Cherry Tree Olympics

It was an absolute delight to be invited to present the trophy to the winning team at the recent Care Home Olympics held at the Cherry Trees residential home. The residents, relatives and staff had a great day capturing a bit of the Olympic spirit in their own very unique way. And as the picture show – medal winning brings delight to the winner – whatever your age!!!

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Rotherham’s ‘Women of Steel’

I am delighted that here in Rotherham we will shortly be having a ‘bit of a do’ to commemorate the wartime work of our local ‘Women of Steel’. I began campaigning on this issue with my colleague Richard Caborn and the Sheffield Star just before Christmas. In just a few weeks we have ‘found’ 41 Rotherham women who were drafted into the local steelworks during World War Two – to replace the men who had gone off to war. Only las week, when I was campaigning in Greasborough, I met a wonderful lady – now in her late 80’s who worked at Steel Peech and Tozers – or ‘Steelos’ as I know it’s know locally. She’s taken us up to 41 and I hope that we will find yet more before the mid-March event.

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Free passports for over 75’s

I have written to the Prime Minister, Gordon Brown, calling for free passports for those over 75.
In 2003 the Government introduced free one year passports to enable war veterans to visit France to commemorate the Normandy landings. In 2004, the scheme was extended to give all World War Two veterans and civilians, ie those born on or before 2nd September 1929, free ten year passports.
I am now calling for free passports for all those over 75 after having been approached by a constituent who was just a few weeks too young to be eligible.
Mr Hobson of Herringthorpe said “I was 80 last November and found myself just a few weeks too young to get a free passport. I think it would be great if the Government could extend the scheme as it has cost me the best part of £100 to get my new passport –the application itself plus the cost of the photos, postage, checking etc. That’s a lot of money for many pensioners on low incomes – it’s the difference between having a short holiday abroad and not having one!
I have written to the Prime Minister and also to Ed Miliband who is leading on Labour’s manifesto for the General Election, I have urged them to consider introducing free or at least half-price passports to those aged 75 or older. We have free TV licences for the over-75’s so I don’t see why we can’t be equally generous with passports.

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10 ways to help older people

I have been innundated with calls and letters thanking me for my ’10 ways to help older people’

Many of the older people I meet simply do not know of the benefits to which they are entitled and local advice workers tell me that millions of pounds of benefits go unclaimed each year. I hope this leaflet will help raise awareness of some of the benefits available and most importantly where, in Rotherham, people can go for help, advice and if needed, support where form filling is required!

Not claiming benefits is a real loss to the individual but it’s also a loss to the Rotherham economy.  As an example, in 2008/9, the council’s Welfare Benefits team helped local people to claim over £3.5 million. That’s a huge amount of money – so I really would urge older people, and their friends and family, to look through this leaflet and take professional advice if there are any benefits to which they think they may be entitled.

This leaflet has been distributed as widely as I am able to older people in my Rotherham constituency but any other constituent who would like a copy can contact me at the details provided.

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