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Celebrating Later Life - Older people, spirituality and faith
National Seminar held at Hinsley Hall during Inter Faith Week, 21-27 November 2010
     
On Monday 22nd November 2010, Churches Together in England held a National Seminar 'Celebrating Later Life'. Below are the speakers introductions and talks which were given on the day.
The Presidents of CTE sent a message of welcome which can be read here.
 Revd Dr Keith Albans
Revd Dr. Keith Albans was appointed Group Director – Chaplaincy & Spirituality of MHA Care Group in September 2001. He is responsible for the spiritual and pastoral welfare of the staff and service users within the organisation and maintaining links with the Methodist Church and the wider church.
Keith has been a Methodist Minister since 1984, and prior to joining MHA he served in York, in Birmingham as University Chaplain and as Superintendent Minister in Sheffield.
Subject of Talk: "Surprised by Age? Celebration and Challenge join Hands.”
 Mrs Rosemarie HarrisMrs Rosemarie Harris was born and brought up in Leeds and attends Etz Chaim synagogue. Rosemarie is married with 3 grown up sons and 2 beautiful granddaughters. She has worked for Leeds Jewish Housing Association for over 20 years and been housing Services Manager for the past six years. Rosemarie is currently involved in a 62 unit sheltered accommodation project in North Leeds and has worked closely with MHA for many years.
Rosemarie also prepared a leaflet 'Being Jewish - a quick guide' which is available here.
 Ms Helen O’BrienHelen O’Brien is recently appointed Chief Executive of Caritas Social Action Network (CSAN), which is an umbrella organisation of 37 member charities working on a huge range of social welfare services throughout England and Wales. CSAN is part of Caritas Internationalis and also an agency of the Bishops’ Conference of England and Wales.
From 2005 – 2010 she was Director of St. Joseph’s Pastoral Centre, the Westminster Diocesan agency for people with learning disabilities. That job involved both support for families throughout the Diocese in social and spiritual life, and a Centre for adults supporting skills development, emotional support and social life via innovative courses and therapies.
Revd Dr Albert Jewell
Albert Jewell Has been a Methodist minister for nearly 50 years and was Pastoral Director of MHA Care Group (Methodist Homes) before his retirement in 2001. Since then he has completed a PhD studying the roots of well-being in a sample of 500 churchgoers, He is secretary of the Dementia Group of the Christian Council on Ageing.
 Sr Agatha Leach cjSister Agatha Leach is a member of the Congregation of Jesus, founded by a Yorkshire woman, Mary Ward in 1609. Agatha lives with the community at the Bar Convent, York where she has been involved in the transference of the grammar school into the maintained system and the reorganisation of the house into a museum, conference centre and guest house. She is currently in charge of the Infirmary House where the elderly sisters requiring day and night care are housed.
 Dr Satwant Kaur RaitDr Rait was born and brought up in India and came to Leeds after her marriage in 1968. She worked in four local authorities for nearly 30 years as a professional librarian. She is retired now and has become full time writer. She is secretary of Yorkshire and Humber Faiths Forum and an Honorary chaplain with Leeds Teaching Hospitals.
Dr Satwant Kaur Rait with Revd Dr Inderjit Singh Bhogal OBE has written an educational book aimed at Sikhs and non-Sikhs entitled 'Understanding Sikhism'. Further information can be found here.
 Ms Linda WhiteLinda White- chair of Anchor Project, Church warden and member of PCC. Working currently in an Older People's Project in BD3. Linda works with current provision supporting the daycare centres with supplementary activities such as day trips, Extend exercises, silk painting sessions. The Anchor Project works with elders from all cultures/faiths providing a safe place where they can meet and talk about any topics- improving community cohesion.
 Revd Gaynor HammondGaynor is a Baptist Minister. Her background is in nursing and for seven years she was in post as the Dementia Project Worker for ‘Faith in Elderly People’ Leeds.’ working with churches and health care organisations looking at the spiritual needs of people with dementia and how those needs could be met.
She has worked closely with Christian Council on Ageing, Methodist Homes for the Aged and the Chaplaincy Dept of Leeds Teaching Hospitals. Working collaboratively with members of those organisations she has produced booklets on the subject of Spirituality and Dementia as well as a Training manual for Care Homes. She has also worked collaboratively with the Baptist Union of Great Britain to produce ‘Safe to Belong’ a learning pack on care of vulnerable adults in our churches.
For the past twelve years she has been in post as Regional Tutor for Northern Baptist College. She also serves on the ministry team of South Parade Baptist Church in Leeds.
Below are two reflections from the day;
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