Discussion Groups in Detail

DIS 01: AFRICAN FORUM

Convenor: Ricky Selwyn                                     
Day and time: Friday 3.15 - 4.45                          
Venue: Room 1, 27-28 Bridge Street
Terms: Autumn, spring.                                       
Number of places: 30
A discussion group for those interested in African affairs - including politics, economics, history and current affairs.  Each week a member of the group or an outside speaker addresses a topic.  The group clearly depends on having a core membership with an active and knowledgeable interest in Africa, they would welcome members who could learn or share about the continent and developments.

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DIS 02: FACING OLDER AGE

Co-ordinators: Margaret Farrell Clark & Ronald Speirs
Day and time: Wednesday 3.00 - 4.15                 
Terms: Autumn.                                                  
Number of places: 8
When this group assembles, we will find out what are the problems and anxieties of the members about becoming old and then we will draw up a list of topics to explore, like increasing disability, home care, the costs of care, loneliness, available facilities and so on.  We will then discuss one topic each week inviting an "expert", if need be, to help us.  Our intention is to help each other; both tutors are experienced in leading group discussion.

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DIS 03: RADICAL CHALLENGES AS (WE ALL) AGE. AND DIE...

Co-ordinator: Peter Durrant
Day and time: Monday 3.00 - 4.00                       
Venue: Room 3, 27-28 Bridge Street
Terms: Autumn, possibly spring.                         
Number of places: 10
I've been thinking for a long time about coordinating, that is it should largely be a shared experience, an opportunity to think positively about ageing.  But it wasn't until I heard today on 'Book for the Week' about Marie de Hennezel's new thinking around 'the Warmth of the Heart Prevents Your Body from Rusting' which explores western attitudes to ageing, that my ideas came together.  What I should like is to enable an hour's discussion, backed up by the use of videos, cassettes and computer material, around sharing ways in which both ageing and death can be radically challenged by our thinking, actions and behaviours.  And who knows, we could even avoid being shuffled off to the margins if we thought about it enough.  All of these ideas and more seem to me, and I've only heard the first instalment, to be ways of rethinking the ageing process.  So social entrepreneurs, radical thinkers and people prepared to interact cooperatively welcome.

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