Taking ageing and faith seriously
PSALM is a small charity, founded in 2004 and based at St. Pancras Church, which provides it with an essential office base for its activities. The incumbent of St. Pancras is an ex officio chair. Members of the executive Committee/Trustees include both Beryl Dowsett and me. Margaret Willmer is currently helping with the development/updating of PSALM’s website (www.psalm.org.uk).
PSALM works across London through a small team of Coordinators and additional Associates, and with churches of all denominations. So far as we are aware, it is the only agency in the Diocese of London to work specifically with churches in relation to issues of spirituality and ageing. Amongst other things, it provides encouragement and advice to churches seeking to develop their provision for older people.
PSALM also works with or for other agencies, such as Southwark SAGE (the Southwark Diocesan working group on Spirituality and Ageing) and MHA (Methodist Homes Association). SAGE has been a valuable partner for work in South London. PSALM has also supported CCOA (Christians on Ageing) in their research project on older people and isolation.
Over the years PSALM has developed a considerable number of workshops of one or more sessions and continues to do so. These cover a range of issues relevant to older people, both spiritual and practical, and are of varying length from 2 hours to a full day or more than one session. A catalogue is regularly updated and distributed to churches across London, so that they can use the same approach and host similar events by themselves or with a presentation by one of PSALM’s associates.
A development this year is the preparation and circulation of a Newsletter three times a year. The second was sent in early August. This has been welcomed and positively received, with feedback suggesting that both content and presentation are appreciated. The next issue is planned for November.
As an example of PSALM’s work, the most recent workshop “Songs for the Road” looked at our life journey and the feelings and emotions which arise from our experiences. This led into an overview of the way that the whole of life is reflected in the Book of Psalms and the value of using the wisdom of these ancient songs to express our own feelings about contemporary issues. Modern versions of Psalm 4 and other contemporary forms of psalm and reflection were compared, and a simple template for writing our own psalm was shared. This met with such enthusiasm that the workshop slightly over-ran.
Other events over the last year have included a workshop on “Memory and Memories”; a training session for Streatham Senior Connections focused on boundaries, expectations and safeguarding; a morning workshop on working with older people in association with Orpington churches; a day for older people in church and congregation at Christchurch, Southgate; and a renovated version of “Decluttering in Later Life” (a topic which some may remember presented by Ann Morisy at our Holiday in Hampstead week in 2017).
PSALM’s income is at present rather lower than it should be and, although funds appear enough at present, some additional funding needs to be found if PSALM is to continue to develop. The charity is extremely grateful for the donations from HPC over the triennium 2016-2018.