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Newsletter ¦ 26th March

Greetings from the Jubilee Centre!

I hope you and your loved ones are well.

This coming week, we will see the end of shielding and a small relaxation of rules about meeting people in your garden and outside your house - more in part one.

By this time of the year, we would have already run over 400 social and recreational activities but the pandemic restrictions have made it impossible. So, it is with great pleasure to announce that our first activity of the year will take place on Wednesday with the start of Diana’s Nordic Walking group. (see part two of the newsletter).  

In part three of this newsletter, there is an urgent police warning and we reveal the winners of this month’s 100 Club.  

Part One: Coronavirus in Bury

In Bury, on Thursday 25th March, 96.3 people per 100,000 were tested positive for coronavirus – that is an increase of 30% from the previous week’s figure. On the same day, the England average was 57.3 people testing positive per 100,000 – a fall of 2% from the previous week’s figure. 

Bury is the only borough in Greater Manchester to have experienced a sharp increase in the last week. . 

Bury residents are living under the regulations of the National Lockdown, which are outlined on our webpage https://www.ageuk.org.uk/bury/our-services/coronavirus/

There are some changes to Government rules coming up next week. These include:

From Monday 29 March

  • Outdoor gatherings (including in private gardens) of either 6 people (the Rule of 6) or 2 households will be allowed, making it easier for friends and families to meet outside.
  • Outdoor sport facilities will reopen, including golf courses and tennis and basketball courts, and formally organised outdoor sports can restart. Walking groups of no more than six people can start again!
  • Weddings and civil partnership ceremonies can continue to take place for up to 6 people only but receptions are not permitted.

On 1st April

Vaccination Update

By 21st March, 85,664 people in Bury had received their first vaccination - that’s a tremendous achievement by our council, local health services, the army and local volunteers. 

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

If you are aged 50 or over, you can book your vaccination on Bury Covid 19 Vaccination booking service. Go to https://covid.nhsbookings.com/gmpcn

Free Personal Protective Equipment for Unpaid Carers in Bury

Bury Council is offering free PPE for unpaid carers who are going into other people’s homes to provide care. 

For more information go to https://www.personasupport.org/support-for-carers/ppe-for-carers/

A powerful message from Bury Council’s Deputy Leader

Bury Council deputy leader Tamoor Tariq, aged 31, has been featured on BBC news, warning people of the severity of Coronavirus. Just before last year’s first lock down, Tamoor collapsed and was taken to hospital. Gasping for breath in his 2020 YouTube video, he warned it was not just the old or clinically vulnerable at risk.

Tamoor contracted coronavirus again in December , and says he was "fortunate" to have survived, and urges everyone to take the vaccine, when offered.

See his message at https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-manchester-56358344

Part two: Our support to you

New: Nordic Walking returns

Diana is restarting the Nordic Walking sessions this coming Wednesday (31st March) from 2.00 pm till 3.00 pm.

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.

The classes are £5, payable by cash or cheque on the day. We will supply the poles and Diana will give full instructions.

Due to Covid-19 restrictions, the size of the group is limited to five people plus Diana. Please call 0161 763 9030 to book your place. You can turn up on the day but we cannot promise you a place, if you have not booked.

Telephone helpline and online support 

We will be answering the Age UK Bury office telephone – 0161 763 9030 - from 10.00 am to 2.00 pm every weekday throughout the lock down. 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. 

Please note we will not be in the office on Good Friday (2nd April) or Easter Monday (5th April).  

We will update people with latest news on

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

Tea and Chat with Sue on Zoom

Sue is running a Tuesday afternoon Tea and Chat session, giving people a chance to catch up with friends.  

Our free online chats will take place from 2.30 pm to 3.30 pm. To join us, send an email to Sue at taichi.college@yahoo.co.uk for an access code and link. Get your best china out!

This class is available on the Zoom platform. To download the free app, go to https://zoom.us/ 

Tai Chi with Sue

Sue also holds a Tai Chi class online on Fridays at 11.00 am. Send an email to taichi.college@yahoo.co.uk for an access code and link.

Sue has kindly set up a new group on Facebook for all who are interested in Tai Chi - click onto https://www.facebook.com/groups/144906774110472 or search for “Age UK Bury Tai Chi Group”. Thank you, Sue. 

Diana's classes

Diana will be live on our Facebook page on Mondays, Tuesdays and Wednesdays.

