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Call 0113 260 6565 www.crossgatesgns.org.uk

Cross Gates & District Good Neighbours’ Scheme CIO

Working with and for older people

Autumn 2017

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Contact usIf you are over 60 and live in the area shown on the map on the back cover of this newsletter you can join our mailing list for FREE. Call in or telephone with your details. Alternatively email or visit our website.

Telephone 0113 260 6565Visit us at Cross Gates & District Good Neighbours’ Scheme CIO, Station Road, Leeds LS15 7JYEmail admin@crossgatesgns.org.ukVisit www.crossgatesgns.org.uk‘Like’ us at www.facebook.com/crossgatesgnsFollow us @CrossGatesGNS

Thank you!A big thank you to Colton Village Gala for splitting the profits from their second annual gala in July between ourselves and Leeds Survivor Led Crisis. We received £500 from the day which will go towards room hire costs at our Thursday afternoon Halton Activity Group.

Our beautiful front cover painting for this edition was created by Amanda Pitts at our Friday Painting and Drawing Class.

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A word from the office...We may have not had the best

summer weather-wise, but we have certainly had some real fun here enjoying ice cream sundaes, flower arranging, summer fayre, mini-bus

trips and extra one-to-one support in the home for our housebound members. We’re almost a year into running on reduced staffing hours and I think we have done an amazing job. Without the support from our trustees and volunteer team this would not be possible. They donate their time for free to us on a daily basis. So thank you as I know without you and the excellent staff team, work wouldn’t be so enjoyable!Our scheme is 15 years old this year and we will be celebrating our achievements at our AGM on 5 December from 1-3.30pm. Please book your place as not only is it important we know how many people are attending for health and safety but also to ensure we have enough cake!Autumn is a time for clearing and getting ready for the next year. Why not take a look at our Keeping Healthy section for tips on page 15 to keep warm and well as we move in to the winter months - Jo Horsfall - Manager.

Please note the Scheme will be closed week commencing 18 September

No groups will run during this week.** Except Birds Of A Feather on 19 September. For

more information please contact the office.

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Events at Cross Gates

*Our ‘Christmas Capers’ Drop-In party on 19 December is free to all our members - sponsored by Wades Charity and the late Doug Chadwick. Doug also left money in his will to help pay for our AGM 15th Birthday celebrations - thanks Dougie.

Come help us celebrate all that we have achieved over the years!

The AGM will be followed by tea and cake at 2.15pm alongside a good old sing-a-long with John Whalley

If you have a question or issue to raise in the ‘Any Other Business’ part of the meeting please submit it to the office by

17 November in an envelope marked AGM.

Annual General MeetingTuesday 5 December Time | 1pm

With our guest speaker Rachel Cooper, Chief Executive

Leeds Older Peoples Forum All Welcome!It is important

you book your

place via the office

for health and safety

reasons and so we

have enough seats

and cake!

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Events at Cross Gates Drop-In special eventsAll the events below take place during our Drop-In coffee mornings on Tuesday and Friday from 9.30am-11.30amTuesday 19 and Friday 22 September

No Drop-In - Scheme closed this week and no groups

Tuesday 3 October Fire Service visit

Tuesday 10 October Wiltshire Farm Foods

Tuesday 31 October Bowel Cancer Awareness

Tuesday 7 November Dean from Care and Repair

Tuesday 14 November Stephanie from Lotherton Hall

Tuesday 21 November Trading Standards | Doorstep Fraud

Tuesday 5 December No Drop-In - AGM

Tuesday 12 December Flower Arranging with Angela

Tuesday 19 December Drop-In Christmas Party - ‘Christmas Capers’*

Friday 22 December Drop-In Mince Pie Special!

*Our ‘Christmas Capers’ Drop-In party on 19 December is free to all our members - sponsored by Wades Charity and the late Doug Chadwick. Doug also left money in his will to help pay for our AGM 15th Birthday celebrations - thanks Dougie.

All Welcome!

