Kettering HC have made a commitment to put something back into their community by donating a percentage of their fundraising to local charities. Anyone at last year’s Club dinner could not fail to me moved by the speech made by Johnny Mackay’s mum regarding Johnny’s Happy Place.

This year we will be supporting Cransley Hospice and Golden Years.

Cransley Hospice is our local Hospice where patients receive outstanding palliative care. I guess nearly everyone in the Club knows of someone who has benefitted from Cransley’s excellent work. They run a number of open fundraisers throughout the year, cycles, runs etc and it would be great if any KHC members who take part wear their KHC shirt and get a photo.

Golden Years is a new charity, set up by former Kettering player, Megan Poole, which helps the elderly and vulnerable in society cope with the loss of things like being able to drive. It’s best explained by teading the below article.

Megan Neilan (Poole) was a valued member of Kettering Hockey Club for a number of years and many of you may remember her enthusiasm and the encouragement she always gave to others

Megan set up Golden Years after training to be a nurse. She was heartbroken to see the state of the care system, with all its cuts to funding and lack of staff. The long hours prevented her from doing her job as a nurse in the best way she wanted too and also prevented her from looking after her own grandmother, with whom she has a close relationship. Megan decided to do something different and set up her friendship group on the 8th of July 2017 with the idea of getting a few people to find new friends and enjoy some activities. The first meeting was a month later on the 8th of August, and the project has gone leaps and bounds since.

Golden Years is a community-based voluntary group offering a wide range of activities and events for older members of the community to get involved in, with the main aim of helping to reduce loneliness and isolation. Different interests and ambitions are catered for with the believe that an individual is never too old to experience excitement and happiness. Megan says “If you can promote independent living and maintain a social life, the brain will stay stronger for longer.”

Golden Years has been proven to work. One of its members was discharged from the care system because of the new purpose they found within themselves to go out and do something new and exciting. Another recently had to give up her driving license, but instead of a sad occasion, Golden Years has managed to organise a Ferrari driving experience for her to make her last drive a memorable one! There are many more examples.

The group has gained publicity from local news outlets, because of the fun activities it organises as well as the impact it has had on the elderly community. They’ve gone indoor skydiving and ice skating, destroying the stereotypes that old people can’t really do anything for themselves. The members were sceptical of these activities at first but having done them everyone was proud of what they had achieved and many have found new confidence in what they could do.

Megan has worked with the elderly for 10 years and considers herself to be lucky enough to be inspired by some amazing characters who taught her to know no boundaries and to dream big. So, her dream for Golden Years is to one day have its own minibus that can open up a whole world of opportunities and experiences for the older people in the community as they celebrate the Golden Years of life.

Any funding would go towards their dream of owning their own minibus as well as

•expenses for volunteer drivers to help transport people to/from events

• supplies such as games, music, craft items general supplies for friendship groups

•advertising to help get word out to the people who are most at risk of isolation

• free events such as Christmas parties for those who are on their own

•Specialised training for Golden Years volunteers such as Dementia Awareness so that we can provide more support within the community.