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Newsletter ¦ 30th April

Greetings from the Jubilee Centre and Happy May Day for tomorrow. 

I hope you and your loved ones are well and keeping warm (I can’t believe I am saying this in May!).  

With the continued fall in the coronavirus rate in Bury and the roll out of the vaccinations, we are starting to feel more confident about reopening the Jubilee soon. In part two of this newsletter, we are putting out a plea for your help with our “Let’s Celebrate with Age UK Bury” event on Saturday 26th June. 

Our newsletter consists of three parts – an update on coronavirus in Bury, an update of our services and our plans to get life back to normal, a round-up of local news items. At the end, we announce this month’s winners of our 100 Club and we have the weekly quiz! 

Part One: Coronavirus in Bury

In Bury, on Thursday 29th April, 22.5 people per 100,000 were tested positive for coronavirus – that is a decrease of 19% from the previous week’s figure.

On the same day, the England average was 23.8 people testing positive per 100,000 – a fall of 4% from the previous week’s figure. So Bury is now doing better than the England average! Well done to us all! 

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 you can and can not do, click onto  https://www.gov.uk/guidance/covid-19-coronavirus-restrictions-what-you-can-and-cannot-do

Vaccination Update

By 25th April 2021, a total of 94,368 first doses of the vaccine had been delivered by Bury’s four community vaccination centres, hospital hubs and regional vaccination centres. In addition, 47,069 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

You can now book a coronavirus vaccination if you are aged 40 and over. Click here to book: https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/coronavirus-covid-19/coronavirus-vaccination/book-coronavirus-vaccination/

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 from Tuesday to Friday next (we are taking the Bank Holiday Monday off!)

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 are on course to reopen the Jubilee Centre Cafe from Monday 17th May. This is subject to the government lifting the restrictions. 

Our Charity Shops

We are planning on opening our Ramsbottom charity shop later next week, having given it a good clean and sort out. We hope to open the Bury shop later in May. 

We are advertising for a Ramsbottom Charity Shop Manager - click the link for more details:  https://www.ageuk.org.uk/bury/about-us/work-for-us/

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. 

New : Let’s Celebrate with Age UK Bury 

On Saturday 26th June, we are planning a reunion celebration at the Jubilee Centre and the surrounding park area. By this date, we hope that all government restrictions would have been lifted and we can meet each other indoors. 

Our fundraisers group is busy working on plans to make it a special day but we need the help of you lovely readers. 

  • Can you donate gifts for our tombola and raffle stalls? 
  • Can you run a stall or activity to raise funds for our charity? 
  • Can you entertain others - we need singers, musicians, magicians and clowns? 
  • Do you know a celebrity who would like to join us and sign autographs? 

If you can help in any way to make the day spectacular, drop me an email at news@ageukbury.org.uk  

Donations for the tombola and raffle may be left at our cafe from Monday 17th May. 

New: Storage Space 

We desperately need a place to store items we use for our fundraising days. A garage would be ideal. If you have a suitable space, please let us know. Send Andy an email at news@ageukbury.org.uk 

Part three: and in other news...

The Mayoral election - 6th May 

On 6 May 2021, Mayoral Elections will take place in Greater Manchester.

The Mayor of Greater Manchester is responsible for setting budgets and priorities for Greater Manchester’s public services including transport and the fire and rescue service; Police and Crime Commissioner responsibilities, and acting as an ambassador for the city region. The elected Mayor works together with the GMCA to deliver their vision for Greater Manchester.

The Greater Manchester Older People’s Network set six questions to all the  candidates about issues that matter to older people. See their responses at https://www.gmopn.org.uk/mayoral-candidate-questions

Calling all walkers 

Bury VCFA and Bury Live Well Service would like to invite you to an event to explore walking in Bury. This event is for anyone who:

  • Wants to know more about walking
  • Wants to offer their support to enable more walking
  • Would like to find something to do to support walking

They’ve planned some guest speakers, including local stories, an update from the Bury Walking Forum and information on walking resources from GM Moving.

To register, click here or follow this link: https://www.greatersport.co.uk/events/connecting-communities-to-walk

E-magazines from Bury Libraries

Bury Libraries will be moving from the RBDigital emagazine service to Overdrive emagazines from today. You will need to either visit the Overdrive website or download the Libby app to access emags.

More information at https://www.bury.gov.uk/index.aspx?articleid=14146

Empowered Conversations Communication Course

This course is for family carers supporting people living with dementia in Greater Manchester. The sessions offer people some space to think about communications, relationships, emotions and consider what might be going on for their family members living with dementia.

This free online course starts on Friday 5th May. It runs for 6 weeks and each session is 2 hours. 

More at https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/empowered-conversations-communication-course-tickets-151165814019

100 Club - This month’s winners 

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

For the April draw, we had 46 members. The winners this month are:

  • 1st prize          No 1    Muriel Mortimer
  • 2nd prize         No 37  June Rimmer
  • 3rd prize          No 4    Anonymous

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 soon. 

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

Quiz-time 

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

This week’s Quiz 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! 

If you have any news to share, please send to news@ageukbury.org.uk

Keep safe and keep hopeful

Andy and all at Age UK Bury 

 

Anne, Jean and Neil are doing a great job looking after our garden - thank you!