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‘Birds of a Feather’ for people living with dementia & their carers19 September | Sing-a-Long with John17 October | Autumn Special21 November | Trevor Woodhead with music from the 60s, 70s & 80s19 December | Christmas Special following our free ‘Christmas Capers’

Third Tuesday of the month 1.30pm - 3.30pm | £2.50 per person

Carers GroupRun by Carers

Leeds First

Wednesday of the month 2pm–4pm

Please call to confirm we are

meeting as usual. We sometimes go out on a trip. Call Angie on

0113 380 4301 or email info@

carersleeds.org.uk

Sandwich and a Song First Tuesday of the month • Tuesday 3 October• Tuesday 7 November• Tuesday 5 December• Tuesday 2 January

12pm-2pm | £4 Book on 0113 260 6565

Regular events

Theatre trips | West Yorkshire Playhouse14 October | The Master Builder - 2.30pm28 October | The Tin Drum - 2pm3 November | Zoetrope - 7pm7 November | Pink Sari Revolution - 7.45pm16 December | The Lion, The Witch and The Wardrobe - 1.30pmSorry no transport. Tickets £11 via Irene on Tuesday mornings

Children’s

performances

also available -

ask for more

details.

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Bereavement Support Drop-In

Fourth Wednesday of the month

• 27 September• 25 October• 22 November• No December Drop-Inr

3pm-4pm | Cost £1

Regular eventsShared Tables

Date Location Time9/9 The Devon 12.30pm17/9 The Barnbow 12.30pm23/9 The Harvester 12.30pm30/9 La Cantina 2pm1/10 The Devon 12.30pm7/10 The Harvester 12.30pm15/10 La Cantina 2pm21/10 Oceans 12.30pm28/10 The Devon 12.30pm29/10 The Barnbow 12.30pm5/11 The Barnbow 12.30pm12/11 La Cantina 2pm18/11 The Harvester 12.30pm25/11 Wetherspoons 12.30pm26/11 Wetherspoons 12.30pm2/12 The Devon 12.30pm10/12 La Cantina 2pm16/12 The Harvester 12.30pm17/12 The Devon 12.30pm

Due to popularity table numbers have been limited.

Please book via the office and remember to cancel if you cannot attend. Thank you.

Children’s

performances

also available -

ask for more

details. Food and a Film Fourth Tuesday of the month | 12pm - 3pm

26 September | Kinky Boots24 October | Shirley Valentine28 November | Andre Rieu23 January | Castaway

Lunch at midday. Cost £4 | Tickets in

advance

SaturdaySundayMen Only

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Date Location Depart Return Cost25/9 Fish & Chip

Lunch, Wetherby Whaler

11.30am 3pm £14.50 (inc. 3-course meal)

9/10 Stephen Smith Garden Centre, Otley

10.30am 3.30pm £4.50

23/10 Pub Lunch – Hitching Post, Idle

11am 3pm £11 (inc. 3-course meal)

06/11 Mill Shopping Outlet, Batley

10.30am 4.30pm £4.50

20/11 Tropical World, Roundhay

10.30am 3.30pm £8.50 (or £6.50 Leeds Card)

4/12 Fish & Chip Lunch, Mermaid Morley

11.30am 3pm £14.50 (inc. 3-course meal)

18/12 Tong Garden Centre

10.30am 3pm £4.50

Take advantage of our regular autumn Monday minibus trips, supported places are available.Home pick up and drop off £3 extra. A deposit must be paid at the time of

booking and will not be refunded if you cancel, unless we are able to fill your place.

Monday Minibus trips

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Events at Cross Gates

Date Location Depart Return Cost25/9 Fish & Chip

Lunch, Wetherby Whaler

11.30am 3pm £14.50 (inc. 3-course meal)

9/10 Stephen Smith Garden Centre, Otley

10.30am 3.30pm £4.50

23/10 Pub Lunch – Hitching Post, Idle

11am 3pm £11 (inc. 3-course meal)

06/11 Mill Shopping Outlet, Batley

10.30am 4.30pm £4.50

20/11 Tropical World, Roundhay

10.30am 3.30pm £8.50 (or £6.50 Leeds Card)

4/12 Fish & Chip Lunch, Mermaid Morley

11.30am 3pm £14.50 (inc. 3-course meal)

18/12 Tong Garden Centre

10.30am 3pm £4.50

Holiday Inn Christmas LunchThursday 21 December Midday for 12.30pm lunch

Starters

Chef’s homemade cream of mushroom served with a crusty roll (v)

Trio of melon with red berry coulis (v)

Mains

Traditional roast turkey with chipolata sausage, sage seasoning & a rich gravy

Honey glazed gammon with a rich roast gravy

Coley supreme with a white wine and chive cream sauce

Caramelised red onion and goats cheese filo tarts served with spicy tomato salsa (v)

All dishes are served with crispy roasted potatoes & seasonal buttered vegetables

Desserts

Tangy lemon tart with raspberry coulis

Traditional Christmas pudding with a brandy custard

Tea and coffee | Entertainment and raffle

Cost: £20Limited transport available

Priority for existing transport users £5 return Bookings taken from 1 October

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Regular activitiesMonday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday FridayComputer Lessons with Joe, including laptops and tablets10am-4pm

Individual lessons. Please book with the office.