  • Monday: 11.00 to 11.45 am: Gentle Exercise
  • Monday: 11.50 to 12.35 Chair Based Exercise
  • Tuesday: 10.00 to 10.45: DanceFit 
  • Wednesday: 11.00 to 12.00 am: Pilates 

If you can’t make these times, Facebook will let you watch at a later time.

Join us at https://www.facebook.com/ageukbury/ Thank you Diana.

Part Three: And in other news

An urgent message from Bury Police 

“There have been a series of burglaries in the Bury area since January 2021. The offender, a white man in his 20s is targeting vulnerable older people in the early evenings by knocking on their front door, stating they have a parcel to deliver. He then forces his way past the occupant and stealing items such as handbags, purses and keys.

Apprehending this man is currently the Bury District's main priority. We are advising people (especially the elderly) in the community to review their home security. In particular, if you are expecting a visitor (eg family, carer, delivery), that you request they phone you from outside the address to confirm it is them and do not open your door to strangers. If you have a spy hole, use that or shout from behind the door for the person to identify themselves. If you have any concerns, then contact the police immediately".

Anyone with information should call police on 0161 856 8181 or 8204. Details can be passed anonymously to the independent charity Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.

Thank you to everyone who shared our Facebook post about this. It was shared by 165 people in 48 hours and 12,544 people saw our message. It is a great way to pass on urgent information like this. 

Extension for £10 train and tram passes in Greater Manchester

The deadline for Transport for Greater Manchester concessionary pass holders to renew their annual £10 tram and train ‘add-on’ has been extended to Monday 21 June.

If you need to travel, you can continue to use your pass, without renewing, until 21 June 2021. After this, you should renew when you next need to travel by tram or train and your £10 will last for a full year from your new start date.

More information at https://tfgm.com/tickets-and-passes/add-tram-and-train

Secure your email 

If a hacker gets into your email, they could reset the passwords for your other accounts. Have you secured your email account properly?

Find out more at https://www.actionfraud.police.uk/secureyouraccounts

Improving dementia services for African Caribbean community

The African Caribbean Care Group in partnership with Dementia United, is working across Greater Manchester to capture Black African & Caribbean people's experiences of living with a dementia diagnosis. ACCG would like to engage with all those directly & indirectly involved in a person’s Dementia journey, to improve local services available.

An online event is on Tue, 30 March 2021 from 10:30 – 12:00. For more details go to https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/dementia-care-appreciative-inquiry-tickets-99093468231

Easter at Bury Met

Bury Met is presenting two events for the family this Easter. They are

  • When We Started Singing (An uplifting short streaming film featuring BSL, storytelling and song - free) by the M6 Theatre Company and
  • Another Planet (an audio adventure for an adult and child (7+) to experience together - cost £12) by The Gramaphones Theatre Company. 

Go to https://themet.org.uk/whats-on/easter-holiday/ 

Tickets are now selling for normal, real life concerts. See the main site at  https://themet.org.uk/ 

Cocktails with Creatives: David Lan

Cocktails with Creatives is a chance to hear from some of the creative industries leading figures, with a lovely tipple in hand. This week (Thursday 1st April) David Lan, a world-renowned playwright, theatre director and producer, will be chatting about his upcoming projects and looking back on his favourite moments from years gone by. 

Free ticket at https://www.eventbrite.com/e/cocktails-with-creatives-david-lan-tickets-145724260185

100 Club - This month’s winners 

Today, we can announce the third group of winners in our new 100 Club.

For the March draw, we had 44 members. The winners this month are:

  • 1st prize: 26 - Mavis Brooks
  • 2nd prize: 7 - Jack Ives
  • 3rd prize: 21 - Duncan McCallum Lees

The numbers were chosen using a computerised random number generator and independently verified.The cheques will be in the post today and should be with you in time for Easter. 

There are plenty of numbers to purchase and if you would like to join for the April draw, please call us on 0161 763 9030 and we will send you a brochure. Alternatively, click on this link: https://www.ageuk.org.uk/bury/get-involved/100club/

Missing a Newsletter?

If you are looking for a previous newsletter, they are all available on our website at https://www.ageuk.org.uk/bury/our-services/coronavirus/

Quiz-time 

The answers to last week’s General Knowledge Quiz is in the link. 

This week’s General Knowledge Quiz (26th March)  brings you another 50 questions to test that grey matter. 

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

Stay safe and look out for our much shorter but cheerful newsletter next Thursday. If you have any news to share, please send to news@ageukbury.org.uk

Andy and all at Age UK Bury

Spring at the Jubilee Centre Garden