Newsletter 1st May
Hi
We hope you are well and safe. This week are highlighting our new Keeping in Touch service, and have some links to classes, brainy and physical to keep you occupied.
Keeping In Touch
We have launched Keeping in Touch Telephone Service to support older people in Bury.
If you need this service, or would like us to call a family member or friends, call 0161 763 9030 Monday to Friday 10.00a.m to 2.00 pm or email admin@ageukbury.org.uk to sign up. Alternatively, call Jane Lees, our Befriending Coordinator on 0757 095 1979.
If you have experience of telephone counselling and would like to volunteer, please contact Jane on 0757 095 1979 or email befrienderbury@gmail.com
We are grateful to Avoira, a leading telecommunications service provider in Bury, for the loan of 10 mobile phones and to Forever Manchester, for meeting the office running costs.
Testing for Covid-19
The big news this week was that testing for Covid-19 is now being extended to people over 65 with symptoms and those who live them.
Full information is available on this government website.
https://www.gov.uk/guidance/coronavirus-covid-19-getting-tested
Jubilee Online
We are looking at ways of bringing some of our classes online and will hopefully have some news for you next week.
Marie, who has occasionally covered Melanie’s Yoga class, is running an online yoga session every Wednesday lunchtime. More details are here: https://www.facebook.com/events/524061735144852/
We have had a recommendation for the online Zumba classes being run by Zumba International Bury. Classes are £2.50 or £4.50 for a week of classes. More details at https://www.zumbainternational.com/contact-us.html
Go back to university
University of the Third Age has launched Trust U3A to meet the continued demand for learning, while face to face contact is limited.
It is open to people in their “Third Age” which generally means someone who is no longer working full time or caring for a young family. The membership fee is £7.50 and lasts until March 2021.
More details are here: https://u3asites.org.uk/trustu3a/page/105494
Scams
Sadly, criminals are sinking to new depths to scam people out of their money.
A fraudulent phone call was made to the next of kin regarding an upcoming burial. The scammer claimed to be someone from Salford City Council Bereavement Services and stated that the resident’s payment had been declined by the Funeral Director and that they needed the next of kin to make a payment over the phone and needed to give their card details. They claimed if payment was not made they would cancel the funeral.
Luckily the person refused to give the details and called the funeral directors, who then informed Manchester City Council.
Unfortunately there appears to be several such scams operating throughout Greater Manchester. It is advised that people are vigilant and contact their funeral directors and local authority before providing any payment details.
Cybercrime
As many of us are spending more time online, cybercrime is on the increase.
Learn how to protect you and your computer, tablet and smartphone by clicking onto to Cyber Aware, which is the UK government's advice on how to stay secure online during coronavirus. Go to https://www.ncsc.gov.uk/cyberaware/home
Essential Bury Contacts
We are in office from 10.00 am to 2.00 pm, Monday 4th May to Thursday 7th May – call us on 0161 763 9030.
The Bury Community Hubs are there to support people with shopping and collecting prescriptions. The number is 0161 253 53 53 and they are available from 9 am to 5 pm every day of the week. Over 630 volunteers from Bury have signed up to help so there is plenty of help available. Please do not struggle in silence or leave it to the last minute. Most importantly, please share this number with your friends who are not on the internet.
National Support
The Age UK Advice Line is 0800 678 1602 from 8 am to 7 pm, every day of the year.
If you would just like to have a friendly natter with another person, please call Silver Line 24 hours a day on 0800 470 80 90.
Best Birthday Wishes go to Sue, our administrator for Handy Person Service and Jean who is a Trustee for Age UK Bury.
Keep Safe and Stay Strong
Andy and all at Age UK Bury