Cost: £2

Drop-In Coffee Morning 9.30am-11.30am

See Friday for details

Mixed Activity Group 9.45am-11.45pm Arts, crafts and table games. Includes tea and coffee. Cost: £3

T-Days Coffee Morning 9.45am-12pm | Crossgates Working Men’s Club | Cost: £1

Drop-In Coffee Morning9.30am-11.30am

Opportunity to call in for a chat. Tea, coffee & biscuits. Information, events and advice. All welcome.

Cost: £2

Ukulele (Intermediate) 11.30am -12.30pm

Cost: £5 per week

Luncheon Club 12pm--1.30pm

Cost £4

Creative Writing Group10am-12pm

Cost: £2

Walking group 12pm-3pm

Walks of approximately 3-4 miles led by qualified leaders. Meet at Cross Gates & District Good Neighbours.

Cost: £1 / £2.50 minibus

Line Dancing at the Newman Centre 1.15pm-2.45pm Cost: £3.50

Joan’s Flexicise - please book |1.30pm-3pm | Gentle exercise suitable for those with osteoarthritis | Cost: £3

T-Days Exercise class10am-10.45am

Cost: £3

Painting & Drawing1pm-3pm

Places Limited. Cost: £3

Drop-In Advice Session, St Mary’s, Whitkirk First Tuesday of the month 11am-12pm Cost: Free

Leeds Carers’ Support Group 2pm-4pm First Wednesday of month

T-Days Big Breakfast 11.30am | First Thurs of month | Crossgates Working Men’s Club | Cost: £4

Technology Fridays with Joe and Robert! Drop-In Help with iPads, laptops etc 1pm-3pm Cost: £2

Our activities take place in a variety of

locations. Please check before attending.

Sandwich and a Song 12pm-2pm First Tuesday of the month Cost: £4

Bereavement Support Drop-In 3pm-4pm Fourth Wednesday of the month Cost: £1

T-Days Lunch Club12pm | Crossgates Working Men’s Club | Cost: £4

In addition we offer a befriending service to older people who are

housebound, bereaved, lonely or feeling

isolated. Please contact us for more details.

Birds of a Feather 1.30pm-3.30pm | Third Tuesday of the month. Cost: £2.50

Cryptic Crossword Club1.30pm-3pm - new members welcome Cost: £1

Halton Activity Group1.30pm-3.30pm Art&Craft, painting, games, knitting, chat and refreshments. Christ Church, Chapel St.Cost: £3

Food and a Film 12pm-3pm Fourth Tuesday of the month. Sept - March Cost: £4

Weekly GroupsMonthly Groups

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Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday FridayComputer Lessons with Joe, including laptops and tablets10am-4pm

Individual lessons. Please book with the office.

Cost: £2

Drop-In Coffee Morning 9.30am-11.30am

See Friday for details

Mixed Activity Group 9.45am-11.45pm Arts, crafts and table games. Includes tea and coffee. Cost: £3

T-Days Coffee Morning 9.45am-12pm | Crossgates Working Men’s Club | Cost: £1

Drop-In Coffee Morning9.30am-11.30am

Opportunity to call in for a chat. Tea, coffee & biscuits. Information, events and advice. All welcome.

Cost: £2

Ukulele (Intermediate) 11.30am -12.30pm

Cost: £5 per week

Luncheon Club 12pm--1.30pm

Cost £4

Creative Writing Group10am-12pm

Cost: £2

Walking group 12pm-3pm

Walks of approximately 3-4 miles led by qualified leaders. Meet at Cross Gates & District Good Neighbours.

Cost: £1 / £2.50 minibus

Line Dancing at the Newman Centre 1.15pm-2.45pm Cost: £3.50

Joan’s Flexicise - please book |1.30pm-3pm | Gentle exercise suitable for those with osteoarthritis | Cost: £3

T-Days Exercise class10am-10.45am

Cost: £3

Painting & Drawing1pm-3pm

Places Limited. Cost: £3

Drop-In Advice Session, St Mary’s, Whitkirk First Tuesday of the month 11am-12pm Cost: Free

Leeds Carers’ Support Group 2pm-4pm First Wednesday of month

T-Days Big Breakfast 11.30am | First Thurs of month | Crossgates Working Men’s Club | Cost: £4

Technology Fridays with Joe and Robert! Drop-In Help with iPads, laptops etc 1pm-3pm Cost: £2

Our activities take place in a variety of

locations. Please check before attending.

