The Burnham Health Promotion Trust

Older People’s Projects

The Community Profile Report 1999 highlighted the needs of older people, identifying the particular problems that older people may face with regard to their physical and mental health and the difficulties that they may experience in accessing appropriate help and support. Many of the Trust's projects are targeted specifically at older people. More information about any of these Projects from Shirley Shaw, Senior Project Worker. Projects include:

Health Fairs, Burnham Park Hall - providing older people with information about wide range of services and facilities, also opportunity to participate in exercise classes etc.

"Good Age Good Health" -  A two day health awareness event - November 1999
"Senior Health and Safety Day " - November 2004 - organised in partnership with Chiltern and South Bucks PCT
"Senior Well-Being Fair"- October 19th 2006 - organised in partnership with Chiltern and South Bucks PCT

Training Day for Carers - 16 care staff from residential homes, hospitals and day centres attended an Activities Training Day at Perry House, Burnham in September 2000 where they had the opportunity to experience reminiscence work, Tai Chi , aromatherapy and salt dough model making  and to consider how they could introduce activities such as these into their work with the older people in their care . This course was organised by the Trust in conjunction with South Bucks Continuing Education.

"Helping Yourself to Health" Courses - Following on from a successful course held at Perry House Sheltered Housing Scheme in Autumn 2001, courses were held during 2002 and 2003 at the Burnham Methodist Church and at the Oasis Project (North Burnham Community Flat). A variety of health issues were discussed including for example healthy eating, dealing with stress and sleep problems. Following on from the Perry House course a health club for older people was set up at Perry House which ran for many months and led on to the development of other activities including the Intergenerational Project (see below). "Helping Yourself to Health" was run in partnership with the Worker’ s Educational Association.

Intergenerational Project

Since 2002 children from Years 5 and 6 at St Peter's School, Burnham have been meeting regularly with residents of Perry House sheltered housing scheme and have shared a variety of activities and discussions. Topics have included the second world war, homes and jobs, toys and games and how Burnham has changed over the years. In March 2004 and again in March 2005 St Peter's School were runners up in the national Help the Aged Living
Legends "Intergenerational Schools Award".

Shopping Trips for Older People - Thanks to the help of a volunteer driver it was possible in 2001 to restart a weekly shopping service using the Burnham Community Association minibus. Passengers who would otherwise find it difficult to get to a large supermarket are collected from and returned to their homes. This scheme is now run by Burnham Community Association.

There are a number of other projects which, whilst not targeted specifically at older people, have attracted many older people. These include:

Carers Support - Burnham Carers Support Group which the Trust runs in partnership with Carers Bucks, meets from 12noon - 2pm on the last Friday of the month at Burnham Youth Centre, Minniecroft Road, Burnham.

Simply Walk - Burnham Health Promotion Trust has supported the development of this walking project in Burnham.
Regular health walks now take place around the village. For details of forthcoming walks and photos of previous walks see "What's New"
 
In addition to all the above, many other local groups have made successful applications to the Trust for financial support of their own existing or new older people's projects. These include:

        Burnham Good Neighbour Scheme - Hospital transport scheme
        South Bucks District Council - Get Out and About Scheme

        Burnham Parish Council - Healthy Walks booklet

        Burnham Older People's Action Group
 

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