Slow dancing pensioners in High Green

Up to 20 people, aged in their 70s and 80s, attend the weekly, hour-long exercise sessions at the Newgate Close sheltered housing complex at High Green.

Practising Tai Chi aids relaxation, balance and health. An ancient form of meditation, it is highly effective for stress and pain relief, combining mental concentration, slow breathing and dance-like movements to increase chi (life energy).

Sheffield Homes provided £1,250 to fund the sessions as part of the “Your Community, Your Choice” initiative.

Members pay a subsidised £1.50 per session. Winnie is currently seeking further funding to keep the sessions going long-term.

“Getting people involved in activities like this helps them create social networks and make new friends. It also shows you are never too old to think about improving your health and fitness levels with a gentle exercise regime.”

Discover Brightholmlee on 25th April!

The Steel Valley Project is leading a Heritage Trail Guided Walk on Sunday 25th April and all are welcome to join in.

Wander over the historic pack horse bridge, see wildflowers at Carr House Meadows and discover the ancient hamlet of Brightholmlee. We will be walking one of the Stone to Steel Heritage Trails, starting in Glen Howe Park, and visiting Carr House Meadows Local Nature Reserve and More Hall Reservoir. This walk is only about three and a half miles but has steep hills and rough paths! We will be leaving at Glen Howe Park car park at about 10:15 am. If you are coming by bus then catch the 9:30 57 from Sheffield Interchange or the 10:00 57 from Stocksbridge Co-op. Let me know if you are coming by bus and we will make sure we stay to meet you!

The walk starts 10:15am at Glen Howe Park, Wharncliffe Side. For more Stone to Steel events visit http://www.stonetosteel.org.uk/news.php .

Tooth expensive?

One in 30 parents admits the cost of going to the dentist means their children have never had their teeth checked.

43% of people have put off a visit to the dentist due to money worries while 39% have resorted to using their credit card to pay for treatment costing over £50.

Simplyhealth’s Annual Dental Survey found that just half of the UK population are under the care of an NHS dentist while one in 10 adults do not have a dentist at all.

Details of local NHS dentists can be found here.

Teen dreams, obese pets and costly bodgers

Here are some useless but perhaps interesting snippets about money in the news this past week …

Ah, bless …
Teenagers expect to be earning an average of £51,800 by age 35 compared with the actual average of £28,933, while 61% think they will be able to buy a house by age 25. However, while their aspirations may be unrealistic, NatWest says its annual survey of 12-19 year olds shows they are significantly more aware of money management issues than a year ago, with 33% of boys and 24% of girls saying they save most or all of their money.

Feed less …
Obesity levels among pets are reaching the same worrying proportions as for people in the UK, with vets reporting that four in 10 of their patients are overweight. In comparison, Government studies suggest that more than half of adults are overweight, says Sainsbury’s Finance. Its survey of vets found that one in 10 pets are categorised as severely overweight, risking conditions such as diabetes, heart disease, and bone or ligament problems.

Clueless …
9% of Brits admit they can’t change a lightbulb and 23% don’t know how to change a fuse – but scientists now claim that ability at DIY could be genetically pre-determined. Halifax Home Insurance estimates that £400m worth of damage was caused last year by people who lack the ‘DIY gene’, with the average botched job costing £78.26 to fix.

Shop local gift ideas for under £10, £25 and £50

To shop local is to invest in the wellbeing of a community. But in these days of supermarket chains and national franchises, it can be rather difficult to know what’s available …

So here are three gift ideas, involving businesses, services, products and people based within the boundaries of the North West Sheffield area.

Under £10
Two interesting and informative books for less than £10 combined!?! Sheffield S6 historian and author Ron Clayton writes in an accessible style and has worked solo and collaboratively on several publishing projects. Ron is also acclaimed for his guided walks. Although Ron’s work is available in outlets across Sheffield, you can buy direct from his publisher here.

Under £25
Ok, cheating slightly as this particular hat (see illustration) costs £25 bang on the nail. Imogen is a local milliner producing bespoke and designer hats across a wide price range. But she’s always got bargain items tailored to suit most pockets. No one would guess from the professional quality of Imogen’s work that she is comparatively new to the millinery business. Check out her Facebook page here.

Under £50
£38 buys an eight-week block of swimming lessons at Upperthorpe Healthy Living Centre (discounted to £29.60 with a Slice Card) to keep your “significant other” in tip-top health!

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Walk on Sunday

There’s an “easy” walk along Loxley Valley to Bradfield, this Sunday (28th March).

Walkers should meet at 11am next to Malin Bridge Tram stop.

Taking up to around four hours (or longer depending on pub stops!) the walk along Loxley valley then round Damflask reservoir to Lower Bradfield involves mainly flat terrain along good footpaths. There may be mud, and there is one steep bit, but a pub is at the end. There are two pubs along the route – The Nags Head in Loxley and The Plough in Bradfield – if anyone wants a refreshment break.

