General Discussion
I am in the process of collating info for those aged 60+ as to what concessions/deals may be available to them both nationally and locally. I would be really grateful for any information regarding this project especially if you know of any local concessions offered by, say, any of the trades associated with the building trade (eg plumbers, electricians), taxi services, barbers, hairdressers, oh anything and everything really. The important thing is that the offer/discount should be available for those aged 60+ and not just for those of state pension age (which is no longer 60).
Thanks.
http://www.laterlife.com/retirement-c5/special-offers-discounts-concessions-private.htm
Also the Defence Discount Service Card gives discount to all Veterans (not just 60+). https://www.defencediscountservice.co.uk/
Have put this together. Please add to it if you know of any concessions I have left out. I have compiled it with those living in Dawlish and immediate area in mind so things like cinema tickets for the 60+ that are only available in places like Plymouth and Bristol I've left out (although of course if anyone knows of any cinema ticket offers at the Alexandra Cinema in Newton Abbot and/or at the Odeon and Vue in Exeter please do let us all know won't you).
Concessions/deals available for those aged 60+ (as opposed to concessions/deals only for those of state pension age which @ September 2014 is circa 62 years of age for women (but rising fast) and 65 years of age for men.)
Health
Free NHS prescriptions
Free Eye Tests
Both Specsavers http://www.specsavers.co.uk/offers/over-60s and Optical Express http://www.opticalexpress.co.uk/qa/do-you-offer-a-discount-on-glasses-for-over-60s-4.html offer 25% of glasses costing £69 and above.
Boots offer 25% off glasses and 15% off hearing aids for its More Treats for Over 60s members http://www.boots.com/en/Over-60s/ (note if you were an Advantage card holder before you turned 60 you will need to tell Boots that you are now 60+ in order to get the extra points. The card doesn’t automatically get updated for you. Phone 0345 124 4545 to update your card.)
Travel
Senior Railcard can get a third off rail journeys http://www.nationalrail.co.uk/times_fares/pr7bb7e80a040002001b255638df2424.aspx
National Express Coach card gets a third off coach journeys http://www.nationalexpress.com/waystosave/senior-coachcard.aspx see also this http://www.tesco.com/clubcard/deals/product.aspx?R=4090
Bus travel – those aged 60+ and resident in Wales and Scotland still get free bus travel when they attain 60 years of age. However, this no longer applies to those aged 60 living in England (with the exception of London and possibly some larger conurbations in the north of England). At present (and even this may alter in the near future) people aged 60+ and resident in England only become eligible for their bus pass when they are old enough to claim their state pension or, if a man, when a woman of the same age becomes eligible for her state pension. For example, a man and a woman living in Devon both born on 28th August 1952 will both become eligible for a bus pass sometime in January 2015 when she attains her state pension age even though the man of the same age will not qualify for his state pension until he is 65.
Gardening
Garden Club members aged 60+ get double points when they purchase at participating garden centres on Tuesdays. The nearest participating garden centre to Dawlish is at Jack’s Patch, Bishopsteignton.
DIY
B&Q over 60s Diamond Card gives 10% off purchases made on Wednesdays (but note that not all B&Q stores provide this discount, not all items carry the discount, and online purchases made on Wednesdays also do not qualify. Check the terms and conditions for more info) http://www.diy.com/diy/jsp/bq/templates/content_lookup.jsp?content=/content/support/services/diamond_card/index.jsp
Dawlish Leisure Centre
Offers concessions for those aged 60 and over. Phone 01626 215637 for more details. For example the normal price for a swim is £4.00, the concession rate is £3.00. Also there are two prime of life swimming sessions for those aged 60+ only: 3pm-4pm Tuesdays, 11.am-12midday Thursdays.
Dawlish Pub Food
The Brunswick Arms, Brunswick Place offers ham, egg & chips with a coffee or tea or small coke or lemonade for £3.95 for those aged 60+. Every day except Sunday. Food served 12-3 and 6-8
Dawlish Museum
http://www.devonmuseums.net/Dawlish-Museum/Devon-Museums/ £1.00 entry concession (their website doesn’t say who qualifies for the concessionary rate so I phoned them and asked. The man at the other end said “pensioners”. So I asked if that meant those of state pension age or those aged 60+?. Would a 60 year old get the concessionary rate? He said to just ask for the concessionary rate.)
@Lynne.You might be interested in this. Reading buses lose £70,000 a year because of the concessionary scheme. There figures not mine. To compensate for this they have put fares up by a big amount, actual amount was not given. The only other choice they had was to cut services drastically. That they did not want to do. My local tv regional news programme was my source here.
Well, I suspect bus companies will be losing even more revenue if the state pension age concessionary bus fare scheme disappears because pensioners won't be able to afford the full fare, therefore won't use the buses as often = bus operators will be getting less revenue. And if the fares go up to compensate for that then even more fare paying passengers won't use them. And if the bus operators lose even more revenue then perhaps it will follow that there will be even fewer bus services in the less urban areas which would only serve to intensify the isolation and poverty of the rural poor?
Powderham Castle do a reduced entrance charge for seniors (don't know what age they mean by that though) http://www.powderham.co.uk/visiting/openingtimesprices.ashx tel: 01626 890243
I notice that in this week's Dawlish Post (that's the Friday, September 5th 2014 edition) there is a 20% off admission price coupon valid Monday 8th to Sunday 14th September 2014 (excluding Saturday). 50% off if you get there by bike.
One voucher per transaction. Not valid with any other offer. No photocopies.
Coupon can be found on page 30 half way down the page.
May I suggest that one of the best value for money deals out there are U3A events - 'University of the third age'
Great healthy activities at low cost.
Thanks for that info Clive. This link shows the U3A groups based in Devon. Seems the nearest ones to Dawlish are in Exeter, Newton Abbot and Torbay.
http://www.u3a.org.uk/u3a_group/site/countySearch.php?pg=0&SearchWord=devon
Went to Powderham today. Voucher that I referred to above can be used along with the concessionary entrance fee for seniors. However, if you do that you cannot subsequently validate your ticket to take advantage of being able to visit again, for free, within the next 7 days.
Senior from the point of view of Powderham is aged 60+. I asked for two senior tickets. The young man behind the counter said "I'm sorry but senior tickets are only for those aged over 60".
Flattery, young man, flattery!
I thanked him for the implied compliment. ( and I suppose the time for me to start worrying is when my age doesn't get challenged..........).
Exeter Cathedral offers concessionary prices for seniors ( by which they mean those aged 60+ - I checked today when I was in Exeter).
http://www.exeter-cathedral.org.uk/visiting/visitorsinformation.ashx
The 50+Show will be in Exeter (Westpoint) on Friday-Saturday 19-20th Sept.2014.
9.30am -4.30pm (Fri) 9.30am-4pm (Sat).
You can get free tickets for this by registering online www.50plusShow.com/exeter or call the free ticket hotline 01372 8409 68
For exhibiting enquiries call 01372 743837
Free shuttle bus service from Exeter St. Davids Station & Exeter Bus station form 9am-4.30pm daily.
What about if we spoke to Cofton about discounts for swimming or for discounted carvery on a week day do you think people would use it.
Well......I for one would definitely be tempted. A (discounted) swim followed by a (discounted) carvery. Sounds good to me!
PS How many times around the pool = one roast spud?