January/February Newsletter Dear All, I hope this letter finds everyone well and warm and coping okay with the ongoing pandemic and all the obstacles it is throwing at us. It does seem like we’ve taken a few steps backwards rather than going forwards for the moment… And yet a growing number of members are reporting having had at least the first dose of the vaccine if not the second! So that is really positive news and certainly a sign that the times will be changing. Perhaps it’s a bit like Spring, where it seems impossible when you look out at all the cold skies and bare branches, but it’s definitely there, getting ready under soil, we just have to wait... Before going on with the newsletter, I want to say thank you for all the Christmas cards, delicious chocolates and biscuits for the office and volunteers, donations to Assist and donations to the food bank that were sent in over the festive season. Due to your kindness, we covered our 2020 wallchart in Christmas cheer! Also, I’ve had a number of requests to put a little picture of my son, Ted, in the newsletter, so here he is in his wellies and hat. I’m sure he’ll look quite different from the baby some of you met last year. He is doing very well and is very chatty! (can you believe it) In other news, we will not be running our Positive Living group this month or starting the Positivity support group in the church as planned, in line with the current lockdown. Sessions will go back to whatsapp/zoom calls, and individual telephone calls for the time being. Tuesday Lunch club as a delivery service is set to continue, though will keep this under review. Zoom Exercises with Ruby on Friday mornings will carry on as usual, as will Zoom Tai Chi with Bee Bee on a Wednesday. All are welcome and there is no cost (though donations welcomed for Ruby’s session as this is a paid instructor class), you just need a tablet/smart phone/laptop with the internet to join in. If anyone would prefer some Exercise printouts to joining the Zoom class however, please get in contact and we can arrange for these to be dropped off. Ruby, our instructor, also recommends getting hold of an exercise stretch band for home use- if anyone would like Assist to order one for you to pay us back (approx. £3), let us know and we’ll have everyone fighting fit and sporting six packs in no time! Relaxation Zoom on Monday 25th January: Join us for afternoon of relaxation and well-being. Lydia is a Complementary Therapist who specialises in stress management. She’ll guide you through easy techniques that will help you to be calmer, sleep better, enhance your mood and strengthen your resilience. You’ll receive a relaxation kit alongside the session, which includes tools to enhance the self help skills that you’ll learn. This is free of charge, please call the office to book on 0161 434 9216, there are 12 spaces available.

If anyone would like help to use Zoom, please give the office a call and leave a message and we will get back to you. We have a couple of new volunteers able to guide people over the phone. Equally, please remember that we have volunteers able to help with shopping/prescription collection if you are feeling really anxious/stuck with heading out.

Zoom Tea and Talks: This month’s session will take place on Monday 18th January at 2pm, and we will be joined by the Museums’ live animals team, taking us behind the scenes of the museums’ Vivariam to meet their frogs and friends… “Ever wondered how many species of frogs there are in the world? What do they eat? How to build a frog habitat?” Should be an interesting one! The following tea and talks will be on Monday 15th February, with speaker tbc. Please call the office to book or send an email to [email protected] Wednesday 10th February We will be having a Chinese New Year Tai Chi special on Zoom. Even if you haven’t been taking part in the Tai Chi so far, why not join us for a little celebration and to find out more about how the new year is brought in Chinese style. It’s the year of the Ox this year; hardworking, positive and honest… let’s hope so!

Meet the Team: Brenda Barnett My name is Brenda Barnett. I was born at Whiston Hospital and spent most of my childhood in Kuwait where my father worked for the Kuwait Oil Company. I had an enchanted early childhood, it was like living in a sand pit with a swimming pool and the seaside all within easy reach. I came to boarding school in Brighton when I was ten and hated it. I then trained as a teacher in Southampton and did my B.Ed as an in service degree at Manchester. I came to Manchester because I had family here and I got my first teaching job at St Cuthberts in . I only intended to stay for a couple of years, but here I am 50 years later. I taught for 39 years in Withington, , , and , all,of it in Primary Schools. I married in 1973 and have two children. I retired in 2008 and volunteered for a few years with the CAB at Withington Methodist Church. When they moved to I began volunteering with Assist. And finally….. hopefully you will have held on to your raffle tickets that came in the little packages delivered before Christmas… because I’m pleased to announce that the winning numbers are: 722, 320, 919, 37 and 614. Give us a call on 0161 434 9216 if you think you may have struck lucky! Take care everyone and keep in touch, from Amelia and all at Assist.