Latest news with #AgeConcern
Scoop
6 days ago
- Health
- Scoop
Netsafe And Chorus Power Up Online Safety For Older Adults
Netsafe has powered up its efforts to protect and empower older adults in Aotearoa, with the launch of twelve new resources and a dedicated digital hub for community organisations. Unveiled today at an event in Dunedin, the new materials are the latest addition to Netsafe's Get Set Up for Safety programme supported by Chorus, a growing collection of over 20 free, ready-to-use fact sheets, guides and interactive learning activities tailored for older adults and the people who support them. The practical tools are designed to build digital confidence and help older people stay secure online. 'We recognise that our older adult population are eager to upskill as they navigate the fast-changing digital landscape, to stay connected, manage finances and access services', says Brent Carey, CEO of Netsafe. 'Over the last year we have seen a big demand for our initial Get Set Up for Safety resources, but it was clear that more was needed in this space to enable the many amazing community organisations supporting older adults throughout Aotearoa.' For community organisations, volunteers and facilitators that work with older adults, the resources will provide a helpful tool to hand out or use in workshops to support learning and spark discussion. Hannah Taylor, Head of Sustainability at Chorus, says the initiative aligns with their commitment to all aspects of digital equity, but specifically ensuring access is safe and inclusive for everyone. 'We're proud to continue our support of a project that enables older New Zealanders to embrace the benefits of being online, while also giving those around them, families, volunteers, and community groups, the information and tools to provide meaningful support,' says Taylor, 'Online safety isn't a solo journey, and this toolkit makes it easier for communities to walk that path together.' All resources in the suite are free to download. Printed materials will also be made available through trusted networks nationwide, such as Age Concern, Citizens Advice Bureaus, Digital Seniors Hubs, community libraries and other local support organisations.
RNZ News
21-05-2025
- Health
- RNZ News
Au Pair agency offers companionship for the elderly
Photo: LDR / Chloe Ranford The loneliness epidemic is growing among our aging population - a 2024 study by Age Concern found 59% of people aged 65 plus have felt lonely recently. But one fast-growing solution has come from an unlikely place. Tanya Burrage has run an au pair agency for twenty years, but recently expanded her services to offer support and companionship to the elderly. The idea came from her own client base who'd previously hired au pairs for their children - now their parents are aging, and they need someone to check in on them.
Local Spain
20-05-2025
- Politics
- Local Spain
UK Embassy singles out Brits in Alicante and Málaga for not getting TIEs
The British Embassy in Spain is calling on British residents specifically within the Málaga and Alicante provinces to exchange their paper green Certificates for a TIE ('tarjeta de identidad de extranjero') urgently. This targeted push follows the publication of data from the Spanish Ministry for Inclusion, Social Security and Migrations which states that Green Certificate ownership is most prevalent within these two provinces where large number of UK nationals reside. It is expected that these individuals will face considerable difficulties when the EU's Entry Exit System comes into force in October this year. Under this new border system, all non-EU passengers crossing into Spain or other EU countries will need to register their name, passport details and biometric data unless they can present a valid uniform-format biometric residency card. For Britons residing in Spain, only a TIE will be accepted by Spanish and EU authorities. The Green Certificate will not be recognised because it does not meet the requirements to feature in Annex 22 of the Schengen Borders Code. As a result, green certificate holders attempting to enter Spain or any other country in the Schengen zone may not have their residency rights recognised and may be wrongly accused of overstaying as a tourist in the EU. This could lead to them being denied entry and returned to the UK. Although there will be an appeals process, it may require the Green Certificate holder to return to the UK until it is resolved. With hundreds of thousands of British nationals - residents and tourists - passing through Alicante and Málaga airports each year, it is particularly imperative that anyone with a Green Certificate in those provinces exchanges it to a TIE as soon as possible, as the majority of residents have already done so. His Majesty's Ambassador Sir Alex Ellis said: 'We have already seen an increase in Brits getting a TIE since our campaign began, which is fantastic news, and we're grateful to the community groups, charities and British people who've helped spread the word. However, there remains a minority of British people still in possession of a Green Certificate so we want to reach them, explain why the TIE is so important and ensure they have one by October, in order to enjoy smooth travel into Spain and the Schengen area.' The British Embassy in Spain has been running a campaign to encourage take up of the TIE since May last year and, most recently, has stepped up activity in the Alicante and Málaga provinces. This has included outreach events and engagements with charities and British groups such as, Age Concern, the Royal British Legion, MABS Cancer Support, Samaritans, Help at Home, various HELP groups and others. The Embassy has also worked with local townhalls and media outlets to spread messages on EES and the TIE and is working with the Spanish Government to increase appointment availability in key areas.
