Newsletter ¦ 5th November
I hope you and your loved ones are safe and well.
Well this week has been a busy one. We were gutted to have to close the cafe and our shop on the Rock. It is the right thing to do as the coronavirus infection is taking a hold in Bury but it was sad to say farewell to our loyal customers for the second time this year.
I would like to say a big thank you to my staff and volunteers for making the cafe and shop as Covid-19 secure as they could possibly be and for going far beyond the call of duty. I am also grateful to all our customers and friends for their support over the last few months.
As there is so much news, this week’s newsletter is split into three parts.
The first section is all the latest changes relating to the new lockdown in Bury which begins today. The second section is an update about our services and how we are continuing to support people in Bury through the lockdown.
The third section includes news about an art project in Prestwich, a chance to influence the future of the Clarence Park Lido; an invitation to a workshop on how to handle uncertainty; news about one of our volunteers doing the impossible during lockdown and a visit by Sky News. We have also included a bumper quiz to keep you busy during the long dark evenings. .
I hope you find the newsletter useful.
Section 1: Coronavirus in Bury (5th November)
The bad news is that the coronavirus infection continues to rise. With 1073 new cases recorded in the seven days to October 31, Bury’s infection rate has risen from 549.8 per 100,000 to 561.8 per 100,000. Bury has one of the highest rates in the UK.
It is important to follow the rules, take no chances and isolate yourself if you have any concern about your health.
Click this link for the latest bulletin from Bury Council and Bury CCG.
The Rules
The new rules aim to reduce people’s day-to-day contact with other people so that we reduce the spread of the coronavirus infection. From today until Wednesday 2 December, you must:
- stay at home (except for specific purposes)
- avoid meeting people you do not live with (except for specific purposes)
- Specific businesses and venues (like our Jubilee Centre and charity shops) will be closed.
Please go to the Bury Council Website for more information about the rules. https://www.bury.gov.uk/index.aspx?articleid=15594
Bury Community Hubs
Bury Community Hubs provide support to 11,000 residents in the Borough of Bury that are defined as “clinically extremely vulnerable”. The Hubs also provide support to residents that don't have anyone else to turn to for support, including people having to self-isolate. Generally, the hubs support people with life's essentials and help them to keep safe.
To access their help:
- Phone: 0161 235 5353 (9am to 5pm, Monday to Friday)
- Text 07860 022876 (messages responded to by the next working day)
Shopping
Unlike the first lockdown, the government will not be delivering food parcels to those who are shielding.
Online supermarket delivery slots with Asda, Iceland, Morrison’s, Ocado, Sainsbury's, Tesco and Waitrose continue to be available for people who were previously shielding.
- If you aren't already a customer - sign-up with one of the supermarkets offering the service (you can do this at their website).
- Then go to https://www.gov.uk/coronavirus-shielding-support and fill in your details.
- The government will pass your details to your chosen supermarket who will then offer you priority online shopping slots.
If you are not online, Morrison’s and Sainsbury’s offer a telephone ordering service to order essential food items for customers.
- Morrisons: To order, call 0345 611 6111 and select option 5.
- Sainsbury's: To order, call 0800 917 8557.
Need a test for Coronavirus?
To find out about how to get a test for coronavirus, please go to the Bury Council website: https://www.bury.gov.uk/index.aspx?articleid=15451
Section 2: Our support to you, your family and friends
Telephone helpline
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!
Information and Advice
Our information and advice service supports people with benefit checks and filling in application forms for Attendance Allowance.
Please send an email to info@ageukbury.org.uk or call Louise on 07872 067662 (Monday to Thursday) or Ruth on 07547 400142 (Tuesday to Friday). .
Keeping In Touch
Our Keeping in Touch telephone service offers older people in Bury a regular friendly phone call from one of our volunteers.
For more information, call 0161 763 9030 (Monday to Friday 10.00 am to 2.00 pm) or email jane@ageukbury.org.uk to sign up.
Online Activities
Sue holds a Tai Chi class online on Fridays at 11.00 am on the Zoom video app. Send an email to taichi.college@yahoo.co.uk or message Sue via Facebook at m.me/taichiandwildgooseqigongbury for an access code.
