The Gemini Group
Gemini Group update
By Stella Elliott, local resident, Gemini member and NDC Board member
The Gemini Group have gone from strength to strength this year and some members have had a very busy time becoming involved in various interests, groups and projects.
We now have a core membership of around 30 local residents who meet up the first Thursday every month at St Sebastian’s Community Centre at 10am. We gain up to date relevant information for our age group, and have speakers and presentations from various organisations, alongside a gossip, tea and coffee.
We have organised some very interesting meetings, visits and events in the last year.
In March we organised a “Doorstep Crime” event where 80 local people were treated to a 3 course meal, a play by the Halliwell Theatre Group and information from various agencies to raise awareness of how easily criminals can enter the homes of vulnerable people. We must thank Tommy Curran for driving the NDC mini bus, New Deal and Homewatch for help with organising and funding the event, the Young Volunteers from the local secondary schools for serving the meal, and all the staff at St Sebastian’s especially the kitchen staff.
Members of our group were also involved in the making of a DVD “I remember” about their lives during the war, this was enjoyed by all. Thanks to Grumpy and Helen Robertshaw at NDC for the DVD’s for all group members.
In May we were invited by the Young@Heart group to a lovely lunch and a showing of the “Fameless” film made by the young persons group in Lower Kersal. It was great to meet another local group, and we will be arranging an event in the New Year when we will return the invitation. Thanks to Tommy Lever and the staff at Broughton Conservative Club for making the visit so successful.
In July we joined forces with the St. Sebastian’s committee and organised a fund raising Inside/Out event which was a success and raised £500 between us. I personally would like to thank all the committee members and volunteers, which made this event possible.
In August we journeyed to Eden Camp in Yorkshire with the Young Volunteers and I must say they were great fun and everyone from Gemini were thrilled, and felt they had been one of the major plusses to the visit. We must Thank Steve Illingworth from Salford Children’s Services for his assistance with funding from the Big Lottery for the trip and a video camera for us to capture future work with the young people.
In September we had a fantastic trip on a narrow boat along the Bridgewater Canal where we were given the history of the canal and we visited the Higher Green Colliery Museum. The group enjoyed this so much we will be organising another trip on a different part of the canal in 2007 with the Young Volunteers. We would like to thank David Rigby and his Wife for a great trip, where nothing was too much trouble.
In December we organised a visit to START in Brunswick House. This is where Salford residents who have mental health issues such as depression can be referred through their GP’s to access the “Arts on prescription” programme. The group thought the facility and provision e.g. digital photography, pottery, joinery, drawing and painting etc…was excellent. We would like to thank Bernadette Conlon for her tour of the building.
The group are enjoying their new friends and interests that much, that they are also tackling the needs and rights of local older people.
We have been lobbying at the NDC Transport Action Group, the GMPTE Salford Local Transport Group, and the Transport Conference at Manchester Town Hall for bus shelters along Littleton Rd and improved bus services in the local area.
We have also been represented at the Older Person’s Forum where concerns about local Council Services and National issues are raised. We will be hosting the Forum in May and June 2007 at St. Sebastian’s Community Centre.
We have also been involved in consultations with Salford Council about future housing for the older generation.
All in all it has been an enlightening year, I would like to thank the group and everyone concerned for electing me onto the NDC Partnership Board.
I would like to congratulate Anne Barker and Angela Greenway for undertaking and passing their Midas mini bus training, and for their continued support to the group.
I would also like to thank the hard working members who attend various meetings including the NDC Task Groups to bring back information to the group, and all the group members for making this year so enjoyable and such a success. I believe the support network we have and continue to build on is important to people of our age.
I would like to thank on behalf of the group, Denise Yearsley from Age Concern and Caroline Allport from NDC for their continued support throughout the year, and we look forward to working together next year to make 2007 an equal if not better success.
If you have not attended one of meetings previously and would like to join us, I would like to invite you to the next one on 1st February, or if you have any queries please contact me on 0161 792 0803.
Regards,
Stella
This page was last updated on 17 April 2008
