Thank you to the team at The Meeting Place in Great Bookham for responding to my call (writes Debbie Thrower) for news of what you have all been doing in the past few months!
As well as reports in their spring newsletter of how well the Advent carol service was received last year, Anna Chaplain Anne Milton-Worssell tells us about a memory gatherers group where members share memories around a specific theme. Predominantly attended by women at the moment, a call has gone out for other men to join the sole male attendee at present! ‘It is interesting to think back to the difference between men’s and women’s lives only 50 or 60 years ago’, the newsletter says.
Anne has organised two living well in old age events in Bookham Library – on a Wednesday when it is otherwise closed. ‘The first was held in October’, she says, ‘and was a talk by Jan Williamson on powers of attorney. Jan works for the Court of Protection and therefore sees some of the problems which arise when this is not sorted. Her talk attracted about 20 people, who were grateful for her wise and opportune advice.’
The second was about budgeting in old age. Though it attracted rather fewer people, Anne says ‘we had this lovely response from an attendee. “Just to say that I really enjoyed the session at the library yesterday, and I found it really helpful and informative.”
‘Our next event, she reports, will be in St Nicolas Church, Great Bookham, on 26 April, 10.30 am – 12 noon, during their celebration week on how to live well in your own home. We will have a speaker from Mole Valley Life and there will be plenty of refreshments to make this interesting and enjoyable. Please let people know who would benefit from knowing more about this subject and who might benefit from getting to know the Anna Chaplaincy Community.’
Focusing on caring for caregivers and building support teams, Anne has also forged an exciting partnership by leading a four-week course designed by Robin Thomson and Tina English to help people who are involved in caring for people with dementia. ‘We were asked to pilot the course material which included videos, questions and suggestions.’
Tina is the director of Embracing Age, a charity set up to support and speak out for older people, and Robin has written a book* about his experience of caring for his wife when she developed dementia. There were up to eight in the group, which included those who are or have been carers, and those who are befriending or supporting people with dementia in some way.
‘We have been able to feedback to Tina and Robin, who are now making the final revisions to the course. It was a positive experience for those who attended and highlighted the vital importance of churches understanding and being able to support carers in this challenging calling.’
*Robin’s book is called Living with Alzheimer’s: a love story (Instant Apostle, 2020).
‘Today (14 March), the team has launched a monthly golden years craft and praise session at Liberham Lodge. There are also plans afoot to stage for the second time a holiday at home this summer – 9–23 August. We hope to reach out to a greater number in this our second year. We will be present at Village Day in Bookham on June 17, where we will be advertising the event and signing people up!’, she says.
Read the full newsletter here.
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