Diana will be live on our Facebook page on Mondays and Wednesdays.
- Monday: 11.00 to 11.30 am: Gentle Exercise
- Monday: 11.40 to 12.10 Chair Based Exercises
- 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/
Handyperson Service
Our service helps with small DIY and repair jobs such as fitting handrails and security locks, putting up shelves, curtain rails and wall decorations; assembling flat pack furniture; minor plumbing, painting and decorating work and changing light bulbs. All work will be carried out adhering to Covid-19 regulations to protect you and Andrew, who is our Handy Person Manager.
Written quotes will be given for all work. Prices are dependent on the scale and length of work being done. If you have a couple of small jobs which could be completed in an hour, it would cost £30 plus materials.
We are also working with trusted traders to help people with specialist work (e.g. replacement of boilers, roofing etc)
Contact Sue on 0161 796 6949 or email hp@ageukbury.org.uk
Office hours 08:30 am – 4:00 pm, Tuesday/Wednesday/Thursday.
Foot Care Appointments
Dougie, our Foot Care Practitioner, will be at the Jubilee Centre from 10.00 am to 2.00 pm on Tuesday 17th November. Each appointment costs £20. Please call in advance to make an appointment. Call 0161 763 9030 to book.
Closures
Due to government restrictions, our café, charity shops and Diana’s Nordic Walking group have closed.
Help 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.
For all those questions about Coronavirus, and how it affects your life, please check out the Age UK FAQ website: https://www.ageuk.org.uk/information-advice/coronavirus/coronavirus-guidance/coronavirus-faqs/
Section 3: In other news
Three Ways for Learning to Tolerate Uncertainty
We often believe that worrying about uncertain situations will increase our ability to cope but this can have a negative impact on our well-being. In this session participants will learn alternative ways of dealing with anxiety about the future.
This will take place on Tue 25th Nov from 11:00-12:30 via Zoom
If you would like to join us, please send your email to news@ageukbury.org.uk and we will send you the log-in details. This is a free workshop and is run by Susana, Senior Psychological Well-Being Practitioner at Healthy Minds.
Help Shape Clarence Park’s future
Across the Borough of Bury there are 12 Green Flag accredited parks of which Clarence Park is one.
To help us to build on this success, please complete this feedback survey which will help Bury Council shape future plans for Clarence Park
Complete the survey at http://bury.gov.uk/clarencepark
Prestwich's community art trail - 14 to 22 November 2020
Although Prestwich Arts Festival is postponed for this year, they couldn't let 2020 pass by without the chance to showcase the amazing talent and creativity of the Prestwich community.
‘Home Is Where the Art Is’ is a community art trail based in people’s windows, giving everyone an opportunity to get creative and take part.
This year’s theme is ‘Destination’: this can be interpreted in any way you wish. It may be a place you’ve enjoyed during lockdown, a place you’ve missed, perhaps a future destination you'd like to visit or somewhere special to you.
For more details go to https://www.prestwichartsfestival.co.uk/homeiswheretheartis
Dave goes on the wagon!
Dave who volunteers at our Cafe at the Jubilee Centre is giving up alcohol and staying dry for November to raise funds for our charity.
Please support if you can. His fundraising page is here: https://gf.me/u/y6zz59
A big thank you to Dave – we admire your determination, especially as the country is closing down.
A visit from Sky News
On Wednesday, Nick and Andrew from Sky News visited the Jubilee Centre and talked with members about the new lockdown. The item was due to go out during Wednesday evening, but the uncertainty of the USA election result bumped us off the schedule. Hopefully, it will be aired at some point.
The Quiz
The last quiz was about Halloween and Bonfire Night. The answers are in the link.
This week’s quiz is a Lockdown Bumper Quiz! Click here for 50 questions to keep you busy.
The quiz is just for fun. We sadly don’t have any prizes but you get the warm glow of success, if you get all the answers right. Good luck!
This Sunday, Remembrance Day, we will acknowledge the courage and sacrifice of those who served their country. We will lay our wreath to represent our charity next week.
Keep safe and keep strong.
Andy and all at Age UK Bury
