NIFTY NEWSMay 2014

Would you like to find out more about food and know which food groups are especially important for your health as you get older?

If so, the “Wise About Food” course is for you! Each “course” comprises of two, two hour sessions – one course is in the evening for those who work, and one is in the morning if that is more convenient. The sessions will be very interactive and will cover what we all know about food & nutrition,

the Eat Well plate and how to understand food labels. You will also get a chance to determine what your course will cover.

So if you have burning questions that you would like to ask a qualified nutritionist or would like to find out which vitamins are more important as you get older – make sure to book your place early!

Course 1 – 19th May & 2nd June at 7pm Course 2 – 4th & 18th June at 10am at Harebreaks Hub

FANCY MAKING YOUR OWN FLORAL WORK OF ART?Would you like to make a floral table decoration or learn how to make a Christmas wreath (for a door or grave)? If so, the following 2hr sessions are made with you in mind!

13th Aug, 10am (floral table decoration) 15th Dec, 7pm (wreath) at Harebreaks Hub

Hello it’s me, Jackie, again and welcome to the second edition of Nifty News! We really hope you enjoyed reading the first edition and have also enjoyed the activities that you have taken part in so far. The highlights of this edition include full details of the long anticipated coach trips, details of some local walks and

some exciting events at Burston Garden Centre.

Call 01923 209188 to book a place on any of the trips and activities. All of the activities in this edition are free with the exception of entrance to Kew Gardens, and whatever you chose to spend while on the trips and at

the Garden Centre. We are also looking for volunteers to become Roundabout drivers for our independent living schemes, to run a Nifties Facebook page and also to lead some local walks (with training) so if you are interested in any of those opportunities please let me know on 01923 209293.

Don’t forget that Nifty members have had priority booking for the activities contained in this newsletter so if you want to make sure you are one of the first to know in future, become a Nifty member (again, call me on 01923 209293)!

And finally, if you would like the Trust to email information in the future please let us have your email address to - communitydevelopment@wcht.org.uk

Members who attended the earlier yoga sessions said:

“a good introduction for yoga novices”

“very relaxing and calm – would love to do more”

“amazing – I didn’t realise I would be able to do as much as I did”

“all round first class activity – well enjoyed”

“allowed me to have some “me time””“instructor very clear”

As the classes have proved popular we are looking into organising a regular Nifty yoga! Keep an eye out for information dropping through your doorstep in the near future.

A call for any volunteers to be a Roundabout driver.

EXTRA RETIREMENT PLANNING SESSION 28th May, 7pm at Harebreaks HubAnother chance to get some great advice from our retirement expert. Take an evening out to consider how to prepare to change your life.

One member who attended the first one said:

“I enjoyed the activity as it was a chance to meet people and to learn more about retirement. It gave me an awareness of how to avoid a depressing retirement!”

Become a volunteer driver with roundabout Transport! Volunteering to be a named driver for our independent living schemes will allow some of our scheme based tenants to go on trips out for the day. So if you are under 70 years of age and you have a few hours a month to spare, call Vanessa Wright on 01923 209218 in the first instance to discuss.

Review our “Nifty Year” so far …Come along and get together with fellow Nifties and discuss the activities so far this year. Tell us what you have enjoyed (or hated) and help decide the next programme of activities!

22nd Sept 7-9pm, or 5th Nov 10am - 12pm

at Harebreaks Hub

23rd June, 7-9pmat Harebreaks Hub

ACTIVE AGEINGFind out about housing issues affecting older people and help the Trust decide what our future plans should be to enable us to provide desirable housing for the over 50’s of the future.

7th May, 10am-12pmat Harebreaks Hub

TEA WITH THE MAYOR ANYONE?Do you have burning questions you’ve always wanted to ask the Mayor? Or do you want to hear about what has been happening in Watford, the future plans for the area or just meet Dorothy for a cup of tea? If so, just book your place!

