Dear Members,
Our General Assembly this month fell on the 80th anniversary of VE Day and we themed our event accordingly. You will find a full report with pictures later in this newsletter. Our speaker was the always excellent Angela Chantry. She and everyone else involved helped to create a very memorable day, perfectly combining reflection and celebration.
A few days earlier, on 28 April, we experienced the nationwide power cuts. This was a timely reminder that the things we take for granted in our daily lives (electricity, telephone, internet, water) may not always be available. Again, you will find an article later in the newsletter covering some of the lessons learned and practical tips for the future.
Finally, this month I had the opportunity to attend a meeting arranged by the British Consulate for charities and voluntary organisations across the Alicante region. It was a great opportunity to share experiences and ideas. The Red Cross made a particularly interesting presentation. Many of the services they offer could be very relevant to our members and they have agreed to make a return visit to one of our future GAs to explain how they can help.
One key message from different speakers was that we all need to adjust our expectations of the benefits we may receive from social services. In the UK we are used to the idea of contributing to the system, on the understanding that we will receive benefits in return when we need them. Whereas in Spain the state only expects to become involved when all other possibilities have been exhausted. Indeed, families have a legal duty to provide care and support to other family members when able and may be pursued through the courts if they fail to do so.
We were also reminded of the importance of anticipating our future needs and planning accordingly. This reinforced the same vital message that we heard last month from Steve Burgess of Age in Spain.
With best wishes to you all.
Chris