Celebrate Silver Sunday in Berwickshire

What is Silver Sunday

Silver Sunday is an annual event held throughout the UK for older adults. It celebrates the value and knowledge older adults contribute to their local communities as well as helping to address loneliness and isolation amongst the older population.

Silver Sunday 2018

This year’s celebrations are to be held in the Volunteer Hall, Duns from 10.30am-4.30pm. They are taking place during the Scottish Borders Health and Social Care Partnership’s Healthy Lives Week, being held to support the launch of their recently revised Strategic Plan.

The event is free with tea, coffee and cakes available throughout the day. There is no need to book for the event itself but anyone who wants to take advantage of the lunch available from 12.30pm will need to get a ticket, available from Nairn’s Paper Shop in Duns. Transport can be provided – contact the Community Capacity Building Team for more information.

Participants will be able to enjoy a range of activities and entertainment including body boosting bingo, poetry, music and much more.

Advice and information about the services and activities provided by:

• Diabetes Scotland
• Alzheimer’s Scotland
• Duns and District Men’s Shed

There will also be a chance to find out more about MOT 4 MEN, an innovative health self-management and screening programme that encourages men to think about their health in the same way that would maintain their car, with the aim of getting them to look after themselves by having regular maintenance checks.

Councillor Elaine Thornton-Nicol, Older People’s Champion

“This annual event is a wonderful opportunity for us to celebrate the significant contribution that older people regularly make to both their local communities and their individual health and wellbeing.

“I am delighted to see that Berwickshire is once again acting as our hosts. They made everyone feel tremendously welcome last year and as we have already had expressions of interest from as far afield as Peebles, I have no doubt they will do the same again on 7 October. This is an event I personally look forward to each year and I would encourage as many people as possible to come together for the day to try something new and have some fun.”

 “Local businesses have been very supportive of the event with thanks going to Farne Salmon, Greenvale AP and the White Swan for their support.”

Rob McCulloch-Graham, Chief Officer Health and Social Care Integration

“Our revised Strategic Plan sets out our commitment to providing services that support the health and wellbeing of Borders residents but we also wish to help our citizens to play their part by doing what they can to keep themselves in good health. Silver Sunday is a wonderful example of an activity that supports better wellbeing, whether that’s by enjoying the entertainment and good food on offer or perhaps it’s by catching up with old friends or even making new ones. I have no doubt that it will be yet another memorable occasion and wish everyone who attends a most enjoyable day.

“It is just one of a range of activities that we’ll be promoting throughout our Healthy Lives Week at the beginning of October and I would ask people to look out for more information as it becomes available over the next few weeks. Whether they might like to drop into one of our What Matters Hubs or perhaps find out more about the range of activities being co-ordinated by our Community Capacity Building team, we’ll be publicising a variety of ways that people can get involved in supporting their own mental and physical health with all the benefits that this can bring.”

Further Information

• Silver Sunday is being organised by the Partnership’s Community Capacity Building Team in partnership with Duns Senior Citizens and A Heart for Duns. For more information, phone 01835 825080 or email: communitycapacity@scotborders.gov.uk
• The Partnership’s Strategic Plan was published at the end of August – more information is available on our website.
• Information about Healthy Lives Week currently being planned for 1-7 October will be issued over the coming weeks.
• Information about Silver Sunday is available at on their website.