Powys County Times
14-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Powys County Times
Kathy Biggs' third novel published by Harper Collins
A POWYS author, who only turned to writing after being made redundant, has just released her third novel – and her first since signing a book deal with iconic publishing house Harper Collins. Kathy Biggs ' third novel, 'Attention All Shipping', is the first from the Bradford-born writer since she signed with the industry giant – one of the big five global publishing companies. Attention All Shipping was released last Thursday, May 8, with Kathy holding an official local release in Llanwrtyd Wells, where she lives, on Friday evening. 'There were around 90 people there and I sold 80 books,' said Kathy, who has lived in Powys for more than 40 years. 'My editor, who is a co-director at Harper Collins, came up and did the interviewing; she stayed at the Neuadd Arms in town and loved it.' Kathy had a varied career as a nurse, foster carer and homeopath, before turning her hand to writing after being made redundant by Age Concern in 2017. She'd never harboured any desire to write, but after attending a creative writing course in Builth Wells, something clicked. She released ' The Luck ' in 2022, a story about an Irish crop duster who leaves for a new life in America. ' Scrap ', about how a young boy found in the back of a car at a scrapyard changes the lives of the people who find him, followed in 2023. Then, 18 months ago, Kathy got herself an agent, which was when 'everything changed'. 'It's my third novel and I feel like a fully-fledged novelist now,' said Kathy. 'It's strange.' RECOMMENDED READING: The married mother-of-two, who first moved to Powys in the 1980s, originally living in Glascwm, near Builth, published her first two novels through Honno – an Aberystwyth-based company which champions and publishes writing by the women of Wales. 'It was a tricky decision to leave Honno and go to someone with bigger resources, but now I have an agent, Sara O'Keeffe, and she has changed everything,' admitted Kathy. 'I signed a contract with Harper Collins in around March or April 2024 and Sara went for the bigger publishing houses. 'It's not anything that I ever expected to happen, especially after being made redundant and at my age. It feels unbelievable.' Having a totally new career take off, in her 60s, has been a shock – Attention All Shipping has even landed Kathy a contract in Germany, while she had to select actors to read the audiobook version. 'I've also got a contract in Germany, with DTV, so the book roughly translates to 'Ships On Stormy Seas', and it's being translated into German,' she added. 'It's also in audiobook format and I had a say in choosing the actors. I got sent voice samples to choose, which is not something I ever thought I would do.' There is a correlation between the new book and American author E. Annie Proulx's 1993 novel The Shipping News, which won the Pulitzer Prize for fiction. A tender, hopeful novel about losing and finding family, Attention All Shipping is about father and daughter Jack and Grace. Grace lives with her father on their crumbling family farm in Wales. Jack, who has dementia, lost his son Michael in a tragic accident at sea and each night he is soothed by an old recording of the shipping forecast, lulled to sleep by the belief that Michael is safe. While he sleeps, Grace wonders how she ended up back here, caring for her father rather than living her own life. One day, a young woman turns up on their farm, claiming to be Michael's daughter. Kathy's portrayal of dementia is based on her own experience of caring for her father, while 2025 marks the 100th anniversary of the first broadcast of the Shipping Forecast.
