Skip to content

Newsletter ¦ 29th January

Greetings from the Jubilee Centre!

I hope you and your loved ones are well and coping with the third lockdown.

This week, we are really pleased to announce that our four online activities, run by Sue and Diana, will continue until the end of April and we are adding two new activities in February. More details in the second part of this newsletter.

In part three of the newsletter, we announce the names of the first winners in our new 100 Club. So let’s get through the boring stuff first.

Part One: Coronavirus in Bury

In Bury, on Thursday 28th January, 291.1 people per 100,000 were tested positive for coronavirus – a fall of 25% from the previous week’s figure. On the same day, the England average was 353.7 people testing positive per 100,000 – also a fall of 25% from the previous week.

The fall shows that the lockdown is working in reducing the infection rate and “Staying at Home” is making a difference. However, we still have a long way to go before this virus is beaten.

Bury residents are living under the regulations of the National Lockdown, which was outlined in my email on Tuesday 5th January. A link to that email is here: https://www.ageuk.org.uk/bury/our-services/coronavirus/newsletter--5th-january/

Bury Council and Bury CCG have done a remarkable job in vaccinating over 23,000 people already and the Bury Council website has a page about the vaccine at https://www.bury.gov.uk/coronavirus-vaccine

If you have problems in getting to the centre where your vaccination is planned, we have been informed NHS Responders can help. Call 0808 196 3646 for more details.

Click on this link for this week's Bury Council / Bury CCG update 

Our friends at Age UK have produced a webpage answering the main questions about the Covid-19 vaccine. Click onto https://www.ageuk.org.uk/information-advice/coronavirus/coronavirus-guidance/coronavirus-vaccine/

Part two: Our support to you

Online Activities with Sue and Diana

This week we are pleased to announce some changes to our online activities run by Sue and Diana which are:

  • all classes will now continue until at least the end of April.
  • Diana’s Monday classes are now 45 minutes each (instead of 30 minutes).
  • Diana will be holding a new DanceFit class on Tuesday mornings.
  • And from 9th February, Sue will be hosting a Tea and Chat session on Tuesday afternoons.

We are grateful to the Greater Manchester Ambition for Ageing for their support with our activities.   

Diana's classes

Diana will be live on our Facebook page on Mondays 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/

Diana has sent a message about her new Tuesday morning class to explain what DanceFit means. Diana says " It's a fusion of many dance styles & eras, from swing to Indian Bangra, pop, salsa, Mexican and drumsticks. You name it , there’s something for everyone! Talking of drumsticks, dig out your wooden spoons to join me with some funky dance moves - it will all make sense, I promise. Really looking forward to having some fun with you all and getting a bit fitter in the process! “. 

All of Diana's classes can be watched after the live performance, at any time of the week. 

Tai Chi with Sue

Sue 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.

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

Tea and Chat with Sue on Zoom - From Tuesday 9th February

Sue will be running a Tea and Chat session, giving people a chance to catch up with friends and have a chat. It’s just like Knit and Natter but without the knitting!

Our 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!

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. 

We will update people with latest news on

This weekly newsletter comes out on Friday. Urge your friends to sign up at our subscription page.

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

Support from our national Partner, Age UK

  • 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.

Support from Bury Council 

If you are self-isolating or don't have any other support, Bury Community Hubs are still here to help with food shopping and collecting medicine supplies. 

  • Phone 0161 253 5353 (Monday to Friday, 9am to 5pm).
  • Greater Manchester Text phone: Dial 07860 022876 (Messages will be responded to on the next working day)

Closures

Due to government restrictions, our Jubilee Centre café, charity shops and activities, including Diana’s Nordic Walking group, have closed. 

Part three: and in other news

Six-week online Yoga course

Marie, who has led some yoga lessons at the Jubilee Centre, is running a six-week online Hatha Yoga course. This will be an informal class creating the space to breath, balance, slow down as well as develop strength and flexibility.

Everyone of every ability is welcome but it is important for Marie to know, in advance, if you have any mobility or on-going health issues so she can offer the right and safe range of options for each part of the class.

The cost of the classes is £20 for the six-week block or £4 a class for each class you attend. Pay either on paypal.me/openingdoorsyoga or by bank transfer (details available on request). For more details, contact Marie at Openingdoors24@hotmail.com or call 07799714708.

Volunteering towards Employment Project

Are you or do you know someone who is out of work and looking to develop new skills?

Bury VCFA has started a ‘Volunteering towards Employment Project’ (VtEP), which aims to help participants in Bury who are unemployed or economically inactive to develop skills and confidence in a workplace environment by using volunteering to get closer to the jobs market.

For more details, go to https://www.buryvcfa.org.uk/volunteering/volunteering-towards-employment-project/

Bury Housing Strategy Consultation

The Bury Housing Strategy Consultation is underway and the Council would like to invite you to join an online webinar on the 2nd of February 2021 at 6.00 pm, to gather your thoughts and opinions on the new draft Housing Strategy.

Please click on the link below to register and they will send you a link to the webinars nearer the time.

For the webinar, click onto Bury Draft Housing Strategy - Webinar for Residents Tickets, Tue 2 Feb 2021 at 18:00 | Eventbrite

For more information click onto https://www.bury.gov.uk/housingstrategyconsultation

A Big Thank you to Rodger

At this week’s AGM, we said goodbye to Rodger Owen, our Treasurer, as Rodger and his wife Margaret have moved to Derbyshire to be closer to their family.

In 2011, Rodger volunteered to become Treasurer with our charity, shortly after his retirement at the young age of 60. He came to our charity with outstanding CV. In his career as a Chartered Accountant, he was a former Partner in Ernst & Young, a Finance Director of a nationwide furniture retailer and Head of Special Projects at Manchester Central Convention Complex. He had also served as the President of Manchester Society of Chartered Accountants.

Rodger’s wealth of experience and knowledge has greatly benefitted our charity. He has served as an enthusiastic and conscientious trustee and supported the charity through very difficult financial times, always giving us a calm and considered lead.

We wish Rodger and Margaret a wonderful future in their new home and we hope to see them on their visits up north. Thank you, Rodger.  

Annual Report

Our charity’s annual report and accounts for 2019-2020 are now available. Please send an email to admin@ageukbury.org.uk for a copy.

Our 100 Club – Drumroll please!

Today, we can announce the first winners of our new 100 Club.

For January, we had 36 members. The first winners are:

  • 1st Prize: Sylvia Jones
  • 2nd Prize: Christine Pickup
  • 3rd Prize: Janice Walker

The cheques will be in the post today.

The numbers were chosen using a computerised random number generator and independently verified.

There are plenty of numbers to purchase and if you would like to join for the February 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/

The Quiz

Last week's quiz was about the Islands of Britain. The answers are in the link.

This week’s quiz is a Picture Quiz testing your knowledge about landmarks and cartoon characters. The quiz is just for fun and to keep you out of mischief. The answers will be in the next newsletter.  

Stay home, Stay Safe! 

Andy and all at Age UK Bury 

 

Sunrise over Clarence Park Lido