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Newsletter ¦ 22nd January

Greetings from the Jubilee Centre!

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

Next Wednesday, we are going to hold our first ever online Annual General Meeting to present our report and accounts. The AGM will take place on Wednesday 27th January at 2.00 pm on the Zoom application, which can be downloaded to your PC, tablet or smartphone. To join us, please send an email to news@ageukbury.org.uk and we will send you the details and agenda. Please bring along your own refreshments.

The roll out of the Covid-19 vaccinations is continuing at speed in Bury and so I have included some links where to find accurate information and some warnings about scams and hoaxes regarding the vaccine.

Part one of our newsletter is an update about the impact of Coronavirus in Bury and part two is an update on our services. In part three, we put all the exciting and fun news.

Part One: Coronavirus in Bury

In Bury, on Thursday 21st January, 385.4 people per 100,000 were tested positive for coronavirus – a fall of 15% from the previous week’s figure. On the same day, the England average was 471.3 people testing positive per 100,000 – a fall of 21% 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. 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 20,000 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/

Vaccine Scams

Unfortunately, some criminals have been using the roll-out as an opportunity to take advantage of older people waiting to get the vaccine. There have been reports of scam text messages, calls, emails and doorstep visits.

While scams such as these are rare, it is still very important to be aware of what to look out for. The advice is very simple: 

The vaccine is only available on the NHS, and you will never be asked to pay for it or to provide your bank details. 

Anything that suggests otherwise is a scam. Also remember that:

  • The NHS will never arrive unannounced at your home to administer the vaccine
  • The NHS will never ask you to prove your identity by sending copies of personal documents

If you believe someone has been the victim of a scam, report this directly to Action Fraud or call 0300 123 2040. If an older person is vulnerable and you are worried that someone has or might come to their house, report it to the Police or by calling 101.

Vaccine Hoaxes

We heard from one of our members that she was not going to have the vaccination because she heard that 33 people in Norway has died after receiving the vaccination. We looked into it.

The truth is that 33 people who had received the jab had passed away but there is no evidence that the vaccine was to blame. The 33 people were over 75 and lived in different care homes in Norway. An average of 400 people die every week in nursing and care facilities in Norway. Steinar Madsen, medical director of the Norwegian Medicines Agency (NOMA), told The British Medical Journal “There is no certain connection between these deaths and the vaccine.”

Another hoax that is being passed around on Facebook is a claim that the government was bringing in “Mandatory vaccinations, house arrest until you’re vaccinated, and that your children are going to be forced to be vaccinated.” This is a load of rubbish and there is no legal requirement to have a vaccine.

Keep yourself updated on hoaxes at https://fullfact.org/

Part two: Our support to you

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

101 things to do at home

Timeout has produced a long list of things to do to keep you busy during the lock down. Their list includes culture, movies, podcasts, games, workouts, learning and a few surprises.

Cheer yourself up at https://www.timeout.com/things-to-do/best-things-to-do-at-home-stuck-inside-bored

Scam Alert

A scammer called Alex or Christian from Medical Alert Oxford is offering a free medical monitoring device, which you will have to pay for!! Their number ends 5393.

They are very insistent, and they seem to be targeting Bury residents at the moment. Please ignore and put the phone down.

Every Mind Matters

Manage your down days by chatting to a friend, challenging unhelpful thoughts and staying active.

For more mood-boosting ideas, visit the Every Mind Matters website for expert advice and helpful suggestions for looking after your mental health.

https://www.nhs.uk/oneyou/every-mind-matters/

Holocaust Memorial Day – Wednesday 27th January

Greater Manchester's Holocaust Memorial Day Service will take place at 10am on Wednesday 27th January.

The online event is an opportunity to commemorate those killed in the Holocaust and the genocides which followed in Cambodia, Rwanda, Bosnia, and Darfur.

Those watching from home will be invited to take part in a minute's silence and collective candle lighting, so please have a candle ready.

Watch it live at Mayor of Greater Manchester's Facebook page http://facebook.com/mayorofgm

Get fit with Michelle Keegan 

In need of some inspiration for your New Year's fitness resolutions? Get expert fitness and wellbeing tips from e-magazines on the RBdigital app on your phone, tablet or PC!

Find out more at:  http://bury.gov.uk/emags

Free IT Support

Ron at Info-Tec Bury is offering his services to older people in Bury struggling with computer problems during this lockdown. He is happy to sort out your problems in return for travel expenses and cost of materials only for the lockdown. Call Ron on 07742 488 917 or email ron@infotechbury.co.uk.

If you have an old computer that you no longer need, Ron can delete the contacts of your hard drive safely, repair and donate to others needing a PC.

Members’ News

Happy Birthday greetings to Adele Bergman on Tuesday. We hope you have a great day despite all the lockdown restrictions. We look forward to seeing you when all this is over and celebrating properly.  

The Quiz

Last week's quiz was a General Knowledge Quiz. The answers are in the link.

This week’s quiz is tests your knowledge about the Islands of Britain! 

The quiz is just for fun and to keep you out of mischief. Thank you to the Madeley and District U3A for lending us this quiz.

Next week, we plan  to bring you some exciting news about our online activity classes! 

Stay home, Stay Safe! 

Andy and all at Age UK Bury