Newsletter 24th April
Hi from the Jubilee.
We hope you and your loved ones are safe and well. We are still in the office Monday to Friday and our phone lines will be open from 10.00 to 2.00. Call us on 0161 763 9030
In this week’s newsletter, we have a few online freebies, instructions on how to make a facemask and much more!
Bury Community Hubs
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. Almost 600 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.
Keeping In Touch Telephone Calls
Our telephone volunteers have been making contact with everyone who left their number with us before the lock down. If you haven’t received a call, please let me know and I will arrange this for you.
We are extending this service out to all 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 pm or email admin@ageukbury.org.uk to sign up. Alternatively, call Jane Lees, our Befriending Coordinator on 0757 095 1979.
We are grateful to Avoira, a leading telecommunications service provider in Bury, for their support to this service.
The Bury Times has an article online about this service: https://www.burytimes.co.uk/news/18399384.age-uk-launches-new-telephone-service-coronavirus-lockdown/
Cancelled holidays/Refunds – what are your rights?
For information on your rights regarding travel, cancelled holidays, refunds, go to
- ABTA: https://www.abta.com
- Money Saving Expert:
https://www.moneysavingexpert.com/news/2020/02/coronavirus-travel-help-and-your-rights/
Make to your own face mask.
It is relatively easy to make your own facemask. There is a wide variety of videos on You Tube with simple instructions on how to make facemasks, some examples below. For those of you that don’t sew, there are videos on how to make ‘no-sew’ masks from recycled t-shirts.
Scams
There is a Morrison’s WhatsApp ‘free shopping’ text scam going around that could let fraudsters into your bank account. Ignore and tell your friends not to submit bank details to the “bogus” website.
News from Audiology
Bury, Rochdale and Oldham Audiology are still supporting people in Bury but they are working differently.
For URGENT repairs such as broken hearing aids, please ring 01706 674913 for advice.
Replacement batteries and hearing aid consumables can be requested through the click and post service using the following web address: clickandpost.penninecare.nhs.uk
Keeping Healthy at home
Find useful advice on how to manage your health and wellbeing on your smartphone, tablet or computer. Go to https://www.nhs.uk/health-at-home/
Free Things
Here is a list of online freebies you can access to pass the time, whilst you are staying at home and saving the NHS!
Bury Libraries
Whilst Bury Libraries are closed, you can still access eBooks, eAudiobooks, eMagazines and other online resources for free.
More information at: https://www.bury.gov.uk/index.aspx?articleid=15302
IT Support
If you need help with setting up video conferencing on your PC computer, tablet or smart phone, using Skype or FaceTime, our IT expert can help you by phone for free. He helped one of our readers this week and they are singling his praises.
Call us on 0161 763 9030 for more details.
Doorstep delivery service for essential items
Both Morrison’s and Aldi have set up new delivery services of essential items to address the problems that people are encountering when they try to place orders.
- The Morrison’s Doorstep delivery service is available to vulnerable and elderly members of the community, unable to go shopping in-store. For more details, go to https://my.morrisons.com/doorstep-deliveries/
- The Aldi Food Parcel is full of all your essentials. It’s a great shopping solution for vulnerable people and those who are self-isolating. Available online only for £24.99. https://bit.ly/2KaISVQ
Foot Care
If anyone is struggling with problems with their feet, Dougie Warrington is doing house calls. Each visit costs £20 and is dependent upon the client and himself being well.
Contact Dougie on 07557 516 879 or email phoenixfootcare@gmail.com
Lifestyle Service
Bury Lifestyle service offers free telephone support for healthy eating, sleep, breastfeeding, quit smoking, alcohol & more! Call 0161 253 7575 or click onto https://www.bury.gov.uk/index.aspx?articleid=14884
Getting cash
The Post Office is making access to cash available faster for self-isolating customers. The improved services mean that self-isolating or vulnerable citizens affected by the coronavirus pandemic can now contact their financial institution if they choose to offer these services and arrange to withdraw cash quickly from their normal accounts through any local Post Office branch, with the help of a friend, family member, carer or local support worker.
For more details, contact your bank or post office. More details here: https://www.onepostoffice.co.uk/secure/latest-news/our-products/post-office-makes-access-to-cash-available-faster-for-self-isolating-customers/
Prepare for a hospital visit - just in case
We are urging people to prepare an overnight bag in case you have to suddenly go into hospital due to COVIDー19. Please include medication, a phone charger, clothes and food as visitors will not be allowed to bring you anything once you are admitted.
Support over the weekend
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.
We have also set up a Friends of Age UK Bury group, which will allow you to post news, positive comments and pictures of your pets. Please join at https://www.facebook.com/groups/137166284376233/ and cheer us all up!
Stay Home and Stay Safe
Andy and all at Age UK Bury