SENIOR EYE Editors: Nancy and Vicki.

senioreye@citizenseye.org Issue 1

The Voice of the Public by the Public. Senior Eye was established in January this year as a direct result of Nancy’s and Vicki’s involvement in the Community Media Course ran by John Coster, Editor of the Citizens’ Eye Community News Agency at the Central Lending Library (Sept-Dec 08). Citizens’ Eye were keen to increase the content created by older people about older persons issues and we are delighted to support this news agency through the Community Media Hub. We are hoping to attract older people to become Citizen Reporters and take the opportunity to attend the Community Media Training School on Saturdays (12-4pm) in the Learning and Information Library in Bishop Street. If you are interested in becoming involved with Senior Eye, Please drop into the office or call 0116 299 5413 or email senioreye@citizenseye.org

Hi, my name is Vicki Aged 53, a mum and a Nan. I am unemployed and actively seeking work. I have no intention of growing old, well, not in mind. I have been writing for many years, most of my work being poetry. This position was offered to me and I took it as a chance to expand on my writing skills and because I believe in what Senior Eye is about.

Hi, I am Nancy Aged 59, a mother and grandma. I am currently unemployed and actively looking for work. My long-term objectives are to live a long and productive life and to grow old disgracefully. I would like to become actively involved in writing and even campaigning, which is why I decided to do this job.

The Swap Shop Have you got a talent? Have you got something that needs doing? Do you want to make new friends? Don’t have a lot of cash? If the answer to these questions is yes, then you are not alone. We can mention your needs and talents in the Swap shop. If some one has a need that matches your talent and a talent that matches your need, the swap. Example: You are a good cake maker and you need a bit of gardening done. Some one else may need a birthday cake made and is a good gardener. So you could have you gardening done in exchange for a cake. Let us have your needs and talents and phone number and we will include it in our Swap Shop section in the next issue. Contact details are on the back of this issue.

I REMEMBER

As years go by I remember Things that have gone before,

Like sitting safely in your home Not having to lock the door.

Neighbours were always friendly Lending this and borrowing that, Looking out for each others kids

Standing on doorsteps to have a chat. We had a bath on Sunday nights By the fire, in a bath made of tin,

Water heated on the stove And gently added in.

Go off to school for nine o’clock Finishing at four, not three,

Getting home by half past four And have bread and jam for tea.

Go shopping with mum on a Saturday

And carrying what we can, And if I had been very good

A lolly from the ice-cream van. I didn’t have much pocket money

If I ever got any, I spent it at the corner shop

Sweets were four for a penny. Cleaning out the fire grate And fetching in the coal,

Helping mum to make some cakes And scrapping out the bowl.

The weekly wash was done by hand Put out to dry on the line,

Sometimes two loads in one day If the weather was fine.

Playing in the street was safe With marbles, jacks and ball,

Dressing up in my Sunday best When visitors came to call. We didn’t have a TV then

When we did, it was black and white, Then when it was time for bed

Mum would tuck me in at night. I am a lot older now

Like me, time has moved on, All the things that used to be

Have now, nearly all gone. I often look back to those days

And reminisce for a while, Things were so much different then The memories just make me smile.

Written by Vicki Buchannan

Over 50’s Club Does anyone know of any Over 50’s clubs or groups in Leicester? I have been in Leicester for nearly a year now and apart from Age Concern, I haven’t found anything for the older people. I was wondering if there is any one out there who is willing to start up a group for the Over 50’s. If anyone has any information on this subject or is willing to start up a group with me. Please contact Vicki on 07900077900.

* Central Lending Library Tel: 299 5402 * Learning & Information Library Tel: 299 5401

Leicester’s Elderly wear a Hoody and play Wii.

