Preparations are well in hand for a great Christmas Party for members of the Melksham 55+ Seniors Forum at Melksham Assembly Hall on Monday 15th December. By ticket only.
Since the launch of the Seniors Forum two years ago, which is open to all over 55 in the Melksham community, membership has now grown to over 400 and continues to increase.
The forum is run by seniors for seniors; the forum normally meets on the 3rd Monday in the month at the assembly hall usually for film matinees, with occasional extra meetings with the local Area Board members and statutory agencies on a consultation basis. Members also have the opportunity to discuss key subjects affecting the quality of life and lifestyles of older people in the community.
The Forum is affiliated to the South West Network of Seniors Forums which has a membership in excess of 55,000 seniors. This Network is able to feed its members views to Government via the Nine English Forums Chair’s and the UK Advisory Forum on Ageing which meets with Minister of the Crown on a quarterly basis.
Brian Warwick, co-ordinator, who is the Chair of the SW Network attends those meetings in his capacity as Chair of the South West regional Network.
Brian reported, “From 5th January 2015, the activities of Melksham seniors are really stepping up with an additional ambitious programme of enjoyable activities starting on the 1st Monday of the month, chosen by members, What is more exciting is that different groups and local businesses are going to be cooperating in the venture in a true partnership.
“The venue on the 1st Monday in the month will be the excellent Forest Community Hall and sports ground. I am delighted that Vic Oakman and his committee colleagues at the Forest Community Hall are enthusiastically helping us to host this exciting venture at their superb community centre.
“The first meeting at the centre will be on Monday 5th January from 1.00pm until 4.00pm. There will be a wide range of activities in the coming months run by volunteers and older people themselves. These will include a happy sing along hosted by one of the forum’s community partners the ‘Sing ‘n Smile Club’ who have incredibly happy sessions for the young at heart.
“There will also be indoor mat bowling, skittles, Bingo, Whist, movement to music, occasional line dancing, one to one and group teaching sessions on using smart phones, iPads and other tablets, hosted by Selwood Housing and Wiltshire Online, and development of other IT skills can be offered, if desired.
“Hopefully, in the coming months, we can even offer mens’ walking football, ladies’ walking netball as the forum develops and more volunteers get involved.
“We are very keen to reach out also to lonely citizen and those who have mobility problems. One of our friends and partners in this new venture will be Melksham Community Transport, working with us they will be providing a transport link to the centre at a fixed time by arrangement with the Forum, for which we are most grateful.
“MiHomeCare staff in Melksham by kind permission of their management, will be providing key support for many of the desirable therapeutic activities that will help to improve our health and enjoyment of life. That will also include a ‘Whist Drive’ at Thornbank on the last Monday afternoon in the month.
“The Melksham ‘Shed Club’ will also be conjoining with us at their new HQ which is next to the community hall and would also welcome you to join them.
“Hopefully, this is just another step in the development of your own senior forum in Melksham from a small acorn to a great oak, that can of course only happen through true partnership working and support of us oldies, so do support this venture in true Melksham style.”
More information will be available in the coming weeks, but Brian asks that you do make a note in your diaries of Monday 5th January 2015, 1.00pm – 4.00pm at the Forest Community Centre Hall. off Bowmans Court (SN12 7FF) and he looks forward to seeing many of you join the forum – e-mail: melk seniors55@gmail.com
