The Beth Johnson Foundation is charity primarily working with older community members in Stoke on Trent and North Staffordshire. This year they are celebrating 50 years of championing positive ageing and the legacy from Beth Johnson herself which started the Foundation in 1972.
With thanks to Hilary Stefanelli, Project Development Manager, Beth Johnson Foundation, who wrote this piece.
At the Beth Johnson Foundation, we want everyone to enjoy a great later life. By listening to, learning from, and sharing people’s stories of ageing, we can work together to help build a future for all ages. We amplify the voices of older people and push for positive changes in our communities.
We have a new website with information on how you can get involved and details of all our current activities: www.bjf.org.uk
Our aim is to improve the health and wellbeing of people as they are ageing, by developing activities that help people to manage, learn and grow through vulnerable times in their lives and make the most of opportunities and choices, regardless of age.
If you are living with dementia, you can find support to have your voice heard by contacting the BJF Dementia Advocacy Project. We also host the Dementia peer group where you can meet with other people with a dementia diagnosis, make new friends and gain support. Please get in touch to find out more.
The BJF Bereavement Friendship Project has been developed to offer support and friendship to people who have experienced bereavement. We organise group meetings, both in person and online and we also offer a befriending service. Talking openly to others who have experienced bereavement can help you re-connect with people, reduce feelings of isolation, and provide support to build a life around your loss, please get in touch if you or someone you know would benefit from this project.
We are always keen to hear from volunteers who would like to help with this project, please contact us for more information.
As a partner in the SOT All Age Carers Support Service, working with North Staffs Carers, we provide a programme of short courses aimed at promoting positive ageing through Health and Wellbeing activities for older carers in Stoke on Trent. The sessions will help to build confidence and you will gain knowledge and learn skills that you can apply to your own life so that you experience a more positive older age, and thus build your resilience.
We are looking for any groups who may include older carers in Stoke on Trent and who would like us to provide these free health and wellbeing sessions.
If you have arthritis or a muscular skeletal condition, BJF has a joint project with the Haywood Foundation – the PIERproject which can offer information, support and signposting, please get in touch for more details.
Beth Johnson Foundation is proud to support the Community Health Champions initiative. Several of our staff members have trained to be Champions and we cascade information through our volunteers and staff to users of our services and the wider community. We have undertaken several health-related consultations within the BJF community and shared our feedback with the Community Health Champions. It is really positive to link in with other Champions working in our local communities.
To find out more about any of our services please visit our website: www.bjf.org.uk email: [email protected] or telephone: 01782 844036
Hilary Stefanelli, Project Development Manager, Beth Johnson Foundation