All set for York 50+ Festival (From York Press)

All set for York 50+ Festival

7:51am Wednesday 12th September 2012 in News

THIS year’s York 50+ Festival will be pre-launched tomorrow with a major information fair at the Guildhall, writes Hannah Allies.

The free event, to be opened by the Lord Mayor at 10am, will feature 30 stands with help on a range of subjects, including health, travel and housing.

Organisations offering advice and information include the Society of Later Life Advisors, the York Racial Equality Network and the Older Lesbian Gay Bisexual and Trans Association.

Sue Lister, coordinator of the festival, which is presented by the York Older People’s Assembly, said people could bring their health questions to the NHS Trust and the Leeds/York Mental Health Partnership, legal questions to Harrowells and Crombie & Wilkinson, transport questions to York Wheels and housing questions to Yorkshire Housing.

She said: “People can chat to Age UK about any other concerns and they will be happy to help.

“They can chat to Rotary, line up good food from Yorkshire Farm Foods, see what Holland & Barrett has for them, ramble with the York Ramblers, and find out what the City of York has to offer in the way of learning, sport and recreation, housing, et al.

“Everyone is ready and willing to answer questions – people can take advantage of having them all together. The Falls Prevention team will be providing blood pressure and ear checks, advice and information between 1pm and 3pm.”

Meanwhile on Friday, the Theatre Royal will be hosting a backstage tour and cream tea, after a show featuring a range of performers in dance, song and storytelling, including storyteller Adrian Spendlow, actress and voice, speech and performance coach Jane Oakshott, Vintage Velvet Line Dancing team, singer/songwriter Tim Pheby and YELO from York St John University . Tickets for the show, which starts at 2pm, cost £8 from the box office.

The main 50+ Festival runs from Saturday, September 29, until Sunday October 7, with more than 100 events taking place across the city. A full programme of events is available at yorkassembly.org/festival