Citizens’ network hosts positive Strontian event
The Highland Senior Citizens’ Network (HSCN) works across the Highlands to ensure this growing section of the population is represented and heard, writes Nic Goddard.
It runs a series of events in local communities to gather older people, organisations and members of older people’s groups and those who support older people to come together and network, sharing information and discussing issues in an informal setting.
Last week, Strontian village hall held a Communities Connecting event with people attending from the Sunart Community Council, Age Scotland, HSCN, Macular Society, Alzheimer Scotland, Scottish Dementia, Kinlochleven and Strontian Men’s Sheds, Ewen’s Room, Care Lochaber, West Lochaber Hospital Transport Project, Dail Mhor and local residents.
The day was an informative and enjoyable event for all who attended, with reports from the various agencies about progress on a variety of projects, issues faced and ways of overcoming them, sharing of successes and good news stories and plenty of opportunities for sharing ideas and supporting each other.
The issues faced by older people in our communities were highlighted by the organisations attending and include social isolation, mental and physical health challenges specific to ageing, along with certain barriers to accessing care and services particular to a remote and rural location.
Initiatives such as the fortnightly lunch club, Ewen’s Room weekly open doors event, the Men’s Shed and a proposed choir in Strontian are offering opportunities to manage some of these issues, while projects such as the West Lochaber Hospital Transport Project and Lochaber Care and Repair offer practical solutions to some of the logistical problems.
There were also ideas and suggestions shared from other areas, including the longer running Kinlochleven Men’s Shed. There was also talk of social media and how a Facebook group for sharing memories past and present of the area had bought together old and new residents and created spin-off events such as baking competitions, photography displays and included the local library.
A delicious lunch was provided by the Dail Mhor kitchen and pupils from Strontian Primary School attended to sing, recite Gaelic poems and play guitar songs.
This delightful interlude sparked the idea of a regular get-together between the oldest and youngest members of the community for future events such as whist games and beetle drives.
The event was a largely positive and uplifting gathering as many of these issues have been recognised and solutions are being developed or are already in place, with gatherings like these a large part of the Strontian community’s aim to ensure the older residents are recognised as an asset, with plenty to offer in terms of their life experience, knowledge of the area and local history.
The HSCN motto is ‘Nothing about us without us’ in recognition of the idea that nothing pertaining to senior citizens should be discussed without their participation. The communities connecting events are perfect opportunities for just that.
For more information or details of other events in the area Highland Senior Citizens’ Network, visit www. hscn.co.uk.