A Letter from the EO – A Fond Farewell and Some Interesting Introductions

Dear EC Members,

So much has happened since my last letter, and I’m eager to share some lovely updates with you.

Did you know that next year marks our 25th anniversary? We’re planning something special to celebrate 25 years of the Elders Council. That’s all I can say for now (as we are still in planning stages!), but I’m hoping to share something exciting in my next letter, that we can all look forward to over the next 12 months.

Over the past few weeks, whether I’ve been out and about networking, attending events or doing community development work, two topics keep popping up in conversation. Of course, there are many others, (too many to mention in this letter) and I’m working through them to see how they align with the work the Elders Council does across Newcastle.

The first topic I have been looking at in more detail is the need for support with digital skills and opportunities to bridge the digital divide. Our members and partners have been very clear: it should be a personal choice – but one that’s accessible to all. People should have the tools and resources available to tap into, if, and when they choose to.

The second is the need for more creative outlets for older people in our city – particularly in theatre and performance. This was the focus of the Creative Ageing Symposium I attended in Lancaster, where the importance of regular, consistent, long-term groups was emphasised. These groups offer vital opportunities to connect and activate as a community, and this has also been echoed by several of our members that I have chatted to. So, I’ve been working on designing and co-creating something that makes this a reality, which I will come back to.

Below are six of the things we’ve been doing in response to the above (and in collaboration with our board, partners and volunteers):

Digital Skills

1. AbilityNet have kindly delivered free digital skills sessions at the EC office. These sessions were organised by Meg and facilitated by Helen McGuigan (thank you, Helen!), who is now also a member of the Elders Council, and is full of ideas on how we can make digital skills more accessible. After chatting with Helen and the board, we’ve agreed that digital sessions out in community settings could benefit many EC members. We’re looking at venues such as our much-loved Jesmond Library and other locations across the city, more details will follow in the bulletin.

2. We’re delighted to welcome Stella Simbo from Connected Voice as a new EC member. Stella has a real talent for bridging the much-talked-about ‘digital divide’ and will be an asset to the Elders Council. We’re looking forward to learning from her insights and seeing where this collaboration leads.

3. We’ve officially launched our new Social Media and Digital Group. The first session was a great success. Volunteers created social media posts based around our three pillars: Connect, Influence, and Activate. Each post was designed to either inform, educate, or entertain, and we paired visuals with engaging copy to share on Facebook. Keep an eye out for the posts! And please remember to like, comment and share if you find them interesting.

These monthly sessions offer a brilliant opportunity to meet others and build transferable digital skills – from using Facebook and Canva to learning design and copywriting basics.

The Arts and Creativity

4. Equal Arts recently launched their latest dementia-friendly, open-ended book, Dorothy Wordsworth – Grasmere Days. They’ll also be running Reading with Dementia sessions in the coming weeks. I’m currently in conversation with Equal Arts about how the Elders Council can support, and get involved with, this and future creative projects. You can read more here: Books for people living with dementia.

5. As you may have seen, to mark Ageing Without Limits Day on Tuesday 11th June, we’re running a creative photography and collage session with Artist Sharon Bailey. This will be a chance to reflect on how we see ourselves, and how we feel society sees us. The session will celebrate ageing as a joyful, meaningful time, full of fun, wisdom, and continued purpose. The session is now fully booked and look forward to sharing photographs and reflections after the event!

6. We’re excited to announce the board has approved a new member-led creative writing and performance group called: OWLS (which stands for Older Writers – Legacy and Spoken Word). The group will focus on the craft of writing and include things like poetry, storytelling, song lyrics, and scriptwriting, with opportunities to share and perform. It’s free and open to members aged 50+. We can’t wait to see what the OWLS produce in the coming months!

And Finally… A Fond Farewell

We’re saying a heartfelt farewell and thank you to Meg Hardiman, our much-loved Project Co-ordinator, who will be leaving the Elders Council for pastures new. Meg has had a huge impact on our projects, including the Ageing with Purpose course and the RIG group and will definitely be missed. She’s moving on to a full-time role as Development and Marketing Officer at the Community Foundation, and we wish her every success in her new role.

I’ll be back with another letter in two weeks. In the meantime, if you’d like to join either the Social Media and Digital Group or the OWLS group, please email info@elderscouncil.org.uk or call 0191 208 2701.

With warmest wishes,

Victoria

Executive Officer

Elders Council of Newcastle