COACH TRIPS

Royal Botanic Gardens at Kew on 4th June

• Explore a World Heritage Site at Kew Gardens – the world’s most famous garden. Stroll a soaring walkway amid tree canopies and wander through extensive gardens under glass reaching up to 27°C. Enjoy a day out with four cafes and restaurants, art galleries, a serene lake and waterlily ponds.

• Glasshouses provide hours of undercover discovery for visitors of all ages. Be amazed by giant lily pads in the Waterlily House, delve into an exotic rainforest in the Palm House, and travel through 10 climatic zones in the Princess of Wales Conservatory.

• Step inside Kew Palace to explore a beautiful royal retreat comprising princesses’ bedrooms, an intimate dining room and the Royal Kitchens.

This is a FREE trip, you will just need to pay your entrance on the day. The first pick up time will be 10am and the anticipated journey time is around 1hr 30mins. We expect to be leaving Kew at around 4.30pm but information will be confirmed on the day.

More information can be found on the Kew Gardens website: www.kew.org or by phone on 020 8332 5655.

At the time of writing adult entrance tickets cost £14.50 and concessions are £12.50 (those registered blind or partially sighted are free). Kew also has a land train around the site which costs £4.50. If a group of more than 10 people pay on the day in one transaction the entrance fees are £13.05 or £11.25 for concessions so if anyone fancies organising this while on the coach travelling there that will save us all some money!! You will be free to spend your time as you wish once at Kew.

For all the coach trips we will be offering two pick up points depending which is more convenient for you.The first (and very quick) pick up point will be the bus lay by next to the Horns pub and the library. The stop here will be brief to just pick up those waiting and continue to the main pick up point so if you choose this pick up point you must let us know beforehand and please make sure you are there at least 10 minutes before the time stated below as the coach will not be able to wait for latecomers. The main pick up point will be outside the car park at

Morrisons supermarket in Ascot Road. The supermarket has kindly offered to let people park there free of charge for the trip and has cafe and toilet facilities while you are waiting. Please be considerate to shoppers and use the spaces furthest from the shop entrance. The coach will be coming directly from the first pick up point, so again make sure you are there in good time as it will not wait for latecomers as we will be keen to hit the road for our trip!

Bournemouth Air Show on 30th AugustThe Air Show website is www.bournemouthairshow.co.uk . Full details of this year’s festival are not yet available but information can be obtained from Bournemouth Borough Council on 01202 451451.

This is a FREE and inclusive full day trip. The first pick up will be at 8.30am and the anticipated journey time is around 3hr 30mins. There will be appropriate comfort stops during the journey there and back. We expect to leave Bournemouth at the end of the air show (around 5pm) but the air show may run late so we could miss the end of the show.

It’s a great way to enjoy a day at the seaside and watch the air show as well!

A day out in London on 16th SeptemberThe first pick up will be at 10am and we expect to leave to come home at approximately 4pm and the journey will take around an hour. The coach will drop us close to the London Eye area and you will have the day at your leisure to do whatever you want (nearby attractions like the London Eye or take the tube or a taxi for tea at a posh hotel or do a spot of shopping). You will be able to spend as much or as little as you want – the trip is free just pay for what you want to do! The location is lovely, right on the embankment with a river cruise stop nearby. If the weather is nice take a stroll along the embankment to see the Houses of Parliament or Big Ben. Other attractions nearby include Sea Life London Aquarium, the London Dungeon, Royal Festival Hall or HMS Belfast. Or spend the afternoon sitting watching the world go by.

The RAF Museum in Hendon on 22nd OctoberThis is another totally FREE trip. The coach will be at the first pick up point at 10am and we expect the journey to be around an hour. We will leave to come home at around 4pm. Information about the museum can be found at www.rafmuseum.org.uk or you can call 020 8205 2266. Facilities at the museum include a picnic area, cafe, restaurant and shop.

The Royal Air Force Museum London offers a fun, enthralling day out for the whole family: and, best of all, admission is free.

With over 100 aircraft on site, nowhere else in London enables you to get close to so many historic and groundbreaking aircraft without paying an entrance.

