Engage with Age is delighted to announce the arrival of The PAL Gazette. The Gazette is an initiative to keep older people in contact during lockdown. It is a newspaper written by older people for older people. It is a physical, hard copy newspaper which is posted to older people and also distributed through supported living centres and nursing homes. It reaches over 1,500 people.

Each edition of the PAL Gazette will be packed articles, information and quizzes.

The first edition of the PAL Gazette includes articles on local older people’s forums, historic pubs in Belfast, Anne’s Crafty Corner showing us how to make an Easter decoration, plus quizzes, recipes and a “Spot The Ball” feature. There are three competitions and the prize for each is a £10 Tesco voucher. Telephone the numbers given to enter each quiz.

For further information follow Engage with Age on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/EngageWithAgeBelfast or call Eamon on 07710 993036.

Engage with Age is urging older people to stay at home to stay safe from the spread of Covid-19.

From Monday 16th March 2020 all company in person activities have been suspended and the company staff are all now working from home.

We urge members of the public to stay up to date with ongoing Covid-19 safety advice and to follow the Public Health guidance.

To stay in contact with Engage with Age please follow us on Facebook at the following link: https://www.facebook.com/EngageWithAgeBelfast

This is the most up to date link for our work.

The main company telephone number is not operating as we are out of the office working from home, but you can reach members of staff on the following numbers:

Cathy Chambers 07468 695593
Eamon Quinn 07710 993036
Laurence Wright 07425 627531
John McCandless 07729 516576
Martin Towers 07856 926412

Please stay safe and if you have any queries please make contact with us.

On Wednesday 18th March 2023 the Greater Belfast Seniors Forum will be hosting a Forums recruitment event at Belfast City Hall. The event will run from 10am – 1.30pm.

The intention is to recruit new members for individual forums, and the forums represented are:

North Belfast Seniors Forum
West Belfast Over 50s Forum
Shankill Older People’s Forum
Belfast East Seniors Forum
South Belfast Lifestyle Forum
Castlereagh Seniors Forum

Older people living in a forum’s respective area, particularly people who represent older people’s groups, are all eligible to join their local forum.

Older people’s forums help represent the views of older people and address issues affecting older people in their areas. Forums routinely speak with public agencies and decision makers, and also highlight opportunities and services to benefit older people.

To come along to the Forum Recruitment Event please contact John McCandless on 028 9073 5696 or email john.mccandless@engagewithage.org.uk

What better way to start the new year than getting out and about and enjoying activities with other people.

The PAL Project has a range of events and activities for older people who aren’t getting out as much as they used to.

Events and activities include: social groups, creative writing, t’ai chi, dance group and more.

To find out more, please contact Martin Towers on 028 9073 5696 or email martin.towers@engagewithage.org.uk

We are certainly getting into the swing of things! Engage with Age held a Christmas Tea Dance at the East Belfast Network Centre and entertained over 100 older people. Attendees were spoiled with tea, cakes and treats, with dancing to music by Victor Mawhinney.

We would like to wish all of our supporters and participants a very happy Christmas and send you the very best for 2020.

Get your spooky dancing shoes on! Join us at the Spooky Slipped Disco for an evening of the best music from the 1960s and 70s.

Join us on Monday 24th October 2019 between 7.30-10pm at the Black Box, Hill Street, Belfast.

To book, call Engage with Age on 0287 9073 5696 or email martin.towers@engagewithage.org.uk

Didn’t we have a lovely time! With great weather like that it would be a shame not to get the high factor sunscreen on, and eat some food outdoors. The PAL Project had a wonderful time with our summer 2019 barbeque. Participants were treated to burgers, hot dogs, veggie treats, music and even an appearance from an ice cream van.

The PAL Project is Engage with Age’s programme for older people who aren’t getting out and about as much as they used to. Our summer barbeque is only one of the many activities, most of which take place weekly.

For more information please contact Engage with Age on 028 9074 5696 or email martin.towers@enmgagewithage.org.uk

Did you hear us on the radio? Engage with Age had tremendous fun appearing on the John Toal Show on BBC Radio Ulster on Saturday 25th May 2019. Taking part in interviews was Director Eamon Quinn and PAL Project participants Kate Roddy and Stewart Hudson. A brilliant time was had in the studio with presenter John Toal, cook Paula McIntyre, and other guests including the wonderful musician Tura Arutura, pictured with Stewart, Kate and John.

To listen again, click this link: https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/p07bbtwj

Engage with Age has been a research partner for the Ulster University/ Public Health Agency research programme TESA DRI. TESA DRI stands for Technology Enriched Supported Accommodation Dementia Research Initiative.

This programme has examined the impact of technology for people living with dementia. The programme has undertaken research all over Northern Ireland and is unique as the first programme to seek the views of people living with dementia rather than asking their carers or health staff. The programme has harnessed a team of peer researchers and also art and craft workshops as a methodology for gathering data and opinions.

The research programme seeks to inform better services for people living with dementia and improved commissioning.

To read the full report click this link: https://research.hscni.net/sites/default/files/TESA%20FinalReport%20%28March2019%29_0.pdf