Fashionistas over the age of 60 are being brought together this week to have their say on Hull’s week-long celebration of style.
HullBID Fashion Week, which runs from April 29 to May 4 this year, has teamed up with Hull-based housing association for the over-60s Pickering and Ferens Homes to set up a working group to help inform the schedule of events aimed at their particular age group.
People over the age of 60 are being encouraged to take part in an informal meeting on Thursday, March 28, 2pm at Pickering and Ferens Homes’ headquarters in The Maltings, Silvester Street, Hull city centre. Those who attend will be asked to advise organisers of the week, which currently includes a schedule of more than 30 events in the city, on the types of events that would appeal to the over-60s.
The working group is not restricted to residents of Pickering and Ferens Homes, which has more than 1,200 properties across the East Yorkshire region – organisers are asking for any resident living in East Yorkshire who is over the age of 60 to sign up for the interactive session.
During HullBID Fashion Week, a full day has been dedicated to events for the over-60s, recognising that all age groups are interested in fashion and shopping. It’s the first time in the history of the event that this approach has been taken in devising the events schedule.
A range of events have already been confirmed for Wednesday, May 1. St Stephen’s shopping centre has arranged a Silver Surfers workshop in its Chill Out Zone to demonstrate how to use the internet and social networking sites, and the session starts at 10am.
This will be followed by a Capsule Wardrobe Demonstration at Debenhams at 11.30am, with the store’s in-house personal shopper Laura May. Meanwhile, Bon Marché, in Whitefriargate, is also running Outfit Building Workshops between 1pm and 3pm on the same day.
There is also a traditional Afternoon Tea at the Mercure Hull Royal Hotel from 3.30pm onwards to give shoppers over the age of 60 an opportunity to wind down after a busy day of shopping. The first 30 people to sign up for the event will enjoy the Afternoon Tea event free of charge, including a pot of tea, scones, jam and a variety of sandwiches.
Kathryn Shillito, HullBID city centre manager, said: “HullBID Fashion Week is a week-long series of events for people of all ages and styles. Whatever your age, there’s an event for you and Wednesday 1st May will certainly have lots on offer for the over 60s. We’re asking people in this age group to share their views on the types of activities they would like including in the events schedule and their feedback will really help make these events a real success.”
Claire Warren, chief executive of Pickering and Ferens Homes, said: “I’m delighted to see our residents and the wider city’s over-60s population getting actively involved in HullBID Fashion Week. We actively engage our residents in everything that we do because their input is valued and makes a big difference to the decision making process. I hope that the session we are hosting this week will ensure HullBID Fashion Week is a huge success.”
See www.hullfashion.co.uk for the line-up of events