Participants can decide whether they want to complete the return leg by bus or on foot – the distance being 4.5 miles or nine respectively.

To find out more, email organiser@shamblers.org.uk.

Stannington walkers to move

NW Sheffield News Editor Russell Cavanagh accompanied the Stannington “Walkie-Talkies” this morning in their weekly walk around the local area.

Walkie-Talkies in Rivelin Valley this morning

The group meets every week at 10.15am for a health walk and chat that lasts one to two hours. A friendlier bunch you couldn’t hope to meet – welcoming smiles and very easy to talk to as this week’s walk started down Stannington Road (from the Lower Stannington Community Forum offices “opposite the big red flats”) before cutting down to Rivelin Valley, along the riverside, past Rivelin Quarry and up Liberty Hill back towards the offices where the kettle went on and chat continued.

It was great talking to the Sheffield City Council Rangers – who led the event – and to walkers of all ages; hearing about how folk had found each other through attending the group after years away and listening to stories of how some people’s health had improved since starting to attend the sensibly paced strolls, and just having a laugh.

Indeed, the various routes (Rivelin Valley, Loxley Valley and surrounds) are deceptive for providing more exercise than seems obvious at first. But if anyone does feel out of breath, the group is more than happy to stop and take in the marvellous scenery.

Change of venue
Sheffield Star photographer Stuart Hastings was at the Lower Stannington Community Forum office at the beginning of the morning. He was taking a picture of staff, volunteers and users of the services based in the office, which is due to close at the end of March when funding runs out for the Forum.

Next Tuesday (30th March) is the last time the Walkie-Talkies meet at the Forum office. It is likely they will gather at the nearby Stannington Tenants & Residents Association office (29 Fairbarn Drive) as of April.

Whether for a bit of company, to find out more about the area or to get a bit healthier, joining the Walkie-Talkies is 100% recommended!

Rubbish fuels better health

Sheffield will soon breathe cleaner air as a new fleet of Council vans fuelled by bio-gas takes to the city’s roads.

The six-month trial by Sheffield City Council will feature 10 gas-powered vehicles using bio-methane collected from organic waste. They will aim to show that these vehicles are a practical alternative to petrol and diesel.

The Council’s Parks Ranger Service will replace six of their current fleet with the new gas vehicles. The Park Rangers are involved in many community events across the city and work with many Friends Groups in local parks to encourage them to get involved and also raise awareness of their local environment.

Promoting the use of alternatively fuelled vehicles through the Rangers will give the Council an opportunity to reach thousands of people across the city during the trial period. The other vans will be used, appropriately, by the Council’s Environmental Services team.

iPhone fag nag

iPhone users can get digital support to help them quit smoking, thanks to a new app from the Department of Health.

Launched on the back of No Smoking Day last Wednesday (10 March), the ‘Quit Smoking’ programme offers:

• Daily hints and tips to manage cravings
• A running tally on how much money quitters have saved, or could have saved, by not buying cigarettes
• A counter to show how many days, hours and minutes users have been smokefree
• Instant access to the national Stop Smoking Helpline and specialist advisors
• Contact information for local Stop Smoking Services across Yorkshire and the Humber and beyond

The new app, which is compatible with the iPhone and iPod Touch. is available from iTunes, www.smokefree.nhs.uk and NHS Choices.

For those that do not have an iPhone or iPod touch, they can text the word calculator to 64746 to receive information on an NHS Choices smoking calculator.

Stannington social strolls

Everyone is invited to join in on leisurely walks round Stannington – organised every Tuesday – and take the opportunity to meet new people and get healthier into the bargain.

Participants meet up at Lower Stannington Resource Centre on 409 Stannington Road at 10.30am and end up back there around 12 noon for a cuppa.

The activity is organised by Lower Stannington Community Forum and more information is available by calling 232 1701 or emailing lscf@btconnect.com

In Oughtibridge and over 50?

Curling, bowls and aerobics sessions for people aged 50+ start in Oughtibridge on March 1st.

Organised by Activity Sheffield, sessions will run every Monday from 10am until noon at Oughtibridge Church, Church Street.

The cost is £1.50 and for that participants get:

• Fun sessions offering new age curling, bowls and aerobics
• A chance to improve health and meet new people

And the first session is free!

For more information contact Laura at Activity Sheffield on 273 4266 or email her at activity.sheffield@sheffield.gov.uk

Website: www.sheffield.gov.uk/activitiesforadults

Council helps families with disabilities take a break

Sheffield City Council offers a range of short-break services to families that include a severely disabled child aged 0-19.

Short Break services provide:

• opportunities for parents and carers to have a regular break from caring responsibilities
• children and young people with chances to participate in activities they enjoy or to be cared for at home

Although short breaks have been on offer since April 2009, Sheffield Council says the Government’s Aiming High for Disabled Children Programme has transformed the existing service. Between April 2009 and March 2011 significant investment is being made in short breaks, increasing both the range and the number of services that are available.