Young people in Leicester ‘gatecrashed’ an OAP group that meets regularly at the Braunstone Oak Centre on Wednesday 28th January between 5.30 – 7.30 to break down communication barriers between the older and the younger generations. They helped the elderly to play Wii and the elderly taught them how to play Bingo and Beatle Drive. Throughout the event the elderly residents either wore a hoody or a bright yellow Agents4change t-shirt and were questioned how they feel wearing the clothing which many young people get stereotyped with. One elderly lady said; “I think that hoodies are warm and comfortable to wear and see no reason as to why the young people are stereotyped with it in the first place. Having the young hear today has been brilliant and it makes you realize that if you don’t understand each other, which is when problems would eventually start.” The event is taking place as part of the RESPECT campaign, a partnership between CSV Agents4change volunteering campaign and social enterprise BigPinkHeart. Agents4change is a project coordinated by UK volunteering charity CSV with support from Tesco and youth volunteering v. It aims to empower young people to take positive action in their communities. The event leads on from young people the Don’t Write Us Off campaign where young people took to the streets in hoodies to have a national conversation with the public about how to improve the future of today’s youth. Leicester’s Agents4change volunteer Farzana Topia, says; “One of the main things that people thought led some young people on to anti-social behavior was lack of communication and understanding between both generations. This event will be a new step to a new beginning for social cohesion in societies with both generations working together in harmony.”

Leicester Market Leicester Market is a charter market and that means it belongs to the people of Leicester. Our charter is a Royal Charter and it dates back to around 1298, and this would have been in the time of King Edward 1st of England. King Edward would have granted the people of Leicester our charter. We have had a market in our city since the Roman times, but the earliest record we have of our market, I believe, is 1103 when Henry the 1st of England was on the throne. Markets in the 12th and 13th centuries were very different to the markets that you see today, as there were no shops or supermarkets where people could go to get their supplies and the goods would have been displayed in a different way. People would have grown their own produce and gone to the market to buy food or taken any surplus goods or livestock to sell. As the areas where the markets were based grew bigger and more profitable the village became a town and in some cases became a city, but this took place over hundreds of years. Leicester market only came to its current location around the turn of the century and at the time the stalls were made of trestles and boards. The market had a roof very similar in shape to the one you see today, but it had a cobbled road running round and through the market. In those days I understand, that the market only traded on Fridays and Saturdays. The layout was slightly bigger and different. When the market was trading you could not see the steps of the Corn Exchanges, because the stalls hid all this from view. The market stayed very much the same except for the addition of one extra day of trading. Wednesday, Friday and Saturday became market days. In the late 60’s and early 70’s the market underwent a large redevelopment, with a new roof, fixed stalls and the building of the indoor market. The result of this redevelopment, and the layout, allowed the market to open six days a week and left the market very much as it is today. Article by kind permission of Dawn Alfronso.

Leicester Market Deliveries. Are you frail, disabled or an older person? Love buying your fruit and veg from the market but struggle to get it home? Now is the chance to get your fresh produce delivered to your door. This new scheme has been set up in order to help, not just the customers, but the unemployed youngsters who do the deliveries on bikes (environmentally friendly as well). You have to sign on to the shopmobility scheme in order to take advantage of this service but you can now do this at the market as well as the shopmobility centres at the Haymarket Bus Station and the Highcross Shopping Centre. To join, you will need two proofs of ID with your name and permanent address, as well as two passport size photographs. A membership card will then be sent to you. The customer must shop in the morning and collect a voucher from the cycle courier stall (situated opposite the Customer Care Centre in the market) and hand it back with the shopping, then a shopping delivery time will be arranged. The service is available on Wednesdays, Thursdays and Fridays. The only thing is, that at the moment it is only possible to deliver fruit and veg and not meat or fish from the indoor market. Mr. Nick Rhodes, Leicester Markets Manager said “We are very excited about this scheme, as, if it is well used it will be a great benefit to our elderly and disabled shoppers. If more people become aware of the service, it will help provide access to fresh and affordable produce.