There is much to intrigue, thrill and educate:• Marvel at the life-sized model of the F-35 Joint Strike Fighter jet - the only place

in the world where it is on display.• Listen to Winston Churchill give his ‘Battle of Britain’ speech to a fearful nation

from his 10 Downing Street Office.• Check out the ‘Bomb Bay’ television underneath a gigantic Vulcan Bomber.• Discover the amazing heroes, heroines and trailblazers who have contributed so

much to the development of flight and the RAF.

The Houses of Parliament on 3rd NovemberThis is another totally FREE tour and will include a walking tour of the Commons and Lords along with all extra working rooms such as the Queens Robing Room.

This trip is dependent on us being able to secure the tickets which have to be arranged via an MP. We have asked for a tour on this date at around 11am but details will be confirmed nearer the time with those who have booked a place. We expect the coach to be at the first pick up point at 9.15am. To take this guided tour you need to be able to walk/stand up comfortably at a medium to slow pace for just over an hour. There are a few sets of stairs and many hard floors. There are very few opportunities to sit down during the tour although we will be met by our MP Richard Harrington afterwards in a meeting room and everyone will have a chance to sit down and ask a few questions!

NIFTY WALKS We’ve teamed up with the Hertfordshire Health Walks to bring four FREE taster Health Walks for you to join this summer. Getting involved is simply a case of putting on a pair of sensible shoes and joining one of the four taster walks.

• Friday 23rd May, from Garston Medical Centre, Sainsbury car park, The Dome roundabout. We’ll be walking to Leavesden Green Community Hub, having a break for refreshments and to check out the centre and walk back to the start. It’s 30 minutes each way. 10am -12noon (Grade 2).

• Tuesday 10th June, from Harebreaks Community Hub, a 30 minute walk through the Local Nature Reserve followed by refreshments. 10.30 - 11.30am (Grade 1).

• Monday 14th July, from Meriden Community Centre, a 60 minute walk exploring Berrygrove Woods and the river Colne, followed by refreshments. 7.30pm - 9.30pm (Grade 3).

• Sunday 10th August, from the Hollywell area, a 90 minute ramble exploring Croxley Common Moor and Ebury Way. 2pm - 4pm (Grade 4). More details of where to meet nearer the time.

If these taster walks are popular we’d like to recruit some volunteers to lead regular walks in Watford and Three Rivers. Many of the Health Walk Leaders who volunteer to lead walks on the Hertfordshire Health Walks scheme do so to improve their fitness; meet new people; walk in beautiful green spaces and countryside that surround their homes and also give back by volunteering their time to support a cause that helps everyone to have access to the same benefits.

The Hertfordshire Health Walks have over 40 weekly walks across the county and their success is testament to the volunteers who lead, motivate and encourage participants. We would like to hear from you if you enjoy being outside, walking and chatting with like-minded people. Whether you have as little as one hour a month, or one hour per week to spare, you could help the Health Walks take off as a regular part of the Nifty programme. You don’t need to be fit to volunteer as the walks are graded from ’first steps’, a 20 minute stroll, up to 90 minute rambles. Join one of the taster walks and talk to the leader or give Jackie a call, on 01923 209293.

While you don’t have to book, it would help us greatly if you could let us know that you intend coming along. This is because we need to know how many refreshments to provide at our hubs for the two walks stopping there, and it will also allow us to judge if any of our choices are particularly popular (or unpopular) and make any necessary changes. Book in the usual “Nifty” way!

Working with Three Rivers District Council and Hertfordshire County Council

Watford and Three RiversHealth Walks

Walk in HertfordshireJanuary - April2014

Welcome to the Watford & Three Rivers Health Walks programme, part of a countywide initiative of free, led walks, which aims to help everyone get outdoors, get more active and reap the benefits.

Why walk?Health walks are an ideal way of taking exercise: • Suitable for all ages and abilities • Local, short and free • Sociable - walk in groups and meet new people • Strengthen your heart, muscles and bones • Good for your wellbeing – de-stress and increase your confidence

What you need to know• Start slowly and always walk at a pace

you are comfortable with, you should still be able to chat to the person next to you!

