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Newsletter ¦ 27th May 2022

Thank you to Andrew for decorating our hall and to Sue and the Tai Chi class for sending me this lovely picture.

On 6th February this year, Her Majesty The Queen became the first British Monarch to celebrate a Platinum Jubilee, marking 70 years of service to the people of the United Kingdom, the Realms and the Commonwealth. This week marks the Queen’s 70th Jubilee Celebrations and on Wednesday, our Jubilee Centre will be holding a party to celebrate the Queen’s Jubilee.

The other big news of the week is the new support to help people with the cost-of-living crisis. I include a brief overview of yesterday’s announcement and include a link to our national partner’s report on the impact of the crisis on older people. And I get to announce the winners of this month’s 100 Club and make three people very happy! I hope you find this newsletter useful.   

Jubilee Celebration – this coming Wednesday 

If you are coming to our special on Wednesday, please note the following: 

  • Please do not come along if you are feeling ill or have any Covid-19 symptoms. If you are unable to come, please contact the office on 0161 763 9030. We will give you a refund if we can sell your ticket to someone else.
  • Please bring your ticket with you.
  • Please wear red, white and blue clothes if you can – we want to make the day as colourful as possible!
  • Our bar will be serving wine, beer, tea and coffee throughout the day.
  • We will be having a raffle – please bring all your spare change!
  • Please send any good pictures you take to news@ageukbury.org.uk and we will include the best in future newsletters
  • Sadly, all tickets have sold out.

Our normal activities are cancelled on Wednesday, but our conservatory café will be open as usual, serving a limited menu.

Jubilee Bank Holiday Closures

Our Jubilee Centre, café our shops and our services will be closed on Thursday 2nd June and Friday 3rd June for the Jubilee bank holiday.

We will reopen as usual on Monday 6th June. 

Picnic in the Park – 5th June

The Friends of Clarence Park are holding a Picnic in the park on Sunday 5th June from 1.00 pm to 3.00 pm to celebrate the Queen’s 70th Jubilee. There will be music from the 50s performed by Gemma Louise Doyle and refreshments will be available from the Green Café. 

Jubilee Centre membership

We have purposely delayed restarting the Jubilee Centre membership scheme as we recognise that people are being hit by the cost-of-living crisis. Our café prices had to go up in April and we may have to rise them again, if the cost of food continues to rise. Karen and the team are keeping a close eye on food costs and doing their best to keep prices down.

We will relaunch the membership scheme when the time is right.

We are planning to have a day trip and an announcement will be made very soon.

Cost-of-Living Crisis Support 

Yesterday, the Government announced a package of measures to mitigate the extreme risks soaring inflation pose to the health and welfare of pensioners. The biggest winners are low-income pensioners with a disability who will get £400 off their energy bill, a £650 payment for means-tested benefit recipients, a £150 payment for disability benefit recipients, a £300 top-up to their winter fuel payment, and a £150 council tax rebate. That’s £1,650 in total. This will come as a massive relief to those facing rising energy bills and unable to supplement their income.

However, a lot of people who are eligible for Pension Credits, a means-tested benefit, are not claiming it and so they will lose out on some of these benefits.

To find out more about Pension Credits, click onto https://www.ageuk.org.uk/information-advice/money-legal/benefits-entitlements/pension-credit/

Alternatively, our Information and Advice Service can help with making sure you are getting all your entitlements. Give us a call on 0161 763 9030 or email info@ageukbury.org.uk

Rishi Sunak has said those who receive the £400 rebate on energy bills should give it to charity if they don't need it to help with the cost-of-living crisis. If you wish to donate to our Information and Advice Service to help older people in the Bury borough, you can donate online at https://www.justgiving.com/ageuk-bury or at our Jubilee Centre. Every penny donated to us stays in Bury, supporting the local community.

Cost-of-Living Crisis Report

At the beginning of May, we asked our newsletter readers to submit their concerns and experience of the cost-of-living crisis to our national partner, Age UK. Across the UK, over 12,000 people sent in comments. Age UK has produced a report to take to politicians and decision-makers to ensure they are informed of the impact of the crisis. 

Read the report:  It Doesn’t Add Up: the hard times facing millions of pensioners

Member’s News

We were sad to learn of passing of Eunice Walmsley this week. Eunice was a former member of the Ramsbottom Older People’s Welfare Committee and then became a long-serving member of the Executive Committee of Age UK Bury. Our thoughts are with Eunice’s family and friends at this sad time.   

100 Club - This month's winners

Today, we can announce this month’s group of winners in our 100 Club. For May 2022, we had 65 members, and the winners are

  • 1st prize No 16: Ann Booth
  • 2nd prize No 9: Doreen Howard
  • 3rd prize No 44: Lindsay Eavis

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/

Next Newsletters

Our next newsletters will be out on Friday 3rd June and then on Friday 17th June. Items for publication can be sent to news@ageukbury.org.uk

Best Wishes 

Andy and all at Age UK Bury