Our current services include:

Help in the home

Volunteers provide a range of one-off and longer term support to help older people to maintain independence in their own homes.

Home visiting

Volunteers who want to develop a one-to-one relationship are linked with an older person for companionship and sympathetic listening. Volunteers generally visit weekly and may help those with impaired mobility to get out and about.

Practical help

Volunteers lend a helping hand with jobs such as sorting or packing belongings, hanging curtains, changing light bulbs or fitting door-chains and spy-holes to improve security.

Fire Safety

Sixty Plus is working with the London Fire Brigade to make sure that all older people protect themselves at home by installing a smoke alarm. If you would like a FREE home fire risk assessment carried out by the London Fire Brigade, ring 08000 28 44 28. They will also supply and fit a smoke alarm at no charge. SMOKE ALARMS SAVE LIVES!

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Help getting around

Escorts

Volunteers act as escorts to older people for all sorts of appointments (medical or otherwise), to go shopping or just for a walk.

Group escorted shopping trips

Volunteer drivers and escorts enable people who cannot use public transport due to disability or frailty, to do their own shopping. Using accessible mini-buses, trips are run every Wednesday and Thursday afternoon, rotating trips to seven West London supermarkets.

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Help in the garden

Starting as a crime prevention initiative in 1998, the Sixty Plus scheme, 'Garden Guardians' has expanded to include help of all kinds so that older people can continue to enjoy the benefits of nature and take pride in their environment.

Services offered include:

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Health Wise

Following a period of research into the health support needs of older people, Sixty Plus launched its Healthy Ageing initiative aimed at raising health awareness and involving older people in self-help initiatives and peer support to promote well-being in later years.

Services developed so far:

Telephone Links

A support line and conferencing service for socially isolated older people living in RBKC. We accept self-referrals and referrals from other agencies. Volunteer callers are all over the age of 50 and receive training and support to provide sympathetic listening on a long-term or time-limited basis.

Well-Being Supporters

A programme using mature volunteers to encourage and support members facing the challenges of ageing. We accept self-referrals and referrals from other agencies.

Health Road Shows

Seminars and support groups

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Intergenerational Project

The Sixty Plus Intergenerational Project aims to create partnerships of mutual benefit between older people and young volunteers (16 to 24 years).

The Intergenerational Project also promotes one-off schemes to promote age exchange such as a video project where older and younger people explored their views on crime and community safety in their neighbourhood.

Our current services include:

The Reading Project

This scheme matches older people who are blind or visually impaired with young volunteer readers. The volunteer visits the older person weekly to help with all aspects of domestic administration such as writing letters, sorting out bills from junk mail or tidying up address books.

Computer and Internet Training

The Computer Project matches an older person who wants to get up-to-date with modern technology, with a young 'computer coach' keen to share some high-tech knowledge. The pairs meet weekly with the learning goals set by the older person. This can range from word processing to computer games to becoming a 'silver surfer'. The service targets housebound learners through the loan of laptops.

English Language Support

This scheme matches an English speaking young volunteer with an older person looking for extra support to improve their spoken English. The emphasis is on everyday communication in natural situations.

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Greeting Card Recycling Scheme

For many years Sixty Plus has sent recycled greeting cards to all registered members (currently 1,750) on their birthdays, Christmas, and at other occasions. Used cards are donated in their thousands and then remounted and decorated by Sixty Plus member and volunteer, Cai Martinez. Another older volunteer, Esme Bradley, handles the administration. The scheme is one way that Sixty Plus can stay in touch with its members and offer a reminder of the services available.

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Sixty Plus Newsletter

The Sixty Plus Newsletter comes out four times a year and is packed with information about our own services as well as important news from other health and social care providers. Sent free to every member, the last issue gave advice on managing arthritis, opportunities for exercise and information about keeping warm this Winter.