• All walks are led by volunteers who are trained in leading and basic first aid.

• Brisk walking brings the most benefits (brisk is feeling a little warmer and breathing a little harder). • Current medical advice suggests

adults should aim to take moderate exercise for 150 minutes a week.

Walk GradingThe walks cater for all abilities and are graded to give you an idea of what to expect so you can choose the most suitable walk for you. Accessible by Public Transport

Wheelchair friendly

Refreshments available after walk

Type of walk – level based on estimated time it takes to walk, hills, stiles - unless otherwise stated

our easiest walk, 20 - 30 minutes, flat and even ground, gentle pace, no stiles, regular stopping places easy walk, 30 minutes, about 1 to 1.5 miles, gentle hills, no stiles easy/moderate walk, 45 minutes, about 2 miles, moderate hills, no stiles moderate walk, 1 hour, about 3 miles, moderate hills, faster pace, possible stiles moderate plus, up to 2 hours, possible steep inclines and stiles

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Welcome to the Watford & Three Rivers Health Walks programme, part of a countywide initiative of free, led walks, which aims to help everyone get outdoors, get more active and reap the benefits.

Why walk?Health walks are an ideal way of taking exercise: • Suitable for all ages and abilities • Local, short and free • Sociable - walk in groups and meet new people • Strengthen your heart, muscles and bones • Good for your wellbeing – de-stress and increase your confidence

What you need to know• Start slowly and always walk at a pace

you are comfortable with, you should still be able to chat to the person next to you!

• All walks are led by volunteers who are trained in leading and basic first aid.

• Brisk walking brings the most benefits (brisk is feeling a little warmer and breathing a little harder). • Current medical advice suggests

adults should aim to take moderate exercise for 150 minutes a week.

Walk GradingThe walks cater for all abilities and are graded to give you an idea of what to expect so you can choose the most suitable walk for you. Accessible by Public Transport

Wheelchair friendly

Refreshments available after walk

Type of walk – level based on estimated time it takes to walk, hills, stiles - unless otherwise stated

our easiest walk, 20 - 30 minutes, flat and even ground, gentle pace, no stiles, regular stopping places easy walk, 30 minutes, about 1 to 1.5 miles, gentle hills, no stiles easy/moderate walk, 45 minutes, about 2 miles, moderate hills, no stiles moderate walk, 1 hour, about 3 miles, moderate hills, faster pace, possible stiles moderate plus, up to 2 hours, possible steep inclines and stiles

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Welcome to the Watford & Three Rivers Health Walks programme, part of a countywide initiative of free, led walks, which aims to help everyone get outdoors, get more active and reap the benefits.

Why walk?Health walks are an ideal way of taking exercise: • Suitable for all ages and abilities • Local, short and free • Sociable - walk in groups and meet new people • Strengthen your heart, muscles and bones • Good for your wellbeing – de-stress and increase your confidence

What you need to know• Start slowly and always walk at a pace

you are comfortable with, you should still be able to chat to the person next to you!

• All walks are led by volunteers who are trained in leading and basic first aid.

• Brisk walking brings the most benefits (brisk is feeling a little warmer and breathing a little harder). • Current medical advice suggests

adults should aim to take moderate exercise for 150 minutes a week.

Walk GradingThe walks cater for all abilities and are graded to give you an idea of what to expect so you can choose the most suitable walk for you. Accessible by Public Transport

Wheelchair friendly

Refreshments available after walk

Type of walk – level based on estimated time it takes to walk, hills, stiles - unless otherwise stated

our easiest walk, 20 - 30 minutes, flat and even ground, gentle pace, no stiles, regular stopping places easy walk, 30 minutes, about 1 to 1.5 miles, gentle hills, no stiles easy/moderate walk, 45 minutes, about 2 miles, moderate hills, no stiles moderate walk, 1 hour, about 3 miles, moderate hills, faster pace, possible stiles moderate plus, up to 2 hours, possible steep inclines and stiles

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So don’t forget, all these activities:• Are Free

• Are either at Harebreaks Hub (Please note, activities are in the top hall - turn right inside the front door and use the stairs or lift to the first floor).

