EACH year the United Nations celebrate international Older Peoples Day.

It is a celebration of achievements and contributions older people make to society, to challenge negative attitudes, give opportunities to combat loneliness and isolation, and to give opportunities to encourage volunteering and sharing skills with different generations.

Upstream celebrated International Older Peoples Day on September 30, by inviting older adults from across Mid Devon to join them at the Boniface Centre in Crediton for a day filled with music, dancing, crafts, exercise, games and lunch.

The day started energetically with an inclusive seated exercise session led by Steph Heard.

Everyone rose to the challenge. Ann Nixon, a Beauty and Complementary Therapist, was there for hand and shoulder massages to help relaxation during the day.

Craft activities included rag and latch rugging, knitting, patchwork and using peg looms.

Skills were interchanged between the older adults and younger generations. Students were also able to take part in old fashioned games including bagatelle, scrabble, cards, draughts.

Among the activities Upstream took the opportunity to use the occasion to launch their next collaborative craft 2015 "winter project".

This year their project is a giant book. The book jacket will be a patchwork of knitting, weaving and other textile examples.

The pages of the book will have a reminiscence content using personal stories.

The idea is to give people something to work on over the winter months, to feel part of a bigger project and then get together again in the spring to finish and put the project together.

Last year Upstream made bunting, which decorated the hall.

Upstream was lucky enough to be helped by Tesco's community champion Andrew Drayton, who worked tirelessly both on and behind the scenes.

A home-cooked lunch at midday included ingredients donated by Tesco's, Morrisons, MC Kelly, and generously donated dishes by volunteers and staff.

A salsa dancing demonstration "stepped up" the afternoon, a South American treat to light up the audience before they went back to work on their creative textile samples.

The day ended with tea and cake and music by "Alhambra" from Crediton.

Upstream was pleased to be able to welcome professionals from other organisations, which included; Insight, Unite, Devon Carers, Alzheimer's Society and the Stroke Association, who were able to see at first-hand the work Upstream does with older adults and the enjoyment that comes from events like this.

One woman, who went along, said afterwards: "It was the best day she had had this year."

Claire Whewell

Upstream Project Manager