Newsletter 7th August
Greetings from the Jubilee
I hope you are well. In this week’s newsletter, there is information about the new government restrictions (which has confused us all), an update about our services, news about more online activities to keep fit while we remain shut, and a new format for the popular quiz.
Government restrictions in Bury (7/8/2020)
Last week, the government announced new restrictions for all boroughs in Greater Manchester area. This was to address the rise in coronavirus infection in Oldham and Rochdale and prevent other GM boroughs from seeing similar rises.
Bury has a window of opportunity to prevent a spike in infection rates and this week, Bury Council and NHS leaders are stepping up a campaign to urge residents to follow the new restrictions.
Recognising that there is some confusion about what the new restrictions mean, a leaflet is being distributed throughout the borough of Bury with a much clearer message. As well as urging you to wash hands, wear a face covering and keep a safe distance, the new leaflet says, quite simply,:
You can no longer meet with people you don’t live with:
- Inside private homes
- Inside public venues
- Or outside in private gardens
If you feel unwell, get a free test now. Call 119 or go to nhs.uk
For more information go to https://www.bury.gov.uk/index.aspx?articleid=15594
Our services
Last week, I was planning to open the Jubilee Centre cafe in mid-August. However, the new government restrictions make it a requirement for our charity to take steps to ensure people do not interact with people they do not live with, in line with COVID-19 secure guidance. I know most of our customers, many who live alone, visit the cafe and attend activities to meet up with others from outside their household. So our plans for reopening the cafe have been put on hold.
We are now looking at providing a limited cafe service that complies with the latest restrictions. As soon as we have more details, we will drop a special email into your inbox.
We hope to reopen our Charity shop on The Rock in Mid-August. At the moment, we are unable to accept donations or collect donations, as everyone has been so kind and our shops are full of wonderful donations, waiting to find a new owner.
Online Activities
Diana will next be live on our Facebook page on Monday and Wednesday next week.
- Monday: 11.00 to 11.30 am: Gentle Exercise
- Monday: 11.40 to 12.10 Chair Based Exercises (NEW)
- Wednesday: 11.00 to 12.00 am: Pilates (LONGER SESSION)
These sessions are free and many thanks to Diana for setting them up. Please tell your friends they are welcome to join us. If you can’t make these times, Facebook will let you watch at a later time. Join us at https://www.facebook.com/ageukbury/
Sue holds a Tai Chi class online on Fridays at 11.00 am. This class is aimed at those who attend the 12.15 Tuesday class and 11.00 Friday class at the Jubilee. Send an email to taichi.college@yahoo.co.uk or message Sue via Facebook at m.me/taichiandwildgooseqigongbury for the access code.
If you would like to make a donation for the Tai Chi class, either send us a cheque made payable to Age UK Bury, or make a payment online at our donation page
A big thank you to Diana and Sue for running these classes.
Volunteers
We are looking for volunteers to help us out in our Charity shops when we reopen. If you are interested in helping, please call us on 0161 763 9030 or send an email to debbie@ageukbury.org.uk
Dziękuję Ci, Ewa, i Do Widzenia
This week, we learnt that Ewa, who has been a volunteer at our Bury Shop for many years, is moving to Liverpool. Ewa will be missed everyone at the Bury shop for all her hard work and her cheerful smile. We wish Ewa and her family the very best for the future.
TV Licences
This week TV Licensing have started sending letters to anyone aged over 75 asking them to either pay for their TV licence or apply for a free one.
TV Licensing will only ask you to pay using the following options:
- By post using the address: TV Licensing, PO Box 578, Darlington DL98 1AN
- Online at co.uk/75pay or tvl.co.uk/75apply
- Over the phone on 0300 790 6151
If you are contacted and asked to pay for your TV licence using a different phone number, a different website or by posting your details to a different address you have been contacted by a scammer.
TV Licensing have also been clear that they will not come to your doorstep to collect the licence fee if you are over 75, so anyone who claims to do so is also a scammer.
If you’re unsure about anything, you can call TV Licensing on 0300 303 9695 to speak with someone who can help.
In the meantime, we’ll be keeping the pressure on the BBC and the Government to come together and save free TV for over 75s.
Find out more at https://www.ageuk.org.uk/information-advice/money-legal/scams-fraud/tv-licence-scams/
Foot Care Appointments
Dougie, our Foot Care Practitioner, will be at the Jubilee Centre from 11.00 am to 2.00 pm on Tuesday 18th August 2020. Each appointment costs £20. Please call in advance to make an appointment. Call 0161 763 9030, Monday to Friday, from 10.00 to 2.00.
The Quiz
Last week the topic was Programmes and Presenters.
And this week, we are changing the format to a picture quiz. This week's themes are famous bridges and stars who have appeared in Johnny English films. The Quiz is in this link.
The quiz is just for fun. We sadly don’t have any prizes but you get the glow of success, if you get all the answers right. 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.
Our 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 am to 2.00 pm) or email jane@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/
For all those questions about Coronavirus, and how it affects your life, please check out the Age UK FAQ website: https://www.ageuk.org.uk/information-advice/coronavirus/coronavirus-guidance/coronavirus-faqs/
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. If you know someone who is not on the internet, please phone and tell them the news. Enjoy the sun while it is here!
Keep Strong, Stay Safe.
Andy and all at Age UK Bury