Sandwich and a Song 12pm-2pm First Tuesday of the month Cost: £4

Bereavement Support Drop-In 3pm-4pm Fourth Wednesday of the month Cost: £1

T-Days Lunch Club12pm | Crossgates Working Men’s Club | Cost: £4

In addition we offer a befriending service to older people who are

housebound, bereaved, lonely or feeling

isolated. Please contact us for more details.

Birds of a Feather 1.30pm-3.30pm | Third Tuesday of the month. Cost: £2.50

Cryptic Crossword Club1.30pm-3pm - new members welcome Cost: £1

Halton Activity Group1.30pm-3.30pm Art&Craft, painting, games, knitting, chat and refreshments. Christ Church, Chapel St.Cost: £3

Food and a Film 12pm-3pm Fourth Tuesday of the month. Sept - March Cost: £4

New

Group!

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Reducing Loneliness & IsolationOur Supported Wellbeing project

funded by Time to Shine is now at the end of its first year. We have recruited 12 volunteer befrienders and have delivered 17 befriending placements in

total so far. All the older people who receive visits were

not independently mobile and were not able to get out and enjoy company without help from family or friends. May Blair, pictured above, has enjoyed her visits so much that both befriender and befriended have agreed to continue their placement long term, ‘I really get on with Susan’ says May.We still have another year to deliver more successful placements. So we are always looking for new volunteer befrienders to give an hour and a half of their time per week.If you think you would like a befriender to visit you as you are no longer mobile please call the office on 0113 260 6565.

Monthly Phone Contact SchemeOur new Monthly Phone Contact Scheme is now in its fourth month giving us the opportunity to keep in touch with our members on a more regular basis. Currently 27 members have been contacted on a monthly basis and

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Reducing Loneliness & Isolation16 members been contacted every three months.Margaret, pictured right, our main volunteer on this scheme says, “The calls have been well received with lots of positive feedback, advice is offered if needed and our members can request a staff visit if they need any extra support. “I feel our conversations become more personal as the months go by and I build up a rapport with these members, some of them don’t have any family and rarely go out so it is nice to have catch up.”One lady who has been receiving the monthly calls said,“It’s nice to have a natter and know that someone cares.”If you would like to receive a regular call from Margaret please contact the office on 0113 260 6565.

New monthly drop-in at WhitkirkA member of staff will now be available on the first

Tuesday of every month at St Mary’s Church Hall from 11am-12pm for a Drop-In and advice session. Our new free Drop-In is trying to make our service more accessible to our members in Whitkirk who may not always be able to access our services at the Newman Centre.

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Keeping active and involved is the key to staying physically and mentally well and independent for as long as possible, so we try to make it as much fun as possible!

At the Newman Centre we offer:• Monday | Walking Group - 12pm-3pm

• Tuesday | Line Dancing Class - 1.15pm-2.45pm • Wednesday | Joan’s Flexicise - 1.30pm-3pmAt Cross Gates Working Men’s Club we offer:• Thursday | T-Days Exercise class - 10am-10.45am

Lunch ClubsWe are lucky to have a choice of four weekly lunch clubs in our area with some providing transport.• Tuesday | St Mary’s, Whitkirk, Silver Lining Luncheon Club• Wednesday | The Newman Centre, Cross Gates Lunch Club • Thursday | Christ Church, Halton Lunch Club • Thursday | Cross Gates Working Men’s Lunch Club Or maybe you would like to enjoy a meal out in company at one of our Shared Tables, see page 7 of the newsletter.

General Well-beingAs well as regular exercise and healthy food, keeping the mind active and having fun improves our all over general well-being.

Keeping Healthy

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Singing for fun in our monthly Sandwich and a Song with John Whalley is a really uplifting group. Food and a Film is back on 27 September with ‘Kinky Boots’ come join us for some laughter and a nice healthy lunch. Please book ahead as there are only 20 places.Get crafty and play games at our Mixed Activity Group here at the Newman Centre every Wednesday. With darker days and colder weather, company and exercise become even more important to staying well so don’t be bored, get in touch and we will help you to get started!

