Coming up to or in retirement?

[BARA]

BARA ( Barry Area Residents' Association) theme for this year is ' A rough guide to retirement'

We are seeking views and experiences from 1. Those under retirement age - 50 plus as to what information they wish to know for them to plan their retirement and 2. From those who are currently retired as how life has been for them- did retirement met their expectations, any unpleasant surprises etc?.

On Tuesday 13th September from 10.30 - 3.30 pm at the East Dulwich Community Centre, 46-50 Darrell Road. SE22 9NL

there will be an Open day with talks from the University of the Third Age and Workers Education Association. Opportunities for a taster class - exercises for ladies 50 plus.

Creation Station - creativity for under 5s

Plus

Vauxhall City Farm will be bringing their animals for young and old to enjoy.

This is an opportunity for everyone to find out what happens at the centre, and to seek ideas as to the activities/groups you would like to see provided.

The centre has a wide range of activities for children and young people and those who are 'active' but very little for the 45 plus age group including those in retirement.

BARA Committee Members will also be in attendance with a wide range of information aimed at the 50 plus group.

In addition BARA has a General Meeting in the evening from 8 pm to discuss retirement issues. We are hoping to have a guest speaker on retirement issues.

[peterstorm1985]

Those were the days, when people in their 50s could look forward to retirement....

I'm afraid my pension forecast suggests I've got time for another career between when I'm 50 and when I actually get to retire.

[Ladygooner]

Would love to attend but myself and most over 50's I know will be at work that day and likely to be until they are 65!

[BARA]

We have an evening meeting from 8 pm for those who are not available during the day.

I have deferred by retirement until I am 66 as have a job I enjoy with a great variety and I would miss going to work.

[Pugwash]

With the council cut backs, many of the Day Centres or Pop Ins enjoyed by the over 65s will close or are only available to those who have a Personal Budget as they will need to charge Market Prices (From ?10 - ?38 per day)Some will inclide transport costs, others you pay extra for lunch (?3.50 -?4.50).

What we need in ED is a club/pop in for those of us who are 50 plus and mentally with it, to have various topics discussed or crafts practiced. I have always fancied patchwork but would like someone to show me the basics. A friend would like a bread baking morning a 'bread and bitch' type session. I know the centre has a qualified dietician on their management committee who has run workshops in the past. I have also been to the centre where they have had a well being day - with reflexology, head massage etc.

However, there are a great many people who are not working and who have various skills and experiences they could impart to others - I know that the BARA Committe and the Centre are hoping that they can put together groups and volunteers to run the groups. I personally would welcome a set day/morning with a programme of events/talks/demonstrations so that there is a wide range of topics etc. It could also serve as a meeting point for people who just want to chat, have a drink and a sandwich, and get to know others in their community.

I think the worrying aspect of retirement is the loss of companionship especially if most of your friends or social activities come from the workplace. I have built up over my years of living in ED a circle of friends who are of varying ages (mid 30s - mid 80s) who are active in the community and many of whom share the same interests as myself. This is not true of everyone - retirement can be an isolating experience and can lead to depression.

I very often pop into Christ Church on a saturday morning between 10 - 1 pm, sometimes to purchase goods in the Fair Trade Centre but othertimes to buy a drink and meet up with friends etc. A weekday session at the Community Centre would be good.

I however am not yet retiring, but would take the odd day off work if such a group could be formed and there is topic that interests me.

[peterstorm1985]

I'm really confused by this '50 plus and mentally with it' thing. I know that dementia can hit early in rare cases but 50 really is a bit young to raise the question in a general sense.

There's also a hint of exclusion about 50 plus so if anything is to be offered for those below pension age (65) wouldn't it be better to be available to all.

[Pugwash]

I Think the reason this has come about is if you look at most of the activities in ED -during the day, they are geared to parents, children, those who are physically active and want to take part in Zumba etc. There is a great swathe of people in ED over the age of 45 ( and if I recall some statistics from the Dulwich Community Council a couple of years ago - this area has the highest number of older people who have limited incomes and in older properties) who are of low income and cannot afford to pay ?5 - ?8 a session for an hour or two of kick boxing/pilates etc. Many are unemployed or have been medically retired due to continual poor health.

There are a large number of carers in the area who are looking after relatives who are in their 70/80/90s who feel somewhat excluded by the rest of ED as their caring responsibilities and the lack of respite care, mean they cannot commit themselves to attending regular classes, or they cannot afford them.

I think BARA and the Community Centre have been asked to look at redressing the balance of activities in their area and at the centre. If more people of 45 plus indicate they need something to meet their generational needs - that is fine as I do not think the 50 plus age range is set in stone.

With many voluntary orgainsations in Southwark facing extreme cuts in their funding, Southwark has been asking through various consultation documents as to how best limited financial resources can best be distributed amongst the Voluntary sector. For instances there are several groups representing different refugees and their ethnic background, it may be more beneficial to have one overall group on one premises to reduce costs and have one level of funding. Equally there are women's groups covering different ethnic or religious groups, where some of the aims and activities overlap.

There are 60 different organisations meeting at the community centre, whilst some such as Weight Watchers cater for all age groups. others deal with the under 11's (after school club and holiday play centre) Youth Organisations, Under 5's activities, specific ethnic groups i.e. Pioneers, Southwark Muslim organisations, church groups etc. There is nothing geared to those in retirement or over 45.

Whilst early onset demenentia is rare, Southwark has a very high rate of people who have a range of mental illnesses. Due to the economic climate and loss of employment many more people have been diagnosed with depression and the statutory services cannot cope with meeting their needs. Depression usually leads to isolation from your community and family and there is a need to provide more stimulus at community level. With the future configuration of the mental health services in South London and I am including the boroughs of Bromley, Bexley and Greenwich in this, there is a greater need to provide activities and meeting places for people to go to to seek companionship, to reduce isolation and in many ways, to act as a preventative measure to ensure future mental health.

[computedshorty]

Age has nothing to do with retiring, it is a time to cease work full time.

I am an Octagenairian and have not retired, so long as you keep active you can go on for years.

There is the question of Money but why worry? Will you have enough to get you through. I worked from the age of fourteen up to sixty five the time I was told to retire. This did not mean that I stopped being active, it meant that if I got payed for working on I would have my Tax adjusted and I would not be allowed to qualify for any Pension Credits or income support.

The people to ask is the ones who are already there.

[peterstorm1985]

Thank you for responding Pugwash but what I was trying to get across is why do we need to categorise people by age? Lack of work and/or mental ill health can affect all ages with similar outcomes. Whilst those in later years may not find available activities, it's the type of activity that is missing, not a lack of something aimed specifically at them. There will be some in their 70s+ who want strenuously active classes and there are new parents in their mid forties with 15 years or so of parenting activities ahead of them. At the same time, there are young people with disabilities who may want something a little gentler.

I'm happy that activities are aimed at the unwaged as a way of creating a deserving group for subsidised provision but I don't like the 'out to grass' inference of a minimum age. And now you've brought that starting point down to 45, I'm really going off you........

[Pugwash]

Sorry you feel that way - perhaps you would like to visit the Open day at the Centre between 10.30 - 3.30 on Tuesday 13th and talk with the Univercity of the 3rd Age etc,and see for yourself the activities at the centre. Or put your views across to the Development Officer.

I agree that it is the type of activity rather than the age but the centre needs ideas as to which/what activity and how much are people prepared to pay. The Centre has to raise all it's running costs themselves so very few activities can be free - you may get a few weeks free trial of a new group to see if it was a viable venture, but after that the hire charges need to be paid.

You can be any age to enjoy the Vauxhall City Farm