• Or out and about where stated

• Need to be booked!

Call 01923 209188

to book a place on any of these activites.

Contact:Jackie TyrrellCommunity Development Officer

T: 01923 209293 jackie.tyrrell@wcht.org.ukIf you have any concerns or suggestions

13th Aug, 10am (floral table decoration) 15th Dec, 7pm (wreath) at Harebreaks Hub

MOST WANTED!TIMEBANK TUNES

WARMLY WELCOME YOU

TO A FREE SING OUT AT THE O.K. KARAOKE CORRAL

EVERY MONDAY FROM FEB 24TH HIGH NOON 1200-1400

AT HOLYWELL COMMUNITY CENTRE. Bring your karaoke CDG’s or DVD’s or use ours,

(over 740 tracks).

Coffee, Tea and Bickies available.By kind permission of Sheriff D.Kilian,

Deputies, Farzama, Ferial.

BURSTON GARDEN CENTRE Wednesday 2nd July “Behind the Scenes at Burston Garden Centre” - from propagation to shop floor and everything in between!! Meet there for a prompt 10.30am start. Please note that the tour will last approximately one hour and is in a working environment, therefore this activity will not be suitable for those in wheelchairs or with mobility aids. For this exclusive Nifty tour numbers are strictly limited to 30.

In case you don’t know, Burston Garden Centre is on the A405 North Orbital Road, just past the Noke Hotel roundabout. Let us know if you need help getting there. As well as a garden centre selling all the usual fayre, they also have a café serving lovely food and an extensive range of gift items. There is even a separate fishery on the site for those of you with an aquarium!

17th September (10.30am start) for an Autumnal themed talk on colour, with some tips on pruning and planting. Again places for up-to 30 only in one sitting. Exclusive for Nifties!

For both of these activities you are welcome to arrive earlier to the centre to have a look around before the official start time (as well as staying on afterwards) and as the activity has no cost for the Trust you are also welcome to bring along a friend or partner – just tell us at the time of booking so we can ensure we do not exceed the numbers!

Wednesday 2nd July Behind the Scenes

17th September for an Autumnal themed talk

Welcome to the Watford & Three Rivers Health Walks programme, part of a countywide initiative of free, led walks, which aims to help everyone get outdoors, get more active and reap the benefits.

Why walk?Health walks are an ideal way of taking exercise: • Suitable for all ages and abilities • Local, short and free • Sociable - walk in groups and meet new people • Strengthen your heart, muscles and bones • Good for your wellbeing – de-stress and increase your confidence

What you need to know• Start slowly and always walk at a pace

you are comfortable with, you should still be able to chat to the person next to you!

• All walks are led by volunteers who are trained in leading and basic first aid.

• Brisk walking brings the most benefits (brisk is feeling a little warmer and breathing a little harder). • Current medical advice suggests

adults should aim to take moderate exercise for 150 minutes a week.

Walk GradingThe walks cater for all abilities and are graded to give you an idea of what to expect so you can choose the most suitable walk for you. Accessible by Public Transport

Wheelchair friendly

Refreshments available after walk

Type of walk – level based on estimated time it takes to walk, hills, stiles - unless otherwise stated

our easiest walk, 20 - 30 minutes, flat and even ground, gentle pace, no stiles, regular stopping places easy walk, 30 minutes, about 1 to 1.5 miles, gentle hills, no stiles easy/moderate walk, 45 minutes, about 2 miles, moderate hills, no stiles moderate walk, 1 hour, about 3 miles, moderate hills, faster pace, possible stiles moderate plus, up to 2 hours, possible steep inclines and stiles

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Are you a dab hand when it comes to social networking? If you are interested in starting and updating a Nifties Facebook page please let us know! Email me at jackie.tyrrell@wcht.org.uk