Newsletter ¦ 18th Feb 2022
Greetings from Age UK Bury
We hope you are safe from the storms around us. A special hello to all our readers called Eunice, who must be well fed up with taking the blame for the weather!
In this week’s newsletter, we make a call for help with our forthcoming raffle, announce details of the new Men-Only Exercise Classes, and include a gentle reminder that time is running out to book a Home Energy check. There are a number of events coming up which may interest you and so we have listed them. Happy reading!
We need your help!
We are joining forces with our national partner, Age UK in this year’s Spring Raffle. The raffle is a fantastic way to raise vital funds to support out Telephone Befriending Service at Age UK Bury. This service was set up during the pandemic and our wonderful team are continuing to support over 150 older people in Bury every week.
We have 3,000 tickets to sell and Age UK Bury will keep 100% of the sale proceeds to support our telephone service.
With this raffle, there are over 5,000 prizes with the top prize being £25,000 or a stunning Scandinavian Cruise. Tickets are £1 each and we aim to sell them all, so we can raise £3,000. To help us achieve this goal, we are looking for volunteers to become authorised ticket sellers.
If you can help us sell these tickets to your family and friends in your church, pub or social club, please call Michelle Goodwin on 0161 763 9030, email admin@ageukbury.org.uk or call in at Jubilee Centre reception.
Tickets will be on sale from early March at the Jubilee Centre and in our charity shops in Bury and Ramsbottom.
Last Chance for a Home Energy Check
We are offering FREE Home Energy checks to make homes more energy efficient and warmer in the winter. Our advisors will discuss energy saving equipment with you and if suitable, these will be installed by our Handy Person service free of charge. We are offering equipment – such as draught excluders - up to the value of £30. To benefit from this programme, contact Ruth on 07547 400142 or email ruth@ageukbury.org.uk
Men-Only Exercise Classes – Beginning next Thursday & Friday
Men-only Exercise Classes will begin on Thursday 24th and Friday 25th February. The new times will be 9.30 to 10.30 every Thursday and Friday morning.
Our new Tutor is Debs Cassar-Egan, who has extensive experience of working in community settings as a Fitness Instructor and has previously served in the RAF.
Our classes are being supported by Bury Council’s Health Improvement Fund and for the first thirteen weeks, we are charging an introductory fee of £2.50 per session. (This is half the cost of a normal session).
Please tell all your mates, lads!
Diana’s online video classes are back!
While the Jubilee Centre was closed, Diana took her activities online and became a star on our Facebook page. Due to popular demand, Diana will be returning to the computer screen at 2.00 on Wednesday 2nd March.
We will be moving to You Tube and we will send out the new link and all the details next week. In the meantime, you can join You Tube for free at https://www.youtube.com/ (If you already have a google login, that will let you in automatically.)
Jubilee Centre Activities
Our timetable is in the link below.
Timetable of activities at the Jubilee Centre (PDF)
The Monday evening “Yoga & Mindfulness” sessions, led by Melanie, will begin again on Monday 28th March 2022.
Please do not come into the Jubilee Centre if you have a cold or if you are feeling unwell.
Please vote for Moving-on Together
The Moving-on Together Group which supports carers following a loss of the person they cared for, has been nominated to be part of the Asda Foundation Green Token Scheme. There are three groups, and the winning group will get £500 and the runners up will receive £200 each.
You can vote online once every seven days until 31st May at https://www.asda.com/green-tokens/store?store=4155
For more information about the Moving-On group, please call 07510 435851
Events Coming Up
Tues 22nd Feb: Hidden Voices: Hidden Histories
Discover more about the hidden LGBTQI history of Bury and listen to the stories of a range of local voices. Paul Fairweather, LGBTQI Development Worker, is the guest speaker.
It takes place this Tuesday (22/2/2022) at 7:00 PM at The Bury Met. Tickets are free and you can book online here: https://themet.org.uk/event/hidden-voices-hidden-histories/
This is an event for LGBT History Month 2022 organised by the LGBTQI Forum in Bury.
Wed 23rd Feb: Bury Older Peoples Network
Join Bury Older Peoples Network (50+) and Healthwatch Bury who will be talking about how we can (or sometimes can’t) access a range of health services.
It's on Wednesday 23rd February from 10am - 12 noon at The Card Room, The Met, Bury.
To book please email networks@buryvcfa.org.uk or ring 0161 518 5550
Wed 23rd Feb: Seeking a Volunteer role?
Come down to the Radcliffe Volunteer Fair and see how you can get involved and help with volunteering groups across Radcliffe and the Bury area.
It will take place next Wednesday (23rd February 2022) from 10:00 am to 3:00pm at The Outreach's Community Space, 35 -37 Blackburn Street, Radcliffe M26 1NR. All welcome. Some of our staff will be there, and I bet they will have the nicest cakes!
Thurs 10th March: Meet Lora Fachie MBE
Our friends at Bury Blind Society are holding an Afternoon Tea with Lora Fachie MBE, Team GB para-cyclist.
Lora, who was blind from birth, brought back a Gold Medal from the recent Paralympics in Tokyo. Lora will be the keynote speaker at a special afternoon tea at The Masonic Hall in Bury on Thursday 10th of March from 1pm to 3.30 pm.
Tickets can be purchased via 0161 763 7014 or online via the link provided buryblindsociety.sumup.link
Coronavirus Update
In Bury, the number of cases is down by 41 per cent compared to the previous week – putting the infection rate at 288.4 cases per 100,000 population. In comparison, the rate for England is 538.4 cases per 100,000 population, a fall of 32% in the last week.
Covid-19 has not gone away. While case rates are falling, they are are much higher than this time last year when the full lockdown was in force. The rats of infection could easily go back up again especially if a new variant emerges. Getting vaccinated and having a booster jab are the most important things we can do to protect ourselves and others.
For information about tests, vaccinations, and support in Bury, go to https://www.bury.gov.uk/index.aspx?articleid=15318
The Quiz
The answers to the last Quiz (dated 11th February) is in this link.
This week’s Quiz brings you another 30 questions to test your knowledge This quiz is just for you and your friends to enjoy. The right answers will be sent out with the next newsletter.
Our next newsletter is out next week!
Stay safe
Andy and all at Age UK Bury
