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Newsletter ¦ 23th April

Greetings from the Jubilee Centre and Happy Saint George’s Day! 

I hope you and your loved ones are well and I hope you are enjoying the sunshine and you are getting a bit of normality back into your life. We now have our first new family of ducklings on the Lido!

This week, we are advertising for the post of shop manager at Ramsbottom, following the news that Chris is moving to Yorkshire to be with her partner. We will be sad to lose Chris but really happy that she is to begin a new chapter in her life. We do need a special person to replace her so if you know of someone with retail experience who is looking for a job, please share the job advert with them (see part two of this newsletter). 

We are planning a special event on Saturday 26th June at the Jubilee to bring together all our friends. Please keep the day free in your diary and look out for more details in future newsletters.  

Amazingly, this newsletter is one year old this week! It was launched as a temporary way to inform our members of changes to our services and sources of help in Bury. Even then, I would not have thought we would be still be in a partial lockdown a year later. Happy Birthday to us all - any excuse for a piece of cake!  

Our newsletter consists of three parts – an update on coronavirus in Bury, an update of our services, a round-up of local news items and the weekly quiz!

Part One: Coronavirus in Bury

In Bury, on Thursday 22nd April, 27.8 people per 100,000 were tested positive for coronavirus – that is a decrease of 12% from the previous week’s figure.

On the same day, the England average was 24.2 people testing positive per 100,000 – a fall of 16% from the previous week’s figure. 

The best way of reducing the virus infection rate is the mantra of “hands, face, space and fresh air”. Let’s do it for Bury.

For a full list of what can open and what you can do, click onto  https://www.gov.uk/guidance/covid-19-coronavirus-restrictions-what-you-can-and-cannot-do

Vaccination Update

By 18th April 2021, a total of 92,993 first doses of the vaccine had been delivered by Bury’s four community vaccination centres, hospital hubs and regional vaccination centres. In addition, 39,050 Bury residents have received their second dose so it is likely that all you lovely readers are now well and truly vaccinated!   

The Bury Council website has a page about the vaccine at https://www.bury.gov.uk/coronavirus-vaccine

Home testing via self-test kit

You can now order Rapid Lateral Flow tests online so you can test yourself at home for Coronavirus. This is aimed at people who do not have coronavirus symptoms but are concerned they might be passing it onto others.

For more details, go to https://www.gov.uk/order-coronavirus-rapid-lateral-flow-tests

If you have symptoms, you need a PCR test. To find out where to get a PCR test in Bury, go to
https://www.bury.gov.uk/index.aspx?articleid=16064

Part two: Our support to you

We will be answering the Age UK Bury office telephone – 0161 763 9030 - from 10.00 am to 2.00 pm every weekday. If we can not help, we are sure to find someone who can! If you get the answerphone, please leave a message and we will get back to you as soon as possible. 

We will update people with latest news on

During the Coronavirus pandemic, we are trying to keep essential support services open. These include: 

Nordic Walking – a real life activity!

Diana is leading the Nordic Walking session on Wednesday afternoons from 2.00 pm till 3.00 pm. The classes are £5, payable by cash or cheque, on the day. We will supply the poles and Diana will give full instructions. You can just turn up on the day.

Opening Up The Jubilee Centre

We plan to reopen the Jubilee Centre Cafe from Monday 17th May.

Once the government publishes its guidance on indoor activities from 17th May, we will see if we can get some classes back in the centre but it is likely that most activities will restart from Monday 21st June. 

Our Charity Shops

We have taken the decision not to open our shops on the Rock and in Ramsbottom until our staff and volunteers have received their second vaccination. We hope to open Rammy later this month and the Bury Shop in May. 

We are unable to collect donations from your home until the rules for storing items change. Currently we must store all donations for 72 hours before we can put them on display, to protect both staff and customers. As there is not much space in either shop, it creates problems with storage. 

Job Vacancy: Charity Shop Manager- Ramsbottom

Our charity shop in Ramsbottom raises funds from donated goods to support services for older people, living in the borough of Bury.

We are seeking a charity shop manager to maximise income from donated stock, to lead and support a team of staff and volunteers and create a welcoming and friendly environment for customers.

  • Job Title: Charity Shop Manager- Ramsbottom
  • Location: 34 Bridge Street, Ramsbottom, BL0 9AQ
  • Hours: 30 hours / week – Wednesday to Sunday.
  • Rate of Pay: £9.08 / hour (£14,164.80 per year) plus Contributory Group Pension Scheme available after satisfactory completion of a six-month probationary period.
  • Closing Date: Noon on Tuesday 11th May 2021.

For more details, please

New: Reunion at the Jubilee Centre

We are planning a special reunion event on Saturday 26th June to bring all our friends. Keep the date free. More details to follow soon.  

Part three: and in other news...

Getting Bury Moving 

Bury has a vision to get 75% of the Bury population moving more by 2025.

One of the easiest ways for most people to increase their physical activity levels and to move more is through walking and cycling.

To get Bury Moving more, a Walking and Cycling Forum has been created inviting all local residents. 

A survey is now online asking Bury residents, and in particular, those residents who do not currently walk or cycle, WHAT IS NEEDED to help and encourage our residents to include more walking and/or cycling activities into their daily lives.

For more information, go to https://www.onecommunitybury.co.uk/moving-more-through-walking-and-cycling-survey

Library Services 

Libraries are preparing to welcome back visitors who have missed the pleasure of browsing for books in person. Radcliffe Library was the first to reopen its doors, on Wednesday 21 April, with the borough’s remaining branches in Ramsbottom, Prestwich and Bury following suit over the coming weeks. Radcliffe will be open from 1pm to 4pm, from Tuesdays to Fridays.

All libraries will continue to offer the Order & Collect service, launched last year to enable customers to choose their books online and pick them up or return them at a designated time. This service will continue between the hours of 1pm and 4pm, Tuesdays to Fridays. To use this service, go to https://www.bury.gov.uk/index.aspx?articleid=15605

Limited public access to computers is currently available at Radcliffe, Ramsbottom and Prestwich Libraries – to book a session, contact the library directly.

During the pandemic there has been a substantial increase in the use of online library services, and these will continue to be offered. For details of the e-book, e-audio and e-magazine services visit https://www.bury.gov.uk/index.aspx?articleid=15336

Use your experience

Greater Manchester Older People's Network wants all older people to be able to use their experience to influence change for the better. If you are in Greater Manchester, over 50, they need your experience. Join the event on 6th May! 

Register via this link: http://bit.ly/3r33gfz or telephone 01618349823

Test for Diabetes

Almost 2 million people in the UK have taken an online test to discover whether they are likely to develop Type 2 diabetes. If you are at risk, you can join the Healthier You National Diabetes Prevention Programme for free support.

Find out your risk at https://riskscore.diabetes.org.uk/start

British Sign Language TV

The British Sign Language Broadcasting Trust (BSLBT) commissions television programmes made in British Sign Language by Deaf people for Deaf people.

For more details go to https://www.bslzone.co.uk/

The Weekly Quiz 

The answers to last week’s mix of 40 questions and a picture quiz are in this link. 

This week’s quiz focuses on Films and General Knowledge Quiz  is in the link. 

There is no point cheating as there are no prizes but you will be over the moon if you get all the answers before next Friday! Good Luck! 

Keep safe and stay alive! 

Andy and all at Age UK Bury

New Ducklings on the Lido