Skip to content or view screen version

Social Centres (Who are they meant for?)

Mr Daniel Petticrew (Camden Pensioners Forum) | 20.01.2004 16:37 | Free Spaces | Indymedia | London

Social Centres "Who Are They Really For?"

Why is it when various groups open up a new social centre they claim it's for the use of all the community, what! everyone in the community? Or is it just a place for the trendy types, the younger generation, Why is it when suggesting activities for elderly people it's knocked back? Why is that then? Are we to to old to enjoy a few activities? Why should we be excluded? We're residents in the community to you know. Why are we being discriminated against? Due to our age is it? The majority of us like activities other than the usual bingo you know? We like dancing and getting into the spirit of things, so why are some of you saying your squatting a building to turn it into a social centre so it can be used by all in the community when you exclude on the grounds of age? Why is it that when a neighbour went along to a social centre for a meeting, he was told to SHOOOSH? You'll get no support from the residents by doing things like that. How dare you treat us like that? You'll do stuff for younger people, yet older ones will be excluded, how is that fair? Looks more like to me that your social centre in Kentish Town is for the use of your own types and not the rest of the community. Why can't we have some activities for us to? Entertainment like live melody music, a tea dance perhaps, some performers, some theatre stuff a pantomime some art classes and so on. Let me tell you all something we're not all on walking sticks (even though that wouldn't matter) some of us are very active for our age, I'm 64 and I cycle everywhere and have done for many years and I could give some of you young people a run for your money. I was a life Guard for well over 35 years in the London Borough of Hackney, which I might add no longer has a lido so why am I being excluded and so many others my age we actually live on Fortress Road. I used to cycle each and every morning from Fortress Road to Hackney to work at London Fields Lido so I can say I'm pretty fit for my age. So why don't you all sit down and come up with some real ideas for activities that welcomes people of all ages and backgrounds. If these people do not cater for everyones taste then will anyone or any other group do something which doesn't exclude anyone over 55? I would seriously like to see some serious comments on this issue please.


Mr Daniel Petticrew

Mr Daniel Petticrew (Camden Pensioners Forum)

Comments

Display the following 19 comments

  1. Huurah for Mr Pettigrew — young person with brains
  2. Right On Mr Petticrew — Stephen Joesph (Rights for All)
  3. fantastic! — p
  4. The Wombles are responsible for that social centre. — Mrs Georgina Duncan (Resident of Fortress Road)
  5. He's Genuine (Mr Petticrew) — Former user of London Fields Lido
  6. Can this be Right? — delighted
  7. Lets get together — Middle aged activist
  8. Response to Mr Petticrew — Al
  9. Fake posts —
  10. Response to all posts... — P.
  11. It's Fortess Rd not Fortress Rd — w
  12. re — simone
  13. re — simone
  14. Social Centres... — j
  15. re: fake posts — .
  16. delighted — delighted
  17. Fake posts reply —
  18. more on community — simone
  19. Ha Ha Ha — Amused Activist