Keep warm, keep well tips• Keep your main living room around 70°f (21°c), and the rest of your home heated to at least 64°f (18°c).• Wear warm clothes in bed. When very cold, wear thermal underwear, bed socks and even a hat.• Make sure you have basic food items in the cupboard or freezer in case it’s too cold to go shopping.• If it’s too cold, to go out to pick up your prescription, check if your local pharmacy offers a prescription pick-up and delivery service.• Make a list of useful numbers for emergencies or check out page 19.• Green Doctor Scheme provides practical face to face advice on how to reduce energy bills, energy efficiency measures and fuel bill advice - call 0113 238 0601.• Warm Homes Service (Care & Repair) supports clients with medical conditions exacerbated by cold and damp housing conditions - call 0113 391 8336.

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Volunteer Noticeboard

Newsletter Post-PeopleAvailable once per quarter to hand post our newsletters to

save on postage costs

Tuesday morning Drop-In

hospitality volunteers for

our men’s room

If any of these roles take your fancy please contact the office, we’d love to hear from you!

One- to-One Support Volunteers for our

Wednesday am Mixed Activity group plus a Wed pm

office volunteer

Marks and Spencer bag packers needed for

hourly shifts on 15, 16 September; 13, 14 October

Spark Something Good!A big thank you to the team of volunteers from Marks and Spencer’s Cross Gates

branch who spent the day with us in June working alongside our volunteers to make a real difference to the look of

the Scheme.

Urgent

Male and female

befrienders needed for

short term placements

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Volunteer Noticeboard

Tuesday morning Drop-In

hospitality volunteers for

our men’s room

Supporting IndependenceIn this edition we’re going to look

at the wonderful work of our volunteer Trustee Treasurer, Irene Midgley who works timelessly on a daily basis to

keep our books and financial systems in tip top shape!

Irene is also responsible for booking our reduced price theatre trips at the West Yorkshire Playhouse, see page 6. In addition she has started organising overnight trips for our members who are mobile and need no additional support. We asked Irene what she has been getting up to:“Ten of us have just enjoyed a weekend away with National Holidays to Banbury and Bletchley Park and the weather stayed nice and sunny. We have a trip to Oxford and the Midsummer villages in September - we have 24 going to date.“If you are interested in going on any of the trips or have any ideas of destinations please let me know. I am in the office Monday, Tuesday and Friday to take bookings or answer any queries. We can provisionally book seats for trips so let me know at the earliest to ensure we can book on, no deposit is needed until nearer the date.”Take a look on our notice board for details of upcoming trips and our new 2018 pre-booking form coming out in the next month. Once again a massive thank you to the fabulous Irene!

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Thank youA big thank you to all our brilliant

members and volunteers for all they contribute to making the Scheme what it is. We’ve recently been working with

Leeds City Art Gallery on a new mosaic which will be on display at the

Gallery on 21, 22 October - see picture above.A big thank you to our Monday Walking Group who raised an amazing £1,611.50 with their sponsored walks back in June. Funds raised will go to maintaining our minibus. We have also received a further £200 to support our minibus from Counsellor Cath Dobson, from Killingbeck and Seacroft and £200 from Counsellors Peter Gruen and Pauleen Graham, Crossgates & WhinmoorThank you to Wade’s Charity for supporting ‘Sandwich and a Song’ and ‘Birds of a Feather’ groups with a grant for £2,000 and to Leeds Convalescent Society for a grant for £250 towards room hire for our Tuesday Ukulele Group. Our Summer Fayre in July raised an amazing £459.17 - thank you.In addition to the legacy Doug Chadwick kindly left to our Drop-In and AGM, see pages 4

and 5, Doug also left a legacy of £1,000 which we will use towards his love of music in Sandwich and a Song and a tutor for our Creative Writing Group. Thanks Dougie.

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Organisation Contact

Action on Elder Abuse Helpline

www.elderabuse.org.uk 0808 808 8141

Adult Social Care and Leeds Safeguarding Adults

0113 222 4401 Out of hours: 0113 240 9536

Age UK www.ageuk.org.uk 0113 389 3000

Alzheimer’s Society (Leeds) 0113 231 1727 leeds@alzheimers.org.uk

Care and Repair www.care-repair-leeds.org.uk 0113 240 6009

Carers Leeds www.carersleeds.org.uk 0113 246 8338

Cruse Bereavement Care 0844 477 9400 www.crusebereavementcare.org.uk

Housing Leeds 0800 188 4000 or 0113 376 0410

Leeds Mind 0113 305 5800

Fire Safety Please ask us for more information

Leeds Directory 0113 391 8333

NHS Direct 111

Police non-emergency 101

The Silver Line 0800 4 70 80 90 thesilverline.org.uk

Useful contacts

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Do we cover your area?

Registered Charity Number: 1160095

Scan me to visit website

If you would like to get involved with any

fundraising events to support us please

get in touch!