Honorary President:

Baroness Lola Young of Hornsey

Forum Meetings are held at the Winkfield Centre, Winkfield Road N22, on the
fourth Thursday of every month from 2.15 until 4.15.

Next Meetings: Thursday May 28th and Thursday June 25th.

Thursday 28 th May
Dementia will be the focus of this month’s meeting. Dementia is a rapidly
growing global health crisis. More than 10 million new cases occur annually with
prevalence expected to double in the next 30 years. There’s a considerable lack
of knowledge as to who we should approach if we have concerns about ourselves
or our loved ones. Two speakers will be joining us on the day. First, we will hear
from Tisenia Alombro, a Dementia Clinical Nurse Specialist at the Whittington
Health NHS Trust. Tisenia will talk about a number of topics including:
Information with regards to pathways to access diagnosis and subsequent
medical and social care services; available support for family, friends and carers
available in the borough; and advice on measures which can assist suffers to
manage their daily life more effectively particularly if they are live alone.
We will also hear from Graham Samuel, a Community Engagement officer with
Home Instead Trust. Graham helps run the Tottenham Community Cafe at the
Tottenham Community Sports Centre. This cafe is a new community initiative
aimed at bringing warmth, connection, and companionship to local residents in
Tottenham. A Cup Full of Memories, hosted by Home Instead in partnership with
Tottenham Community Sports Centre, is a welcoming community café created
especially for older adults, including those living with dementia.’

Address: c/o Public Voice, Tottenham Town Hall,
Town Hall Approach Road, London, N15 4RX
Web site: www.ho50s.org.uk/
Email info@ho50s.org.uk Tel. 07915 477009

Thursday 25 th June
This meeting will be a social event. We’ve had a couple of these sessions so far
and they’ve been a success. It’s a chance to have a chat with people and have a
bite to eat. Please bring something to share. If you’ve got a photo, a poem, a
story or something else you’d like to share with the group, that would be great.
The meeting also gives us a chance to get to know each other a little better. It’s
always interesting to know what people did before they retired too.

23 rd April meeting: A social occasion: a chance to chat and share refreshments.
Once again, thanks to all who were able to make our meeting in April. It was a
successful bringing together members for an interesting discussion about how to
live a healthy, peaceful life in this rapidly, changing world. There were also topics
relating to the ease of getting about on public transport and the danger to
pedestrians by cyclists when getting off the bus. We also discussed possible
topics for future meetings, including Living Power of Attorney, writing a will and
other issues particularly affecting older people
We made £35 on the raffle – thank you to all and keep those raffle gift donations
(value of up to £3) coming. There was a suggestion from Clara about putting out
a plate for donations for refreshments for meeting where we have a speaker.

March 26 th meeting
We had two speakers at the meeting: Kate Bell from the Haringey Advice
Partnership and Amy Rose from Haringey Local Authority.
Kate opened her presentation about what the partnership is and what it does. It
works with Citizens Advice Haringey and Public Voice and holds monthly sessions
at Wood Green Library and Northumberland Resource Centre. Advice events also
take place every quarter at Renters Rights and Family Hubs. The service involves
signposting and the giving of advice.  Information leaflets are given out at these
sessions and cover a number of different areas including benefits, energy advice,
and housing to name just a few.
 
Amy started her talk by telling members that the local authority is in the process
of improving the Adult Social Care section of the Council’s website. She hopes
that by talking to user groups like the Forum, information with regards to
accessing Adult Social Care services on the website will become more accessible,
easier to find and read, for the information to be understandable and for it not to
be a further barrier. At the moment, it would appear that those people seen at
crisis point do not have the information readily at hand to services offered by the
local authority or by the voluntary sector.  Some members said they were struggling to complete the relevant forms, are unclear about what happens next in the process and many said they don’t feel supported and report high degrees of stress in accessing information.  Members also want to see digital inclusion to a given a degree of priority. They also said they would prefer the phrase Care and
Support instead of Adult Social Care and were critical of phrases like impairment.
A need for more information with regards to the Adult Social Care assessment along with information relating to the financial assessment was also raised.