The Courier
13-05-2025
- General
- The Courier
John Kilpatrick: Cupar's 'modest hero' dies at 101 after quietly donating £1000s to local charities
John Kilpatrick, a humble and self-effacing man who spent more than three decades quietly supporting the people and causes of Cupar, has passed away at the age of 101. Celebrated by many as a 'modest hero,' John was best known for his quiet generosity – donating 10s of thousands of pounds over the years to local charities and organisations, almost always anonymously. Despite living a frugal life on a modest pension, he consistently gave away whatever he could spare to help others. The widowed father of one, and grandfather of two, celebrated his 101st birthday on April 25 and remained active and independent right up until his death on May 7. He had lived alone in his Cupar home, managing without any aids or regular medication, and was often seen walking through town up until just a few weeks ago. 'He was amazing,' said his son Andy, who led the many tributes that have followed his father's passing. 'He didn't have much in terms of income – a state pension and a very small work pension – but he didn't need more. If he had extra, he gave it away to someone who needed it. That was just how he lived.' A familiar face at Age Concern Cupar, where he had been a regular for over 32 years, John supported a wide range of community groups, including Cupar in Bloom, Cupar Pipe Band, Cupar Scout Group, Howe of Fife Rugby Club, and the Adamson Hospital League of Friends. 'He wasn't necessarily involved in these organisations,' added Andy. 'He just believed in what they were doing and quietly helped them out when he could. He never wanted recognition. It wasn't about that for him – it was about doing what was right.' Anne Ronaldson of Age Concern Cupar paid tribute to John's long-standing involvement. He used to joke that he was helping 'the old folk' at Age Concern – most of whom were 10 to 15 years younger than him. 'John has been an avid supporter of Age Concern and has been joining us for lunch for over 32 years,' she said. 'At 101 years young, John lived life to the full and always loved joining us, along with his late wife, when we went on holidays, day trips and our social nights. 'He will be sadly missed by us all here at Age Concern Cupar. Mary Spence, representing the Adamson Hospital League of Friends, said she would like to establish a permanent memorial in his honour. 'The Adamson Hospital League of Friends would like to thank John for his many years of support being an active committee member to generously supporting our fundraising endeavours,' she said. Cupar Fife councillor Margaret Kennedy added: 'Such sad news. One amazing gentleman who gave so much of himself to his community. God speed John!' Born in 1924 in Glasgow's Gorbals and moving to Dennistoun in the city's east end at the age of three, John Kilpatrick's early life was far from easy, living through the Great Depression which began in 1929. His father, a First World War veteran, was left physically and mentally scarred by the conflict, and his mother, whom Andy described as 'a simple but incredibly kind soul,' became a formative influence. John left school at 14 to train as a lift engineer. During World War II, he joined the RAF and served as a navigator, flying in Mosquito aircraft. He trained in Canada and northern England and was later stationed in Egypt. After the war, he played a critical role in the Berlin Airlift, navigating aircraft through narrow corridors to deliver supplies to a blockaded West Berlin. After his military service, John worked in civil aviation, then retrained as an electrical engineer by attending night school. He later worked with British Aerospace and Plessey's before retiring. In 1955, he married Jane MacDonald, a fellow Glaswegian whom he had met in London. They were married for 55 years until Jane's death in 2010. The couple moved to Cupar in the early 1990s to be closer to their family. John quickly immersed himself in the local community, joining clubs and lending a hand where he could. He became involved with Cupar Bowling Club and even served as chair of the North East Fife Tenants and Residents Federation (NEFTARF), where he loved spending time chatting with neighbours and offering support. 'He wasn't a man of grand hobbies,' said Andy. 'His secret was to just keep busy. He talked about helping all the old folk, most of whom were about 10 or 15 years younger than him. 'It was his mental attitude. His attitude was if you keep busy, keep active, you keep healthy. And he did. He just kept busy. I mean, obviously he genetically, must have had something too. 'But all the things he did in the community was what kept him going. It gave him a focus. It gave him a purpose.' In 2018, John was named Cupar Citizen of the Year, a rare moment of public recognition that he accepted with quiet pride. He was also nominated for Volunteer of the Year and, while he came third, was quick to praise the deserving winners. A regular at Cupar Probus, he was made an honorary life member in 2021. John's approach to life was practical and deeply principled. He loved everything mechanical and he used to strip down cars with his son. 'He was pragmatic, organised, and incredibly thoughtful,' Andy reflected. 'Everything was arranged before he passed – his funeral, his estate, even the logistics. That's just who he was.' Andy, who shared a love of DIY and engineering with his father, said he learned more than just practical skills growing up. 'He taught me how to solve problems, how to work with my hands, and how to stay calm under pressure. But more than anything, he taught me kindness – the quiet kind that doesn't ask for attention.' John, who is predeceased by his wife Jane, is survived by his son Andy and two granddaughters Mhairi and Kirsty. He was also a father-in-law to Vicky. A funeral service takes place on May 22 at 11.30am at Brewsterwells Crematorium, near Largoward.
