Recently guests from the South West of the City were invited to Tapton Hall to celebrate the South West People Keeping Well and International Day of Older People, facilitated and funded by Age UK Sheffield/ People Keeping Well, Sheffield City Council and the Partners of the South West PKW network.
Joanna Woodward, Community Development Officer for Age UK Sheffield who leads PKW in the southwest of Sheffield said “This event was a fantastic showcase of what can be achieved when a network of local organisations come together to improve the lives of people living in the community and encourage people to get involved in volunteering.
Over the last 6 years, the People Keeping Well network in the southwest has worked together to help prevent loneliness and social isolation. The Partnership has grown from 12 original partners to in excess of 60, and increased activity provision to accommodate over 100 people per month. New provision provides opportunities to try something new, build relationships and create support networks outside. We hope to host many more events of this type and would like to say a huge thank you to everyone who worked so hard to make this event the success that it was”.
Kathy Markwick, Freelance Community Consultant added “The event was a huge success and we were all delighted that the new Master Cutler, Charles Turner, could join us as a special guest. Guests were treated to a delicious Afternoon Tea and an awesome performance by musician/vocalist, Oliver Harris. Thirty children from Westbourne School also joined us – their choir was amazing and the soloists/musicians’ performances were both spine-tingling and tear-jerking. Intergenerational events are wonderful as everyone has so much to gain”.
The new Master Cutler said “Whilst being the Master Cutler is about promoting the manufacturing industry in Sheffield, Hallamshire and South Yorkshire there is also a strong civic element to what we do – after all manufacturing relies on the skills of the workforce from this region. As such it was a delight to join in with the International Day of Older People celebration at Tapton Hall, organised by Age UK Sheffield and Sheffield City Council. It was a wonderful opportunity to say thank you to the generation that has done so much for the City”.
Chris Hattam, the Headmaster of Westbourne School added ”It was a joy and a privilege to be able to join the event organised by Age UK Sheffield, People Keeping Well and Sheffield City Council. As a school, we place great emphasis on the value of community and having the confidence to interact with all we meet. Our pupils loved the event with one stating “It is the best day of my life!”. I have no doubt that our children gained as much from joining the party as everyone else there, probably even more so when they were chatting to the assembled partygoers. I would thoroughly encourage every Head to help support events like this as it was a mutually beneficial experience.”
Simon Mills, MD Twelve Trees Care said “Some of our residents and staff attended the celebration event at Tapton Hall. Our residents particularly enjoyed singing along to the very talented Oliver Harris. The afternoon tea was lovely, sparking a debate on whether cream or jam should be applied first. We were also thrilled to see the talented children from Westbourne School perform, which touched the hearts of all who attended.”
Kathryn Rawling, Dementia & Wellbeing Manager for Sheffcare said “A huge thank you from the residents of Grange Crescent Care Home for the invitation to the International Day of Older People Celebration held at Tapton Hall. It was a lovely event in a super setting, an opportunity for our residents to get together, socialise and see people from other Care Homes and organisations. I was particularly moved by one of our residents who came to the event. This lady was quiet, unsure of what she had come to and a little uncomfortable. She is new to Grange Crescent and long-term care in a Care Home – a big life change for her. Over the course of the day, her mood lifted totally, she enjoyed mixing with other residents from Grange Crescent and the people at the event. She had a delightful time enjoying the music provided by Oliver Harris and the wonderful performances by the children from Westbourne School. She shared with me that it was a really pleasing day and was full of smiles. I feel that this event will have helped her realise that despite all the recent changes in her life she will still get opportunities to see and mix with people in the community. This is so important for people’s wellbeing. The time and effort given to these events by Jo Woodward, Community Development Officer for Age UK Sheffield, Mubarak Hassan, Community Services Officer for Sheffield City Council, and Kathy Markwick, Freelance Community Consultant, is outstanding and should be celebrated. Thank you..”.
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