If you haven’t yet seen it, we hope you’ll pick one up and find a group, an event or an activity that is of interest to you.
Please note that some events need booking.
The Spring Newsletter is available from Five Rivers Leisure Centre, the Information Centre, Shopmobility and the Salisbury and other local libraries.
The annual directory is still valid until August and can be picked up from Five Rivers and local libraries.
The ever-rising cost of living affects charities as well as hard-pressed families and, in spite of the triple lock, pensioners, who may be on fixed incomes or a basic state pension.
This is why many of our events are free and where there is a charge, it’s low cost.
If you are struggling to pay your bills it may be worth getting advice from AgeUK Wiltshire or the Community Money Advice based at the Baptist Church in Brown Street: the advisors are very understanding, have a wealth of knowledge and aim to help you.
The ever-rising cost of living is also why increasingly more of my time is spent seeking funds to ensure Silver Salisbury can continue providing the annual directory and spring and autumn programmes as hard copy, which we know older people prefer; it’s free of charge so that it can reach all older people in our communities.
Most of our income comes from grant-giving bodies but as more charities are struggling to meet increasing community and health needs, the competition for funds becomes ever tighter.
Last autumn we did our first collection at Amesbury Tesco and recently at Waitrose using the opportunity to publicise the wide range of activities that welcome older people; we very much appreciate people’s generosity.
We were also the beneficiaries at Salisbury Manor Care Home’s spring fayre and our thanks go to residents, relatives, staff and friends.
I also want to take this opportunity to say a big thank you to everyone in and around Salisbury who plays the “Postcode Lottery” as the Postcode Community Trust has just awarded Silver Salisbury a grant which will contribute towards our autumn programme.
Our new groups at the Arts Centre for grandparents raising or regularly caring for their grandchild(ren) and Men’s Meet Up at Amesbury Library are now underway.
Don’t worry if you missed the start: they are both drop-in so it’s not too late to join and you will receive a warm welcome.
Irene Kohler
Chair Silver Salisbury