Digest- March 2025
Southend & District Pensioner’s Campaign
“Digest” – March 2025
Last month’s Meeting:
We held our Annual General Meeting with a slightly increased attendance from last year. As we currently have no President to address us, we invited Dean James, Energy Advisor from SAVS to give a short talk about saving energy and money. He answered questions from the Members, and stayed on to deal with individual enquiries face to face. We are very grateful for the excellent refreshments which Members provided for our buffet tea. The existing Committee was re-elected for 2025/6 and they will elect the Officers of the Campaign at their next Committee Meeting.
In Committee:
Issy Isaacs took the Chair in the absence of Jill Allen-King.
On finance, Bob Howes, gave his monthly Report, which included a donation of £1,000 to cover any expenses we may incur as active participants in the Co-Production pilot project.
Our Lottery Officer, Margaret Haydon advised that we may buy a number from March to September for only £7.00.
The Committee postponed the election of a Chair until Jill Allen-King returns, and Issy Isaacs wasre-electedas Vice-Chair. Sue Stacey volunteered to provisionally take the name of Hon.
Secretary, under the guidance of Jean Howes. Bob Howes was re-elected as Hon. Treasurer, while Alan Grubb and Jim Folwell were re-elected as Committee Members. The NPC Delegate’s Bob Howes and Jim Folwell were re-elected, and the London Region Council’s AGM will be held in Euston on Thursday, March, 27th. from 11am till 2pm.
Marketing SDPC:
If you know of any local charity or voluntary organisation who may host an indoor community networking event or an open day, please let us know. We would be keen to attend to advertise our Campaign and meet other campaigning groups in the area.
Campaigning:
We will continue to monitor how the Co-Production Project develops, so that we may decide whether we will still need an Older Person’s Champion or not.
Your views on what our next local campaign should be about would be very welcome. The crisis in the social care service seems a good idea, given the experiences I have heard about locally. We need an enlarged dementia team in Southend to deal with the large number of people this killer disease is affecting.
NPC Report:
Issy Isaacs reports that the NPC are continuing to arrange for them to become a company, Limited by Guarantee. This will enable them to become incorporated. Their Financial Reserves have been severely depleted in recent years and all donations would be very welcome.
For details of their current Campaigns
Please visit their Website. We hope that Barry Todman, the London Region Secretary may visit us, and speak at our 40th Anniversary Meeting in October.
Co-Production in the City:
Our three delegates, Margaret Haydon, Jean Howes and Sue Stacey are continuing to attend these meetings every six weeks or so. They have completed a survey which relates to the level of communication people feel they receive about what is happening in Southend, and how included they feel in decision making.
The project aims to support and develop Ageing, Living and Caring Well strategies within Adult Social Care at Southend City Council.
I’m grateful to our friend Trevor Bell for this poster, advertising a group which he loves and thinks may be of interest to some of our Members.
Dates for your Diary:
Jazz Centre UK. Live concerts on most Saturday afternoons. 2pm till 4pm. Beecroft Art Gallery, Victoria Avenue, Southend. SS2. Tickets £10-£15.
Southend Central Museum. Victoria Avenue, Southend. The Princely Burial. A permanent exhibition.
Southend Council Concert Series. Monthly serious music concerts continue, but the venues now alternate. Friday evenings. From 8pm.Book by phone 01702. 21501
Saturday, 22nd. March. “The Spin Off” Exhibition by artist Rafal Zajko. Focal Point Gallery. 5pm to 8pm.Opening with a performance by “Contemporary Elders” the Galleries 60 + group.
Sunday, March, 23rd. Spring Concert by Southend Girls and Boys Choirs. St. Augustine’s Church, Thorpe Bay. From 3.30 pm
Sunday, March, 23rd. Trust Links Cycle Challenge Fundraiser.
Wednesday, 2nd. April. SDPC Friendship Lunch. 12.30 pm. at Beefeater, Strawberry Fields, Near Tesco’s in Westcliff . Call Margaret 07814 714937 to book your place.
Saturday, 12th. April. Southend Bach Choir. Concert. Bach’s B Minor Mass. at Kings Road United Reform Church, Westcliff. From 7 pm.
Wednesday, 16th April SDPC Speaker Jean Broadbent from Healthwatch Meeting. 2pm – 4pm. Balmoral Centre, Salisbury Avenue, Westcliff on Sea, SS0 7AU
Please send any items for publication in your “Digest” to Bob Howes, (Editor), Email: howes01702@outlook.com or to 91, Brightwell Ave. Westcliff. SS0 9EG