Axminster Seniors’ Forum

Axminster Seniors’ Forum is going from strength to strength with membership increasing steadily – members have doubled in the last six months.

Axminster and District Seniors' Forum Update December 2010

Recently Water Charges and House building have been on the Forums agenda. A letter was sent to our local MP Neil Parish about the water charges which we along with most Devon members will agree are horrendous. 

Axminster would urge all the other Senior Councils in Devon to contact their MPs to take up arms against these charges and raise awareness of people's feelings all over the County.

A Quote from Neil Parish "Myself and the other South West Members of Parliament have been in discussion over this very issue.  If we could have a national levy it would cost about £1.50 on an individual bill across the country but it would save in the region of £60-70 on an average bill in the south-west area.  We have 3% of the population in the south-west water area and 30% of the beaches.  It costs an awful lot to keep the beaches clean.  The other water companies probably won't be so keen on paying it but I think it's only fair".

Houses on green spaces are also on Axminster  Senior's Forum members minds and letters have been sent to East Devon District Council and our MP in protest against the planning permission given for 400 houses.  The estate traffic will converge onto the A358 from Somerset. The roads into Axminster are often very busy and the fight is on for a relief road for the town before anymore building takes place.  Axminster gets dozens of heavy lorries passing through and if you have visited our town you will know parts of it are very narrow and one busy corner in the centre of town is constantly having large lorries mount the pavement which brings the fear that someone will be crushed one day.  A nightmare for the elderly and also young Mothers struggling with a pushchair, shopping and often another young child walking with her.  The EDDC and Highways do not seem to see a problem but then none of them live here.  There was a 12 week consultation limit but this was violated by the EDDC giving outline planning permission before the time had passed.

The inclusion of District into our title was suggested by a member to include all the outlying parishes that are part of this area, this was put to the members present at that particular meeting and the decision was unanimous to adopt the format.

We have lost one or two members but also gained several others so at present  Axminster goes along steadily.

Our next meeting is to be in the form of a social where we hope to welcome the over 50's of the town to come along and meet the members and find out what we are about.  This will take place on Monday 13^th December at the Church Room, off Church Street  at 2.00pm To add temptation we are serving seasonal refreshments.

In January we hope to return to the Axminster Senior Citizen Centre in Church Street.  It has been shut for 18 months while necessary repairs were made to it and the Museum above.  We have to admit it is a much more convivial place and we all look forward to returning there.  That meeting will take place on 10^th of January, weather permitting  between 2.00 - 4.00pm.  Speaker to be arranged.

May the Axminster & District Senior's Forum Wish all the other Senior Council's for Devon a very Happy Christmas and a peaceful holiday but busy New Year.  Also to thank Sally and Andrea for all their hard work keeping us informed, chasing us up when we (me) fall by the wayside and the many hours they spend traveling around to various venues and conferences.  May they have a very special time this festive season with family and friends.

October 2010

The Axminster Senior's Forum will meet again on Monday 11th October at the Church Room Axminster, off Church Street, at 2.00pm.  The speaker will be John Richardson-Dawes from DCC talking about bus passes, transport etc.  There will be refreshments served followed by any matters pertaining to the Senior's Forum. 

Axminster Memory Cafe will take place on Tuesday 12th October at the Methodist Church Hall, Lyme Road, Axminster.  This will take place between 2.00pm and 4.00pm.  There will be plenty of opportunity for games, a sing-a-long, a cup of tea and a chat but also for those who need help or advice, there will be a trained professional on hand to give support and guidance.  This will be the 4th Memory Cafe to take place and though it has been slow to start we have some wonderful volunteers.  The gentlemen from the Rotary Club are amazing, and as soon as the carers and their friends arrive, they are there to chat, play draughts, dominoes, cards or any other game that catches someone's fancy -  while the ladies are providing refreshments or just chatting to those who wish to do so.  There is a lovely atmosphere and we are learning as we go along.  More members would be nice, but hopefully the word will spread as we are still hearing of people who do not know we are there.  We hope to do a fund raising event in the New Year.

SUCCESSFUL  LAUNCH  OF  A  NEW  MEMORY  CAFE  IN  AXMINSTER

THE organizers of a new memory cafe for dementia sufferers and their carers are thrilled at its successful launch in Axminster on Tuesday 13 July.
Several sufferers and their carers attended the free cafe, which was officially opened by the Mayor of Axminster, Cllr Ron Jones, and organized by Axminster Senior Forum - the local branch of the Senior Council for Devon - and Axminster Rotary Club. Memory cafes encourage carers with peer support and help dementia sufferers to be taken into the care system as early as possible. They offer a relaxing opportunity for people to meet, share experiences and gather information to help them and their families.
Volunteer helpers laid on a variety of activities throughout the afternoon, including table games, memory cards and colouring books. Tea and coffee, cakes, scones and biscuits were available. Community psychiatric nurse, Thomas Feeney, and Jeanette Ward, carers' manager at Conybeare Ward at Axminster Hospital, were in attendance, providing advice and informal counselling.
Co-ordinator Peter Smart said: ‘I'd like to thank Cllr Jones and everyone who has worked so hard, especially Margaret Spencer-Brown and Sue Waters, to make the day such a success. Of course, we're always keen to welcome more volunteers, so please feel free to contact me.'
The chair of Axminster Senior Forum, Mrs Spencer-Brown, added: ‘The launch was a great success, and everybody turned up trumps. I'd particularly like to thank Peter, who has done a really good job, and the mayor, Cllr Jones, and all our Forum and Rotary helpers. As time goes on we hope more and more people will hear about the cafe, allowing it to go from strength to strength.'
The memory cafe will be held once a month in the Methodist Church Hall, Lyme Road, Axminster. The next cafe will take place on Tuesday 10 August, from 2pm to 4pm. For more information please contact Peter Smart on 01297 35144 or email pmsmart@tiscali.co.uk