Become an impact volunteer

Dear Friend,

Hearing about how young people gave up their Christmas holidays to pack and deliver presents and meals to older people reminds me of what can be achieved when generations come together. This month we caught up with the Young Christian Workers Impact Group in Ramsbottom, who have taken part in our community Christmas programme for several years now. In December, they set up a drop in café for anyone who wanted company on Christmas Day and delivered 330 Christmas meals to older people in the area.

We're currently looking for volunteers to support our impact team by regularly listening to what our volunteers and older people report about the value of the various services Re-engage has to offer. The Re-engage impact team plays a vital role within our charity, evaluating our work to help us shape our future services. This month we caught up with Jennifer, our first impact volunteer, to find out more about the role and you can read her interview below.

It was a privilege to read 92-year-old Hazel's story and to learn about how her local tea party group - the Egbaston 2 group - were able to support her throughout lockdown. Volunteer Cas rang Hazel on a regular basis whilst tea parties were suspended, providing her with a vital link with the outside world when she needed it most.

On 14th February we will be launching our first online activity groups in West Yorkshire. Staying active as we age benefits both our physical and mental wellbeing and we've had some terrific feedback from our pilot sessions in the area, with 63% of participants reporting that they felt more active and happier after a session.

And finally, with energy prices currently at an all time high, it's important that anyone born before 25 September 1955 knows that they could be entitled to a winter fuel payment of between £100 and £300. The payment is usually made automatically to those who are eligible by the end of December, but if you, or someone you know, have not yet received your payment you can find out more below.
 
With best wishes from Meryl and the team at Re-engage 

'Bringing a community together'

We've loved hearing about the events you organised as part of community Christmas in December. The Young Christian Workers Impact Youth Group in Ramsbottom, together with Caritas Salford, have hosted an event for six years now and this year they prepared and delivered 330 meals and organised a busy drop in café for anyone who wanted company on Christmas Day. We caught up with one of the organisers to find out more about how the community came together.

'A chance to be with others'

With no family living close by, tea parties have been a lifeline for 92-year-old Hazel, who has been part of the Edgbaston 2 group for three and a half years. Hazel has two sons and grown-up grandchildren but does not see them very often, so relies on her tea party group for socialising and getting out of the house. Like so many, the lockdowns proved very difficult and she missed the social interaction.

'Our online activity groups in West Yorkshire'

As we age, taking part in regular light physical activity can improve our mental health and reduce the risk of heart disease and stroke. Following the overwhelmingly positive response to our activity groups in Wales, we are now expanding our activity sessions to West Yorkshire. On 14th February, we launch our first block of eight online sessions, available to anyone over 75 living in the West Yorkshire area.

We caught up with Re-engage engagement officer, Deb Meynell, to find out more.

Find out more

'Could you support our impact team?'

Do you enjoy listening to others and do you have an ability to put the people you speak to at ease? Or have you conducted interviews or surveys in the past? If the answer to any of these questions is yes, you might enjoy volunteering for our our impact team.

We spoke to Jennifer, one of our first impact volunteers, about what the role involves and what it means to her.

Meet our first impact volunteer

'The winter fuel payment'

Are you, or is someone you know, struggling to pay your energy bills? Vulnerable older people are particularly at risk at this time of year. With energy prices at all time high, it's important to know that every household with someone born on or before 26 September 1955 is entitled to help towards their winter energy costs. Under the winter fuel payment scheme, provided you have lived in the UK for at least one day between 20 and 26 September 2021, regardless of income, you can claim a tax-free winter fuel payment of between £100 and £300.

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