THE BEST IN THE LAND

Best tek a City Bus to Leicester Market, cuz a car’s an ‘eadache of where to park it. ‘ear traders barkin’ “Two poun’ da pound Getch ya juicy toms ‘ere, nice, firm and round! ‘ere y’ar me duck ‘ava deck at them - Bee-oodiful satsumas now - quid for ten. D’jear lady ‘ere’s a right charmer - Tek yar ol’ man ‘um a ripe banana. Yes, we do have bananas today. Pick yer own, now – wi’ gee’in ‘em away. Taste a grape me duck - the ent a seed in it Wha’ d’ya want Mrs? I ent a peelin’ it. Getch ya taters ‘ere – fer yer ol’ mans’ dinna – Watch ya young ‘u, gel, he’s picked a winna. OOPS!! ‘am sorry Mrs. Ent ‘e your kid? Roll up! Fresh cauli’s now! Two fer a quid. AY UP!! Now then – pick yer own cue – Uvver ‘ere cocka – fifty pee the two. ‘elp yerself to a bag – a scoopfuls in it – ‘ere yar gi’e’us yer bits – ‘am off um in a minit. We’re gi’e’in it away now – we’er gone barmy. CITY WON!! .. 2 – ONE!! .. YEAH!! .. BLUE ARMY!! “Watch yer bag luv – its gorra split in it!” “I’ll ‘ave t’ ‘a’nother ‘un – ha’ muchissit?” “naah ‘ts okay me duck – ya can ‘a tha’r on us” “I doon’t know how ‘ll gerron the bus... If I only ‘ad a car ‘n’ somewhere to park it, I’d gerreven more from the Leicester Market. By Lydia Morton

Out and about with husband Graham

If there anything you would like to see in the Senior Eye Newsletter? Do you have a comment that you would like to make on any of its content? Do you have something that you would like to contribute to the Newsletter? If so, please get in touch with us, we would love to hear from you. You will find our contact details on the back page. Take care, all of you.

My Life as a Councillor I was elected to Leicester City Council as a Lib-Dem Councillor in May 2003 and right from day one it was a ‘steep learning curve’. Getting to know all the systems and workings within the Council buildings and who is for what, was quite mind boggling at times. Things soon settled down and the order of events etc. full Council was all arranged for the Municipal Year. The highlight of the year in May is the Mayor making ceremony-posh frocks and hats. This takes place at the town Hall in the council chamber followed by a reception either at the New Walk Museum or the Guildhall. The running of the council gets under way after this event. The main work for a councilor is representing the ward in which you have been elected to serve. We had to do at least one monthly surgery, where the public could come to you with any problems. The biggest shock I had, was when the staff and users of the Adventure Playground on Woodgate and the Resource Centre joined forces to protest at a proposal to cut funding. A whole procession up at the neighbourhood centre and I felt totally out of my depth I met some lovely people in my term of office and some not so nice. My term of office came to an end when I was voted out in the 2007 local elections, but I have taken away with me, happy and some not so happy memories Phyllis Green.

What is The Issue?

Hat News. The acronym HAT stands for here and there. Here (where they are now) they are asylum seekers, refugees and/or immigrants. There (where they came from) they were doctors, journalists, accountants etc. Hatnews acts as a voice for this social grouping in our communities. Hatnews acts as a catalyst that gives prominence to the voices and skills in the wilderness; and a conduit of information and news for such as fall within the above-mentioned categories, who may either be in the process of going through the immigration system, or who may have been granted any form of status, or migrants who came here on work visas, or even those whose cases have been rejected by the Home Office and are become destitute. Some of the aims of Hatnews are:

• To promote the development of refugee communities enabling them to be active participants in the wider society.

• To change the long-held stereotype myths about refugees and asylum seekers by disseminating balanced, fair and factual information.

• To report on current news and information about situations in countries where they come from.

• To inform refugees and asylum seekers of their rights, responsibilities and major changes in the immigration system.

• To signpost refugees and asylum seekers to specialist agencies and organizations in Leicester where they can get help with housing, health, education, employment, safety, childcare, and integration issues

For up to date news and useful information on immigration, refugee and asylum seeker issues visit Hatnews at www.hatnews.org. Elisha Shamba (centre), editor of Hatnews with Vicki (right) and Nancy (left), editors of Senior Eye News Agency.

Now for the lighter side. What am I? An everyday vegetable, I am overlooked. Not a native of this country but from America. I was introduced here by Sir Walter Raleigh in the time of Elizabeth 1st. Answer in the word search.

