Issue 9                               May 2007

  Welcome to the ninth edition of Milan's’ newsletter
‘Dilchusp Khabrain’.

 
It will be a very busy year again as we look forward to the move of the lunch club to a new and better facility at Portlee.  Most members have had a preview visit and were most impressed. 

The service that Milan provides is valued by our many members and is recognised for its contribution in raising issues with Statutory Bodies which are important to our members within the Asian community.  There is a lack of uptake of Government benefits and Council services among the Asian community due to the language barrier.  Through the work of the information/advice, housing advocacy, community planning and befriending services these challenges are being tackled Milan Staff to the ultimate benefit of members.

Milan at a Glance

     Information / Advice
     Housing Advice / Advocacy
     Befriending / Home Visiting
     Day Care Provision
     Community Planning Support

Staff News  
Liz Harrison administrator and   Former editor of
this newsletter left Milan at the end of January.  Liz
had been with Milan for 8 years and will be greatly missed.  She was well liked by everyone, and was a regular assistant     at the outings.
Shahida Nasreen has also left Milan, due to
health reasons, she was very sad to leave.

   New Staff Members
Susan Arbuckle is the new administrator. She has been working for Milan since the beginning of February. She thanks everyone she has met for the warm welcome she has received, and hopes to get to know everyone better soon.

Saira Ali is the new care assistant on Tuesdays.

The post of Community Planning Support Officer was filled mid February by Dhiraj Singh. Her meetings will be held at Lorne Social Centre 15 Buchanan Street. Come along and make your views count.
The meetings will be held on:
   ·        9 May 2007
   ·        13 June 2007
   ·        12 July 2007
   ·        8 August 2007
   ·        12 September 2007

Staff Team
Manager – Neena Agarwal
Information/Advice –Obaida Rahman (Maternity Cover)
Administrator – Susan Arbuckle
Support & Befriending – Madhu Sharma
Support – Samina Ahmed
Housing Advice/Advocacy-Naseem Akhtar
Care Assistant – Naz Rathore
Care Assistant – Sainder Kaur
Care Assistant – Saira Ali
Bangladeshi Befriending & Care Assistant – Ishrat Measom
Book-keeper – Arthur Cockburn
Driver – Alistair Milne

Board of Directors
Chair - Ghazala Farooq
Vice Chair - Khalida Mir
Secretary - Shaheen Unis
Treasurer – Bashir Ahmed Malik
Director – Khalid Mir
Director - Sukhdev Gosai
Director – Asia Mirza
Director – Santosh Sharma
Director – Gulam Rabbani Choudhury
Co-opted member – Don Maciver
Co-opted member – Cllr Phil Attridge
Co-opted member – Anne Munro
Co-opted member – Mohammed Akram JP

Folic Acid for Healthy Memories.

A study has found that short-term memory and mental
agility were better among people who took Folic Acid.
A study of 818 people, half of whom were given high doses of
Folic Acid for 3 years, and half who were given no Folic
Acid, showed that those who were given the Folic Acid
were significantly better in tests for mental agility, verbal
fluency and memory tests than those who did not get the
Folic Acid.
Folic Acid is available from almost all Pharmacies.
(From Help the Aged Website)

Having a Laugh.

Laughter is the best medicine.  The health benefits of laughter
are proven: a 40% boost to the immune system, production of
lots of “happy hormones” or endorphins, a reduction in stress
and tension, positive thinking and creativity and a great way
to socialise.  You can have a laugh with your friends at the
Milan Lunch Club, so make sure you come along and get all
the health benefits as well as a nutritious and delicious meal.

There are many accidents in the home, you can prevent falls
in the home by following the guidelines below.
  ·        Keep Steady on your feet by exercising regularly.
  ·        Keep feet Healthy – Foot pain and other foot
         problems increase your risk of falling. 
        Talk to your Chiropodist about keeping your feet healthy
         and the correct footwear.
  ·        Medicines – some medicines can make you dizzy. 
        If you think that a medicine you are taking, speak to your
        GP or pharmacist for a medicines review.
 ·        Check your eyesight – Eye tests are free if you are
        over 60.
 ·        Home safety – be aware of risks such as standing on
        chairs.  Take care on the stairs and make sure you have
        good lighting. Talk to your GP if you have concerns.
 ·        Vitamin D keeps bones healthy and strong and helps
        prevent Osteoporosis. 

 Pension Credit – Update

From 5^th April 2007 the upper limits have been increased.

Pension Credit is an entitlement for people aged 60 and over who are
living in Great Britain. 
If either you or your partner, are aged 60 or over, you are likely to be
entitled to Pension Credit if your income is less than:
·       £119.05 a week if you are single; or
·       £181.70 a week if you have a partner.

