Diocese

Growing Old Grace-fully

Growing Old Grace-fully, the charity aiming to help parishes respond to the needs and the gifts of older people across the Diocese, has a new website. www.growingoldgracefully.org.uk has been launched to help build on the good work that is already taking place in parishes and spread this good news so that we can learn from each other.

If you would like discuss how Growing Old Grace-fully might help respond to the needs and gifts of older people in your parish, please contact Rachel on 07702 255142 or email growing.old.gracefully@dioceseofleeds.org.uk .

Trustees Needed

Do you believe we should cherish the blessings of age? Do you think parishes need more support to help value the gifts of older people? If your answer is 'YES', Growing Old Grace-fully, the charity working to support Later-Life-Friendly Parishes in our Diocese, would love to talk to you. We are looking for Trustees to help make a difference at an exciting time as we develop new ideas and deliver new projects. This is a volunteer role, requiring about 4 hours a month of your time. For more information please email growing.old.gracefully@dioceseofleeds.org.uk or speak to Rachel on 07702 255142.

Leeds Homeshare

How good and pleasant it is when God's people live together in unity!

Leeds Homeshare is a scheme that aims to prove the opening words of Psalm 133 to be true. To read more about this go to http://www.c8541953.myzen.co.uk/blog-2/ .

The scheme carefully matches an older person, who might need some help to live independently in their own home, with someone who has a housing need. In return for providing low cost accommodation, the older person gets a minimum of 10 hours of help with daily living tasks like cleaning, shopping, gardening or walking the dog.

But it's really about companionship, about living with someone in unity and, as the Psalm says, it can be so 'good and pleasant'. It can help older people stay independent and in their own home for longer and offers companionship and new relationships for both the homeowner and the homesharer.

It's a safe and supported arrangement, with Shared Lives in Adult Social Care taking references, checks and assessments to help ensure risk and safeguarding issues are well managed.

If you have a spare room and would be interested in having a chat about this, with no obligations, then please call Cath Ormerod on 0113 378 5410, email homeshare@leeds.gov.uk or visit www.leeds.gov.uk/Homeshare .

Universal Credit

Guidance from Caritas on Universal Credit

March 2018