About Age UK Portsmouth

It is always interesting to pick up the reins of an organisation that is experiencing change and none more so than Age UK Portsmouth or Age Concern Portsmouth as was.

Not only did my October 2010 arrival coincide with the implementation of a keen economic new-Government Policy that was immediately intended to negatively impact national spending levels, I was also met with immediate contractual negotiations with Portsmouth City Council, whose role it was to implement those national Government financial cuts. Not a truly desirable welcome to Portsmouth!

Fortunately, I love a challenge and I am delighted to confirm that Age UK Portsmouth successfully agreed a contractual agreement with Portsmouth City Council for the next three years with a two year extension period.

The relationship between Portsmouth City Council and Age UK Portsmouth is a vital one, and not just because of the contractual agreement, it is imperative to truly support the older people of Portsmouth. We act as a crucial ‘mouth piece’ to Civic Office Directors and of course our elected Local Council; we know what is going on ‘out there’, we hear the stories and more often than not support the outcomes of many different impacts that life can throw at all of us but particularly our older population who can be more vulnerable than younger generations.

I believe in living life to the full and intend to grow old disgracefully so I gave great thought to what I would wish to experience and then sat and discussed, listened to and negotiated with the Service Users already experiencing our beautiful Bradbury Centre, our Pop In Centre at Paulsgrove and the many support services we offer. What became clear was that vitality, social exchange and the opportunity to be themselves was the greatest desire of many of our participants – they wanted to be empowered and they certainly wanted to be heard.

Although our Bradbury Centre is a beautiful building, it was not earning its keep; it wasn’t functioning in a way that was physically beneficial. There were too many closed doors and not enough buzz, excitement, laughter, quite simply the general ‘noise of life’ was missing. So we completely re-arranged the building, siting activities, resources and services into easy to access locations, renaming our rooms so that Day Care became the Activity Centre, we now have a Craft & Hobbies Room and a Beauty Room rather than a Medical Room; these name changes do have a positive impact on the expectations of the User and the approach of our caring staff.

Volunteers and work experience opportunities were generated so that the ages represented at the Centre currently range from 16 through to 101 – I believe that we must all acknowledge ageing, welcome it, respect it and best of all enjoy it but for that to happen successfully, younger people need to encounter the wisdom of ageing.

Intergenerational projects were established with the Student Union management staff of the University of Portsmouth and together skills were exchanged across a wide variety of activities. Cookery, reading, debating the latest newspaper headings, meeting representatives from various Service Providers across the City but the jewel in our crown was the restoration of our little patio garden. The geraniums, lilies, honeysuckle and hydrangeas have been a picture and lunch has been enjoyed al fresco with our own home-grown runner beans and tomatoes on the dinner plates.

But it doesn’t have to be all noise and bustle, quiet places for reading the paper or a book are always available, Service Users can simply observe – and we all know how interesting that can be; they can be musicians, we do now have a lovely upright piano which has accompanied many an afternoon serenade or karaoke session. There is so much more we can do given some additional funding, volunteer time or perhaps even an equipment donation or two.

Our IT classes grow from strength to strength, we offer learning on personally owned laptops and we now help to sort out those smaller software and hardware issues that can turn into a real headache, but most of all we help older people to clearly understand in their own time just how everything can work for them. Inclusivity in all areas of life is paramount to supporting enthusiasm and participation. There is no need for anyone to feel marginalised and we are working very hard to ensure the opportunities we now offer overcome those anxieties.

As always, we continue to successfully support income maximisation for older people; we are an alternative Department of Work & Pensions office and our dedicated team are extremely successful in supporting not only new benefits claims but appeals too.

Our Home Help Service and Handyperson Scheme have taken a financial knock during the last year with all funding support withdrawn from the Handyperson Scheme. So we have had to take a close look at our operation and to realise the services that our customers really need from us, we have had to make some changes. As always, change can be a bumpy road but the outcome will be positive. Firstly, our service will survive to continue helping you around your home and secondly, we are sharpening up our service organisation so that gradual improvement can take place to benefit all.

Without doubt, the next three years will be tough financially but with lateral thinking, partnership working across the Portsmouth community be it voluntary, statutory or business sectors, we will strengthen our service offerings and widen our community participation – Age UK Portsmouth is the leading expert on ageing and we would like to be the lead charitable organisation in the hearts and minds of all Portsmouth families.

We want to help and we want to be there to help you so please drop into our Centre, it does belong to the Portsmouth community and we would love you to take ownership of it.

Finally, I would like to thank the staff at Age UK Portsmouth for their dedication and hard work over the last year. I have arrived and created a whirlwind but we’ve laughed a great deal and witnessed our Service Users enjoy the changes, so I wish us all many more successes for our Portsmouth older people during the coming year.