Gillian Fleet, David Hurrey, Elise Gunn, PCSO Penny Smith & Dennis Browne.

PCSO Penny Smith was the designer of the original 'Home Contents Log File', shown, which is to be re-launched in A5 format, for Neighbourhood Watch Week in June.

 

I attended a two day course entitled "Supporting Older Neighbours" in Leeds on 8th and 9th March. The course was sponsored by the Home Office (in conjunction with Help the Aged, Age Concern and NhW) and a number of locations around the country were chosen and there were 15 Delegates on each course. Overnight accommodation was paid for by the Home Office and/or travelling expenses were paid.

 

The first day was very interesting with a number of facts and figures quoted and population trends over the next number of years. Each section was followed by an exercise which allowed lots of interaction among the Delegates and sharing of best practise. The sections covered included: life expectancy, vulnerability and dependency, home alone and elder abuse.

 

It was interesting to find out that there are slightly more people of pension age than there are children under the age of 16. It was also a fact that older people (65+) are less likely to be victims of crime - in fact the most vulnerable group are the age range 16-24.

 

It was excellent to hear from the Delegates what each area were doing for the older people and a great deal of information was shared around the room.

 

Sadly the second day was all about presentation skills - something the Home Office obviously thought was important to NhW. The morning was spent discussing these skills and explaining what is important and during the afternoon each Delegate made a 2 minute presentation on a subject of their choice.

 

All in all it was well worthwhile and enjoyable but the second day (for me) could have been better spent on another topic.
P. Baldwin.