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G4EBT > ALL 03.11.08 20:08l 158 Lines 5983 Bytes #999 (0) @ WW
BID : AF9399G4EBT
Read: GUEST
Subj: Re: a million new hams?
Path: IZ3LSV<IK2XDE<DB0RES<ON0AR<GB7FCR
Sent: 081103/1904Z @:GB7FCR.#16.GBR.EU #:17241 [Blackpool] FBB-7.03a $:AF9399G4
From: G4EBT@GB7FCR.#16.GBR.EU
To : ALL@WW
Ian, G3ZHI wrote:-
> More than a million old people in the UK are suffering the misery of
> loneliness, a survey has revealed.
> With a third of the UK's elderly population now living alone, including
> half of all women over 65, Help the Aged is campaigning to give lonely
> and depressed pensioners some Christmas cheer over the festive period.
> The charity's research discovered that nearly half a million pensioners
> only leave their houses once a week, and a further 300,000 are entirely
> housebound.
> The charity says that economic hardship increases loneliness and
> reports that over 2.5 million pensioners in the UK live below the
> poverty line.
> Amy Swan, Policy Manager at Help the Aged said: "It's such a tragic
state > of affairs when older people tell us that the only person they see
from > week to week is the postman.
>"Isolation and loneliness are not inevitable side-effects of the ageing
>process, but the life events associated with older age can leave people
>vulnerable.
>"Poverty, bereavement, far-flung families and failing health can all play
>a part, and while living alone is for some a preferred life choice, for
>others it can be one of the key risk factors leading to someone becoming
>isolated and also lonely, particularly for older people."
>why don't rsgb promote the hobby to old people?
Good question.
Because it - and other national societies, are fixated with promoting it
to kids almost as young as toddlers. You see it in all the mags and
websites.
RSGB says that the hobby is for people of all ages and all walks of life,
which is true, but take a look at the picture they show. One adult, maybe
in his early fifties, and four kids aged 10 - 12:
http://www.rsgb.org/newcomers/
And take a look here:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Amateur_radio_operators
Three pictures:
A girl about 13, described as "a radio amateur".
A boy about 10 described as "an operator running high-speed telegraphy".
A boy about 14-15, described as "an operator working HF".
Doubtless these are true descriptions and I'm sure they're great kids
we'd all be proud to be parents of. But they're being depicted as a
typical cross-section of the hobby, which they are not. IMHO, that's
a bit counter-productive as it may deter even young adults, let alone
older ones, from joining the hobby.
But enough of that.
The issue Ian raised is about older people leading fulfilling lives.
The government's record on this is lamentable.
I'd particularly highlight Government cuts in funding for adult and
community learning, which has led to fewer classes and higher fees.
It's spelt the end of many recreational classes, including arts-based
courses and health and fitness classes.
Why has the Government done this?
The Government wants to focus on the 16-19 age group and those needing
basic skills. A worthy aim, but funding this important priority shouldn't
be at the expense of older people's learning needs, yet that's precisely
what's happened. They've robbed Peter to pay Paul.
They've cut spending and reduced the range of non-vocational classes which
the elderly find particularly attractive, and have scrapped concessionary
fees for the over 60s.
As a result, even when classes are offered, not enough people sign up, so
the classes don't then run. The unwaged and refugees get reduced fees or
free attendance (which I don't object to), but how many such people are
going to want to enrol on courses such as Improvers' French, digital
photography for beginners, computers for the terrified, or tracing your
family roots?
NIACE - the national body for adult learning - is campaigning with Age
Concern to change government policy. They report that following the 2004
cuts in funding the number of over 60s taking part in publicly funded
further education dropped by a staggering 24%.
It's dropped further still.
Age Concern says ignoring the learning needs of older people is short
sighted and has commented: "Learning is a great way to keep the mind
active and meet new people. People at any age can benefit from learning
and new skills. The Government needs to stop writing older people off."
Few would disagree with that.
Education for older people can also have a massive impact on reducing the
need for social and health care. It's easy for older people to give up the
ghost, become withdrawn and depressed, and to feel isolated.
But it seems that the UK government would rather pay for anti-depressants
(along with all the other pills many older people have to pop) and visits
to the doctors surgery, than to find companionship and intellectual
stimulation amongst others in adult education classes.
Not only does learning in later life contribute to physical and mental
health and wellbeing. it's also associated with increased self-confidence
and community activity.
But participation in further education for older people is very low.
Just 10% of over 75s and 19% of 65-74 year olds have a recent experience
of learning. The report argues that these low levels aren't inevitable,
but arise from lack of government funding and support.
Paying full fees aren't a problem to me, but two classes I've tried to
join last year which had previously been attended mainly older people had
been scrapped.
Until the government put up the fees and scrapped the concessions for
over 60s, such classes were often over-subscribed with a waiting list.
Older people - like disabled armed services personnel, are just a costly
nuisance to the government. It had to be embarrassed and shamed into
giving a winter fuel supplement because so many elderly people were dying
of hypothermia due to high fuel costs.
Dire.
Quote of the day:
Forty is the old age of youth
Sixty is the youth of old age.
Anon.
Best wishes
David, G4EBT @ GB7FCR
Cottingham, East Yorkshire.
Message timed: 17:02 on 2008-Nov-03
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