How do you feel when you wake up, open the curtains and see this? “What I would like to talk about today is how different people feel about winter.”   Slide 1 - How do you feel when you wake up, open the curtains and see this………

Slide 2- Picture of snowy landscape   Encourage pupils to answer the question. Would expect responses such as: Exciting Playing out Day off because school might be closed Snowball fights Sledging Building snowmen Respond positively - how exciting it is May get some more negative response – cold, slippery- acknowledge these to come back to in a minute By Oliver Dixon, CC BY-SA 2.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=13865636

Snow is great fun…

photo: Bill Dickinson via Flickr creative commons

Photo credit: CC BY 2. 0, https://commons. wikimedia. org/w/index. php

Slide 4/5/6 - Snow is fun (Pics of children playing in the snow)   Reflect how much fun it is playing in the snow and that often you do things you don’t do much the rest of the time and parents might be off work and able to play etc. Its good family time and its exciting Are there any less positive aspects, things about the snow which are not so great? Would expect responses such as: Cold Slippery Parents can’t get to work Might crash the car School has to close By Al Jazeera English - Children enjoy the snow in Lafeyette Park, CC BY-SA 2.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=17503819

How do you think this lady feels when she sees the snow? But… How do you think this lady feels when she sees the snow?

Expect responses such as: Might fall over Very cold   Tell the story of Edna: “This lady’s name is Edna. She is 82 and she lives on her own in a small house. She has central heating in the house but she doesn’t like to put it on because she’s worried about being able to pay her fuel bills. When she woke up and saw the snow she was worried because she only has enough milk and bread to last 2 days. She fell over on some ice last year and was poorly for a long time afterwards so she is scared to go outside and won’t be able to go to the shop. She thinks if she only has one cup of tea a day she might be able to make the milk last. When she looks out of the window, she can see the children playing outside and that cheers her up a little because she hasn’t spoken to anyone for over a week and with the snow it might be another week or two before she sees anyone again. She watches the TV all day and then when the light begins to fail and the temperature drops at 3pm she goes to bed to keep warm without using the fire.” “How do you think Edna feels?” Try to bring out responses such as: Lonely Scared Cold Bored

What can we do to help? Slide 9 - What could we do to help? “Is there anything people can do to help relatives and neighbours who are older when the weather gets cold?” May get suggestions such as: Go shopping for them Take them blankets Go and talk to them Check if they are ok   Need to ensure that children are clear this is something they could help their parents to do –NEVER to call on people they don’t know themselves.

What Age UK does ? A hot meal, friends to talk to and activities at 40 day centres around the county Someone to help make sure older people have the money they are entitled to A friend to visit or talk to on the phone Someone to help get shopping Lunch Clubs Surviving Winter grants Information and advice about how to keep warm Activities to help keep healthy and make friends  Slide 10 What can Age UK do to help? “Has anyone heard of Age UK Shropshire Telford & Wrekin?”   “Age UK STW is a local charity which works to make life better for older people in the county. They have lots of ways they can help” Mouse click to get list of services Age UK STW provides

What else could you do? Visit one of our Day Centres near your school Age UK has 40 Day centres around Shropshire and 7 Diamond Drop-In Centres. They are run by volunteers for frail and isolated older people. Transport, hot meal, activities and friendship once a week. Many of Age UK STW’s services focus on tackling loneliness. There are more than 10,000 lonely older people in Shropshire. 650+ members go every week. Diamond Drop-ins 7 Diamond Drop-in centres – fortnightly for people with dementia and their carers. Friendly and accessible run by volunteers with support. Offers advice and activities. Near our school, they run [insert here day centres near the school] Many of the older people would love to have a visit from you with teachers – you could sing for them, talk to them, play board/card games with them or do a craft activity.

Tell older people they can come to Age UK STW for free help and advice Help to spread the word about their services – lots of people might not know that they can help them in a wide range of help to improve their lives. They have lots of free information booklets and factsheets they can give out and you can also book appointments to speak to staff and volunteers to get free help and advice and assistance with filling in forms etc.

Take part in Wear It Woolly Day this February

It’s really easy… Choose any day in February. Come to school dressed in something warm and woolly – it could be a funny jumper, bobble hat, knitted tights or socks! Everyone donates £1. The money raised helps to improve the lives of older people in your community Does anyone have any other ideas of ways we could raise some money?”   You might like to lead this discussion strongly or allow the children to come up with ways to raise funds.

AGE UK STW COULDN’T DO IT WITHOUT YOU THANK YOU! AGE UK STW COULDN’T DO IT WITHOUT YOU

For any further questions or advice please contact: 01743 233123 enquiries@ageukstw.org.uk www.ageukshropshireandtelford.org.uk