‘Loos for Haringey’ report on ongoing action for toilets at Turnpike Lane bus
station.
This update from John Miles.
On Saturday April 25th, ten of us, including people from the Haringey over 50s
and Hornsey Pensioners Action Group with visiting support from Loos for
Islington and Age UK London, took our placards and clip-boards to the toilet block
which closed five years ago at Turnpike Lane bus station. It was a fine sunny
morning and we had an enthusiastic response from the public, collecting nearly
140 signatures in an hour in support of a petition to get the toilets at Turnpike
Lane bus station reopened to Transport for London customers and to the general
public. Most local residents were keen to sign – even queuing up at points –
because of people peeing and pooing in the street. However, two people who
refused to sign thought the toilet had been a nuisance when it was open.
We intend to be back outside the station each month till July (We’ll keep you
posted) and there’ll be opportunities to sign the petition at community meetings
and events.
As for the history of the toilets, TfL closed the toilet during the COVID lockdown.
While COVID is now behind us, limited staff numbers and fear of nuisance and
vandalism have kept it shut. We plan to persuade TFL to change direction and
commit the resources needed to keep these facilities clean, in working order and
safe for everyone to use.
So join us outside Turnpike Lane tube on Thursday 28 May from 5:30pm to
6:30pm and add your voice by signing our petition.

The toilet near Bruce Grove station
The toilet at Bruce Grove has now been re-opened, finally. It’s about a year late
and comes after years of dedicated restoration.
The toilet is located in the Dubai Cafe at 123 Bruce Grove, on the other side of
the bridge at the High Street. It has been brought back to use as a cafe and toilet
pioneering a new Community Wealth Building Lease.
The cafe is now open from 7am to 7pm seven days a week. Although the toilet is
located in the cafe, it is a public toilet. So, you don’t need to buy anything to use
it, but it’s probably a good idea to ask.

North London Hospice provides support and connection for the bereaved. A
welcoming space to share your thoughts and feelings. The Grief Café is free, open
to all, no booking needed. Fourth Wednesday of every month 12pm – 2pm. Or
join the Carers Café on the third Thursday of every month 2pm – 3.30pm
For more details contact: nlhbereavement@northlondonhospice.co.uk or 0800
768 7848
Social Knitting Club is a free event. Thursday 11am – 1pm. It is designed to
support emotional well-being, reduce isolation and help people feel connected
through conversation and shared activity. For more information contact Lisa
Benzaken: 1benzaken@northlondonhospice.co.uk or call 0800 768 7848
Living Well Centre is on the First Floor, The Mall, Wood Green, 159 High Road,
London, N22 6YQ
Help with Housing Costs: Independent Age is a national charity providing support
for older people facing financial hardship. They offer free impartial advice and
information on money, housing and care and the support available if you rent,
have a mortgage or own a leasehold property. You can call freephone Monday –
Friday 8.30am – 5.30pm on 0800 319 6789 or email
helpline@independentage.org to arrange to speak to an adviser.
Haringey History Fair at Bruce Castle Museum Saturday 16th May 10.30am –
4.45pm (doors open 10.15am). The history fair is an opportunity to discover
Haringey’s fascinating history and heritage. To see the full programme of the
day’s events see: brucecastle.org – What’s on – Special Events

Bruce Castle Museum and Archive is at Lordship Lane, London, N17. For more
information, email: Museum.services@haringey.gov.uk or Tel: 0208 489 4250
The London Archives, 40 Northampton Road, London, EC1 0BH is hosting a series
of events for Jewish Culture Month 2026 (16 th May – 16 th June).
www.thelondonarchives.org
Display: Revealing the Medieval Jewish Cemetery 18th May – 13th June FREE
during normal opening hours.
Talk: (in person or online) 18th May, 12.30 – 1.30pm, London Jews and the
Roman Wall, £5, BOOKING ESSENTIAL
Document Viewing Jewish Collection 29th May, 1-2pm and 2-3pm, FREE.
BOOKING ESSENTIAL.
Chair Yoga every Monday 1pm – 2pm £5, Winkfield Resource Centre, 33
Winkfield Road, London, N22 5RP, Tel: 020 8489 820

Age Friendly Communities
As some of you may know, we’ve been working with the Council to try to make
Haringey an Age Friendly Community. Well, we are making progress. After our
last meeting, Rick Geer, the Council’s Public Health Intelligence Specialist, has
started to map out some of the age well related activities and initiatives in
Haringey and how these align to the eight ageing well domains: outdoor spaces
and buildings, transport, housing, social participation, respect and social
inclusion, civic participation and employment, communication and information
and community support and health services.
In order for Haringey to be accredited as an Age Friendly Community, it needs to
follow a four-step programme cycle: committing to actions, understanding
current needs, listening to older people, and evaluating impact.
While this is going to be a lengthy process, we’re hoping an announcement of
sorts can be made at this year’s Age Well Festival.

