She may be 80-years-old but Marjorie Scholes is beating adults almost half her age at gymnastics with body-bending stunts that one may think defies the laws of nature.

Gymnast Marjorie Scholes has just claimed silver in the 2019 Adult Gymnastics British Championships (over 45s category).

The grandmother competed alongside 300 gymnasts participating in the national gymnastics competition, hosted on 3-4 August in Shropshire.

While she’s not afraid to take a tumble while doing floor exercises, she says her much-loved hobby has boosted her morale and confidence as well as her physical health.

‘Moves parts, I have never used before’

“I love the sport because it gets me out, keeps me fit and moves parts of my anatomy that I have never used before.

Gymnast has progressed in leaps and bounds. Credit: Marjorie Scholes.

“I also love being amongst gymnasts of all ages and having a coach who has given me so much encouragement and made me believe that I could do it.”

For the full story visit the homecare.co.uk website.

Jane Townson only became chief executive of the United Kingdom Homecare Association (UKHCA) in June but she already has a list of demands for Prime Minister Boris Johnson including protecting care workers beyond Brexit.

She represents over 2,000 home care providers who have told her workforce is their biggest worry.

“Brexit has already had a significant effect on the home care sector”, the chief executive told homecare.co.uk.

“What we’ve seen is a fall in people applying for jobs. We’ve seen people going back home because they’re not sure whether they’re going to be allowed to stay or whether they even want to stay, given the rhetoric.”

With Mr Johnson talking up a no-deal Brexit, Ms Townson wants care workers put on the government’s Shortage Occupation List (SOL), “regardless of the way we exit from the EU”.

She argues that while care workers can be low paid, they are highly skilled.

If Boris Johnson’s post-Brexit migration policy settles on high salary thresholds for skilled workers then the £30,000 threshold and required academic qualifications will be ‘unrealistic’ for most home care bosses.

She believes this will leave social care unable to respond to demands from Britain’s ageing population.

“Historically, we’ve seen a large number of care staff coming from countries like Poland. They’re all now going to Germany. Germany has quite an active advertising campaign luring them in. ‘Don’t go to Britain because you won’t be welcome there, come to us instead’.”

For the full story visit the homecare.co.uk website

Children from a local high school have been visiting elderly people at a retirement complex in Buckhaven in Scotland – volunteering their time to take part in a wide range of activities, from playing bingo to making clay hedgehogs.

Tenants at Bield’s Braehead Gardens have been enjoying weekly visits from pupils aged 11 – 13, from Levenmouth Academy, as part of Fife Council’s community learning and development project, ‘Crossing the Divide’.

The intergenerational project which started on 21 March this year has been a positive experience for both the young volunteers and their older counterparts.

Tenant Jan Anderson, 70, said: “It has been such a pleasure to spend time with younger people and get to know and understand what life is like for them.

“The project has proved really successful in narrowing the gap felt by younger and more mature people in the community. I am sure everyone here would welcome their company and enthusiasm anytime.”

To see the full story visit the homecare website.

Super-fit octogenarian Mavis Paterson is 81-years-old and is peddling her way across Britain from Land’s End to John O’Groats, in tribute to her children.

If she completes the 960-mile ride, the grandmother will become the oldest person to cycle from Land’s End to John O’Groats and will enter the Guinness Book of Records.

The pensioner’s cycle ride is motivated by her children, who were all aged in their 40s when they died suddenly within four years of each other.

Her son Sandy died first of a heart attack in 2012, then her daughter Katie got viral pneumonia and died in 2013. This was followed by her son Bob’s death in an accident in 2016.

The grief she experienced three-fold, prompted her to get out of the house and get on her bike to raise money for Macmillan Cancer Support.

For teh full story visit the homecare website.