Verwood Area Fifty Plus Newletter

Autumn 2010

An independent ACTION  Forum for people aged 50 and over Including Alderholt, Chalbury Common, Cranborne Edmondsham, Horton, Mannington, Three Legged Cross, Wimborne St. Giles and Woodlands

Welcome to the fifth edition of the Verwood Area Fiftyplus Forum Newsletter.

The aims of the forum are to provide information and up-dates on matters likely to be of interest to members of the group, to invite comments, criticism and suggestion from our members plus provide a few chuckles along the way.

 The best news is that Membership is Free. The only criteria for membership are that you are 50+ and you live in the areas mentioned above. 

 There are still vacancies to fill on the committee or if you do not wish to be on the committee, would you be willing to help at meetings? Previous experience is not required, just the willingness to give up two hours every three months for our meetings.

 If you are interested, please come along to our next meeting on

 9^th September at Club 31 (Old Royal British Legion) in Moorlands Road Verwood 10.00 to 12.30

 Once again we are hosting a lunch of Roast Beef, vegetables and potatoes followed by plum crumble with either custard or cream.

Please reserve your meal by contacting Pat Morrow on 01202 814733 

The cost is £3.75 per person                            

  Please note the change of venue.

We have listened to your feedback and have decided to change the venue of the Senior Forum as unfortunately The Hub was just not suited to us.  We are now hosting the meetings at Club 31 Moorlands Road Verwood. (The old Royal British Legion building) We are hoping more members will attend.

 Coffee /Tea will now be charged at 50p!!

 Have you received any unwanted gifts? Verwood Area 50+ Forum is looking for unwanted gifts that you are willing to donate towards our forum raffle.

 Please bring along any unwanted gifts to the next meeting (9^th September 2010 at The Club 31 Verwood)

One prize in the next raffle will be a meal ticket for 2 to the after forum luncheon at the next forum meeting. 

Guest Speakers at the next forum meeting 9^th September

We have a representative of Trading Standards and a representative of The Hanham Trust. Do you know about all the services they provide?

 The forum would like to thank Woofability and Cllr Jane Russell the guest speakers from our previous meeting.    

                                                                        Social Events

Following on from the requests we had at the Forum meeting in March we have organised a coach trip to Gunwharf Quays Portsmouth on 19^th October picking up from Alderholt Village Hall at 9.15am, and Verwood Morrison’s car park at 9.30am. The cost will be £8.50 per person. You are free to do what you like, visit the Spinaker Tower, shopping or just a wander round the port. Friends and/or carers welcome. You need to reserve a

place with Pat Morrow on 01202 814733    

The Over 50’s Singles Friendship Club will be launched on Tuesday 28^th September at 7.30pm in Club 31 with a Cheese and Wine Party. There will be fun activities and dancing to Brian’s music and an opportunity to meet new friends. The event is open to all over Fifties. The cost is £7.00 per head which includes cheese, biscuits, grapes and two glasses of wine. Places must be reserved with Pat no later than 22^nd September

A second singles event has an Italian theme and has been organised for Wednesday 27^th October which includes an Italian Meal. The price is to be advised.

We are hoping to run the club on the last Wednesday of the month.

              The club is open to all singles over 50

Falls Prevention.

We held a very successful Falls Prevention Event on 18^th June. 23 different organisations attended. The sessions were enjoyed by all and there was a huge amount of information available.      

SCAM ALERT!

                                YOU HAVE WON THE LOTTERY

Please be aware that there is a scam working its way to most households where you receive a letter stating you have won money in the Euro Lottery even though you have not bought a ticket!

This is a confidence trick in where you are told that they need you to pay the admin charge prior to sending the cheque out to you.
This is normally around £250 payable by variable means but all they are after is your money.

PLEASE DO NOT PAY as the chances of getting your money back is ZERO as it normally makes its way to a foreign country never to be seen again.

Also, once the initial amount is paid you will be contacted again asking for further amounts to be paid in advance in order that the Prize Money can be released. Over a period of a few weeks this can amount to thousands of pounds being requested and with never any money paid out to the supposed Winner.

                        If it sounds too good to be true it normally is.

Does your computer driving mad!!

Computer Support:  IT Can Help offer FREE computer support to disabled people, many of whom are also older people.  Anyone who fits the criteria can call a telephone number, 0800 269545 and in the first instance obtain free impartial advice about computers and access technologies.  Whether the caller has a technical problem which needs fixing, or a programme that needs installing, or just some basic computer tuition, the help desk staff at AbilityNet will forward a request through to the volunteers at IT Can Help.  There is a network of volunteers around the country who will visit the user in their own home and carry out the work requested.  All the volunteers are CRB checked.  Read more about IT Can Help on their website at www.itcanhelp.org.uk  IT Can Help is a programme of the British Computer Society at www.bcs.org (information from AgeUK)

MOORS VALLEY

Did you know that Moors Valley Country Park and Forest have Events for Adults from countryside walks to music events, golf tuition to exhibitions.

 For further information about this wonderful venue right on our very own doorsteps please contact Moors Valley on 01425 470721 or email moorsvalley@eastdorset.gov.uk or visit their website www.moor-valley/co.uk 

Down the Pan Campaign!

Dorset Fiftyplus, which is the association of all 17 Dorset Fiftyplus Forums, are starting their Down the Pan campaign. This campaign aims to do 4 things:

Would any of you like to get involved in researching the location and the condition of the local toilets in our Forum area?  If so, please contact Hilary Foggo on 01305 269444 or e-mail forums@acdorchester.org

Do you have any concerns regarding your local area but are unable to attend the forum meetings. Let the forum know and it could be included in a future newsletter.

Brain Teaser

In the last edition we asked you to solve this brain teaser, how did you get on?

When can you add two to eleven and get one as the correct answer?

Answer

When you add two hours to eleven o'clock, you get one o'clock.

This editions brain teaser for you….answers in our next newsletter

What turns everything around, but does not move?

If you would like anything to go in future Newsletters please let us have them. You can forward them to the editor via the committee or send them in via email to: lynn.kenchington@anchor.org.uk 

Verwood Area Fiftyplus Forum is supported by Age Concern Dorchester, Anchor Staying Put, Dorset Fiftyplus, Dorset POPP, Neighbourhood Watch, Verwood Town Council.