Special mention
Special thanks to Russel at the Bridge Renewal Trust for photocopying in the
newsletter and Richard for uploading the newsletter to our website. We
appreciate your help as always.

Upcoming Events

Dementia Friendly Wellbeing Walk – Finsbury Park
Invite from: Clare Davies, Dementia Coordinator, Haringey Council, The Haynes
Dementia Hub, 151 Park Road, Hornsey, London, N8 8JD
Join the group for a relaxed, accessible Dementia Friendly Wellbeing Walk at
Finsbury Park. All people living with dementia, their friends, family and carers are
welcome.

Friday 15th May and then every following third Friday of the month.
Meet at the Stroud Green entrance at 1.30pm, or at the Finsbury Park Café at
2pm where we will be stopping for a refreshment break and wellbeing activity.
For more information please call Anita on 07973 571 921 or Clare on 07817 You can also email Clare at Clare.Davies@haringey.gov.uk

Coffee and Computers- Digital support and education
1st & 3rd Weds each month are at the Winkfield Centre, N22 5RP at 2.00pm
2nd & 4th Weds at Hornsey Library N8 9JA at 10.30am
Every Friday at St. Ann’s library, N15 5PU at 2.30pm: Booking essential

Kew Gardens Visit
We have 15 tickets to go to Kew Gardens on Wednesday June 24 th . We will be
going by public transport as we were unable to find an accessible bus hire. Ashley
from Public Voice will be the point person and will help out with logistics if
needed. We will take the first 10 people. Five tickets will go to Rebecca Ellis’s
walking group. Please contact James if you are interested at info@Ho50s.org.uk
or on mobile 07802 294 048 from 9am on May 25 if you want to sign up. We will
give you a meeting point and time (around 9:30am) closer to the time.
We are also aiming for a visit to the British Museum in September. Watch this
space and/or the HO50s What’s App group for more information.

Improve your social Life
Enjoy more social activities including art, dance and exercise classes. The latest
programme of what happens in eight sheltered housing ‘hub’ schemes and
various community centres is here: https://reachandconnect.net/information-
and-advice/hobbies-and-interests/activities. All are for over 50s regardless of
where in the borough you live. Many are free.

An appeal on behalf of: Bounds Green foodbank is facing closure due to lack of
funding. It may have to close in June unless more people start donating. It now
costs over £6,300 a month to keep it running and current contributions are only
around £2,400 per month. More info at: info@boundsgreenfoodbank.org

Getting Around
Older Persons
The Freedom Pass (eligibility from date you reach state pension age) and the +60
Oyster card (for people over 60 who have not reached pension age) provide free
travel in Greater London on the Underground, Docklands Light Railway, Croydon
Tramlink, National Rail services and on local bus services anywhere in England
Senior Railcard (eligibility from age 60) – will save you money on most Standard
and First Class rail fares throughout Great Britain. Over 60s also qualify for a
senior coachcard, allowing reduced price travel on most National Express Services
in England and Wales

Disabled persons
Transport for London (TfL) has information about accessibility and assistance
available for disabled people on buses, tubes and trains.
The GOV.UK website offers information on disabled people and transport,
including using public transport, vehicle tax exemptions, car adaptations, the
Motability Scheme and the Blue Badge Scheme.
The Disabled Persons Freedom Pass provides free travel in Greater London on
the Underground, Docklands Light Railway, Croydon Tramlink, National Rail
services and on local bus services anywhere in England
Taxicard is a service that allows Haringey residents, with a mobility impairment
that prevents them using buses or trains, to travel in licensed radio taxis or black
cabs at lower rates.
Dial-a-Ride membership is open to people with a permanent or long-term
disability which prevents them using scheduled public transport services.
The (European) Blue Badge Parking Scheme is a permit that allows people with
severe walking difficulties to park close to their destination, such as shops and
stations.
Disabled Person’s Railcards and Coachcards (saving you money on National
Express coach fares) are also available.