The
Royale secrets of being ageless!
 Actress Liz Smith best-loved for her role as Nana in The
Royale Family and the barmy cake-maker in The Vicar of Dibley, has revealed her secret of
staying ageless! She is hoping that her secrets
will encourage others to place their nominations in the Charity’s ageless award
scheme – the Not Old, Just Older Awards (nojos), Patron
Cherie Booth QC.
Liz
has never allowed age to stand in the way of being an award-winning actress. Having started acting at the age of 9 she only
became a professional actress at the age of 50 when she was taken on by an agent. Liz went on to win a Bafta for her role in A Private Function at the age of 59! The actress who endearingly identifies her age as
"late seventies... very, very late seventies", believes it’s just a number
and that truly she is ageless. Below are her
‘Ever-Youthful Tips on Staying Ageless’:
Learn New
Skills – don’t let age prevent you from doing what you want to do,
particularly if it’s a lifetime ambition. This was the case of last
year’s nojos sports winner who had wanted to sail across the Atlantic for 69 years! At the age of 89, she
finally did it, in a gaff cutter built for her in 1936!
 If you want to take part
in the Charity’s ageless award scheme, Not Old Just Older Awards (nojos), in
association with BT, then nominate somebody
now!
You can obtain a form
from the nojos hotline on 020 7239 1922 or e-mail;  Emma.McSweeney@helptheaged.org.uk. The
closing date for nominations is Friday 10th January 2003.
The short-listed nojos nominees will be invited to an awards ceremony at the
Dorchester Hotel, London on 19th March 2003.
There are seven categories; Achievement in Sport,
Quality of Life, Outstanding Achievement, Consumer
Services, Intergeneration, Schools and International Achievement.
Below is the list of award categories and who can apply:
Achievement in Sport |
Open
to individuals of 60 years or over who, through sporting endeavour, has shown that age
need not be an impediment to physical pursuit, or who has devoted time and talent for the
benefit of others. |
Winner in
2002: The oldest yachts-woman in the world (90 years old) to sail across the Atlantic and
back.
Runner Up: The
oldest woman in the country (70 years old) with a black belt 4th Dan in
Taekwondo.
Quality of Life |
For
an organisation or individual who has enhanced the quality of life of older people either
as an individual or as a whole community. This
may be via healthcare, community involvement, volunteer work, a technological innovation
or creation, improved mobility or the ability to live in their own home with greater ease. |
Winner
in 2002: Described as the ‘voice of the elderly (74 years old) a visitor at No. 10
& guest speaker at the Commons
Runner
Up: A woman (62 years old) who has given hope
to hundreds of people who have suffered a stroke
Outstanding Achievement |
Open
to individuals of 60 years or over who has either continued to dedicate their life to a
project or service that they have created, or has undertaken an amazing adventure or
completed some extraordinary feat after retirement. |
Winner: A ‘Champion
for the Chinese Community’, (79 years old) helped hundreds of older people.
Runner Up: A man (62 years
old) who has helped over 900 diabetes sufferers live a normal life.
Consumer Services |
Open to individuals, corporates and companies large and
small for assisting older people, dealing with older peoples issues and needs, or
developing a policy for older people in the work place. For example: A member of staff who
has helped an older person with their shopping or a company policy produced specifically
for older people as customers or in the workplace. |
Winner:
A DIY centre which counts 19% of the over 50’s as its employees, with the most senior
aged 88.
Runner
Up: The only multicultural sheltered accommodation in the North West
Schools - *NEW AWARD*
Sponsored
by Barclays |
Open to individuals of 18 years of
age or younger, who have enhanced the quality of life of older people. For example:
through individual one to one development, caring for an older person. |
Formerly Youth Award -
Winner: A High School whose work includes adopt a gran/grandad scheme.
Runner Up: An eight year old who gave his Gran a new lease of life
after her husband died seven years ago.
Intergeneration
*NEW AWARD*
|
Open
to individuals of 18 years or younger, who have enhanced the quality of life of older
people and individuals of 60 years or over who have enhanced the lives of younger people.
For example: through individual one to one development or via an intergenerational
project. |
International Achievement
*NEW AWARD*
|
Open to individuals or organisations who have actively
worked to benefit older people in need or crisis overseas. Either on a voluntary
basis or in the field. For
example, Fundraising in the UK, working on a project that benefits older people overseas,
through disaster work or raising the profile of older people through journalism. |
Hall of Fame |
Open to a public
figure of 60 years or over who has actively served as an inspiration either through their
voluntary work or their everyday life.
|
Recipients of the Hall of Fame Award in previous years
have included Lord Attenborough CBE, Dame Vera Lynn,
Dame Thora Hird DBE, Barbara Windsor , Sir Norman
Wisdom and Honor Blackman.
|
