Newsletter 5th June
Hi
I hope you are safe and well at this difficult time.
Thank you to all our volunteers at Age UK Bury
I would like to say a big thank you to all our volunteers at Age UK Bury. I am very proud of all our volunteers who work in the charity shops, at the café, at the Jubilee, in our garden, on our fundraising team, on the phones and as trustees of the Charity.
The lock down has prevented me from saying “Thank you” in person, so I just wanted to say that I have not forgotten you, that you are very valuable to our charity and I look forward to seeing you all soon.
New rules for people over 70
This week’s big news was that people over 70 and those who are shielding can leave the house. This was announced haphazardly and much confusion has arisen about what it all means.
Our national partner, Age UK has published guidance for older people and it is available here: https://www.ageuk.org.uk/information-advice/coronavirus/coronavirus-guidance/social-distancing-and-self-isolation/
Track and Trace
The Track and Trace system has been launched and more information is available here: https://www.ageuk.org.uk/information-advice/coronavirus/coronavirus-guidance/test-and-trace/
Criminals have already seized on this as an opportunity to con people. Today, I shared a Facebook story about a con-artist who phoned someone, claiming that they had come into contact with someone with Covid-19 and they had to pay out £500 for a testing-kit or face financial penalties.
The NHS Test and Trace service will only be contacting people by phone, text message or email. Calls and texts will come from one verified NHS number: 0300 013 5000. Calls from any other numbers, or from a withheld number, should be treated as fake. More information is available from Which : https://www.which.co.uk/news/2020/06/nhs-covid-19-contact-tracing-message-how-can-i-tell-if-its-real-or-a-scam/
Nordic Walking with Diana – Starting Next Wednesday
There are many health benefits from doing Nordic Walking. It helps with weight loss, tones your muscles, helps keep your bones strong; protects your hip and knee joints, strengthens your heart and lungs, boosts your circulation and is great for your mental well-being.
Our first session is on Wednesday 10th June at 1.30 for one hour. We will supply the poles and Diana will give full instructions.
The classes are £5, payable by cash or cheque on the day.
Due to government restrictions, the number of people per class is five and all the activity must take place outside the Jubilee Centre, in Clarence Park. Everyone will have to stand two meters from each other, which is an easy thing to measure when you are waving a large Nordic Pole around.
Please book a place by phoning 0161 763 9030, Mon to Fri, from 10 am to 2.00 pm. Please do not turn up if you have not booked a place beforehand.
If this is popular, we may run classes at other times in the week.
Charity Shop Donations
Age UK Bury is now receiving donations of goods for our two Charity Shops.
Donations may be left at the Jubilee Centre, Mosley Avenue, Bury, BL9 6NJ, from Monday to Friday between 10 am and 2.00 pm. You may use the turning point, next to the Centre, just off Mosley Avenue. Call us on 0161 763 9030 if you want to check we are open, before setting out.
Please ring the bell at reception and we will come to the door. We need to ensure that our volunteers are two meters away from you. We will then move your donations to a designated storage area, where they will be left for 72 hours, before our volunteers open and sort them.
We welcome donations of clothes, DVDs, CDs, vinyl records, books, bric-a-brac, jewellery, accessories, and small electrical items, which will be PAT tested before we sell on.
We are unable to collect items at this time.
Our charity shops in Bury and Ramsbottom will reopen when it is safe to do so.
All proceeds from the sale of goods will go to supporting older people living in the borough of Bury. Thank you for your support.
Breathing
A new Greater Manchester Facebook group has been set up called ‘Shared Tips to Help Breathing in Lockdown and Covid-19’. Click here to join https://www.facebook.com/groups/1023375878058239/
Group members learn from each other about how to breathe better. Whether you've had breathing issues for a long time, are struggling at the moment, or you help others to breathe, this group is here to care, be kind and share knowledge.
The group is moderated by a registered nurse (Heather) and a local person (Carol) and both of us have had lung problems for a long time. We will make sure that the information that is shared helps people feel better and does no harm. There is a lot of fake information on the internet and so the group will dispel myths and be a place where people can get information with confidence.’
Be Creative
Many of us have been disappointed by the cancellation of our regular creative and cultural activities. The Age of Creativity website offers a plethora of extraordinary free creative on-line events to enjoy from the comfort of your own home.
You can virtually tour the world's best museums, listen to podcasts, take a dance class, join a choir, listen to streamed concerts, watch quality theatre productions, join a virtual festival, learn some crafting techniques or stretch your brain with a short university course. The choice is immense. There are also activities for people in a care home setting and for people with dementia.
Please click onto http://festival.ageofcreativity.co.uk/downloads/
Support for carers in Bury
A new provider, n-compass, has taken over the Bury Carers Service to provide help to hundreds of local carers.
N-compass has been commissioned by Bury Council and CCG to ensure that adult carers have access to information, advice and a wide range of support services to help them continue in their caring role for as long as they choose and to reduce the impact caring can have on their own health and wellbeing.
The new Bury Carers’ Hub is offering carers a wide range of support services which include 1-2-1 or group-based support activities; online support include a Carers Community Network and access to a volunteer manned Carers Help and Talk (CHAT) Line.
These services are currently being delivered virtually during the Covid-19 outbreak to keep the carers of Bury, staff and volunteers safe.
The Hub can be contacted by:
- Telephone: 0300 303 0207 (calls charged at local rate and lines open 8am to 6pm Monday to Friday)
- Email: enquiries@burycarershub.org.uk
- Webpage: burycarershub.org.uk
The Quiz
Answers to last week’s quiz on Films is at this link. Well done if you got all twenty answers! Take a bow!
This week’s quiz focuses on men’s names. Click Here and Good Luck!
…and finally the essential stuff
- For help with getting food deliveries and prescriptions, please phone Bury Community Hubs on 0161 253 53 53, every day of the week.
- The Keeping in Touch telephone service offers older people in Bury a regular friendly phone call from one of our volunteers. For more information, call 0161 763 9030 (Monday to Friday 10.00 a.m to 2.00 pm) or email admin@ageukbury.org.uk to sign up. Alternatively, call Jane Lees, our Befriending Coordinator on 07541 741891.
- 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 The Silver Line 24 hours a day on 0800 470 80 90.
- Our previous newsletters are online at https://www.ageuk.org.uk/bury/about-us/coronavirus/
- We are in the office on Monday to Friday and our phone lines will be open from 10.00 to 2.00. Call us on 0161 763 9030.
Please share this newsletter with your friends.
Keep Strong, Stay Safe and Eat Plenty of Cake!