• Tai Chi classes take place every Friday at  the Essex Unitarian Church, 112 Palace Garden Terrace, W8 4RT at 11 a.m. - 12:15 pm 

• Chair exercises take place every Monday afternoon at Binbrook House,  Sutton Way, Dalgarno Gardens, North Kensington, W10 5HF and Cremorne Sheltered Housing, Jean Darling & Chelsea Farm Houses, Milman Street, Chelsea, London, SW10 0BY

• Digital Hub sessions at Cremorne Sheltered Housing and Kingsmill House, Sutton Estate. To help with any digital issues. Please call 0203 719 4954 to book.

• Art Classes Every Monday at Cremorne Sheltered Clubrooms. Please call 0203 719 4954 to book.

• Every Wednesday 2-4 pm on Zoom our Weekly Get-Together. Whether you want to catch up with old friends, meet new ones, or share ideas on activities and initiatives, this is the perfect space for us to connect as a community. This is an open space for all members to come together, chat, and enjoy some time in good company. Whether you have something on your mind or just want to listen, everyone is welcome!

• Drugs Smuggling - The Secret History. For many years and until recently, HM Customs led the war on drugs in the UK. The talk describes how their historic role against smuggling over hundreds of years, equipped them to tackle the traffickers and criminals of the modern age, and how a small band of civil servants took the fight to organised crime both at home and overseas and captured some of the most notorious smugglers of all time. The talk will highlight some of the historical local smuggling stories in your region and includes a series of personal anecdotes from one who had a leading role in the war on drugs for over thirty years. The speaker is Frank Hurst: Frank Hurst was born in London and spent thirty-six years as an investigator and intelligence officer for HM Customs, Scotland Yard and the British Foreign Office, ending his career as Head of HMRC's Overseas Criminal Intelligence Network.He traveled widely in his professional career, including living many years in India, Thailand and the eastern Caribbean, while hunting down some of the biggest traffickers in the world of drugs smuggling. He received the Outstanding Law Enforcement Award from the US Department of Justice for his work against Howard Marks, aka “Mr Nice” and has been a contributor to the recently published, Drug War – The Secret History by Peter Walsh. After leaving the service of the Crown, Frank has devoted his time to writing novels and is a published author of seven books. His Golden Triangle Trilogy, set in the Far East, has received wide acclaim and won literary awards. He is an executive producer of the soon to be released documentary film 'Bangkok , City of Angels'. His talks are in support of a local educational charity to promote reading in primary schools. 21st November at 2 pm, Holy Trinity Sloane Square, 146 Sloane Street SWX 9B

• Acupuncture Presentation by Kim Mendez A.O.R - LFA - M.B.Ac - M.R.C.H.M - M.G.N.I. Kim works at the London Oncology Clinic of the Harley Street Clinic  on 22nd November at 2 pm. The St Mary Abbots Centre, Vicarage Gate, W8. You will be sent information on how to register for this prior to the event. Acupuncture has been studied as a potential method to help older adults manage pain. Here is a summary of evidence on how acupuncture can aid in pain relief for older individuals:

  • Osteomuscular Pain Relief: Acupuncture has been found to reduce osteomuscular pain and improve the functionality of older adults. In a study involving weekly acupuncture sessions, pain levels significantly decreased, and participants reported enhanced ability to carry out daily activities (Lamego et al., 2023).

  • Chronic Low Back Pain: Research on chronic low back pain (CLBP) among older adults indicates that acupuncture can effectively improve disability and reduce pain intensity. Studies show significant improvements in back pain after multiple acupuncture sessions, making it a safer alternative to conventional treatments, which can involve medications with side effects (DeBar et al., 2023).

  • Osteoarthritis of the Knee: Acupuncture has also shown positive results as an adjunctive therapy for knee osteoarthritis in elderly patients. Trials indicate that acupuncture can reduce pain and improve knee function, though the effects can diminish slightly after treatment ends (Berman et al., 1999).

  • Combination Therapies: Acupuncture combined with other treatments, such as infrared therapy, has been found to be more effective in reducing musculoskeletal pain in older adults than acupuncture alone (Widowati et al., 2017).

  • Acupuncture can provide significant pain relief for older adults, particularly for conditions like osteomuscular pain, chronic low back pain, and osteoarthritis. It is considered a safe and effective complementary therapy that enhances functionality and daily living.

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Please call 0203 719 4954 if you require further information or to book your attendance