If either you or your partner are aged 65 or over and have
modest savings, investments or income – such as a second pension
– you could get extra money.  This could be up to £19.05 a week
if you are single or £25.26 a week if you have a partner.  This
means that you may still qualify for Pension Credit even if your
income is up to:
·       £167 a week if you are single; or
·       £245 a week if you have a partner.
You may still be able to get Pension Credit if your income is
higher than the amounts above.  This may apply if, for example:
·       You or your partner are severely disabled
·       You look after a person who is severely disabled; or
·       You have certain housing costs-like mortgage interest payments.

Remember
·       Living with your grown-up family does not mean that you cannot get
Pension Credit.  The Pension Service looks at your income – not theirs.
·       Owning your own home does not mean you cannot apply.

 If you need more information on Pension Credits
contact Milan’s advisors on 0131 475 2307

 Energy Saving

It is important to stay warm. Now is the best time to give
your heating an overhaul or get advice.
The Warmburgh Advice Team give free and unbiased advice
 to Edinburgh Residents on:
v     Insulating Grants
v     Choosing Energy Saving Appliances
v     Using your heating system more efficiently
v     Good value energy suppliers.
v    Convenient ways to pay for fuel.                 

Their Phone no is 0800 512 012

Healthy Recipe by Samina Ahmed

Spinach and Chick-pea curry     (For four)
INGREDIENTS:
250g Spinach (fresh)
200g Chick-pea (boiled or tinned)
1 Onion (medium sized)
1 Tsp ginger paste
1 Tsp garlic paste
2 Ripe tomatoes (medium sized)
2 Green chillies
Salt to taste
½ Tsp turmeric powder
½ Tsp red chilli powder
1 Tsp dry coriander seed (coarsely ground)
Recipe:
Thoroughly wash the spinach, chop it and place at a aside. Peel and slice
 the onions. Heat up the oil inside a pan on a medium heat. Fry the onion
in a little oil until soft. Add the garlic paste, ginger paste, chopped green
chillies, tomatoes and cook for 2 minutes or until the tomatoes have
dissolved and became a paste. Then add red chilli powder, turmeric powder
 and salt. Cook for a further minute, sprinkle a small amount of water if
required. Add chick peas and cook for another five minutes whilst stirring     constantly. Now add the spinach, mix Well and cook for ten minutes on a medium/low heat. When the liquid released by the spinach evaporates,
remove the pan from the heat and serve hot with chapatti and rice.
 Sprinkle some coriander powder on top.

Members Notice Board

Virtues of Zikr

We should not have forgotten to remember our real Benefactor whose
blessings and favours on us at all times are unlimited, and have no parallel.  
We should remember our Benefactor, perform his Zikr (remember Him)
and thank Him.
              Allah says in Quran.
            “Therefore remember me, I will remember you, give thanks to me
              and reject not me”    
            “Allah’s names are the fairest names.  Invoke Him by them.”

“Benefits and reasons of Zikr”

1.         Zikr keeps away the Satan (devil) and weakens his strength.
2.         It is the source of Almighty Allah’s pleasure.
3.         It relieves the mind of anxieties and worries.
4.         It produces joy and happiness in the heart.
5.         It strengthens the body and the mind.
6.         It brightens the face and the heart.
7.         It attracts ones’ subsistence.
8.         Allah’s Zikr helps plants of paradise to grow.
9          Zikr-e-Allah safeguards against pitfalls and lapses.
10.       It is the key to nearness to Almighty Allah.
11.       Gatherings of Zikr, also the gatherings of angels.
12.       In the presence of the angels, Almighty Allah praises those
            who do Zikr.
13.       One who is constant in doing Zikr will enter Paradise in high spirits.
14.       All good deeds have been ordained because of Zikr.
15.       Zikr is the fundamental form of thanksgiving to Almighty Allah. 

According to Almighty Allah, the best of the pious people are those who
always remain busy in Zikr, because piety leads to Paradise, and Zikr to nearness to Allah.

1.  When recited          

      Seven times, a tower is raised for him in Paradise.

2.   “       33 times, 33 times, and      34 times recitation of these Kalimaahs is better than
     a servant.”

3.    is the best of all (Azkar) is quite evident.

4.  Rasulallah (Sallaho alaihe wassallam) has said of the all the Azkar 
     (plural of Zikr) the repetition of      is the best, and
   of  all the Duaas       is the best.                                  Naseem Akhtar

 How to contact us: 

Milan (Senior Welfare Organisation) is
based at Norton Park 57 Albion Road
Edinburgh, EH7 5QY
tel: 0131 475 2307  fax: 0131 475 2319

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