Newsletter ¦ 30th September 2022
I hope this email find you well. In this newsletter, I include information about energy bills and covid boosters and announce this month’s winners of the 100 Club. Happy reading.
Christmas Dinners at the Jubilee Centre
Bookings are now being taken for Christmas Dinners at the Jubilee. The dates are Monday 5th December to Thursday 8th December and meals cost £20. Please book at the Jubilee Centre.
It’s the first time we have been able to hold our annual dinners since 2019 so it will be an extra joyous time for us all. Santa has been invited!
Keep well this winter
For many people, winter can be a difficult time, with cold and shorter days, colds, bugs and seasonal flu that begin to circulate and the added issue of the Coronavirus to deal with too! Bury Council has set up a special webpage to support you to stay as well as possible during the colder months on many issues.
Go to https://theburydirectory.co.uk/winterwell
Free copies of the Winter Well Calendar are available at The Jubilee Centre.
Digital Skills Training
Vodafone have launched a free digital skills course, available at this link: https://www.vodafone.co.uk/newscentre/hi-digital/
It’s suitable for smartphones, tablets and PCs. It covers the basics such how to contact other people, how to find information and much more. You can get a code, so you and dip in and out the course as you please.
Energy Matters
Check your energy meter reading
Most energy bills will go up on Saturday 1st October by 27%. So today is the day to submit today’s reading to your energy supplier to make sure you don’t get over charged for your past energy usage.
£400 for energy bills from October
The Government is providing households with £400 each to pay energy bills, from October to March. The £400 goes directly to your supplier. They will pass it onto you, depending on how you pay your bill.
To find out how your household will get the £400, go to https://www.moneysavingexpert.com/news/2022/08/how-energy-suppliers-will-pay-the-p400-cost-of-living-support-pa/
You do not have to apply for this money so please ignore any suspicious emails, texts or social media messages urging you to sign up and register for it. Such messages are from scammers, eager to empty your bank accounts!
Clearing up some confusion
Liz Truss, the Prime Minister, claimed last Sunday and again on Thursday, that her government has “made sure that no family, no household is having to pay more than £2,500 on those energy bills”. Sadly this is not true and the statement only adds more confusion to what is already a complicated issue.
The figure of £2,500 refers to the amount a typical household will pay, based on average energy usage. Depending on property type and energy usage, some households will pay much more than £2,500 and others will pay much less.
The Energy Price Guarantee does cap the amount consumers can be charged per unit of gas or electricity. For customers on a standard variable tariff paying by direct debit, this limit will be 34.0p/kWh for electricity and 10.3p/kWh for gas. Everyone will benefit from this cap as it will reduce energy bills.
Extra support for energy costs
This Government website lists all the extra support available https://helpforhouseholds.campaign.gov.uk/help-with-your-bills/
Older people who receive pension credits will benefit the most.
Don’t struggle in silence
Our Information & Advice Team can ensure you are receiving your full entitlements. Please call 0161 763 9030 for a free appointment.
Covid News
Unfortunately, hospital admissions with people suffering from covid are rising steeply again across England.
Please, get the vaccines you are eligible for (covid and flu), try to stick to well ventilated places and wear a mask where you can't!
You can have a seasonal booster dose (autumn booster) of the COVID-19 vaccine if you are:
- aged 65 or over
- pregnant
- aged 5 and over and at high risk due to a health condition
- aged 5 and over and at high risk because of a weakened immune system
- aged 5 and over and live with someone who has a weakened immune system
- aged 16 and over and a carer, either paid or unpaid
- living or working in a care home for older people
- a frontline health and social care worker
100 Club - This month's winners
Today, we can announce this month’s group of winners in our 100 Club. For September 2022, we had 68 members, and the winners are
- 1st prize: No 66 Pauline Fairley
- 2nd prize: No 32 Sheila Chadwick
- 3rd prize: No 40 Margaret Sparrow
The numbers were chosen using a computerised random number generator and independently verified. The cheques are in the post.
There are plenty of numbers to purchase and if you would like to join the 100 club, 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/
Our next newsletter will be out in a few weeks!
Best Wishes
Andy and all at Age UK Bury
