough Theatre Friday 28 April, 7.30pm Tickets: £24 including booking fee 8 notes into Twist and Shout and you will know why The Upbeat Beatles are so well-loved! Powerhouse vocals, precision harmonies, all your favourites songs from the fab four and unmissable for fans of The Beatles. Twice Nightly - Middlesbrough Theatre Thursday 25 May, 7.30pm Tickets: £17.20 (full price), £15.20 (concessions) including booking fee A brand-new, award-winning comedy that celebrates the golden years of theatre. Featuring original music and the voice of Joe Pasquale as The Beak! To find out more or to book visit www.middlesbroughtheatre.co.uk or call 01642 81 51 81. Middlesbrough Theatre shows Changing Places Toilet in North Ormesby A new inclusive facility in Middlesbrough has become the first of its kind in the town under a pioneering national initiative. The Changing Places toilet was unveiled recently at North Ormesby Resource Centre as a part of the Government's Levelling Up scheme. Middlesbrough Council was successful in its bid to secure funding for three additional Changing Places facilities, bringing the total to 13 across the town. Changing places toilets are larger than standard accessible toilets and are designed for adults and children with complex needs and include a changing bench, a hoist, a toilet, often a shower and plenty of space. For more details on Changing Places facilities in Middlesbrough visit Changing Places locations | Middlesbrough Council For any other information contact Access Officer Justine Sharman on 01642729185 or email justine_sharman@middlesbrough.gov.uk Public Health and the Middlesbrough Council's Sensory Lead have set up a sensory drop-in clinic at the Live Well Centre (Dundas Arcade, Middlesbrough town centre). The clinic is for adults who are partially sighted, blind, Deaf, or hard of hearing. Family and carers are also welcome. The clinic takes place on the first Friday of each month from 10am to 12pm - next clinic is on the 5th May. People can pop in any time between 10am and 12pm for free refreshments, and the chance to chat with service providers and like- minded people. BSL interpreters will be available to help us meet everyone's communication needs. Sensory Clinic at the Live Well Centre Contact Emma McInnes for more information: 01642 728756, emma_mcinnes@middlesbrough.gov.uk BSL information https://youtu.be/nwwB7NEfFuo Monthly Music and Memories Singalong Dementia Action Teesside - Every last Friday of the month Monthly singing sessions with Trish McLean and Maggie camp at Dorman Museum, Dressers Room in Middlesbrough. Every last Friday of the month from 11am to 12pm. For more information contact Marie Kerr by email marie@dementiaactionteesside.org or call Marie on 07544 859 951. Every Wednesday 10.30am – 1pm in the Community Ventures building on The Greenway in Thorntree. Come for a chat, somewhere to read your paper or join in with table top games, it’s up to you! We have information, signposting and other support available too. Community Ventures, The Greenway, Thorntree TS3 9PA. Tel. 01642 989254 or 07701304179 and ask about Wednesday’s drop ins if you’d like more information. Independent Age and Community Ventures Ltd invite you to a weekly drop-in Tea with a pony at Unicorn Centre The OK Café (It’s Ok, that you are not Ok) Are you struggling to cope with the loss of a loved one? Finding your grief difficult to understand and feeling that others have no idea what you are going through? Why not come along to the OK Café, a place where it’s ok that you are not feeling ok. A very informal group where you can talk to other people who may have gone through, or are going through, similar experiences. The group meets every Thursday from 10am to 12pm at the Coppice Community Centre, The Coppice, Coulby Newham, Middlesbrough, TS8 ORH. It is free to attend and there is a resource library of books that may be taken on loan. Guest speakers will also attend some weeks. Please Note: This group is not counselling, it is a peer support group run by volunteers who are supported by Middlesbrough Council in partnership with Social Prescribing. No Need to Book: just call in on a Thursday morning. If you would like more information please contact: Linda Ford – 07518292069 (Middlesbrough Council) Bridget Bowker - 07714 790692. (Middlesbrough and Stockton Mind) Whist (card game) – enjoyable & friendly small social gatherings Our Friday evening whist sessions, on alternate Fridays 7.30pm in Linthorpe Community Centre, 466 Linthorpe Road TS56JG, are now well established (admission £2 incl. tea/biscuits); current players are aged 17 – 80+. We are now looking to begin sessions on alternate Tuesdays 2pm at the Centre (admission £2 incl. tea/biscuits). Also at the Centre are our learning/practise sessions every Tuesday & Wednesday 10am - 12 noon (free). Possible help with transport locally, if needed. Contact Edna Hunneysett 01642 813277 Befriending in Middlesbrough - Age UK If you or someone you know are over 65, living alone with no/little support or social connection- then we can help. Our Befriending Service aims to support those who are lonely and/or isolated, who are not engaging with the community and lack family/friend support. We match you to suitably trained volunteers based on shared Age UK Digital Champions interests with the aim of re-connecting and engaging with your local community. To access the service simply call Paula on 01642 805 500 to arrange an assessment. If you would like to volunteer as a befriender, we would love to hear from you too. To find out more about different activities that Age UK offers visit Age UK Teesside | Phoenix Project Age UK Teesside is part of a national scheme to involve the community in helping older people to get online. The Digital Champions programme is currently being rolled out across the country with particular focus on Teesside to support those with Dementia. The programme aims to recruit a number of Digital Champions, from across Teesside to provide small group and 1:1 encouragement and confidence building to people. Digital Champions can be family members, professionals, retired people, or students and will come on board to help deliver an 18 month programme directly at the most digitally excluded in Stockton, Middlesbrough, Redcar and Cleveland and Hartlepool. If you or someone you know would like support in getting on-line or if you are interested in helping deliver the Digital Champion Programme, please contact the office on 01642 805 500. HealthWatch #JustAsk Information and Signposting Age Friendly Good Practice Mentor Anya Deputat – 01642 728756 email: anya_deputat@middlesbrough.gov.uk or agefriendly@middlesbrough.gov.uk Age-friendly Middlesbrough | Middlesbrough Council Contact us Healthwatch is asking people to get in touch about any health, social care or wellbeing issues they have. Are you happy with the service you have recently received or not had a good experience? Whether it’s to find out how you can make a complaint or tell us about a fantastic experience you’ve had, our dedicated team is here to take your call through a variety of different ways. Lines are open Monday to Friday, 9am – 5pm call on 0800 118 1691 or email healthwatchsouthtees@pcp.uk.net