With much of last year focused on Brexit, Trump and the sad passing of Celebrities on what seemed like a daily basis, many people were glad to see the back of 2016.
So despite last year’s annus horribilis, pensioners in Gateshead have revealed what they are most looking forward to in 2017 – warm weather and lots of it!
Over a third of pensioners surveyed said that a mild winter and spring followed by a long summer is what they hoped for most.
This statistic is taken from a survey taken from Gateshead based charity, Teams & Bensham Community Care, who provides daily activity clubs for the elderly and disabled residents in and around Teams, Bensham and Central Gateshead.
About 35% of respondents said warm weather was their biggest wish, while a fifth said being able to get out and about and meet their friends at the club was most important to them.
And in third spot in the survey, was looking forward to spending time with their families. About 18% of those quizzed said new arrivals in the form of grand (and great) children who were due to be born in 2017 were what they looked forward to most.
Michelle Scott, Director & Trustee at Teams & Bensham Community Care had this to say, “We might not be able to help with the weather but knowing our daily activity clubs remain so important to people in and around Gateshead is so pleasing to hear. We’ve just taken delivery of a new minibus, awarded to us by the Department of Transport, and still have spaces to fill so our appeal would be that if you or a loved one sits at home each day with no company and struggles to get out and about then there is a warm and welcoming place now available.”
On the subject of the warm weather, BBC Look North weather presenter Paul Mooney had this to say about the survey results, “I can’t promise warmer conditions during 2017 but with the new minibus; you should be able to get out and about more whatever the weather. Make the most of it!”
Gateshead charity, Teams & Bensham Community Care has provided day care services and activities to isolated and vulnerable older people for over 26 years. Visithttp://tbcommunitycare.wixsite.com/gateshead for further information.