N E W S
From July 2021 we are having HYBRID meetings - welcoming people in person as well as online. Our venue is SPARK, 17-21 Piccadilly, York YO1 9PB (the container shopping centre across the road from Merchant Adventurers Hall).
They have kindly lent us their community studio upstairs (there is a lift). We can meet at 1pm and order snacks from their many food stalls. The picnic tables are under awnings with plenty of fresh air around - and heaters in winter.
Our meetings will be from 2-4pm as usual on the second Wednesday of the month. Give me a ring with any queries: Sue on 01904 488870.
For details of upcoming and past meetings, please go to our Meetings page.
Hope to see you there - in person or on zoom!!!
xxxXXXxxx
MY PERFECT DAY
AWOC York event in York International Women's Week 2024
Wednesday 13 March 2-4pm
in person at Spark York and on Zoom (donations welcome to keep us afloat!)
also a Real People Theatre event online for women on Sat. 9 March, 2-4pm
With the song “When You Wish upon a Star” in mind, imagine your perfect day….
be it personal or global, past present or future, environmental or political,
involving fantasy or magic, whatever, whenever, your choice!
A hybrid workshop at Spark York. Record and keep, if you like, as part of our AWOC dreams 2024.
Please join us if you are ageing without the support of nearby children or family
for whatever the reason. All welcome!
For the link contact Sue Lister 01904 488870 or hello@awocyork.org.uk
xxxXXXxxx
DON'T LEAVE ME ALONE
AWOC York event in the York 50+ Festival 2023
Saturday 7th October 2-4pm
Who to trust?
When does independence
become isolation or loneliness?
Millions of us are ageing without children or nearby family.
Decision-makers need to hear and understand
the impact on social services and the NHS.
AWOC voices from around the country
discussing the meaning of loneliness and sharing personal stories.
xxxXXXxxx
HOME
an AWOC York workshop as part of York International Women's Week 2023
also a Real People Theatre event online for women on Sat. 4 March, 2-4pm
What does 'home' mean to you?
We shared memories and stories of 'Home' in childhood, at work, in retirement.
Once you start remembering it's amazing the variety of experiences we've had
of homes from Yorkshire to London and the south coast in cities, towns and villages,
and stretching across Europe to India, Canada and New Zealand.
You can watch our videos on YouTube at ListerInteractions:
https://www.youtube.com/@listerinteractions
Wednesday 8 March 2023, 2-4pm, hybrid meeting at Spark York
Feedback or queries to Sue at hello@awocyork.org.uk
xxxXXXxxx
AWOCs Unite!
Saturday 24 September 22, 2-4pm
65 minute video recording now available here
There are millions of people ageing without the support of children or nearby family (awoc). We will hear from peer support groups starting and growing around the country and how the national charity can help. Awocs, Allies and Anyone interested, All welcome!
“Who will speak up for me and lend a hand when I can no longer cope on my own?”
This event was part of the York 50+ Festival, 24 Sept.-2 Oct. 2022
xxxXXXxxx
K E E P S A K E S
What are the stories behind your most cherished possessions - your keepsakes? AWOC York created an online event for the York 50+ Festival 2021. There were 8 of us and stories ranged from "Ring of Fire" to "Agnes of God" and "Iolanthe", from Hornby Dublo trains to a Blue Peter Badge, from elephants to antlers, and not forgetting firewalking! Stories also emerged from Grandmother's wooden box, Aunt Mary's letters home from Karachi and Botswana, artwork for Kyra's poetry, and the teddy and bell so full of memories of Mother. You can find us on YouTube as part of ListerInteractions: https://youtu.be/xe-CrIdWfs0
xxxXXXxxx
Opening the Closet Door on Dementia
This 1hour workshop is currently available for booking
York LGBT Forum www.yorklgbtforum.org.uk
Real People Theatre www.realpeopletheatre.co.uk
invitation
OPENING THE CLOSET DOOR ON DEMENTIA
with Sue Lister, Ann Murray and Neil Cutler
Lesbian Loneliness + Paper Bag People – meet an older lesbian in a care home
Living & Dying with Dementia – a gay perspective
A workshop exploring what it means to be an older LGBT person and their partner fearing and facing, living and dying with dementia. Public and professionals, carers, partners, families and members of the LGBT community and their allies – all welcome. This is a closet door that really needs our attention.
First presented for DYING MATTERS WEEK (Friday 14 May 21) and DEMENTIA ACTION WEEK (Wednesday 19 May 21)
xxxXXXxxx
OPPS in York - Older People's Peer Support
On 1st October 2020, International Older Persons' Day, AWOC York hosted an informal online event to look at the importance of self-help groups. Our 8 speakers provided a fascinating diversity of information and experience:
Joe Micheli (City of York Council), Sue Lister (AWOC York), Sarah Collis (Self Help UK),
Ian Anderson (Heworth Retired Men's Forum), David Roberts (York Carers Forum),
Anne Norfolk (Dignity in Dying Yorkshire), Ron Willits (Dunnington Table Tennis),
Helen Widdowson (Spare Handle Co-Housing).
There were 24 of us at the meeting and the discussion that followed raised many interesting questions.
You can view the edited recording here and notes of the event here . Enjoy!
Comments, feedback, ideas welcome: hello@awocyork.org.uk
xxxXXXxxx
We're thinking about you -
no need to feel lonely
To stay in touch sign up for our mailing list below.
We are a group for people who have not had children
or whose children are unable to support us.
We meet in person and online on the second Wednesday of each month at
SPARK, 17-21 Piccadilly, York YO1 9PB
(the container shopping centre across the road from Merchant Adventurers Hall)
and on Zoom.
For details of upcoming and past meetings, please go to our Meetings page.
Call Sue Lister on 01904-488-870 to find out more
or click here to join our mailing list.
ABOUT US
Ageing Without Children (the national charity is at awoc.org.uk) was started by Kirsty Woodard around 2015 to address the challenges faced by the growing numbers of awocs, challenges that largely go overlooked by the media and government policy.
Inspired by a meeting with her in Leeds, Sue Lister and her partner, Ann Murray, launched monthly meetings in York in January 2016. The Cross Keys on Goodramgate kindly provided the use of their private downstairs accessible room. About a dozen people attend regularly and the circulation list of AWOC York now tops 180 who receive Sue’s detailed notes. View our upcoming meetings here.
At every presentation we have asked people to write down their own circumstances as an awoc – what is life like for them at this time? These experiences throw light on the loneliness and isolation that have been invisible until AWOC began. Hundreds of mini stories have been collected, like the ones we took to London to the meeting with the All Party Parliamentary Group on Housing and Care for Older People in February 2017, which you can read here.
AWOC York is run by Sue Lister and her partner Ann Murray.
The organisation is self-supporting and people volunteer their time, skills and donations to make sure it survives and thrives - such as Stef, who created this website!
Sue and Ann are also the founders of the Real People Theatre, a women's theatre company. You can find out more about the company and NO KIDDING?, its show for York International Women's Week on the theme of ageing without children, here.
JOIN THE MAILING LIST
To be updated on future meetings and minutes from past meetings, please sign up below. You can also email us at:
Or call Sue Lister on 01904 488870.