Grunge Club (go on, have a moan). Icy Pavements. Why were the pavements not gritted in the recent bad weather? Older people are not as good on their feet as they used to be and the state of the pavements meant that it was a nightmare to get anywhere. Council House Repairs. You phone up and report a repair, they send you a card after a considerable time and you make sure you are in for them. No-one comes, and then another card arrives, after some time delay (again). The man comes in and inspects and goes away. Another card arrives (eventually) and a man comes in and inspects again. After another long wait, still no repair or card. The Council obviously have forgotten the repair, so I guess I will have to start again. It is most annoying. Hospital Security. Years ago, when you phoned the hospital to enquire about a patient, they would not give you any information unless you were a relative. My granddaughter was in hospital recently, and I phoned the hospital to enquire about her and they gave me the information. I did not say who I was and they didn’t even ask. Surely this isn’t right. Noisy Neighbours. Some people have no consideration for others. The other night, I was kept awake by loud music from next door. The next day, I had a migraine, so much for peace and quite. Neighbours one side still had their music loud and one the other side they were drilling and banging. Parking. Why do motorists feel that it is necessary to park on the pavement? It is so difficult for pedestrians to get by and especially pushchairs and wheelchairs. They have all of the roads to themselves and then they force pedestrians onto the roads, where other drivers get upset at them. It makes no sense at all.

Artichoke Asparagus Broccoli Carrot Celery Leeks Lettuce Onion Parsnip Peppers Potatoes Tomato

P A R S N I P H A M A S O B G T N W B R O R G P T I R C L E T T U C E E A D Y O P I F A O J H P T P E I C A E E U R Q P O B F H A C E L E R Y E L D O B R G O S K R C R V K H C R S P L E E K S E T L F O M W D I I T Y T O M A T O N I O N M E F X O V N Z G B C U D K A S P A R A G U S N L A

Officer, have you been drinking? Police forces were a new invention in Victorian England. Some people employed evidently found it difficult to adapt to life on the straight and narrow. In 1856, a letter to the Leicester Chronicle complained of six constables, who between them had been reprimanded for drunkenness a total of 40 times.

Charity moves into The Lanes!

There is great excitement at Age Concern Leicester Shire & Rutland! We are thrilled to have secured new shop premises in the trendy Leicester Lanes area, close by the Highcross Shopping Centre. The premises at number 6 Loseby Lane have undergone a significant refit and opened in December as a specialist Book Shop and Coffee Shop. Fenella Willson, who oversees all the charity’s 18 shops, said: “The high class Book Shop formula works so well for us in market town locations and at Queens Road that we had no hesitation in replicating it in the City Centre. We are hoping that the public will support us urgently by donating CDs, DVDs, Videos but in particular good quality books, especially covering such things as DIY, history, educational subjects, the Arts, antiques and so on. Donations can be dropped off at any of our shops or at Lansdowne House, 113 Princess Road East. Books can also be dropped off at the Learning and Information Library, The central Library or your local library. We can make arrangements to pick up large donations if potential donors call 0116 2781208.” So come along, have a browse at the books, have a coffee and bring a friend.

Contact details. Senior Eye News Agency Community Media Hub Learning and Information Library Bishop Street Leicester LE1 6AA Tel: 0116 299 5413

Editors Vicki Buchannan Tel: 07900077900 Nancy Bennett Tel: 07884327795 Email: senioreye@citizenseye.org

Should a Charity have to pay for a piece of pavement? Why does the City Council feel they have to charge the Age Concern £250 for the privilege of putting a few tables and chairs out on the pavement? Their new coffee and book shop could do with a bit more space as book browsers bump into patrons who are enjoying a coffee. Putting a few tables outside, might mean a little extra room (not to mention money). As Age Concern is a charity, I would have thought that the fee could have been waived but the council insists that they get their piece of flesh. As the pavements belong to the people of Leicester and not the council, I feel that the people should have a say in this. Your comments are welcome. Would any readers be up for a protest, a sit in at the pavement for example? If you feel you could do this then get in touch with us at the address below. Nancy Bennett