In February 2011,
The Second Half of Your Life, a groundbreaking book that inspires women to rethink what it means to grow older was published by Penguin/Random House. Using the hormonal changes that occur around menopause as a springboard to transition from a woman's reproductive years to her self-productive years, it launched Jill into a journey to create The Second Half Foundation. All sales from this book go to fund The Second Half Foundation.
The Second Half Foundation (Reg. 1141988) was created in May 2011 with the mission of tackling loneliness and isolation for any person over the age of 50 years old. We wish to serve anyone affected by isolation from any background. We want to ensure that our growing population will have a place to develop more meaningful connections and continue to learn and grow.
In October 2012, The Second Half Centre opened its doors to the community in the NHS St Charles for Health and Wellbeing in North Kensington, London. The Second Half Centre has over 4000 members, 500 attendees each week and provides 90 hours of classes and workshops weekly and is run by Open Age.
On October 2nd 2016, The Second Half Centre, Diocese of London, Diocese of Middlesex, Open Age, Barclays Digital Eagles, City Harvest and Pret a Manger have piloted a new programme in London that goes to the heart of tackling the devastating effects of isolation in our older population. The Church of England are taking a lead role helping to create new church communities where churches become hubs of the community on days not of worship and promote active ageing.
Second Half Clubs launched in two local Churches in Westminster in November 2016: St Stephens on Rochester Row, SW1P 1LE and St Paul's on 5 Rossmore Road, NW1 6NJ where people can come together as a group to enjoy group activities and give purpose to enrich their lives of their community. Rediscovering the pleasures of old hobbies and finding new ones, excercising, feeling involved through volunteering, mentoring and teaching, making new friends, learning how to use iPads, staying connected to family friends and their community as well as learning new skills will be the mission of Second Half Clubs. Two more have launched in Janaury 2019: St Andrews Church on Greyhound Road and St Mary's The Bolton in Kensington. Our fifth church All Saints Fulham will be launching after Easter 2019.
The Second Half Foundation was created and founded by
Lady Jill Shaw Ruddock CBE.
Please click on this
link to see The Church of England’s post on
Second Half Clubs and the wonderful work being done with our partners
The Diocese of London, Open Age, Barclays Bank: Digital Eagles and The Second Half Foundation to help make churches hubs of the community on days not of worship.
The Second Half Foundation, Registered Charity Number 1141988
The Second Half Foundation hosted for
the fourth year an arts event in support of Silver Sunday, a city wide
initiative that honours the contributions older people make to their
communities. Please click on
the Catalogue for The Second Half Career Art Exhibition: Celebrating
Living Old Masters. The comedienne, actress, author,
artist and national treasure Maureen Lipman CBE officially
opened the event on October 1st. This is an exciting story of
transformation and continued growth. We hope it will provide inspiration
for many older people who are searching for new ways to develop in the second
half of their lives.
This exhibition showcased seven extremely talented artists, all of whom had
varied careers in the first half of their life, who later found the love of
their art in the second half of their lives, the opportunity to show and sell
their work. This year, £17,000 went directly to support the work of
The Second Half Centre www.thesecondhalfcentre.com
now run by Open Age. Special
thanks to Adrian Sassoon, Kate Malone, James Handford, our 7 exhibiting
artists, and our wonderful volunteers.
The Second
Half Career Art Exhibition, Celebrating Living Old Masters
Date:
October 1st 630 – 830 pm ( by Invitation Only)
and October 2nd 10 am-8 pm General Public
Location:
The Second Half Centre, St Charles Hospital Exmoor Street London W10
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